# Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2130: Definitions > Virginia · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2130 ## Section - **Citation:** Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2130 - **Heading:** Definitions - **Jurisdiction:** Virginia - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Virginia Code / Title 54.1 / Subtitle II / Chapter 21 / Article 3 / Section 54.1-2130 ## Text As used in this article: "Agency" means every relationship in which a real estate licensee acts for or represents a person as an agent by such person's express authority in a commercial or residential real estate transaction, unless a different legal relationship is intended and is agreed to as part of the brokerage agreement. Nothing in this article shall prohibit a licensee and a client from agreeing in writing to a brokerage relationship under which the licensee acts as an independent contractor or which imposes on a licensee obligations in addition to those provided in this article. If a licensee agrees to additional obligations, however, the licensee shall be responsible for the additional obligations agreed to with the client in the brokerage agreement. A real estate licensee who enters into a brokerage relationship based upon a written brokerage agreement that specifically states that the real estate licensee is acting as an independent contractor and not as an agent shall have the obligations agreed to by the parties in the brokerage agreement, and such real estate licensee and its employees shall comply with the provisions of subdivisions A 3 through 7 and subsections B and E of § 54.1-2131 ; subdivisions A 4 through 8 and subsections B and E of § 54.1-2132 ; subdivisions A 3 through 7 and subsections B and E of § 54.1-2133 ; subdivisions A 4 through 8 and subsections B and E of § 54.1-2134 ; and subdivisions A 2 through 6 and subsections C and D of § 54.1-2135 but otherwise shall have no obligations under §§ 54.1-2131 through 54.1-2135 . Any real estate licensee who acts for or represents a client in an agency relationship in a residential real estate transaction shall either represent such client as a standard agent or a limited service agent. "Agent" means a real estate licensee who is acting as (i) a standard agent in a residential real estate transaction, (ii) a limited service agent in a residential real estate transaction, or (iii) an agent in a commercial real estate transaction. "Brokerage agreement" means the written agreement creating a brokerage relationship between a client and a licensee. The brokerage agreement shall state whether the real estate licensee will represent the client as an agent or an independent contractor. "Brokerage relationship" means the contractual relationship between a client and a real estate licensee who has been engaged by such client to provide brokerage services. "Brokerage services" means (i) those activities described in subsection A of § 54.1-2131 , subsection A of § 54.1-2132 , subsection A of § 54.1-2133 , and subsection A of § 54.1-2134 ; (ii) activities requiring the exercise of a licensee's professional judgment, discretion, advice, or counsel; or (iii) activities otherwise performed in connection with procuring a seller, buyer, option, tenant, or landlord ready, able, and willing to sell, buy, option, exchange, or rent real estate on behalf of the client with whom the licensee has an executed brokerage agreement. "Client" means a person who has entered into a brokerage relationship with a licensee. "Commercial real estate" means any real estate other than (i) real estate containing one to four residential units or (ii) real estate classified for assessment purposes under § 58.1-3230 . Commercial real estate shall not include single family residential units, including condominiums, townhouses, apartments, or homes in a subdivision when leased on a unit by unit basis even though these units may be part of a larger building or parcel of real estate containing more than four residential units. "Common source information company" means any person, firm, or corporation that is a source, compiler, or supplier of information regarding real estate for sale or lease and other data and includes, but is not limited to, multiple listing services. on a unit by unit basis even though these units may be part of a larger building or parcel of real estate containing more than four residential units. "Common source information company" means any person, firm, or corporation that is a source, compiler, or supplier of information regarding real estate for sale or lease and other data and includes, but is not limited to, multiple listing services. "Customer" means a person who has not entered into a brokerage relationship with a licensee but for whom a licensee performs ministerial acts in a real estate transaction. Unless a licensee enters into a brokerage relationship with such person, it shall be presumed that such person is a customer of the licensee rather than a client. "Designated agent" or "designated representative" means a licensee who has been assigned by a principal or supervising broker to represent a client when a different client is also represented by such principal or broker in the same transaction. A designated representative shall only act as an independent contractor. "Dual agent" or "dual representative" means a licensee who has a brokerage relationship with both seller and buyer, or both landlord and tenant, in the same real estate transaction. A dual agent has an agency relationship under brokerage agreements with the clients. A dual representative has an independent contractor relationship under brokerage agreements with the clients. A dual representative shall only act as an independent contractor. "Independent contractor" means a real estate licensee who (i) enters into a brokerage relationship based upon a brokerage agreement that specifically states that the real estate licensee is acting as an independent contractor and not as an agent; (ii) shall have the obligations agreed to by the parties in the brokerage agreement; and (iii) shall comply with the provisions of subdivisions A 3 through 7 and subsections B and E of § 54.1-2131 ; subdivisions A 