REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 25, art. III

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-253 Monuments.

Sec. 25-253. - Monuments. Monuments shall be installed in all subdivisions at the corners of all blocks, at angle points, at radial points of curves in streets and at all intermediate points along the street or boundary lines where monuments cannot be readily seen one from the other. The exact location of such monuments shall be approved by the Director of Public Works. They shall be either concrete blocks at least 20 inches long and six inches square with an iron corner or shall be granite stones with sharp well-defined corners of the same dimensions and shall be installed to approved grades where practicable. (Code 1993, § 26-61; Code 2004, § 94-211; Code 2015, § 25-253; Code 2020, § 25-253)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-254 Grading and surfacing of streets and alleys.

Sec. 25-254. - Grading and surfacing of streets and alleys. The streets and alleys shown on the subdivision plat shall be graded to their full width and length, and an all-weather surface shall be placed on the roadway of each such street, all of which shall be done in accordance with the standard street and alley specifications of the City. (Code 1993, § 26-62; Code 2004, § 94-212; Code 2015, § 25-254; Code 2020, § 25-254)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-255 Curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

Sec. 25-255. - Curbs, gutters and sidewalks. Curbs, gutters and sidewalks shall be installed on both sides of streets lying within the subdivision; if an existing street abuts the subdivision, the subdivider shall install curbs, gutters and sidewalks on the side of the existing street that abuts the subdivision, if curbs, gutters and sidewalks already installed do not conform to the City's standard curb, gutter and sidewalk specifications or if there are no curbs, gutters and sidewalks. All curbs, gutters and sidewalks installed under the requirements of this section shall conform in all respects with the standard curb, gutter and sidewalk specifications of the City. (Code 1993, § 26-63; Code 2004, § 94-213; Code 2015, § 25-255; Code 2020, § 25-255)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-256 Stormwater sewers or drainage systems.

Sec. 25-256. - Stormwater sewers or drainage systems. A stormwater sewer or drainage system adequate to serve the subdivision and the contributing drainage area in its vicinity shall be installed in the subdivision in accordance with the standard stormwater and drainage system specifications of the City. (Code 1993, § 26-64; Code 2004, § 94-214; Code 2015, § 25-256; Code 2020, § 25-256)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-257 Water distribution system; fire hydrants.

Sec. 25-257. - Water distribution system; fire hydrants. A water distribution system, including fire hydrants, adequate to furnish water to consumers in the subdivision and for fire protection therein shall be installed in the subdivision in accordance with the standard water distribution system and fire hydrant specifications of the City. (Code 1993, § 26-65; Code 2004, § 94-215; Code 2015, § 25-257; Code 2020, § 25-257)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-258 Sanitary sewage disposal system.

Sec. 25-258. - Sanitary sewage disposal system. A sanitary sewage disposal system adequate to supply the needs of occupants of lots in the subdivision shall be installed therein in accordance with the standard sanitary sewage disposal specifications of the City when any part of the existing sewage disposal system of the City is accessible and it is practicable to connect such sewage disposal system thereto. Whenever no part of the existing sewage disposal systems of the City is accessible or it is not practicable to connect such sewage disposal system thereto, provision shall be made for the disposal of sanitary sewage through a sewage treatment plant or facilities upon the following conditions: (1) The soil, topography and other conditions are such that, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works and the District Health Director, the disposal of sanitary sewage from lots in the subdivision can be done through percolation in the ground without impairing the public health. (2) Such plant and facilities and equipment shall be installed to provide for such sewage disposal as shall be approved by the appropriate City departments. (Code 1993, § 26-66; Code 2004, § 94-216; Code 2015, § 25-258; Code 2020, § 25-258)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-259 Location of sewers, gas and water distribution facilities, electric power, cable television and telephone service.

Sec. 25-259. - Location of sewers, gas and water distribution facilities, electric power, cable television and telephone service. All sewers, gas and water distribution facilities and all facilities to furnish electric power, cable television, and telephone service installed in a subdivision shall be located underground in such places as designated by the Directors of Public Works and Public Utilities. (Code 1993, § 26-67; Code 2004, § 94-217; Code 2015, § 25-259; Code 2020, § 25-259)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-260 Cost of constructing improvements.

