RP RESEARCH PARK DISTRICT

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 30, art. IV, div. 27.1

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.1 Intent of district.

Sec. 30-451.1. - Intent of district. Pursuant to the general purposes of this chapter, the intent of the RP Research Park District is to encourage development of an innovation district with mixed-uses including residential, ground floor activation, and unlimited height and density as envisioned in the City Center Innovation District Small Area Plan, approved by the Council by Ordinance No. 2022-010, adopted January 24, 2022. The area will become an engine for expanding life sciences industries within the Richmond-Petersburg Metropolitan Statistical Area. The district regulations are intended to create a place to live, learn, collaborate, innovate, and develop new life science businesses in a high density, walkable, urban, full-service environment that includes multi-modal transportation options to city and regional neighborhoods and job centers. The RP Research Park District is intended to promote an environment that is conducive to the expansion of research, development, and laboratory facilities related to the medical, biotechnology, and life sciences industries, and other uses that support innovation such as a mixed-use residential, hotel, walkable mixed-use built environment. (Code 1993, § 32-451.1; Code 2004, § 114-451.1; Code 2015, § 30-451.1; Code 2020, § 30-451.1; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 1, 9-26-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.2 Permitted principal and accessory uses.

Sec. 30-451.2. - Permitted principal and accessory uses. The uses of buildings and premises listed in this section shall be permitted in the RP district, provided that drive-up facilities and facilities for dispensing motor fuels shall not be permitted in conjunction with any of the uses permitted in the district. (1) Research, development and laboratory facilities related to the medical, biotechnology and other life sciences industries; (2) Offices, including business, professional and administrative offices, and medical and dental offices and clinics; (3) Day nurseries licensed by and subject to the requirements of the State of Virginia Department of Social Services; (4) Public open spaces and uses owned or operated by a governmental agency, but not including facilities intended for incarceration or alternative sentencing or facilities primarily for the care, treatment or housing of persons who are currently illegally using or are addicted to a controlled substance as defined in Code of Virginia, § 54.1-3401; (5) Parking decks and parking garages, provided that: a. No portion of the ground floor of such structure located along a principal street frontage or priority street frontage shall be used for parking or related circulation of vehicles, but such portion shall be devoted to other permitted principal uses which shall have a depth of not less than 20 feet along the principal street frontage or priority street frontage or to means of pedestrian or vehicle access, provided that vehicle access along such street frontage shall be permitted only when no other street or alley is available for adequate access. In the case of a portion of a story located along a principal street frontage or priority street frontage and having less than five feet of its height above the grade level at the building facade along the street frontage, the provisions of this paragraph prohibiting parking or related circulation of vehicles shall not apply, provided that parking spaces shall be completely screened from view from the street by structural material similar to the material of the building facade. Upper stories of such structure may be used for parking or related circulation of vehicles subject to Subsection (5)c of this section; b. Not less than one exit lane and one entrance lane shall be provided for each 300 parking spaces or major fraction thereof contained within the structure, and any card reader or other access control device at an entrance to a parking deck or parking garage shall be provided with not less than one stacking space situated off the public right-of-way; c. Parking spaces contained therein shall be screened from view from abutting streets by structural material of not less than 45 percent opacity; (6) Adult care residences; (7) Adult day care facilities; (8) Art galleries; (9) Banks, savings and loan offices and similar financial services, any accessory automated teller machines accessible from the interior or exterior of buildings devoted to such uses; (10) Catering businesses; (11) Churches and other places of worship, which may include the serving of food for charitable or fellowship purposes and, as an accessory use, emergency housing, subject to the provisions of Article VI, Division 15 of this chapter; (12) Communications centers and telephone repeater stations operated by public service corporations; (13) Dry cleaning and laundering establishments, provided that the total capacity of all dry cleaning machines shall not exceed 100 pounds dry weight and the total capacity of all laundry machines shall not exceed 150 pounds dry weight, and provided further that no such use shall be located on a transitional site; (14) Dwelling units, provided that when such units are located within buildings fronting on streets designated as street oriented commercial frontage, as shown on the official zoning map, the ground floor of the building shall be devoted to other principal uses permitted in this district, and such uses shall have a depth of not less than 20 feet along the entire street oriented commercial frontage, except for ingress and egress; (15) Grocery stores, convenience stores, and specialty food and beverage stores, including bakeries where products are sold principally at retail on the premises; (16) Hospitals, but not psychiatric hospitals for the care of patients committed by a court; (17) Hotels, provided that the ground floor of portions of buildings adjacent to principal street frontages shall be devoted to those uses specified in Subsection (8), (9), (15), (24), (34), (35), or (36) of this section, provided that not more than 50 percent of the frontage of such ground floor may be devoted to entrances or