Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-41 Easements for installation of utility facilities and drainage purposes.
Sec. 25-41. - Easements for installation of utility facilities and drainage purposes.
(a) Easements across lots or easements centered on rear or side lot lines shall be provided in a subdivision when necessary for the installation of utilities and for surface and subsurface water drainage purposes whenever necessary to provide such services in the subdivision or in the areas beyond its boundaries. They shall be at least 12 feet in width. However, when an easement is for surface drainage only, it need be of no greater width than, in the judgment of the City, the drainage area requires.
(b) Whenever a subdivision is traversed by a way or place, the origin of which is the result of the forces of nature, having a bed, sides or banks through which water flows continuously or intermittently in a particular direction, and whenever a subdivision is traversed by any other way, place or device installed to aid natural drainage and which does not substantially change the course or direction of the flow of water, there shall be provided an easement conforming substantially with the boundaries of such way, place or device, together with the right to use such additional land abutting thereon as is necessary to maintain such way, place or device for the unobstructed flow of water therein.
(Code 1993, § 26-41; Code 2004, § 94-41; Code 2015, § 25-41; Code 2020, § 25-41)