Sec. 25-260. - Cost of constructing improvements. (a) The subdivider shall bear the total cost of constructing or installing streets, alleys, curbs and gutters, sanitary sewers and water distribution systems, including fire hydrants, within the limits of the subdivision. However, if the City shall contract with the subdivider with regard to any of the following, the cost of such shall be borne as set out: (1) For streets in excess of 66 feet in width, the City will pay the additional cost as determined by the Director of Public Works. (2) For alleys in excess of 20 feet in width, the City will pay the additional cost as determined by the Director of Public Works. (3) For sanitary sewers of a larger size than the standard size as required for the proposed development within the limits of the subdivision, the City will pay the additional cost of sewers larger than such standard size as determined by the Director of Public Works. (4) For water mains larger than the standard size as would be required for the proposed development within the limits of the subdivision, the City will pay the additional cost for water mains in excess of such standard size as determined by the Director of Public Utilities. (b) The City shall bear the total cost of constructing or installing stormwater sewers, drains or other drainage facilities; street name signs; and that portion of the cost of streetlights which may exceed any allowance made by the utility company, provided funds for such extensions and improvements are available for such purposes. (c) When conditions require the extension of a street, alley, curb and gutter, sanitary sewer or water main or any of them from such existing improvements to the outer limits of the subdivision, the developer may construct the extensions at the developer's entire cost or may, provided funds for the City's portion of such cost are available, enter into a written contract with the City providing for the following: (1) The developer shall pay the City the estimated cost of standard size facilities required to serve the subdivision. (2) The City shall construct the extensions and shall pay the cost of the sizes in excess of standard size as determined in Subsection (a) of this section. (3) Upon the completion of such work, if it is determined that the estimated cost paid by the developer to the City exceeds the actual cost chargeable to the developer, the City will refund such excess payment to the owner; if it is found that the estimated cost paid by the developer is less than the actual cost chargeable to the developer, the developer will pay such deficit to the City. (4) During the period of ten years following the signing of the contract, the City will refund to the developer an amount equal to the actual cost of extending 50 feet of sanitary sewer for each service connection to the sewer extension, and the City will refund to the developer an amount equal to the actual cost in extending 50 feet of water main for each water service connection made to the water main extension. No refund shall be made in excess of the sum paid to the City for the extension of the sanitary sewer or for the water main. (Code 1993, § 26-68; Code 2004, § 94-218; Code 2015, § 25-260; Code 2020, § 25-260)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-261 Methods of paying for improvements.

Sec. 25-261. - Methods of paying for improvements. (a) The subdivider shall install all required improvements in a manner which shall meet all City specifications and which shall have City inspection and approval prior to the approval of the final plat. (b) The subdivider shall enter into a contract with the City agreeing to install all required improvements in a manner which shall meet all City specifications and shall have City inspection and approval and shall furnish to the City a bond with corporate surety in a sum equal to the subdivider's portion of the cost of installing all required improvements as estimated by the City, ensuring that all of the work will be completed within two years. In lieu of such bond, the subdivider may deposit in escrow money or securities, acceptable to the Director of Finance, equal to the estimated amount of the subdivider's portion of the cost of such improvements. (c) In lieu of Subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the subdivider may request the City to install all improvements as required by depositing with the City in advance the entire estimated amount of the subdivider's portion of the cost of improvements. Upon the completion of such work, if it is found that such estimated cost exceeds the actual cost, the City will refund such excess to the subdivider; if it is found that such estimated cost is less than the actual cost, the subdivider will pay such deficit to the City. (d) The City will be bound under any contract only to the extent of funds available or which may become available for such improvements in the City contract. (e) Any requests and approvals for partial or final release of performance guarantees will be processed in accordance with general law. (Code 1993, § 26-69; Code 2004, § 94-219; Code 2015, § 25-261; Code 2020, § 25-261)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-262 Conditions governing installation of improvements generally.

Sec. 25-262. - Conditions governing installation of improvements generally. (a) Competitive bids. Bona fide competitive bids are mandatory in all items of City participation in subdivisions. (b) Preliminary plans and estimates. Detailed preliminary estimates along with preliminary plans prepared in sufficient detail by a qualified engineer to fully support the estimates shall be submitted to the City and approved by the Chief Administrative Officer or his or her designee, by the subdivider, and certified to by a certified professional engineer as a basis for a contract between the City and the subdivider under Section 25-260. The Chief Administrative Officer or his or her designee reserves the right to review, revise, approve or disapprove such estimates or plans. (c) Standards of design. The design of all facilities shall be in accordance with recognized sound engineering practice and the current standards, specifications and policies of the City and shall be approved by the Chief Administrative Officer or his or her designee. (d) Standards of construction. The construction of all facilities shall be in accordance with recognized sound engineering practice and the current standards, specifications and policies of the City and shall be approved by the Chief Administrative Officer or his or her designee. The subdivider shall not enter into a contract for construction until the proposed contract is approved by the Chief Administrative Officer or his or her designee. (e) Notice of construction. The subdivider shall give written notice to the Chief Administrative Officer or his or her designee at least ten days in advance of the actual beginning of construction. (Code 1993, § 26-70; Code 2004, § 94-220; Code 2015, § 25-262; Code 2020, § 25-262; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004)

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_CH25SULA_ARTIIIREIMFetched: 11/8/2026