RULE Virginia | Category Rules | Official Guidelines

[StateGigs]

Welcome to the Virginia category. This section is designed for listings and discussions related to:

• FOR HIRE – Individuals or businesses offering their services
• HIRING – Employers looking to fill positions
• SERVICES – Professional, trade, or local service offerings
• LOCAL EVENT – Community gatherings, announcements, and public events

All posts, replies, and content shared within this category must strictly comply with:

1. Applicable Virginia State Laws
2. Virginia Labor & Employment Regulations
3. Virginia Business & Commerce Codes
4. Google's Content & User-Contributed Policies

Our Commitment to Compliance​

We take legal and policy compliance seriously. Our platform is committed to operating in full accordance with Virginia state regulations, Virginia labor laws, and Google's community standards. Virginia has a comprehensive legal framework governing employment, business practices, and public postings, and we are dedicated to upholding them.

While we strive to keep our rules and references as accurate and up-to-date as possible, please note that laws and policies can change. The information and links provided here serve as our primary guidance and roadmap, but they may not reflect the absolute latest amendments.

We believe in transparency and accountability – for both our users and our team.

Official References​

To ensure clarity and eliminate excuses like "I didn't know" or "I couldn't find it," we strongly encourage all users to review the official sources directly:

Reference	Official Link
Code of Virginia – Search all state laws, including labor, business, and professions codes	https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) – Labor law compliance, wage and hour information, and workplace safety	https://doli.virginia.gov/
Virginia DOLI – Labor Laws – Official labor law information and resources	https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/virginia-labor-laws/
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) – Professional licensing and contractor regulation	https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/
DPOR – Board for Contractors – Contractor licensing classes, classifications, and application information	https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/boards/contractors
Virginia Secretary of State – Business Services – Business entity filings and compliance	https://www.scc.virginia.gov/
Virginia Attorney General – Consumer Protection – Consumer rights and business compliance resources	https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection
Google User-Contributed Content Policy – Spam, harassment, illegal content, and community standards	https://support.google.com/googleshopping/answer/10012515
Google Terms of Service – General platform rules and enforcement	https://policies.google.com/terms

These are the foundational documents we use to evaluate content and enforce our rules.

Virginia Labor & Employment Laws – What You Need to Know​

Virginia law sets clear standards for employers, workers, and service providers. All hiring and service posts must comply with the following:

