IN GENERAL

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 2, art. I

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-1 City seal.

Sec. 2-1. - City seal. (a) The seal of the City shall be represented by a design, within a circle 1¾ inches in diameter, which shall represent a female figure typifying robed justice, bearing scales in the left hand and carrying a drawn sword in the right hand; the inner and upper semicircle to contain the motto "SIC ITUR AD ASTRA" (such is the way to the stars) in Roman characters, and under the figure, in smaller Roman characters, the words "City of Richmond, July 19, 1782," being the seal in use by the City prior to October 1782. (b) No other design or seal shall be used for the City, and no paper issued with municipal authority, which requires the seal of the City, shall be valid unless the seal described in Subsection (a) of this section shall be affixed to such paper. (Code 1993, § 2-1; Code 2004, § 2-1; Code 2015, § 2-1; Code 2020, § 2-1)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-2 City flag.

Sec. 2-2. - City flag. (a) The flag of the City shall be as described as follows: The upper two-thirds of the flag shall be a field of flag blue, the lower one-third shall be two parallel bars of flag red of equal width, and a thin line of flag white shall be imposed above each red bar; centered on the field of blue shall be imposed a white silhouette of a bare-headed bateau boatman, standing on the prow of a bateau, facing and poling toward the honor side (left), with the end of the pole extending into the upper red bar; and orbiting in an open bottomed arc around the boatman shall be nine stars of flag white, representing the states of which Richmond was once capital. (b) The City flag shall be displayed in proportions of three hoist (height) to five fly (length). (Code 1993, § 2-2; Code 2004, § 2-2; Code 2015, § 2-2; Code 2020, § 2-2)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-3 City logo.

Sec. 2-3. - City logo. The logo of the City shall be described as a circular design. The upper two-thirds of the logo is a field of royal blue, the lower one-third is red, and a thin line of white is imposed above the red section. In the center, a white silhouette of a bare-headed bateau boatman, standing on the prow of a bateau, is facing and poling toward the honor side (left), with the end of the pole extending into a red stroke. Orbiting in an open bottomed arc around the boatman are nine white stars, representing the states of which Richmond was once capital. Five inner circles and strokes create individual layers beginning with the outermost layer; a repeating pattern of light gray and dark gray shapes resembling the strands of a rope complete the outer boarder. A thin light gray outer inner stroke separates a thick navy-blue stroke containing the text in white: "CITY OF RICHMOND" centered on the upper arch and "ESTABLISHED 1737" centered on the bottom arch. Two light gray stars also rest on the centerline of the navy-blue stroke, separating the upper and lower halves. (Code 2020, § 2-3; Ord. No. 2021-128, § 2, 6-14-2021)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-4 Certain uses of city seal, city flag and city logo prohibited.

Sec. 2-4. - Certain uses of city seal, city flag and city logo prohibited. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person or other organization to use the City seal, City flag, City logo, or the design thereof or any imitation, reproduction or replication thereof, except for the usual and customary official purposes, including decoration and display; and no person or other organization shall print, impress or stamp thereon any word, legend or device other than those described in this subsection. However, the Chief Administrative Officer shall have the authority to grant permission for the use of the design in such ways as the Chief Administrative Officer shall consider proper, other than for advertising purposes. (b) Any person who shall use the City seal, City flag, City logo or the design thereof for advertising purposes or who shall print or emblazon thereon any word, legend or device, not duly authorized as stated in Subsection (a) of this section, shall, upon conviction, be fined a sum not exceeding $25.00 and not less than $5.00 for each and every offense. Each City seal, City flag, City logo, or design thereof so used or so printed or stamped shall constitute a separate offense under this section. (Code 1993, § 2-2.2; Code 2004, § 2-4; Code 2015, § 2-4; Code 2020, § 2-4; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-5 City flower.

Sec. 2-5. - City flower. The flower known by the botanical name of "Iris" is hereby declared to be the City flower, and the flower, as such, may be displayed in the parks of the City, public and private, and otherwise appropriately used as such. (Code 1993, § 2-3; Code 2004, § 2-5; Code 2015, § 2-5; Code 2020, § 2-5)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 2-6 Prohibition concerning symbols of hate.

Sec. 2-6. - Prohibition concerning symbols of hate. The City shall not sell or display any symbols of hate or any similar image, or tangible personal property, inscribed with such an image unless the image appears in a book, digital medium, or museum or otherwise serves an educational or historical purpose. For the purposes of this section, the term "symbols of hate" includes, but is not limited to, symbols of white supremacy, neo-Nazi ideology, or the battle flag of the Confederacy. (Code 2020, § 2-6; Ord. No. 2021-095, § 1, 5-24-2021)

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_CH2AD_ARTIINGEFetched: 11/8/2026