R-7 SINGLE- AND TWO-FAMILY URBAN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 30, art. IV, div. 7.1

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.1 Intent of district.

Sec. 30-413.1. - Intent of district. Pursuant to the general purposes of this chapter, the intent of the R-7 Single- and Two-Family Urban Residential District is to preserve and enhance the established character of older urban residential neighborhoods in the inner areas of the City. The district regulations are designed to reflect the urban nature of such neighborhoods as characterized by a mixture of detached and attached single- and two-family dwellings situated on small lots with narrow yards and modest setbacks. The district regulations, together with the supplemental regulations of this chapter, are intended to encourage continued improvement and efficient use of existing residential buildings and their accessory structures, while ensuring that infill development will be compatible with the established character. (Code 1993, § 32-413.1; Code 2004, § 114-413.1; Code 2015, § 30-413.1; Code 2020, § 30-413.1)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.2 Permitted principal uses.

Sec. 30-413.2. - Permitted principal uses. The following uses of buildings and premises shall be permitted in the R-7 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 from which this subsection is derived; (3) Two-family detached dwellings; (4) Two-family attached dwellings lawfully existing prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this section is derived. (Code 1993, § 32-413.2; Code 2004, § 114-413.2; Code 2015, § 30-413.2; Code 2020, § 30-413.2; Ord. No. 2004-180-167, § 1, 6-28-2004; Ord. No. 2007-338-2008-11, § 1, 1-14-2008; Ord. No. 2024-314, § 2(30-413.2), 12-9-2024)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.3 Permitted accessory uses and structures.

Sec. 30-413.3. - 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-7 Single- and Two-Family Urban Residential District. (Code 1993, § 32-413.3; Code 2004, § 114-413.3; Code 2015, § 30-413.3; Code 2020, § 30-413.3; Ord. No. 2019-343, § 1(40-413.3), 6-22-2020; Ord. No. 2023-101, § 5, 4-24-2023; Ord. No. 2023-196, § 1, 9-25-2023)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.4 Reserved.

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.5 Lot area and lot width.

Sec. 30-413.5. - Lot area and lot width. Lot area and lot width regulations in the R-7 Single- and Two-Family Urban Residential 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 3,600 square feet in area with a width of not less than 30 feet. (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 18 feet, except that the width of any lot at the end of a series of attached units shall be not less than 21 feet. (3) Two-family detached dwellings. Two-family detached dwellings shall be located on lots of not less than 4,400 square feet in area with a width of not less than 42 feet. (4) Two-family attached dwellings. Two-family attached dwellings shall be located on lots of not less than 4,400 square feet in area with a width of not less than 36 feet. (Code 1993, § 32-413.5; Code 2004, § 114-413.5; Code 2015, § 30-413.5; Code 2020, § 30-413.5)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.6 Yards.

Sec. 30-413.6. - Yards. Yard regulations in the R-7 Single- and Two-Family Urban Residential District shall be as follows: (1) Front yard. There shall be a front yard with a depth of not less than 15 feet (see Article VI, Division 4 of this chapter). (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 (see Article VI, Division 4 of this chapter). b. All other uses and buildings. There shall be side yards of not less than five feet in width (see Article VI, Division 4 of this chapter). (3) Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard with a depth of not less than five feet (see Article VI, Division 4 of this chapter and Section 30-680.1). (Code 1993, § 32-413.6; Code 2004, § 114-413.6; Code 2015, § 30-413.6; Code 2020, § 30-413.6)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.7 Lot coverage.

Sec. 30-413.7. - Lot coverage. Lot coverage in an R-7 Single- and Two-Family Urban Residential District shall not exceed 55 percent of the area of the lot. (Code 1993, § 32-413.7; Code 2004, § 114-413.7; Code 2015, § 30-413.7; Code 2020, § 30-413.7)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.8 Driveways from streets.

Sec. 30-413.8. - 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. (Code 2004, § 114-413.8; Code 2015, § 30-413.8; Code 2020, § 30-413.8; Ord. No. 2010-18-30, § 2, 2-22-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-413.9 Height.

Sec. 30-413.9. - Height. No building or structure in an R-7 Single- and Two-Family Urban Residential District shall exceed 35 feet in height (see Article VI, Division 6 of this chapter and Section 30-680.1). (Code 1993, § 32-413.9; Code 2004, § 114-413.9; Code 2015, § 30-413.9; Code 2020, § 30-413.9)

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_DIV7.1SIMIURREDIFetched: 11/8/2026