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Council

Richmond, Va., City Charter ch. 4
in effect

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.01 Composition; compensation; appointment of members to office of profit.

§ 4.01. - Composition; compensation; appointment of members to office of profit. The council shall consist of nine members elected as provided in Chapter 3. Compensation of members of council shall be fixed in accordance with and within the limits prescribed in general laws of the Commonwealth for pay and expenses of councils and mayors of cities of the Commonwealth. The members of the council, subject to the approval of the council, may also be allowed their reasonable actual expenses incurred in representing the city. No member of the council shall during the term of which he/she was elected and one year thereafter be appointed to any office of profit under the government of the city. (Acts 1954, Ch. 64; Acts 1964, Ch. 120, § 2; Acts 1968, Ch. 644, § 1; Acts 1974, Ch. 19, § 1; Acts 1975, Ch. 112, § 1; Acts 1982, Ch. 658, § 1; Acts 1992, Ch. 850, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.02 Powers.

§ 4.02. - Powers. All powers vested in the city shall be exercised by the council except as otherwise provided in this charter. In addition to the foregoing, the council shall have the following powers: (a) To provide for the organization, conduct and operation of all departments, bureaus, divisions, boards, commissions, offices and agencies of the city. (b) To create, alter or abolish departments, bureaus, divisions, boards, commissions, offices and agencies other than those specifically established by this charter. (c) To create, alter or abolish and to assign and reassign to departments, all bureaus, divisions, offices and agencies except where such bureaus, divisions, offices or agencies are specifically assigned by this charter. (d) To provide for the titles, qualifications, powers, duties and compensation of all officers and employees of the city, subject in the case of members of the classified service to the provisions of § 5A.03 of this charter. (e) To provide for the form of oaths and the amount and condition of surety bonds to be required of certain officers and employees of the city. (f) To provide for the appointment and removal by the council or otherwise of such officers and employees as the council may require for the purposes of assisting the council in the discharging its legislative, oversight and constituent relations functions, as well as any officers or employees whom the council is authorized to appoint and remove pursuant to this charter or other applicable laws of the Commonwealth. (Acts 1948, Ch. 116, § 1; Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2010, Chs. 218, 476)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.03 President of the council.

§ 4.03. - President of the council. At the time of the council's January organizational meeting, the council shall elect from among its members a president of the council to preside at council meetings for a one-year term; however, beginning January 1, 2007, the president of the council shall serve a two-year term. Should a vacancy occur in the office of mayor, the president of the council will become acting mayor until a successor is elected to fill out the remainder of the unexpired term in accordance with § 3.04. An acting mayor shall have the same powers and responsibilities as the elected mayor. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions of § 3.01.1, any acting mayor shall retain his or her City Council position, including the right to vote. (Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2004, Ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 898, § 1; Acts 2005, Ch. 844, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.04 City clerk.

§ 4.04. - City clerk. The council shall appoint a city clerk for an indefinite term. He/she shall be the clerk of the council, shall keep the journal of its proceedings and shall file the original draft of all ordinances and shall maintain an index of all such ordinances. He/she shall be the custodian of the corporate seal of the city and shall be the officer authorized to use and authenticate it. All records in his/her office shall be public records and open to inspection at any time during regular business hours. He/she shall receive compensation to be fixed by the council and all fees received by him/her shall be paid into the city treasury. He/she shall appoint and remove a deputy city clerk, who shall be authorized to act as acting city clerk in the absence or disability of the city clerk, and all deputies and other employees in his/her office, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by this charter or by ordinance. (Acts 1977, Ch. 513, § 1; Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2005, Ch. 844, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.05 Induction of members.

§ 4.05. - Induction of members. The first meeting of a newly elected council shall take place in the council chamber in the city hall as provided for by general law. It shall be called to order by the city clerk who shall administer the oaths of office to the newly elected council members and, when applicable, also to the newly elected mayor. In the absence of the city clerk, the meeting may be called to order and the oaths administered by any judicial officer having jurisdiction in the city. The council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members and of the mayor, but the decisions of the council in these matters shall be subject to review by the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. The first business of the council shall be the election of a president of the council and the adoption of rules of procedure. Until this business has been completed, the council shall not adjourn for a period longer than 48 hours. (Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2004, Ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 898, § 1; Acts 2005, Ch. 844, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.06 Rules of procedure.

