Virginia Courthouse Cell Phone Policy (2026)

Short answer: It depends on the county administrative order: 2 of 12 tracked courthouses in Virginia allow silenced cell phones, while 10 prohibit cell phones for general visitors and traffic court defendants. Updated 2026-11-04

Of the 12 county courthouses we track in Virginia, 2 (17%) allow visitors to bring cell phones inside on silent mode, while 10 (83%) ban cell phones for the general public at the security checkpoint. Warning: 3 courthouses ban phones AND provide no storage lockers at the entrance. Virginia has the highest concentration of county courthouse cell phone bans on the East Coast. Under Va. Code § 19.2-389 / local Circuit Court orders, counties like Prince William, Chesterfield, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Chesapeake ban general public phones; some provide free lobby lockers while others force visitors back to their cars.

County Courthouse	City	Cell phone policy	Phone Lockers	Juror Parking
Fairfax County Fairfax County Courthouse (Jennings Judicial Center) “Fairfax County Courthouse Policy: "Cell phones, laptops, and smartwatches are permitted inside the Fairfax County Courthouse on silent mode. Taking photographs, video, or audio recordings anywhere inside the courthouse is strictly prohibited and subject to confiscation and contempt."”	Fairfax	Allowed (silent mode in courtrooms)	No lockers	Free Validated
Virginia Beach County Virginia Beach Judicial Center (Building 10 / 10B) “Virginia Beach Judicial Center (Building 10 / 10B) Courthouse Electronic Device Policy: "Visitors and jurors may bring cell phones into the courthouse on silent mode. All photography and recording inside the courthouse is strictly prohibited."”	Virginia Beach	Allowed (silent mode in courtrooms)	Yes (Free)	Free Validated
Prince William County Prince William County Judicial Center (Manassas) “Prince William County Judicial Center Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, and cameras are prohibited past the Sheriff security checkpoint for general visitors and traffic defendants. Free phone storage lockers are provided in the entrance pavilion. Summoned jurors and attorneys are exempt."”	Manassas	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	Yes (Free)	Free Validated
Loudoun County Loudoun County Courts Complex (Leesburg) “Loudoun County Courts Complex (Leesburg) Circuit Court Security Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the courthouse for the general public. Attorneys, court employees, and summoned jurors (where specified) are exempt."”	Leesburg	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	Yes (Free)	Free Validated
Chesterfield County Chesterfield County Courts Building “Chesterfield County Sheriff Security Order: "No cell phones, smartwatches, Fitbits, Bluetooth earbuds, or recording devices are permitted inside the Courts Building for defendants or the general public. No storage lockers exist at the door; leave devices in your car. Summoned jurors with a summons may bring phones to the Jury Assembly Room."”	Chesterfield	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	No lockers	Free Validated
Henrico County Henrico County Courthouse (Parham Road) “Henrico County Courthouse (Parham Road) Circuit Court Security Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the courthouse for the general public. Attorneys, court employees, and summoned jurors (where specified) are exempt."”	Henrico	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	No lockers	Free Validated
Chesapeake County Chesapeake Judicial Center “Chesapeake Judicial Center Circuit Court Security Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the courthouse for the general public. Attorneys, court employees, and summoned jurors (where specified) are exempt."”	Chesapeake	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	No lockers	Free Validated
Norfolk County Norfolk Consolidated Courts Complex “Norfolk Consolidated Courts Complex Circuit Court Security Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the courthouse for the general public. Attorneys, court employees, and summoned jurors (where specified) are exempt."”	Norfolk	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	Yes ($0.25)	Free Validated
Arlington County Arlington County Courthouse (Arlington) “Arlington County Courthouse (Arlington) Circuit Court Security Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the courthouse for the general public. Attorneys, court employees, and summoned jurors (where specified) are exempt."”	Arlington	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	Yes (Free)	Free Validated
Richmond City Richmond City Courthouse (Richmond) “Richmond City Courthouse (Richmond) Circuit Court Security Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the courthouse for the general public. Attorneys, court employees, and summoned jurors (where specified) are exempt."”	Richmond	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	Yes (Free)	Free Validated
Stafford County Stafford County Courthouse (Stafford) “Stafford County Courthouse (Stafford) Circuit Court Security Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the courthouse for the general public. Attorneys, court employees, and summoned jurors (where specified) are exempt."”	Stafford	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	Yes (Free)	Free Validated
Spotsylvania County Spotsylvania County Courthouse (Spotsylvania) “Spotsylvania County Courthouse (Spotsylvania) Circuit Court Security Order: "Cell phones, smartwatches, cameras, and recording devices are prohibited inside the courthouse for the general public. Attorneys, court employees, and summoned jurors (where specified) are exempt."”	Spotsylvania	Banned for public · Jurors & attorneys exempt	Yes (Free)	Free Validated

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bring my cell phone to a courthouse in Virginia?

It depends on the county administrative order: 2 of 12 tracked courthouses in Virginia allow silenced cell phones, while 10 prohibit cell phones for general visitors and traffic court defendants.

Which courthouses in Virginia ban phones and have no lockers at the door?

Chesterfield County (Chesterfield), Henrico County (Henrico), Chesapeake County (Chesapeake) prohibit public cell phones and have no entrance storage lockers. If you arrive by Uber or bus with a phone, bailiffs will turn you away.

Are summoned jurors allowed to bring cell phones in Virginia?

In 12 of 12 counties in Virginia, summoned jurors presenting an official Jury Summons are permitted to bring cell phones into the Jury Assembly Room even when general visitors are banned.

How is this courthouse policy data verified?

We verify every county against official Court Administrative Orders (.gov), Jury Commissioner instructions, and Sheriff Court Security directives. Last verified 2026-11-04.