4 through 8 and subsections B and E of § 54.1-2132 ; subdivisions A 3 through 7 and subsections B and E of § 54.1-2133 ; subdivisions A 4 through 8 and subsections B and E of § 54.1-2134 ; and subdivisions A 2 through 6 and subsections C and D of § 54.1-2135 but otherwise shall have no obligations under §§ 54.1-2131 through 54.1-2135 . "Licensee" means real estate brokers and salespersons as defined in Article 1 (§ 54.1-2100 et seq.). "Limited service agent" means a licensee who acts for or represents a client in a residential real estate transaction pursuant to a brokerage agreement that provides that the limited service agent will not provide one or more of the duties set forth in subdivision A 2 of § 54.1-2131 , subdivision A 3 of § 54.1-2132 , subdivision A 2 of § 54.1-2133 , and subdivision A 3 of § 54.1-2134 . A limited service agent shall have the obligations set out in the brokerage agreement, except that a limited service agent shall provide the client, at the time of entering the brokerage agreement, copies of any and all disclosures required by federal or state law, or local disclosures expressly authorized by state law, and shall disclose to the client the following in writing: (i) the rights and obligations of the client under the Virginia Residential Property Disclosure Act (§ 55.1-700 et seq.); (ii) if the client is selling a condominium, the rights and obligations of the client to deliver to the purchasers, or to receive as purchaser, the resale certificate required by § 55.1-2309 ; and (iii) if the client is selling a property subject to the Property Owners' Association Act (§ 55.1-1800 et seq.), the rights and obligations of the client to deliver to the purchasers, or to receive as purchaser, the resale certificate required by § 55.1-2309 . "Ministerial acts" means those routine acts that a licensee can perform for a person that do not involve discretion or the exercise of the licensee's own judgment. lling a property subject to the Property Owners' Association Act (§ 55.1-1800 et seq.), the rights and obligations of the client to deliver to the purchasers, or to receive as purchaser, the resale certificate required by § 55.1-2309 . "Ministerial acts" means those routine acts that a licensee can perform for a person that do not involve discretion or the exercise of the licensee's own judgment. "Property management agreement" means the written agreement between a property manager and the owner of real estate for the management of the real estate. "Residential real estate" means real property containing from one to four residential dwelling units and the sale of lots containing one to four residential dwelling units. "Showing property" means (i) taking a prospective buyer or tenant to a property, obtaining access to such property, and taking the individual through the property, including entering a property to provide a live, virtual tour to a prospective buyer or tenant who is not physically present; (ii) responding to questions or providing information about such property that is not of public record while at the property; or (iii) otherwise providing brokerage services while at the property. "Standard agent" means a licensee who acts for or represents a client in an agency relationship in a residential real estate transaction. A standard agent shall have the obligations as provided in this article and any additional obligations agreed to by the parties in the brokerage agreement. 1995, cc. 741 , 813 ; 2006, c. 627 ; 2008, cc. 851 , 871 ; 2011, c. 461 ; 2012, c. 750 ; 2016, c. 334 ; 2023, cc. 387 , 388 ; 2025, cc. 479 , 495 . ## Nearby sections - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2130 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2130.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2131 Licensees engaged by sellers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2131.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2132 Licensees engaged by buyers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2132.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2133 Licensees engaged by landlords to lease property](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2133.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2134 Licensees engaged by tenants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2134.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2135 Licensees engaged to manage real estate](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2135.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2136 Preconditions to brokerage relationship](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2136.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2137 Commencement and termination of brokerage relationships; brokerage agreements required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2137.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2138 Disclosure of brokerage relationship in residential real estate transactions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2138.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2138.1 Limited service agent in a residential real estate transaction, contract disclosure required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2138.1.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2138.2 Duty to disclose ownership interest in specific real property](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2138.2.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2139 Disclosed dual agency and dual representation authorized in a residential real estate transaction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2139.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2139.1 Designated standard agency or designated representation authorized in a residential real estate transaction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2139.1.md) - [Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2139.01 Disclosed dual agency and dual representation in commercial real estate transactions authorized](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2139.01.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_VA_T54.1_SII_C21_A3_S54.1-2130. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.