CITY MARKETS

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 8, art. IX

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-431 Definitions.

Sec. 8-431. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Goods, wares and merchandise means those products usually offered for retail sale. Market areas means the market areas described in Section 8-433. Products includes, but is not limited to, farm or domestic food products, including vegetables, fruits, meats, poultry, seafood, milk, butter, cream, other dairy products, candies, bakery products, eggs, flowers and seasonal greenery; and further includes, but is not limited to, metal works, arts, handcrafts, glass and pottery items, leather and woolen goods, textiles and antiques and collectibles, imported items and nonfarm items. Vendor means every person who sells or offers for sale products, goods, wares or merchandise from premises owned or leased by such person, located in the market areas. (Code 1993, § 8-256; Code 2004, § 26-516; Code 2015, § 8-431; Code 2020, § 8-431; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-432 Market areas established.

Sec. 8-432. - Market areas established. The areas defined in Section 8-433 as market areas are established and set apart for the sale by vendors of products, goods, wares and merchandise and as approved by the Chief Administrative Officer. (Code 1993, § 8-257; Code 2004, § 26-517; Code 2015, § 8-432; Code 2020, § 8-432; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-433 Description of market areas.

Sec. 8-433. - Description of market areas. The market areas for the City shall be as follows: (1) Farmers' market. The boundaries of the farmers' market area and the streets forming parts thereof shall be as follows: a. The paved parking areas in the center of 17th Street between Main Street and Franklin Street and between Franklin Street and Grace Street and the sidewalks contiguous thereto; b. Grace Street, including the sidewalks on both sides thereof, between the east line of 17th Street and the west line of 20th Street; and c. 19th Street, including the sidewalks on both sides thereof, between the north line of Main Street and the south line of Grace Street. (2) Other market areas. Other market areas and the boundaries of such market areas and any streets forming parts thereof may be created by the Council by ordinance. (Code 1993, § 8-258; Code 2004, § 26-518; Code 2015, § 8-433; Code 2020, § 8-433)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-434 Management and control of market areas.

Sec. 8-434. - Management and control of market areas. The management and control of the market areas defined in Section 8-433, except for maintenance of sidewalks, is vested in the Chief Administrative Officer. (Code 1993, § 8-259; Code 2004, § 26-519; Code 2015, § 8-434; Code 2020, § 8-434; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-435 Use of streets or sidewalks by vendors.

Sec. 8-435. - Use of streets or sidewalks by vendors. It shall be unlawful for any vendor to display or offer products, goods, wares and merchandise for sale on any part of the streets or sidewalks in the market areas, except with prior approval of the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof. Use of the sidewalk area contiguous to the property occupied by the vendor shall not exceed one-third of the width of the sidewalk and in no case shall exceed three feet. (Code 1993, § 8-260; Code 2004, § 26-520; Code 2015, § 8-435; Code 2020, § 8-435; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-436 Credentials for State growers.

Sec. 8-436. - Credentials for State growers. Credentials which authenticate status as a State grower shall be possession of a certificate issued by the State farm extension agent and any and all certificates required to transact business in the market areas, which are subject to verification by the appropriate authority or agency having jurisdiction. (Code 1993, § 8-261; Code 2004, § 26-521; Code 2015, § 8-436; Code 2020, § 8-436)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-437 Fees for using market areas.

Sec. 8-437. - Fees for using market areas. (a) The fees for use of the market areas shall be based upon the size of the vehicle, when applicable, and upon the space which the vendor is authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, to use and shall be as follows: (1) When the Farmer's Market is open for business, the 76 booth spaces in the open-air shed of the Farmers' Market in the block between Main Street and Franklin Street shall be leased for the fee of $10.00 each, per day. The special events fee shall be $30.00 per stall, per event. (2) For the privilege of parking a vehicle with a gross weight in excess of three tons, but having a body length of less than 20 feet, within the market areas at an appropriate space to be assigned for such vehicle by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, there shall be imposed a fee of $10.00 per day, which fee shall be payable in advance. (3) For the privilege of parking any vehicle or any combination of vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, the length of which exceeds a body length of 20 feet, within the market areas at an appropriate space to be assigned by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, there shall be imposed a fee of $20.00 per day, which fee shall be payable in advance. (4) Vendors requesting use of a 110 volt 20-amp circuit to connect an approved electrical appliance into the market's electrical service shall pay a fee of $10.00 per day for each circuit connection. There shall be no sharing of electrical circuits between vendors. (5) Vendors requesting use of a 208 volt circuit or 240 volt with a rating of 20 amps or more for the purpose of connecting an approved appliance into the market's electrical service shall pay a fee of $10.00 per day for each circuit connection. There shall be no sharing of electrical circuits between vendors. (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, a vehicle parking space may be provided within the market areas by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, to vendors leasing two or more booth spaces for a period of six months or longer, at no charge. (c) The Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, may negotiate the fee structure in Subsection (a) of this section to accommodate special arrangements for use of the market areas and if deemed appropriate may reassign leased or rented selling or booth spaces within the market areas to accommodate such arrangements. (Code 1993, § 8-262; Code 2004, § 26-522; Code 2015, § 8-437; Code 2020, § 8-437; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004; Ord. No. 2005-125-73, § 1, 5-23-2005; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-438 Prohibited acts of persons using leased space.