§ 4.06. - Rules of procedure. The council shall have power, subject to the provisions of this charter, to adopt its own rules of procedure. Such rules shall provide for the time and place of holding regular meetings of the council which shall be not less frequently than once in each month; however, the council shall not be required to hold a regular meeting in the month of August. They shall also provide for the calling of special meetings by the mayor or any three members of the council, and shall prescribe the method of giving notice thereof, provided that the notice of each special meeting shall contain a statement of the specific item or items of business to be transacted and no other business shall be transacted at such meeting except by the unanimous consent of all the members of the council. (Acts 1987, Ch. 230, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 898, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.07 Voting.

§ 4.07. - Voting. No ordinance, resolution, motion or vote shall be adopted by the council except at a meeting open to the public and, except motions to adjourn, to fix the time and place of adjournment, and other motions of a purely procedural nature, unless it shall have received the affirmative votes of at least five members. All voting except on procedural motions shall be by roll call and the ayes and noes shall be recorded in the journal. (Acts 1992, Ch. 850, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.08 Ordinances, when required.

§ 4.08. - Ordinances, when required. In addition to such acts of the council which are required by the Constitution or general laws of the Commonwealth or by this charter to be by ordinance, every act of the council creating, altering or abolishing any department or creating, altering, assigning or abolishing any bureau, division, office, agency or employment, fixing the compensation of any officer or employee of the city, making an appropriation, authorizing the borrowing of money, levying a tax, establishing any rule or regulation for the violation of which a fine or penalty is imposed, or placing any burden upon or limiting the use of private property pursuant to Chapter 17 of this charter, shall be by ordinance.

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.09 Ordinances, form.

§ 4.09. - Ordinances, form. Every ordinance except the annual appropriation ordinances and an ordinance codifying ordinances shall be confined to a single subject which shall be clearly expressed in its title. All ordinances shall be introduced in typewritten or printed form or a combination of both. All ordinances which repeal or amend existing ordinances shall set forth in full the section or subsection to be repealed or amended and, if it is to be amended, shall indicate matter to be omitted by enclosing the same in brackets, striking through the matter to be omitted, or by both such brackets and striking through and indicating new matter by underscoring. When printed or published prior to enactment the same indications of omitted and new matter shall be used except that strikeout type may be substituted for brackets and italics for underscoring. The enacting clause of all ordinances shall be: "The City of Richmond hereby ordains." Unless another date is specified therein and except as otherwise provided in this charter an ordinance shall take effect on the tenth day following its passage. (Acts 1982, Ch. 658, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.10 Procedure for passing ordinances.

§ 4.10. - Procedure for passing ordinances. An ordinance may be introduced by any member or committee of the council or by the mayor at any regular meeting of the council or at any special meeting. Upon introduction a time, not less than seven days after such introduction, and place shall be set at which the council or a committee thereof will hold a public hearing on such ordinance, provided that the council may reject any ordinance on first reading without a hearing thereon by vote of six members. The hearing may be held separately or in connection with a regular or special meeting of the council and may be adjourned from time to time. It shall be the duty of the city clerk to cause to be printed in a newspaper published or in general circulation in the city, not later than the fifth day before the public hearing on the proposed ordinance, a notice containing the time and place of the hearing and the title of the proposed ordinance. It shall also be his/her duty, not later than the fifth day before the public hearing, to cause its full text to be printed or otherwise reproduced, as the council may by resolution direct, in sufficient numbers to supply copies to those who individually request them, or, if the council shall so order, to cause the same to be printed as a paid advertisement in a newspaper published or in general circulation in the city. It shall further be his/her duty to place a copy of the ordinance in a file provided each member of the council for this purpose. A proposed ordinance, unless it is an emergency ordinance, shall be finally passed at a meeting of the council following the introduction of the ordinance and after the conclusion of the public hearing thereon. If an ordinance, other than an emergency ordinance, is amended as to its substance, it shall not be passed until it shall be reprinted, reproduced or published as amended, and a hearing shall be set and advertised and all proceedings had as in the case of a newly introduced ordinance. (Acts 1964, Ch. 120, § 1; Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2004, Ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 898, § 1; Acts 2006, Ch. 650, § 1; Acts 2006, Ch. 712, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.11 Emergency ordinances.

