Richmond, VA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)

Section 19-110, "Loitering: Obstructing free passage of others," is Richmond's general-purpose sidewalk obstruction ordinance and functions as the City's sit-lie rule. Its definitions section is broad: "loiter" means "to stand around or remain at, to sit or lie upon, or to park or remain parked in a motor vehicle at any public place or any place open to the public," and "public place" is defined to expressly include "any public street, road, highway, bridge, curb, alley, alleyway, sidewalk, crosswalk, walkway area, or other public way," along with parks, plazas, and public buildings and grounds.

The prohibited conduct itself is conduct-based, not a flat sit-lie ban: subsection (c)(1) makes it unlawful to loiter "so as to unreasonably hinder or obstruct the free normal flow or passage of pedestrians or vehicles," (c)(2) bars blocking or obstructing free access to an entrance of any place open to the public, and (c)(3) bars obstructing, molesting or interfering with a person on a public right-of-way in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to fear for personal safety. A separate clause, (c)(5), targets loitering in streets or highways to engage a stopped vehicle's occupant in conversation. The section explicitly protects First Amendment activity: subsection (d) states nothing in the section "shall be construed to prohibit a lawful assembly or lawful picketing."

The ordinance carries a serious misdemeanor grade for loitering offenses: subsection (e) makes any violation a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable under Richmond City Code § 1-16 by a fine of up to $2,500.00, up to 12 months in jail, or both. The Code cites Virginia Code § 18.2-404, the state's own obstructing-free-passage statute, as the state law reference underlying the local ordinance.