Sec. 8-438. - Prohibited acts of persons using leased space. It shall be unlawful for any person using leased space in any building in the market areas to: (1) Fail, refuse or neglect to keep the leased space in a clean and sanitary condition at all times; (2) Fail, refuse or neglect to dispose of refuse in a manner or at the place required by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof; (3) Store or display products for sale in a manner not approved by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof; (4) Use any space designated in the market areas by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, for use by the public for any purpose, except for the purpose of ingress to and egress from the leased space; (5) Sublease the space or transfer or assign the lease to another; or (6) Violate or fail, refuse or neglect to observe and comply with any appropriate rule or regulation adopted by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, in accordance with this article and relating to the use of the leased space or the market areas generally. (Code 1993, § 8-263; Code 2004, § 26-523; Code 2015, § 8-438; Code 2020, § 8-438; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-439 Rules and regulations.

Sec. 8-439. - Rules and regulations. (a) The Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, shall adopt rules and regulations designating places in the streets in the market areas or in any of them where vendors may sell or offer products for sale and prescribing the time and manner in which products may be sold, displayed or offered for sale. Such rules and regulations may be repealed, changed or modified at any time. In so doing, the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, shall give due consideration to the safe and convenient use of the streets by vehicles and pedestrians, the use thereof by police and fire vehicles and ambulances, and the safe and convenient use thereof by vendors and their customers for the purpose of selling and buying products. It shall be unlawful for any farmer to violate or fail, refuse or neglect to observe and comply with any such rule or regulation. (b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to divest the Chief of Police of the power conferred upon the Chief of Police by the Charter or other provisions of law relating to traffic, but the Chief of Police shall consult with the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, before exercising such power so that the objects and purposes of this section shall be reasonably attained and so that the rules and regulations adopted by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, will not conflict with the acts of the Chief of Police in the exercise of such power. (c) Failure to comply with any rule or regulation may, at the discretion of the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, result in exclusion from the market area for an appropriate period of time. (d) The Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, shall adopt rules and regulations that shall encompass the following: (1) Policies and procedures for overall operation of the market areas. (2) Restrictions of the quantities and types of products, goods, wares and merchandise displayed or sold within the market areas to ensure appropriate variety and availability to consumers. (3) Specification of the type, color and design of permits used to distinguish different categories of products offered for sale, which may include a special designation of State growers. (Code 1993, § 8-264; Code 2004, § 26-524; Code 2015, § 8-439; Code 2020, § 8-439; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-440 Sanitation; disposal of refuse.

Sec. 8-440. - Sanitation; disposal of refuse. Every vendor selling or offering products, goods, wares or merchandise for sale in the market areas shall keep the space in the street so used, to include the sidewalk contiguous to the owned or leased space, in a clean and sanitary condition at all times and shall dispose of refuse in a manner and at the place required by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof. (Code 1993, § 8-265; Code 2004, § 26-525; Code 2015, § 8-440; Code 2020, § 8-440; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-441 Designation of days and hours market areas open and closed.

Sec. 8-441. - Designation of days and hours market areas open and closed. The Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, shall adopt rules or regulations designating the days the market areas or any part of them shall be used by vendors selling or offering items for sale or otherwise open to the public and the time on such days when the market areas or any part of them shall be opened and closed. (Code 1993, § 8-266; Code 2004, § 26-526; Code 2015, § 8-441; Code 2020, § 8-441; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010; Ord. No. 2018-203, § 1, 9-24-2018)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-442 Breaking, damaging or destroying City property.

Sec. 8-442. - Breaking, damaging or destroying City property. It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully break, damage or destroy any property belonging to the City in the market areas or used in connection with the use, maintenance and operation thereof. (Code 1993, § 8-267; Code 2004, § 26-527; Code 2015, § 8-442; Code 2020, § 8-442)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-443 Compliance required of persons selling products.

Sec. 8-443. - Compliance required of persons selling products. Every person selling or offering products for sale in the market areas shall observe, comply with and be bound by this article; all other sections of this Code; and all other laws, ordinances and resolutions and all rules and regulations made and promulgated pursuant thereto relating to the sale or offering of products or other goods, wares, or merchandise for sale, and it shall be unlawful for any person to violate or to fail, refuse or neglect to do so. (Code 1993, § 8-268; Code 2004, § 26-528; Code 2015, § 8-443; Code 2020, § 8-443)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-444 Removal of products, goods, wares or merchandise by person in violation.

Sec. 8-444. - Removal of products, goods, wares or merchandise by person in violation. The Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, and any police officer may order any person to remove the food or other products, goods, wares, or merchandise offered or displayed for sale or intended to be offered or displayed for sale by such person and any vehicle used in connection therewith from the market areas when such person is found violating this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter. It shall be unlawful for any such person to fail, refuse or neglect to obey such order. (Code 1993, § 8-269; Code 2004, § 26-529; Code 2015, § 8-444; Code 2020, § 8-444; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-445 Issuance and display of permits.

Sec. 8-445. - Issuance and display of permits. The Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, shall, upon leasing space in the market areas to a person, issue to such person a permit evidencing the right to occupy and utilize such space. No person shall use or occupy a space in the market areas unless in possession of a permit, and the person shall post and exhibit such permit in the manner prescribed by the Chief Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof. (Code 1993, § 8-270; Code 2004, § 26-530; Code 2015, § 8-445; Code 2020, § 8-445; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

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=PTIICICO_CH8CINEREES_ARTIXCIMAFetched: 11/8/2026