R-8 URBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 30, art. IV, div. 7.2

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.10 Intent of district.

Sec. 30-413.10. - Intent of district. Pursuant to the general purposes of this chapter, the intent of the R-8 Urban Residential District is to preserve and enhance the established character of older urban residential neighborhoods in the inner areas of the City by ensuring that infill development, as well as redevelopment, will be consistent with the predominant existing development pattern of such neighborhoods. The district regulations incorporate form-based provisions that are designed to preserve the urban nature and sustainability of such neighborhoods as characterized by a mixture of detached and attached dwellings of two and three stories in height with a distinct orientation to the street, and situated on small lots with narrow yards, minimal setbacks from the streets and minimal interruption of the street frontages by open spaces, driveways, parking areas or accessory buildings visible from the streets. The district regulations are also intended to encourage traditional neighborhood development, as well as improvement and efficient use of older commercial-style buildings by enabling, through the conditional use permit process, commercial uses that are limited in location, type and scale and are intended to provide for the convenience of neighborhood residents within walking distance, to respect the primary residential character of the neighborhood and to avoid traffic, parking congestion, noise and other impacts that typically result from uses that draw patrons from outside a neighborhood. (Code 2004, § 114-413.10; Code 2015, § 30-413.10; Code 2020, § 30-413.10; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.11 Permitted principal uses.

Sec. 30-413.11. - Permitted principal uses. The following uses of buildings and premises shall be permitted in the R-8 district: (1) Any principal use permitted in the R-1 district as set forth in Section 30-402.1. (2) Single-family attached dwellings, provided that: a. Appropriate agreements and covenants approved by the City Attorney provide for the perpetuation and maintenance of all areas to be held in common ownership by property owners within such developments. b. Not more than four dwelling units shall be attached laterally in a series, provided that this provision shall not be applicable in the case of dwelling units existing on the effective date of the ordinance creating the R-8 district. (3) Two-family detached dwellings. (4) Two-family attached dwellings, provided that not more than three two-family dwellings shall be attached laterally in a series. (Code 2004, § 114-413.11; Code 2015, § 30-413.11; Code 2020, § 30-413.11; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010; Ord. No. 2024-314, § 2(30-413.11), 12-9-2024)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.12 Principal uses permitted by conditional use permit.

Sec. 30-413.12. - Principal uses permitted by conditional use permit. The following uses of buildings and premises may be permitted in the R-8 district by conditional use permit as set forth in Article X of this chapter: (1) Multifamily dwellings, not to exceed four dwelling units, located on lots of not less than 1,500 square feet in area for each dwelling unit. (2) Live/work units, provided that: a. Not more than one person who does not reside in the unit shall be employed at any one time in the conduct of the nondwelling activity. b. Space devoted to the nondwelling activity within such unit shall not exceed 40 percent of the total floor area of the unit. c. The nondwelling activity shall not involve the sale of products directly to customers on the premises, the housing of persons for compensation, or any group instruction or group assembly involving more than two patrons or clients at any one time. d. There shall be no process or activity conducted or equipment operated in conjunction with the nondwelling activity that generates any noise, vibration, odor, smoke, fumes, glare or electrical interference discernable to the normal senses outside of the live/work unit. The use or storage or both of hazardous materials of such type or in such quantities not normally permitted in a residential structure shall be prohibited. (3) The following nondwelling uses occupying the ground floor of existing buildings, provided that the building devoted to any such use was, prior to May 19, 1943, originally constructed for or converted to commercial use, and provided further that drive-up facilities and facilities for dispensing motor fuels shall not be permitted in conjunction with any such use: a. Art galleries, including custom framing in conjunction therewith. b. Barber shops and beauty salons, including manicure, spa, tanning and similar services in conjunction therewith. c. Grocery stores, convenience stores and specialty food and beverage stores, including bakeries where products are sold principally at retail on the premises. d. Laundromats and laundry and dry cleaning pick-up stations. e. Offices, including business, professional and administrative offices, and studios of writers, designers and artists engaged in the arts. f. Restaurants, tea rooms, cafes, delicatessens, ice cream parlors and similar food and beverage service establishments, including catering businesses in conjunction therewith, but not including establishments providing live entertainment or establishments where food or beverage is intended to be consumed on the premises outside a completely enclosed building. g. Video rental stores. (4) Dwelling units occupying space above the ground floor of existing buildings devoted to uses specified in Subsection (3) of this section, provided that a total of not more than four such dwelling units shall be located in a building and that each dwelling unit shall contain not less than 600 square feet of floor area. (Code 2004, § 114-413.12; Code 2015, § 30-413.12; Code 2020, § 30-413.12; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.13 Permitted accessory uses and structures.

