Richmond's Property Maintenance: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles property maintenance a little differently. In Richmond, Virginia, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Trash Bin Storage

Richmond City Code 38-32 requires residents to store Supercans out of public view on non-collection days. Cans stored in front yard or public right-of-way between collections violate property maintenance standards.

Key details: Storage: Behind front building line. Code: Richmond 38-32. Enforcement: Property Maintenance Division. Fine: $50-$100. Exempt: Collection day only.

First offense: warning. Second: $50 civil penalty. Continuing violation: $100 per day until corrected.

Property Blight

Richmond actively enforces blight abatement under VA Code 36-49.1:1 and City Code Chapter 50. Properties with peeling paint, broken windows, collapsed porches, or accumulated debris may be declared blighted and subject to spot blight abatement including receivership or demolition.

Key details: Authority: VA Code 36-49.1:1. Notice: 30-day abatement plan. Remedy: Receivership or demolition. Lien: Full cost plus fees. Enforcement: PDR Code Enforcement.

Failure to abate: lien for full repair or demolition cost, plus administrative fee. Criminal penalty for occupying condemned property: Class 3 misdemeanor.

Compared to other cities, Richmond takes a harder line on property blight. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Vacant Lot Maintenance

Richmond requires vacant lots to be maintained free of trash, overgrowth, and standing water. Grass and weeds over 12 inches violate City Code 34-50. Vacant buildings must be registered annually under vacant building ordinance.

Key details: Grass Limit: 12 inches. Registration: Annual for vacants. Fee Escalation: Increases with vacancy years. Code: Richmond 34-50. Remedy: City mow and lien.

Overgrowth: city mows at owner expense plus $150 administrative fee, lien on property. Unregistered vacant building: $250 plus daily penalties.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Richmond City Code 90-40 requires property owners and occupants to clear snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property within 6 hours after snowfall ends (daylight hours). Nighttime snow must be cleared by noon next day.

Key details: Timeframe: 6 hours after snowfall. Overnight Snow: Clear by noon. Applies To: Owners and occupants. Code: Richmond 90-40. Fine: $100.

Failure to clear: $100 civil penalty per occurrence. City may arrange clearance and bill the owner.

Garage Sale Rules

Richmond permits residential yard and garage sales without a business license. Limit: 2 sales per calendar year per residence, each not exceeding 3 consecutive days. No permit fee for typical residential sales.

Key details: Sales Per Year: 2 maximum. Duration: 3 consecutive days. Permit: Not required for residential. Hours: Daylight only. Items: Personal property only.

Exceeding 2 sales per year or 3 days per sale: classified as unlicensed retail, subject to $250 business license violation plus back taxes.

The rules around garage sale rules in Richmond lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Richmond's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Richmond is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Richmond's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.