IN GENERAL

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 19, art. I

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-1 Expectorating in public places.

Sec. 19-1. - Expectorating in public places. (a) No person shall spit, expectorate, or deposit any sputum, saliva, mucus, or any form of saliva or sputum upon: (1) The floor; (2) A stairway; (3) Any part of any public building or place where the public assembles; (4) The floor of any part of any public conveyance; or (5) Any sidewalk abutting on any public street, alley or lane of the City. (b) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-1; Code 2004, § 66-1; Code 2015, § 19-1; Code 2020, § 19-1)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-2 Scalping of tickets to public events.

Sec. 19-2. - Scalping of tickets to public events. (a) It is unlawful for any person to resell for profit any ticket for admission to any sporting event, theatrical production, lecture, motion picture or any other event open to the public for which tickets are ordinarily sold, except for religious, charitable or educational organizations where all or a portion of the admission price reverts to the sponsoring group and the resale for profit of such ticket is authorized by the sponsor of the event and the manager or owner of the facility in which the event is being held. This section shall not apply to any resale of a ticket that occurs on the Internet. (b) Any person violating Subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-2; Code 2004, § 66-2; Code 2015, § 19-2; Code 2020, § 19-2)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-3 Possession of open alcoholic beverage containers in public parks, playgrounds and streets.

Sec. 19-3. - Possession of open alcoholic beverage containers in public parks, playgrounds and streets. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, while in a public park, playground or street, to have in such person's possession an open alcoholic beverage container. (b) This section shall not prevent any person from possessing an open alcoholic beverage container or from drinking alcoholic beverages or offering a drink thereof to another at an event held within an approved area in any public park or other public place for which a proper City permit and State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board license have been obtained. (c) Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. (Code 1993, § 20-3; Code 2004, § 66-3; Code 2015, § 19-3; Code 2020, § 19-3)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-4 Drinking alcoholic beverages or offering to another in public places.

Sec. 19-4. - Drinking alcoholic beverages or offering to another in public places. (a) If any person takes a drink of alcoholic beverages or offers a drink thereof to another, whether accepted or not, at or in any public place, he is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. (b) This section shall not prevent any person from drinking alcoholic beverages or offering a drink thereof to another in any rooms or areas approved by the Board in a licensed establishment, provided such establishment or the person who operates the same is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages at retail for on-premises consumption and the alcoholic beverages drunk or offered were purchased therein. (c) This section shall not prevent any person from drinking alcoholic beverages or offering a drink thereof to another in any room or area approved by the Board at an event for which a banquet license, mixed beverage special events license, or designated outdoor refreshment area license has been granted. Nor shall this section prevent, upon authorization of the licensee, any person from drinking his own lawfully acquired alcoholic beverages or offering a drink thereof to another in approved areas and locations at events for which a coliseum or stadium license has been granted. (d) This section shall not prevent any person from drinking alcoholic beverages or offering a drink thereof to another on a chartered boat being used for the transportation of passengers for compensation which is not licensed by the Board and which does not sell alcoholic beverages. (e) This section shall not prevent any person from drinking alcoholic beverages or offering a drink thereof to another in any areas approved by the Board in a licensed commercial lifestyle center. (f) This section shall not prevent any person from drinking alcoholic beverages or offering a drink thereof to another in any area upon the premises of a campground located on private property at which a majority of the campers use travel or tent trailers, pickup campers, or motor homes or similar recreational vehicles. (Code 1993, § 20-4; Code 2004, § 66-4; Code 2015, § 19-4; Code 2020, § 19-4)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 19-5 Drinking or possessing alcoholic beverages in or upon public school grounds.

Sec. 19-5. - Drinking or possessing alcoholic beverages in or upon public school grounds. (a) No person shall possess or drink any alcoholic beverage in or upon the grounds of any public elementary or secondary school during school hours or school or student activities. (b) In addition, no person shall drink and no organization shall serve any alcoholic beverage in or upon the grounds of any public elementary or secondary school after school hours or school or student activities, except for religious congregations using wine for sacramental purposes only. (c) Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (d) This section shall not prohibit any person from possessing or drinking alcoholic beverages or any organization from serving alcoholic beverages in areas approved by the Board at a performing arts facility, provided the organization operating the performing arts facility or its lessee has a license granted by the Board. (Code 1993, § 20-5; Code 2004, § 66-5; Code 2015, § 19-5; Code 2020, § 19-5)

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_CH19OFMIPR_ARTIINGEFetched: 11/8/2026