lobbies serving the hotel use, except entrances or lobbies existing at the effective date of the ordinance from which this subsection is derived that exceed 50 percent of such frontage shall be permitted, but shall not be expanded to occupy a greater percentage of such frontage; (18) Laundromats, and laundry and dry cleaning pick-up stations; (19) Libraries, museums, schools, parks, and noncommercial recreational facilities, when such uses are owned or operated by a nonprofit organization; (20) Nursing homes; (21) Office supply, business and office service, photocopy, and custom printing establishments; (22) Permanent supportive housing, subject to the provisions of Article VI, Division 15 of this chapter; (23) Personal loan and financial services; (24) Personal service businesses that provide services directly to persons or services for personal items, including barber shops, beauty salons, health spas, fitness centers, dance studios, photography studios, travel agencies, shoe repair shops, tailor and garment alteration and repair shops, clothing rental stores, watch and jewelry repair shops and similar establishments; (25) Pet shops, veterinary clinics, and animal hospitals, provided that all facilities shall be located within completely enclosed and air conditioned buildings which are soundproof to the extent that sounds produced by animals kept or treated therein are not audible outside the building; (26) Postal and package mailing services, but not including package distribution centers; (27) Printing, publishing and engraving establishments employing not more than 20 persons on the premises; (28) Public elementary or secondary schools, or private elementary and secondary schools having curricula substantially the same as that offered in public schools; (29) Professional, business and vocational schools; (30) Public utilities installations, equipment buildings, and passenger terminals for public transportation, including servicing of motor vehicles used in connection therewith when such servicing is conducted within a completely enclosed building, provided that no passenger terminal shall be located on a transitional site; (31) Radio and television broadcasting studios and offices, including accessory antennas, provided that the supporting hardware for any such antenna does not exceed 15 feet above ground level or, in the case of a building mounted antenna, 15 feet above the surface of the building on which it is mounted; (32) Recreation and entertainment uses, including theaters, museums, amusement centers, lodges and clubs, meeting facilities, auditoriums, and assembly halls; (33) Repair businesses conducted within completely enclosed buildings; (34) Restaurants, tearooms, cafes, delicatessens, ice cream parlors, and similar food and beverage service establishments, including entertainment in conjunction therewith. Such establishments may include areas outside completely enclosed buildings and intended for service to or consumption of food and beverages by patrons, provided that the following conditions shall be met: a. Covered trash containers shall be provided in service areas, and fences, walls or vegetative screening shall be provided around service areas, except at entrances and exits, to prevent refuse from blowing onto adjacent properties or streets. Fences or walls to be credited toward this requirement shall comply with fence and wall design guidelines adopted by resolution of the City Planning Commission, or their equivalent as determined by the Zoning Administrator. In no case shall chain link, chain link with slats or similar fencing be considered as meeting the requirements of the fence and wall design guidelines; b. No music or public address system shall be operated in such a manner that sound produced therefrom is audible beyond the boundaries of the premises; (35) Retail stores and shops, provided that not more than 70 percent of the floor area may be devoted to storage of merchandise to be sold at retail on the premises; (36) Rights-of-way, easements, and appurtenances necessary for the provision and maintenance of public utilities and public transportation, including streets, rail lines, power lines; (37) Sales lots for Christmas trees, vegetable stands, and other seasonal uses, but not including flea markets, and provided no such use shall be located on a transitional site; (38) Service businesses that service, repair, or rent audio or video equipment, home appliances, furniture, personal recreational equipment, home yard and garden equipment, tools, bicycles, locks, computers, office machines, and similar household or business items, provided that no products shall be serviced, repaired, stored, or displayed outside a completely enclosed building; (39) Shopping centers containing uses permitted in this district; (40) Short-term rental, subject to the requirements of Article VI, Division 14 of this chapter; (41) Showrooms and display areas for goods which are sold at both wholesale and retail on the premises, including the storage and distribution of such goods in conjunction therewith; (42) Social service delivery uses, in accordance with 30-698.3(d); (43) Tourist homes; (44) Transitional housing, subject to the provisions of Article VI, Division 15 of this chapter; (45) Wireless communications facilities, microwave relay facilities, and radio broadcast antennas, on alternative support structures, in accordance with the additional requirements of Sections 30-692.1 through 30-692.6; and (46) Accessory uses and structures customarily incidental and clearly subordinate to uses permitted in this district, including automated teller machines accessible only from the interior of buildings devoted to permitted principal uses other than individual dwelling units or lodging units, and including assembly, processing, prototype production activities and indoor storage of materials, when such are located within the same building. (Code 1993, § 32-451.2; Code 2004, § 114-451.2; Code 2015, § 30-451.2; Code 2020, § 30-451.2; Ord. No. 2004-180-167, § 1, 6-28-2004; Ord. No. 2006-43-63, § 1, 3-13-2006; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 1, 9-26-2022; Ord. No. 2024-314, § 2(30-451.2), 12-9-2024)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.2:1 Principal uses permitted by conditional use permit.