Sec. 30-413.13. - Permitted accessory uses and structures. Any accessory use or structure permitted in the R-1 district as set forth in Section 30-402.2 shall be permitted in the R-8 Urban Residential District. (Code 2004, § 114-413.13; Code 2015, § 30-413.13; Code 2020, § 30-413.13; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010; Ord. No. 2019-343, § 1(30-413.13), 6-22-2020; Ord. No. 2023-101, § 5, 4-24-2023; Ord. No. 2023-196, § 1, 9-25-2023)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.14 Lot area and lot width.

Sec. 30-413.14. - Lot area and lot width. Lot area and lot width regulations in the R-8 district shall be as follows (see Article VI, Division 3 of this chapter): (1) Single-family detached dwellings. Single-family detached dwellings shall be located on lots of not less than 3,000 square feet in area. Lot width shall be not less than 25 feet, provided that in any case where an existing lot of record is to be split or subdivided into two or more lots and where, exclusive of such lot, the average width of the lots on the block is greater than 25 feet, the width of each lot created by the lot split or subdivision shall be not less than such average. This lot width provision shall not be applicable in a case where all of the frontage on a block is proposed to be re-subdivided. (2) Single-family attached dwellings. Single-family attached dwellings shall be located on lots of not less than 2,200 square feet in area. Lot width shall be not less than 16 feet, except that the width of any lot at the end of a series of attached units shall be not less than 19 feet. (3) Two-family detached and attached dwellings. Two-family detached dwellings and two-family attached dwellings shall be located on lots of not less than 3,400 square feet in area with a width of not less than 28 feet. (4) Maximum lot width for single and two-family dwellings. No newly created lot devoted to single-family or two-family use shall exceed a width of 45 feet, whether such lot is created by combination of existing lots or by subdivision of any parcel. (Code 2004, § 114-413.14; Code 2015, § 30-413.14; Code 2020, § 30-413.14; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.15 Yards.

Sec. 30-413.15. - Yards. Yard regulations in the R-8 district shall be as follows (see Article VI, Divisions 4 and 9 of this chapter): (1) Front yard. There shall be a front yard with a depth of not less than ten feet and not greater than 18 feet, provided that: a. Where existing buildings are located on one or both abutting lots along the same street frontage, the front yard shall not be less than the front yard provided for the existing building closest to the street but in no case greater than 18 feet. b. On a corner lot where an existing building is located on an abutting lot or across an alley from an adjacent lot along the same street frontage, the front yard shall be not less than the front yard provided for such existing building but not more than 18 feet. (2) Side yards. Side yards shall be provided as follows: a. Dwelling uses and buildings accessory thereto. There shall be side yards of not less than three feet in width except where buildings are attached or where the zero-lot-line option is utilized. b. All other uses and buildings. There shall be side yards of not less than five feet in width. (3) Side yard: zero-lot-line option. One side yard for a single-family detached dwelling may be equal to zero, provided that: a. The side yard on the opposite side of the same lot shall be not less than six feet in width, and in no case shall the separation between buildings on abutting lots be less than six feet. b. Not less than 50 percent of the overall depth of the dwelling unit shall be provided along the designated zero-lot-line, and doors, windows or similar openings in the building wall facing the designated zero-lot-line shall comply with the requirements of the Uniform Statewide Building Code. c. A perpetual easement of not less than five feet in unobstructed width shall be provided on the adjacent lot to permit maintenance of structures abutting a zero-lot-line, which easement shall provide for encroachment of siding, belt courses, eaves, gutters, normal roof overhangs and similar architectural features. Such easement and the buildable area of each lot shall be shown on the subdivision plat, if applicable, and shall be described in the deed for each property. d. For purposes of this subsection, a margin of error of not greater than two-tenths of one foot shall be applicable to the location of a structure abutting a designated zero-lot-line, provided that any encroachment onto an abutting lot shall be accommodated by a recorded easement. (4) Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard with a depth of not less than five feet. (5) Location of accessory buildings. Except as provided in Section 30-680.1, accessory buildings shall be located only in a rear yard as defined in Article XII of this chapter but not within five feet of the rear lot line. (Code 2004, § 114-413.15; Code 2015, § 30-413.15; Code 2020, § 30-413.15; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010; Ord. No. 2020-171, § 1(30-413.15), 9-28-2020)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.16 Lot coverage.

