Yards.
Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.15
in effectSec. 30-413.15. - Yards.
Yard regulations in the R-8 district shall be as follows (see Article VI, Divisions 4 and 9 of this chapter):
(1) Front yard. There shall be a front yard with a depth of not less than ten feet and not greater than 18 feet, provided that:
a. Where existing buildings are located on one or both abutting lots along the same street frontage, the front yard shall not be less than the front yard provided for the existing building closest to the street but in no case greater than 18 feet.
b. On a corner lot where an existing building is located on an abutting lot or across an alley from an adjacent lot along the same street frontage, the front yard shall be not less than the front yard provided for such existing building but not more than 18 feet.
(2) Side yards. Side yards shall be provided as follows:
a. Dwelling uses and buildings accessory thereto. There shall be side yards of not less than three feet in width except where buildings are attached or where the zero-lot-line option is utilized.
b. All other uses and buildings. There shall be side yards of not less than five feet in width.
(3) Side yard: zero-lot-line option. One side yard for a single-family detached dwelling may be equal to zero, provided that:
a. The side yard on the opposite side of the same lot shall be not less than six feet in width, and in no case shall the separation between buildings on abutting lots be less than six feet.
b. Not less than 50 percent of the overall depth of the dwelling unit shall be provided along the designated zero-lot-line, and doors, windows or similar openings in the building wall facing the designated zero-lot-line shall comply with the requirements of the Uniform Statewide Building Code.
c. A perpetual easement of not less than five feet in unobstructed width shall be provided on the adjacent lot to permit maintenance of structures abutting a zero-lot-line, which easement shall provide for encroachment of siding, belt courses, eaves, gutters, normal roof overhangs and similar architectural features. Such easement and the buildable area of each lot shall be shown on the subdivision plat, if applicable, and shall be described in the deed for each property.
d. For purposes of this subsection, a margin of error of not greater than two-tenths of one foot shall be applicable to the location of a structure abutting a designated zero-lot-line, provided that any encroachment onto an abutting lot shall be accommodated by a recorded easement.
(4) Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard with a depth of not less than five feet.
(5) Location of accessory buildings. Except as provided in Section 30-680.1, accessory buildings shall be located only in a rear yard as defined in Article XII of this chapter but not within five feet of the rear lot line.
(Code 2004, § 114-413.15; Code 2015, § 30-413.15; Code 2020, § 30-413.15; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010; Ord. No. 2020-171, § 1(30-413.15), 9-28-2020)
Source: City of Richmond, Virginia, Code (2026 recodification) and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/va/richmond/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH30ZO_ARTIVDIRE_DIV7.2URREDI_S30-413.15YAFetched: 11/8/2026