Sec. 30-451.2:1. - Principal uses permitted by conditional use permit. Principal uses permitted by a conditional use permit shall be as follows: (a) Lodginghouses; (b) Nightclubs; (c) Retail sales of liquor; (d) Retail sales of tobacco and hemp. (Code 2020, § 30-451.2:1; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 2, 9-26-2022; Ord. No. 2025-157, § 1(30-451.2:1), 7-28-2025)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.5 Yard requirements.

Sec. 30-451.5. - Yard requirements. (a) Front yard. (1) No front yard shall be required. In no case shall a front yard with a depth of greater than ten feet be permitted, except as may be authorized pursuant to Subsection (a)(2) of this section. (2) A front yard with a depth greater than permitted by Subsection (a)(1) of this section may be provided when such front yard is improved for purposes of outdoor dining area as permitted by Section 30-451.2 or vehicular drop-off or pick-up area permitted by section 30-451.7(a), and is approved subject to a site plan as set forth in Article X of this chapter. (b) Side yards. No side yards shall be required except that where a side lot line abuts or is situated across an alley from property in an RO district, there shall be a side yard of not less than ten feet in width. (c) Rear yard. No rear yard shall be required except that where a rear lot line abuts or is situated across an alley from property in an RO district, there shall be a rear yard of not less than ten feet in depth. (Code 1993, § 32-451.5; Code 2004, § 114-451.5; Code 2015, § 30-451.5; Code 2020, § 30-451.5; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 1, 9-26-2022; Ord. No. 2024-314, § 2(30-451.5), 12-9-2024)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.6 Screening requirements.

Sec. 30-451.6. - Screening requirements. In the RP Research Park District, the screening of refuse areas and parking areas shall be provided as set forth in Sections 30-660 and 30-710.2, respectively. (Code 1993, § 32-451.6; Code 2004, § 114-451.6; Code 2015, § 30-451.6; Code 2020, § 30-451.6; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 1, 9-26-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.7 Requirements for areas devoted to parking or circulation of vehicles.

Sec. 30-451.7. - 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 shall not be located between the main building on a lot and the street line, nor shall such areas be located closer to the street than the main building on the lot. On a lot having more than one street frontage, this subsection shall apply along both the principal street frontage and the priority street frontage. This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit vehicular drop-off or pick-up areas serving hotels or hospitals when approved in accordance with Section 30-451.5(a)(2). (b) Driveways from streets. No driveway intersecting a priority or principal street shall be permitted when alley access or another street frontage is available to serve such a lot. (c) Improvement requirements and landscaping standards. Parking areas and parking lots in the RP Research Park District shall be subject to the applicable improvement requirements and landscaping standards set forth in Article VII, Division 2.1 of this chapter, except that the requirements of Section 30-710.12(1) shall not apply. (d) Paving of loading areas. All loading areas, including entrances thereto and exits therefrom, shall be designed and improved using accepted engineering practices for usability and longevity with asphalt, concrete, unit pavers or similar materials approved by the administrator of the erosion and sediment control ordinance found in Chapter 14, Article III. (Code 1993, § 32-451.7; Code 2004, § 114-451.7; Code 2015, § 30-451.7; Code 2020, § 30-451.7; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 1, 9-26-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.7:1 Usable open space.