• Minimum Wage: Virginia's standard minimum wage is $12.77 per hour effective January 1, 2026. The rate is adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). Future increases are scheduled: $13.75 per hour effective January 1, 2027, and $15.00 per hour effective January 1, 2028. The minimum cash wage for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour, with employers required to make up the difference if tips combined with the cash wage do not equal the full minimum wage. Virginia law removed the agricultural exception to the Minimum Wage Act in 2026.
• Overtime Pay: Virginia has its own Overtime Wage Act that requires 1.5x the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek for employees of derivative air carriers. For most other employers, Virginia follows the federal FLSA standard, requiring 1.5x the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek, with the federal salary exemption threshold remaining at $684 per week ($35,568/year).
• Worker Misclassification: Virginia strictly enforces worker classification standards. Under Virginia Code § 40.1-28.7:7, an individual performing services for remuneration is presumed to be an employee, and the payer is presumed to be the employer, unless it is shown that the individual is an independent contractor as determined under Internal Revenue Service guidelines. Misclassified workers may bring a civil action for damages and attorney fees. Effective July 1, 2026, HB 238 significantly strengthened enforcement by broadening the definition of "wages" to include misclassification damages, setting a three-year statute of limitations for misclassification claims, and imposing joint and several liability on general contractors for wage violations committed by subcontractors. The Virginia Attorney General is authorized to investigate and pursue civil actions for wage violations.
• Licensing & Registration Requirements: Virginia requires licensing for many professions through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Contractor licensing is determined by project value:
  • Class A License: Required for single projects of $120,000 or more, or total annual volume of $750,000 or more.
  • Class B License: Required for single projects between $10,000 and $119,999, or total annual volume between $150,000 and $749,999.
  • Class C License: Required for single projects between $1,000 and $9,999, with total annual volume not exceeding $150,000.
  Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other specialty trades require a licensed qualified individual in addition to the firm license. Effective September 1, 2025, Class C applicants need only one year of experience (previously two), and the look-back period for adverse financial information was reduced from five years to three years. The Board for Contractors requires eight hours of pre-license education for all new contractor licenses. Anyone posting professional services must verify they hold the appropriate state licenses or local permits and will provide proof upon request.
• Wage Transparency (Effective July 1, 2026): Under the Virginia Wage Transparency Act (HB 636/SB 215), employers are prohibited from seeking or relying on a prospective employee's salary history and must disclose a good-faith salary range in all public and internal job postings. Employers may not retaliate against applicants who refuse to provide salary history. Violations may result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 for a first violation and $5,000 for subsequent violations, with a 15-business-day cure provision for posting violations.
• Non-Compete Restrictions (Effective July 1, 2026): Under SB 170, a covenant not to compete is unenforceable if the employer terminates the employee without cause and does not provide severance or other monetary payment. Additionally, HB 627/SB 128 prohibits entering into or enforcing non-compete agreements with health care professionals (those licensed by the Boards of Medicine, Nursing, Counseling, Optometry, Psychology, or Social Work), regardless of income level. These provisions apply prospectively to agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2026.
• Virginia Human Rights Act (Effective July 1, 2026): The VHRA has been significantly expanded. The employer threshold has been lowered from 15 to 5 employees, and the statute of limitations for filing administrative discrimination charges has been extended from 300 days to two years. Employees may file a civil complaint if more than 180 days have passed since filing an administrative claim.
• Voluntary Emergency Responders (Effective July 1, 2026): Under SB 100, employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who miss work due to serving as volunteer emergency responders during emergencies. Employees must provide at least one hour advance notice and an incident report upon return to work. Employers are not required to pay for time missed but must allow use of accrued PTO or sick leave.
• Notice Requirements: Employers must display required labor law postings in the workplace, including information about workers' compensation, minimum wage, unemployment compensation, and anti-discrimination protections.

Enforcement & Penalties​

To maintain a safe, lawful, and respectful environment for everyone, we enforce the following:

• All posts and comments must comply with Virginia state law, Virginia labor regulations, Virginia business codes, and Google policies.
• If a post or reply is reportedand found to be in violation, we will:
  1. Investigate promptly – Our team reviews every report in a timely manner.
  2. Take immediate action – Content that violates our rules will be removed, edited, or hidden without prior notice.
  3. Apply penalties– The responsible user will receive:
     • A formal warning or notification
     • Penalty points added to their account
     • Repeat or severe violations may result in temporary suspension or permanent ban from the platform.

We reserve the right to take action against any content we deem inappropriate, even if it is not explicitly listed in this guideline.

Note: While our moderation team strives for consistency, all enforcement actions and interpretations of these rules are at the sole discretion of StateGigs Administration. Our decisions are final.

User Responsibility​

By posting in this Virginia category, you agree that:

• You have reviewed and understood the referenced laws and policies.
• You are solely responsible for the accuracy and legality of your content.
• You will not use ignorance of the rules as a defense if a violation occurs.
• If you are offering professional services, you hold any required Virginia state licenses (DPOR registrations, contractor licenses, or professional certifications) or local city/county permits and will provide proof upon request.

We are not legal experts, and this guidance is provided in good faith to help our community stay compliant. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure your posts meet all current legal and policy requirements.

Questions or Concerns?​

If you're unsure whether your post complies, or if you need clarification on any rule, feel free to reach out to our moderation team before posting. We're here to help – but we're also here to enforce.

Disclaimer – Governing Law​

This platform and its operations are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the state-specific category in which content is posted. By using this site, you agree that any legal disputes or claims arising from your use of the platform shall be resolved exclusively under Delaware jurisdiction. While we strive to align our category rules with applicable local laws, our governing framework remains rooted in Delaware law, and all enforcement actions are taken accordingly.

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Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us keep this platform lawful, professional, and fair for everyone.

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StateGigs Administration