§ 4.11. - Emergency ordinances. An emergency ordinance for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety may be read a second time and passed with or without amendment at any regular or special meeting subsequent to the meeting at which the ordinance was introduced, provided that prior to its passage the full text of the original ordinance has been printed in a newspaper published or in general circulation in the city. An emergency ordinance must contain a specific statement of the emergency claimed and six affirmative votes shall be necessary for its adoption. (Acts 1998, Ch. 711)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.13 Record and publication of ordinances.

§ 4.13. - Record and publication of ordinances. Every ordinance after passage shall be given a serial number and shall be retained by the clerk in a permanent file kept for that purpose and the clerk shall maintain a permanent card or similar index. Within one year after the first Tuesday in September, 1948, there shall be prepared under the direction of the city attorney, who is hereby authorized to employ such assistance as he/she deems necessary for the purpose, a codification of all ordinances in force. Such codification shall be passed by the council as a single ordinance and without prior publication. Upon its passage it shall be published in bound or loose-leaf form. This codification, to be known and cited officially as the city code, shall be furnished to city officers and shall be sold to the public at a price to be fixed by the council. A similar codification shall be prepared, passed, published and distributed, as above provided, at least every five years. It shall be the duty of the city clerk to cause all ordinances adopted to be printed as promptly as possible after their adoption in substantially the same style and format as the codification of ordinances and sold at such prices as the Council may establish. (Acts 1977, Ch. 513, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.14 Appointments and removals generally.

§ 4.14. - Appointments and removals generally. The council in making appointments and removals shall act only by affirmative votes of at least five members. It may remove any person appointed by it for an indefinite term, for any lawful reason or no reason. The decision of the council shall be final. (Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2004, Ch. 514, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 898, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.15 Removal of members of boards and commissions; forfeiture of office or employment for certain convictions.

§ 4.15. - Removal of members of boards and commissions; forfeiture of office or employment for certain convictions. A. Any member of a board or commission appointed by the council for a specified term may be removed by the council but only for malfeasance in office or neglect of duty. He/she shall be entitled to notice and hearing. It shall be the duty of the council, at the request of the person sought to be removed, to subpoena witnesses whose testimony would be pertinent to the matter in hand. From the decision of the council an appeal shall lie to the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Division I. B. Any officer, appointee of the council or employee of the city who shall be convicted by a final judgment of any court from which no appeal has been taken or which has been affirmed by a court of last resort on a charge involving moral turpitude or any felony or any misdemeanor involving possession of marijuana or any controlled substances shall forfeit his/her office or employment. (Acts 1975, Ch. 112, § 1; Acts 1976, Ch. 633, § 1; Acts 1990, Ch. 401, § 1; Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2004, Ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 898, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.16 Powers of investigation.

