Parking Rules in Richmond, VA (2026)
8 verified parking rules for Richmond, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
RV & Boat Parking
Richmond bars parking or storing any recreational vehicle, a category the zoning code defines to include boats and boat trailers, in the front yard or a required side yard of a lot in an R or RO residential district. An RV also cannot be lived in outside an approved travel trailer park. Rear yards and driveways behind the front-yard line are the only places to keep one.
Richmond RV and Boat Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsRichmond City Code § 30-640.1; § 30-1220 .92
No recreational vehicle shall be occupied for dwelling purposes except within an approved travel trailer park nor shall any recreational vehicle be parked or stored in a front yard or required side yard of any lot in an R or RO district. ... Recreational vehicle means a vehicle towed or self-propelled on its own chassis or attached to the chassis of another vehicle and designed or used for temp...
Driveway Rules
Richmond caps driveways through a front yard at nine feet wide for single- and two-family dwellings, and bars a street-facing driveway altogether wherever the lot already has alley access. City Code § 30-402.8 applies in the R-1 and R-2 single-family districts, and corner lots face an added rule: no driveway may cross the lot's principal street frontage if another street or an alley can serve it.
Richmond Front-Yard Driveway Width Limit
Some RestrictionsRichmond City Code § 30-402.8
No driveway intersecting a street shall be permitted on a lot devoted to a dwelling use when alley access is available to serve such lot. In the case of a corner lot, no such driveway shall be permitted intersecting a street which constitutes the principal street frontage of a lot when other street frontage or alley access is available to serve the lot. Permitted driveways within front yards of...
Commercial & Oversized Vehicles
Richmond bans parking any motor vehicle over 6,500 pounds empty weight, plus any trailer, semitrailer or motor home, on streets or alleys along residential or mixed residential-commercial blocks. Exceptions cover active loading, Chief of Police permits, DPW street-work permits and nearby contractual work. Violators face a $120 fine.
Richmond Bars Large Trucks on Residential Streets
Significant RestrictionsRichmond City Code § 27-203
(a) It shall be unlawful for the owner, operator or driver of any motor vehicle with an empty weight exceeding 6,500 pounds, any trailer, semitrailer or any motor home to park such or permit such to be parked on any street or in any alley that is along a primarily residential or mixed residential-commercial block. This subsection shall not apply to: (1) Motor homes, motor vehicles, semitrailers...
Street Parking Limits
Richmond bars parking on sidewalks, in front of driveways, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a crosswalk, in bicycle lanes, and in 14 other specified locations, with the registered owner presumed responsible.
Richmond On-Street Parking Prohibitions
Some RestrictionsRichmond City Code § 27-197
No person shall park a vehicle, except as may be permitted in accordance with Chapter 24, Article II, Division 5 or when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places: On a sidewalk. In front of a public or private driveway. Within an intersection. Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant...
EV Charging
Richmond permits residential Level 2 EV charger installation with an electrical permit, and the city operates public charging stations in several garages and curbside locations downtown.
Parking: Electric Vehicle Charging
Few RestrictionsVa. Code § 55.1-1823.1
A. Except to the extent that the declaration or other recorded governing document provides otherwise, no association shall prohibit any lot owner from installing an electric vehicle charging station for the lot owner's personal use on property owned by the lot owner. An association may establish reasonable restrictions concerning the number, size, place, and manner of placement or installation ...
Abandoned Vehicles
Richmond classifies vehicles as abandoned after 72 hours on public property or if inoperable, unlicensed, or partially dismantled on private property per VA Code 46.2-1200 and City Code 27-220.
Parking: Abandoned Vehicles
Heavy RestrictionsVa. Code § 46.2-1200
As used in this article: "Abandoned motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer that: 1. Weighs at least 75 pounds; and 2. (i) Is left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours in violation of a state law or local ordinance; (ii) has remained for more than 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property's owner, regardless of whether it was brought ...
Loading Zones
Richmond curb loading zones cap non-loading parking at 30 minutes; vehicles actively unloading or picking up materials can stay longer during the zone's posted hours. Passenger vehicles may stop briefly for passengers or bundles but must yield to waiting delivery vehicles.
Richmond Curb Loading Zones: 30-Minute Limit
Some RestrictionsRichmond City Code § 27-214
No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle for any purpose or length of time longer than 30 minutes, other than for the expeditious unloading and delivery or pickup and loading of materials, in any place properly marked as a curb loading zone during hours when the provisions applicable to such zones are in effect.
Preferential Parking Districts
Richmond lets neighborhoods petition for a residential restricted parking district covering at least ten contiguous block faces if a majority of owners or occupants support it and utilization thresholds are met. Annual resident permits cost $25, with $10 temporary and $35 annual visitor passes available.
Richmond Residential Restricted Parking Districts
Some RestrictionsRichmond City Code § 27-279
The City Council may establish, change or terminate residential restricted parking districts within the City pursuant to the following criteria. Upon receiving an application from a neighborhood association or civic association for the establishment of a residential restricted parking district, the Director of Public Works shall administer the application process. The application for the establ...