Virginia AED laws: what AED owners need to know

Is an AED required at my organization?

It depends on what kind of organization you are. We found no Virginia law that requires AEDs in offices, shops or other workplaces in general. Virginia law does require them in these places:

• Health clubs. "Each health club location shall have a working automated external defibrillator" (Va. Code § 59.1-296.2:2, added in 2020). The Health Club Act doesn't cover certain nonprofits such as the YMCA, member-owned clubs, government facilities or certain employer staff gyms, among others (§ 59.1-296).
• Public schools. Each local school board "shall place an automated external defibrillator in every public elementary and secondary school in the local school division," and must have a plan for its placement, care and use (Va. Code § 22.1-274.4).
• Nursing facilities (regulation). Each nursing facility "shall have and maintain an automated external defibrillator" and staff trained to use it (12VAC5-371-190(G)).
• Assisted living facilities (regulation). "The facility shall have and maintain an AED for use as needed" (22VAC40-73-260(C)).

From July 1, 2028, localities must also have operational AEDs at their sports facilities and sporting events, in numbers set by size or attendance (Va. Code § 15.2-1808.1).

Inspection and maintenance

It depends. We found no general Virginia rule on how often an owner must inspect an AED, and no rule on keeping records. Some settings have upkeep duties:

• Health clubs must have a "working" AED at each location (§ 59.1-296.2:2).
• Public schools must plan for the AED's "placement, care, and use" (§ 22.1-274.4). Each public school's cardiac emergency plan must cover "Placing and routinely maintaining AEDs in the school building in accordance with nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines" (§ 22.1-271.9(B)(5)).
• Nursing and assisted living facilities must "have and maintain" an AED (12VAC5-371-190(G); 22VAC40-73-260(C)).
• Local government sports facilities, from July 1, 2028: AEDs must be "properly maintained and tested according to manufacturer's specifications" (§ 15.2-1808.1(F)).

Training

It depends. We found no Virginia training rule for AED owners in general. A person who in good faith and without pay uses an AED in an emergency "shall be deemed qualified" to do so (Va. Code § 8.01-225(A)(6)).

Some settings have training rules:

• Public schools. In buildings with 10 or more instructional and administrative staff, at least three employees must "have current certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of an automated external defibrillator"; in smaller buildings, at least two (Va. Code § 22.1-274(E)). The cardiac emergency plan must also cover AED training for staff such as school nurses, athletic trainers and coaches (§ 22.1-271.9(B)(8)).
• Nursing facilities must "have staff trained to use" the AED (12VAC5-371-190(G)).
• Assisted living facilities must have, at all times, at least one staff person with access to the AED who has had AED training within the past two years (22VAC40-73-260(C)).

Medical direction

Not addressed. None of the laws we read requires a physician's prescription, oversight or medical direction for an AED. The Good Samaritan law only protects a physician who serves "without compensation as a supervisor of an AED" and gives the owner medical advice in good faith, unless the physician is grossly negligent or commits willful misconduct (Va. Code § 8.01-225(B)).

Separately from state law, many AED models are sold on a prescription under FDA labeling; your supplier can tell you.

EMS notification

Not addressed for most owners. We found no Virginia law that requires a business to register its AED with EMS or a 911 center. From July 1, 2028, AEDs at local government sports facilities and events must be "registered with the local emergency medical services agency" (Va. Code § 15.2-1808.1(F)). Public schools must work with local emergency service providers to fit their cardiac emergency plan into local EMS protocols (§ 22.1-271.9(C)).

After the AED is used

Not addressed. None of the laws we read says what an owner must do after an AED is used, such as reporting the use to EMS, a physician or the state.

