Richmond is an urban jurisdiction and is not in a designated wildland-urban interface or wildfire hazard zone. The Virginia Department of Forestry tracks wildfire risk statewide, but Richmond's urban fabric means residential wildfire regulations focus on general brush clearance rather than defensible space mandates.
Unlike California or Colorado jurisdictions, Richmond has no WUI overlay, no defensible-space clearance requirement, and no Chapter 7-style Fire Hazard Severity Zone map. The Virginia Department of Forestry classifies the City of Richmond as low wildfire risk under the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment. The applicable state law is VA Code §10.1-1142, which imposes a statewide 4 PM burn law from February 15 through April 30 prohibiting open fires before 4 PM within 300 feet of woodland, grassland, or brush. Richmond layers an outright city ban on open burning under City Code Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection), so residential brush burning is not permitted regardless of wildfire season. The James River Park System and wooded greenways like Bryan Park rely on Richmond Fire Department coordination with VDOF for any brush or wildland fire response, and Station 13 on Forest Hill Ave is the primary urban-wildland response unit.
Illegal open burn under Chapter 12: Class 3 misdemeanor with fine up to $500. VA Code §10.1-1142 violation during the 4 PM Burn Law season: Class 3 misdemeanor, $100-$500 fine, plus full suppression cost liability.
Richmond, VA
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Richmond, VA
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Richmond, VA
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Richmond, VA
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Richmond, VA
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Richmond, VA
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See how Richmond's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
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