Definitions.

Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-2

in effect

Sec. 25-2. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Alley means a public way designed primarily for vehicular travel to provide access to or from the rear or side of property abutting on a street. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas means those areas so designated pursuant to Chapter 14, Article IV. Commission means the City Planning Commission or its representative duly authorized by it to approve the final plat of a subdivision. Expressway means a public way to which access is limited or controlled, designed for vehicular travel through, around and between urban areas. Intersection means the area embraced within the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of two or more streets which join one another at an angle, whether or not one such street crosses the other. Lot means a numbered and recorded portion of a subdivision intended for transfer of ownership or for building development, or a parcel of land which has been recorded in the office of the clerk of the appropriate court. Major street means a public way affording direct access to and from abutting property, designed for vehicular travel through, around and between urban areas in a right-of-way of sufficient width to provide six traffic lanes. Master plan means the master plan defined in Sections 17.01 and 17.04 of the Charter adopted, amended, extended or added to pursuant to Section 17.06 of the Charter. Minor street means a public way affording direct access to and from abutting property, designed primarily for that purpose. Parkway means a public way to which light, air and access is limited or controlled, designed for vehicular travel. Primary highway means a major street. Secondary street means a public way, affording direct access to and from abutting property, designed for vehicular travel between major streets or primary highways in a right-of-way of sufficient width to provide four traffic lanes. Street means every way or place, other than alleys, of whatsoever nature designed for the use of the public for the purposes of vehicular and pedestrian travel, including shoulders and sidewalks, major streets, primary highways, minor streets, secondary streets and parkways, but not including expressways and toll roads. Subdivide means the process of dealing with land so as to establish a subdivision. Subdivider means the person holding legal title to land and who subdivides it. Subdivision means a division, subdivision or resubdivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land situated wholly or partly within the corporate City limits into three or more lots, tracts or parcels of land for the purpose, whether immediate or in the future, of transferring ownership of any one or more of such lots, tracts or parcels of land or for the purpose of the erection of buildings or other structures on any one or more of such lots, tracts or parcels of land. The term "subdivision" does not include a division of land for agricultural purposes in parcels of one acre or more, the average width of which is not less than 150 feet, when such division does not: (1) Require the opening of any new street or the use of any new public easement of access; (2) Obstruct or is not likely to obstruct natural drainage; (3) Adversely affect or is not likely to adversely affect the establishment of any expressway, major street, primary highway or toll road; or (4) Adversely affect the execution or development of any plat or subdivision approved by the Commission or otherwise adversely affect the orderly subdivision of contiguous property. Toll road means an expressway to which access thereto is conditioned upon the payment of toll. Zoning law means Chapter 30, as amended, concerning the division of the City into zones or districts and regulating the use of lands and buildings therein, as such chapter exists on the effective date of the ordinance from which this Code is derived or as the chapter may be thereafter amended or modified. (Code 1993, § 26-1.1; Code 2004, § 94-2; Code 2015, § 25-2; Code 2020, § 25-2; Ord. No. 2004-332-322, § 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_ARTIINGE_S25-2DEFetched: 11/8/2026