Signs and posted instructions

It depends. We found no sign rule for most owners. Public schools' cardiac emergency plans must cover "Placing clearly marked and easily accessible AEDs" at school sports venues, and making sure each AED "is identified with appropriate signage" and can be accessed and placed on an individual within three minutes (Va. Code § 22.1-271.9(B)(6), (7)). From July 1, 2028, AEDs at local government sports facilities and events need a "clearly marked and publicly accessible location" and signs (§ 15.2-1808.1(F)).

Good Samaritan immunity

Yes, with conditions. Virginia's Good Samaritan law, Va. Code § 8.01-225, protects:

• Rescuers. A person who "in good faith and without compensation" gives CPR or uses an AED on a sick or injured person "shall not be liable for acts or omissions resulting from the rendering of such emergency resuscitative treatments or procedures" (§ 8.01-225(A)(6)).
• AED operators, trainers and buyers. A person who operates an AED at an emergency, trains AED operators or orders AEDs is immune from civil liability for personal injury, if the person using the AED acts "as an ordinary, reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances." This doesn't cover gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct (§ 8.01-225(A)(7)).
• Property owners who keep an AED. A person who maintains an AED "located on real property owned or controlled by such person" is immune from civil liability for personal injury from its use in an emergency, unless the injury results from gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct of that person or an agent or employee (§ 8.01-225(A)(8)).
• School staff. Employees of a school board, or of a local health department approved to provide school health services, who on school property or at a school-sponsored event give emergency care, perform CPR or AED defibrillation, or operate, train others on, order or maintain an AED are not liable for ordinary negligence (§ 8.01-225(A)(9)).

For this section, "compensation" does not include the salary of a person who owns, orders or operates an AED for use at an emergency, or who trains AED operators in courses approved by the Board of Health (§ 8.01-225(E)). The law doesn't say whether this covers an employee who uses a workplace AED on the job; ask a lawyer.

What this means for your AED program

• Health clubs: keep a working AED at every location.
• Public schools: place an AED in every school, plan for its care and use, and keep the required number of trained staff in each building.
• Nursing and assisted living facilities: have and maintain an AED, with trained staff available.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions to keep each AED working. A dated record of each check isn't required by any Virginia law we found, but it shows the check happened.
• Outside local government sports facilities (from July 1, 2028; § 15.2-1808.1(F)(iii)), we found no Virginia rule that requires registration, but telling your local EMS agency where your AED is can help responders.

Sources

All read on 2026-11-13 on the official site, law.lis.virginia.gov.

Statutes (Code of Virginia):

• Va. Code § 8.01-225: emergency care immunity (last amended 2025)
• Va. Code §§ 59.1-296.2:2 and 59.1-296: Health Club Act (AED rule added 2020)
• Va. Code § 22.1-274.4: school AEDs (amended 2023)
• Va. Code § 22.1-274: school health services (amended 2026)
• Va. Code § 22.1-271.9: school cardiac emergency plans (added 2025)
• Va. Code § 15.2-1808.1: local government sports facilities (added 2026, effective July 1, 2028)

Regulations (Virginia Administrative Code; both amended effective November 4, 2026):

• 12VAC5-371-190: nursing facilities
• 22VAC40-73-260: assisted living facilities

We did not review every Virginia agency rule.

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FAQ

Is an AED required in Virginia gyms?

Yes, for health clubs under the Virginia Health Club Act: "Each health club location shall have a working automated external defibrillator" (Va. Code § 59.1-296.2:2). Some facilities, such as certain nonprofits like the YMCA and certain employer staff gyms, are outside the act (§ 59.1-296).

Do I have to register my AED in Virginia?

We found no Virginia law that requires a business to register its AED with EMS or a 911 center. From July 1, 2028, localities must register the AEDs at their sports facilities and events with the local EMS agency (Va. Code § 15.2-1808.1).

Does Virginia's Good Samaritan law protect businesses that own an AED?

Yes, with conditions. A person who maintains an AED on property they own or control is immune from civil liability for injuries from its emergency use, except for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct by that person or an agent or employee (Va. Code § 8.01-225(A)(8)).