Sec. 30-413.16. - Lot coverage. Lot coverage in an R-8 district shall not exceed 65 percent of the area of the lot. (Code 2004, § 114-413.16; Code 2015, § 30-413.16; Code 2020, § 30-413.16; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.17 Building orientation to street, exterior entrances, and first floor elevation.

Sec. 30-413.17. - Building orientation to street, exterior entrances, and first floor elevation. (a) Orientation to the street. The architectural front of a building shall be oriented to the street and, in the case of a rectilinear street frontage, shall be parallel or nearly parallel to the street. In the case of a corner lot, such orientation shall be to the principal street frontage. (b) Two-family dwelling exterior entrances. In the case of a newly constructed two-family dwelling or conversion of an existing building to a two-family dwelling, there shall be not more than one exterior entrance oriented to a single street frontage, except in a case where an existing building contained more than one exterior entrance oriented to a single street frontage prior to conversion of the building to a two-family dwelling. (c) First floor elevation. The finished elevation of the first floor of a building devoted to dwelling use shall be not less than two feet above the mean grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot or, in the case of a corner lot, along the principal street frontage of the lot. (Code 2004, § 114-413.17; Code 2015, § 30-413.17; Code 2020, § 30-413.17; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.18 Requirements for areas devoted to parking or circulation of vehicles.

Sec. 30-413.18. - Requirements for areas devoted to parking or circulation of vehicles. (a) Location of parking and circulation areas. Areas devoted to the parking or circulation of vehicles, other than permitted driveways from a street, shall be located to the rear of buildings so as not to be visible from the street frontage of the lot. On a lot having more than one street frontage, the provisions of this subsection shall apply only along the principal street frontage of the lot. (b) Driveways from streets. No driveway intersecting a street shall be permitted on a lot devoted to dwelling use when alley access is available to serve such lot. In the case of a corner lot, no such driveway shall be permitted intersecting a street which constitutes the principal street frontage of a lot when other street frontage or alley access is available to serve the lot. Permitted driveways within front yards of single- and two-family dwellings shall not exceed nine feet in width. (c) Improvement requirements and landscaping standards. In addition to the provisions of this section, parking areas shall be subject to the applicable improvement requirements and landscaping standards set forth in Article VII, Division 2.1 of this chapter. (Code 2004, § 114-413.18; Code 2015, § 30-413.18; Code 2020, § 30-413.18; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.19 Height.

Sec. 30-413.19. - Height. Height regulations in the R-8 district shall be as follows: (1) Maximum height in general. No building shall exceed three stories in height. For purposes of this section, story height as defined in Article XII of this chapter and as applicable to dwelling uses shall be not less than ten feet and not greater than 12 feet (see Section 30-680.4). (2) Maximum height in special cases. Where 60 percent or more of the lots on a block are developed with main buildings of less than three stories in height, no building hereinafter constructed on such block shall exceed two stories in height, except that on a lot where a main building on an adjacent lot along the same street frontage exceeds two stories in height, the height limit shall be three stories. (3) Minimum height. Every main building hereinafter constructed shall have a minimum height of not less than two stories, except that porches, porticos, attached garages and carports and similar structures attached to a main building may be of lesser height. (4) Determination of number of stories. For purposes of this section, the number of stories in a building shall be determined by application of the definition of the term "story" set forth in Article XII of this chapter and shall be measured at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot or, in the case of a corner lot, shall be measured at the building facade along the principal street frontage of the lot. (Code 2004, § 114-413.19; Code 2015, § 30-413.19; Code 2020, § 30-413.19; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 3, 2-22-2010)

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=CH30ZO_ARTIVDIRE_DIV7.2URREDIFetched: 11/8/2026