§ 4.16. - Powers of investigation. (a) The council, or any committee of members of the council when authorized by the council, shall have power to make such investigations relating to the municipal affairs of the city as it may deem necessary, and shall have power to investigate any or all departments, boards, commissions, offices and agencies of the city government and any officer or employee of the city, concerning the performance of their duties and functions and use of property of the city. (b) The mayor, the chief administrative officer, the heads of all departments, all boards and commissions whose members are appointed by the council, the city auditor, and the inspector general shall have power to make such investigations in connection with the performance of their duties and functions as they may deem necessary, and shall have power to investigate any officer or employee appointed by them or pursuant to their authority concerning the performance of duty and use of property of the city. (c) The council, or any committee of members of the council when authorized by the council, the mayor, the chief administrative officer, the heads of departments, boards and commissions whose members are appointed by the council, the city auditor, and the inspector general, in an investigation held by any of them, may order the attendance of any person as a witness and the production by any person of all relevant books and papers. Any person, having been ordered to attend, or to produce such books and papers, who refuses or fails to obey such order, or who having attended, refuses or fails to answer any question relevant or pertinent to the matter under investigation shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $100.00 or imprisonment in jail not exceeding 30 days, either or both. Every such person shall have the right of appeal to the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond, Division I. The investigating authority shall cause every person who violates the provisions of this section to be summoned before the general district court criminal division for trial. Witnesses shall be sworn by the person presiding at such investigation, and they shall be liable to prosecution or suit for damages for perjury for any false testimony given at such investigation. (Acts 1964, Ch. 120, § 1; Acts 1974, Ch. 19, § 1; Acts 1989, Ch. 349, § 1; Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2004, Ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 898, § 1; Acts 2006, Ch. 650, § 1; Acts 2006, Ch. 712, § 1; Acts 2018, Ch. 313, § 1; Acts 2018, Ch. 650, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.17 City attorney.

§ 4.17. - City attorney. The city attorney shall be the chief legal advisor of the council, the mayor, the chief administrative officer and all departments, boards, commissions and agencies of the city in all matters affecting the interests of the city. The city attorney shall perform particular duties and functions as assigned by the council. The city attorney shall be appointed by the council, shall serve at its pleasure, and shall devote full time and attention to the representation of the city and the protection of its legal interests. The city attorney shall have the power to appoint and remove assistants or any other employees as shall be authorized by the council and to authorize any assistant or special counsel to perform any of the duties imposed upon him/her in this charter or under general law. The city attorney may represent personally or through one of his assistants any number of city officials, departments, commissions, boards, or agencies that are parties to the same transaction or that are parties in the same civil or administrative proceeding and may represent multiple interests within the same department, commission, board, or agency. In matters where the city attorney determines that he is unable to render legal services to the mayor, chief administrative officer, or city departments or agencies under the supervision of the chief administrative officer due to a conflict of interests, the mayor, after receiving notice of such conflict, may employ special counsel to render such legal services as may be necessary for such matter. (Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2004, Ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, Ch. 898, § 1; Acts 2006, Ch. 650, § 1; Acts 2006, Ch. 712, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.18 City auditor.

§ 4.18. - City auditor. There shall be a city auditor who shall be appointed by the council for an indefinite term. The city auditor shall have been certified as a certified public accountant by the Virginia State Board of Accountancy or by the examining board of any other state which extends to and is extended reciprocity by the Commonwealth of Virginia, and shall be qualified by training and experience for the duties of the city auditor. The city auditor shall have the power to appoint such accountants and other assistants for the performance of the duties of the city auditor's office as the council may provide for. It shall be the duty of the city auditor to examine and audit all accounts, books, records, and financial transactions of the city or any department, board, commission, office, or agency thereof, including all trust funds, special funds, and other funds. In performing the city auditor's duties, the city auditor shall have access at any and all times to all books, records, and accounts of each department and agency subject to examination and audit by the city auditor. (Acts 1998, Ch. 711; Acts 2018, Ch. 313, § 1; Acts 2018, Ch. 650, § 1)

Richmond, Va., City Charter § 4.19 Inspector general.

§ 4.19. - Inspector general. There shall be an inspector general who shall be appointed by the council for an indefinite term and who shall be qualified by training and experience for the duties of the office. The inspector general shall have the power to appoint such assistants for the performance of the duties of the inspector general's office as the council may provide for. It shall be the duty of the inspector general to conduct such investigations as may be authorized by § 15.2-2511.2 of the Code of Virginia [Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2511.2]. (Acts 2018, Ch. 313, § 1; Acts 2018, Ch. 650, § 1)
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=PTICH_CH4COFetched: 11/8/2026

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