Sec. 30-451.7:1. - Usable open space. In the RP district, a usable open space ratio of not less than 0.10 shall be provided for newly constructed buildings or portions thereof devoted to dwelling uses. (Code 2020, § 30-451.7:1; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 2, 9-26-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.8 Height limit.

Sec. 30-451.8. - Height limit. In the RP Research Park District, there shall be no maximum height limit, provided that any building above seven stories in height shall have a minimum building stepback of ten feet from the building facade line along each street frontage, which stepback shall occur above the ground story and no higher than the fifth story. For purposes of this section, the term "stepback" means the setting back of the upper stories of a building that fronts on a public right-of-way from the face of the lower story or stories of such building. Every main building hereinafter constructed shall have a minimum height of three stories, except that porches, porticos, and similar structures attached to a main building may be of lesser height (see Article VI, Division 6 of this chapter for height exceptions). (Code 1993, § 32-451.8; Code 2004, § 114-451.8; Code 2015, § 30-451.8; Code 2020, § 30-451.8; Ord. No. 2012-66-43, § 1, 4-23-2012; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 1, 9-26-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.9 Building facade fenestration.

Sec. 30-451.9. - Building facade fenestration. Fenestration requirements applicable to building facades along street frontages in the RP district shall be as set forth in this section. (1) Street level story. a. Non-dwelling uses. For non-dwelling uses, other than those listed in section 30-451.2(1), (4), (5), (11), (12), (16), (19), (30), and (45), a minimum of 60 percent of the building facade between three and ten feet in height along the street frontage shall be comprised of windows or glass doors or both that allow views into and out of the interior building space. The horizontal linear dimension of contiguous building wall that does not contain fenestration or doors shall not exceed 20 feet. Windows used to satisfy this requirement shall have a minimum height of four feet. In the case of a street level story having less than its full height above the mean grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot, a minimum of 30 percent of the building facade above such mean grade level shall be comprised of windows or glass doors or both that allow views into and out of the interior building space, provided that in the case of any portion of a story having less than five feet of its height above the grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot, the requirements of this subsection shall not apply. b. Dwelling uses. For dwelling uses, tourist homes, and shelters, windows or glass doors or both that allow views out of the interior building space shall comprise a minimum of 30 percent of the building facade between three and ten feet in height along the street frontage. The horizontal linear dimension of contiguous building wall that does not contain fenestration or doors shall not exceed 20 feet. In the case of a street level story having less than its full height above the mean grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot, windows or glass doors or both that allow views out of the interior building space shall comprise a minimum of 15 percent of the building facade above such mean grade level, provided that in the case of any portion of a story having less than five feet of its height above the grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot, the requirements of this subsection shall not apply. In all cases, windows shall be double-hung, single-hung, awning, or casement type and fixed windows shall be permitted only as a component of a system including operable windows within a single wall opening. (2) Upper stories. a. Non-dwelling uses. For non-dwelling uses, other than those listed in Subsection (1)(a) of this section, windows or glass doors or both that allow views out of the interior building space shall comprise a minimum of 30 percent of the building facade between two and eight feet in height above the floor level of each story above the street level story. b. Dwelling uses. For dwelling uses, tourist homes, and shelters, windows or glass doors or both that allow views out of the interior building space shall comprise a minimum of 30 percent of the building facade between two and eight feet in height above the floor level of each story above the street level story. Such windows shall be double-hung, single-hung, awning, or casement type and fixed windows shall be permitted only as a component of a system including operable windows within a single wall opening. (Code 2020, § 30-451.9; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 2, 9-26-2022)

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_DIV27.1RPREPADIFetched: 11/8/2026