Licensing
How Virginia Licenses Private Investigators
Virginia regulates private investigators under Code of Virginia Title 9.1, Chapter 1, Article 4, which covers private security services. The Department of Criminal Justice Services runs the program. Under Section 9.1-139, a business must hold a DCJS private security services business license, and a private investigator employed by a licensed business, or hired by one as an independent contractor, must hold a DCJS registration. Registration requires fingerprints and 60 hours of entry-level training.
That gives a client two layers to check: the business license and the individual's registration. DCJS offers an online verification search for licensed businesses, with an option to search for a person instead. Virginia also lets some out-of-state investigators work under limited reciprocity agreements when a case starts in their home state, so ask where the investigator is registered.
Courts
How Virginia Courts Are Organized
Virginia has three kinds of trial court. Circuit courts are the general-jurisdiction trial courts, grouped into 31 judicial circuits, and they hear felonies, larger civil cases and divorces. General district courts hear traffic cases, misdemeanors and civil claims up to $25,000. Juvenile and domestic relations district courts handle custody, support, visitation and family abuse matters. Every county and independent city is served by these courts, though some neighboring localities share a courthouse.
Communities
Virginia Communities With a Private Investigator Page
Every Virginia community over 3,000 residents, by population (U.S. Census Bureau, April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2024 estimates (Vintage 2024)).
| Community | County | Population (2024 est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | the City of Virginia Beach | 454,808 |
| Chesapeake | the City of Chesapeake | 254,997 |
| Richmond | the City of Richmond | 233,655 |
| Norfolk | the City of Norfolk | 231,105 |
| Newport News | the City of Newport News | 183,056 |
| Alexandria | the City of Alexandria | 159,102 |
| Hampton | the City of Hampton | 137,596 |
| Suffolk | the City of Suffolk | 103,105 |
| Roanoke | the City of Roanoke | 97,912 |
| Portsmouth | the City of Portsmouth | 96,482 |
| Lynchburg | the City of Lynchburg | 80,301 |
| Harrisonburg | the City of Harrisonburg | 51,164 |
| Leesburg | Loudoun County | 49,831 |
| Blacksburg | Montgomery County | 45,452 |
| Charlottesville | the City of Charlottesville | 44,767 |
| Manassas | the City of Manassas | 43,616 |
| Danville | the City of Danville | 41,993 |
| Petersburg | the City of Petersburg | 34,058 |
| Fredericksburg | the City of Fredericksburg | 29,992 |
| Winchester | the City of Winchester | 27,800 |
| Staunton | the City of Staunton | 26,361 |
| Fairfax | the City of Fairfax | 26,340 |
| Salem | the City of Salem | 25,908 |
| Herndon | Fairfax County / Loudoun County | 25,180 |
| Waynesboro | the City of Waynesboro | 23,498 |
| Hopewell | the City of Hopewell | 22,970 |
| Christiansburg | Montgomery County | 22,632 |
| Culpeper | Culpeper County | 21,464 |
| Colonial Heights | the City of Colonial Heights | 18,674 |
| Radford | the City of Radford | 17,273 |
| Manassas Park | the City of Manassas Park | 16,611 |
| Vienna | Fairfax County | 16,562 |
| Bristol | the City of Bristol | 16,316 |
| Williamsburg | the City of Williamsburg | 16,030 |
| Front Royal | Warren County | 15,628 |
| Falls Church | the City of Falls Church | 15,034 |
| Martinsville | the City of Martinsville | 13,834 |
| Poquoson | the City of Poquoson | 12,854 |
| Warrenton | Fauquier County | 10,224 |
| Smithfield | Isle of Wight County | 9,032 |
| Purcellville | Loudoun County | 8,965 |
| Pulaski | Pulaski County | 8,805 |
| Franklin | the City of Franklin | 8,373 |
| Abingdon | Washington County | 8,316 |
| Wytheville | Wythe County | 8,160 |
| Vinton | Roanoke County | 8,059 |
| Ashland | Hanover County | 7,910 |
| Bedford | Bedford County | 7,823 |
| Lexington | the City of Lexington | 7,802 |
| South Boston | Halifax County | 7,795 |
| Farmville | Prince Edward County / Cumberland County | 7,578 |
| Strasburg | Shenandoah County | 7,290 |
| Bridgewater | Rockingham County | 6,826 |
| Galax | the City of Galax | 6,739 |
| Buena Vista | the City of Buena Vista | 6,581 |
| Dumfries | Prince William County | 5,978 |
| Woodstock | Shenandoah County | 5,954 |
| Covington | the City of Covington | 5,663 |
| Marion | Smyth County | 5,602 |
| Emporia | the City of Emporia | 5,402 |
| Orange | Orange County | 5,210 |
| Big Stone Gap | Wise County | 5,087 |
| Richlands | Tazewell County | 5,074 |
| Rocky Mount | Franklin County | 4,971 |
| South Hill | Mecklenburg County | 4,920 |
| Bluefield | Tazewell County | 4,871 |
| Berryville | Clarke County | 4,819 |
| Luray | Page County | 4,813 |
| Broadway | Rockingham County | 4,384 |
| Tazewell | Tazewell County | 4,302 |
| Colonial Beach | Westmoreland County | 4,038 |
| West Point | King William County | 3,529 |
| Norton | the City of Norton | 3,478 |
| Clifton Forge | Alleghany County | 3,385 |
| Blackstone | Nottoway County | 3,344 |
| Altavista | Campbell County | 3,332 |
| Chincoteague | Accomack County | 3,279 |
| Timberville | Rockingham County | 3,104 |
| Lebanon | Russell County | 3,093 |
| Elkton | Rockingham County | 3,073 |
| Grottoes | Rockingham County / Augusta County | 3,036 |
Neighboring states: District of Columbia · Kentucky · Maryland · North Carolina · Tennessee · West Virginia
How this service works
Investigator Consulting in Virginia
Delator Group is a private investigation firm licensed in Tennessee and headquartered in Nashville. In Virginia, Delator Group is not licensed as a private investigator or private investigative agency and does not perform, supervise or direct investigations. We review requests and refer them to independent investigators who hold the license Virginia requires. Those investigators contract with clients directly, set their own fees and are responsible for the work. Delator Group may receive compensation from participating investigators for referrals.
FAQ
Questions About Finding an Investigator in Virginia
Which Virginia communities have their own page?
Every incorporated Virginia city, town or village with more than 3,000 residents, plus every township or town government of that size, has its own page here, 81 in all. Smaller places are covered by the nearest page and the statewide guide.
Is Delator Group licensed in Virginia?
No. In Virginia, Delator Group provides investigator consulting and referral only. Investigations are performed by independently licensed Virginia investigators who contract with you directly.
Who licenses private investigators in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), Private Security Services, under Code of Virginia Title 9.1, Chapter 1, Article 4, including Section 9.1-139. A private investigation business needs a DCJS private security services business license, and each investigator it employs or contracts with must hold a DCJS private investigator registration.
How do I check an investigator's Virginia license?
Search the business on the DCJS online license verification tool, switch to the person search for the investigator's registration, and confirm both are current.
Is Virginia a one-party or two-party consent state?
Virginia is generally a one-party consent state. Under Code of Virginia Section 19.2-62(B)(2), a participant in a conversation, or someone with a participant's prior consent, may generally record it. Recording a conversation that no participant agreed to is a different matter and can be a crime. An attorney can confirm the details for your situation.