Approval or denial.
Richmond, Va., City Code § 25-293
in effectSec. 25-293. - Approval or denial.
(a) When any and all conditions which may have been imposed by the Commission as conditions of approval of any preliminary subdivision plats have been complied with and when the Directors of Public Works and Public Utilities have certified in writing that all requirements of Sections 25-260, 25-261 and 25-262 have been complied with or that all contracts and bonds required under such sections have been properly executed and delivered and are in force and effect, the Secretary of the Commission shall finally approve the subdivision plat.
(b) The Commission shall complete all actions on preliminary subdivision plats in accordance with Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2260. If the Commission does not approve the preliminary plat, the Commission shall set forth in writing the reasons for such denial and shall state what corrections or modifications will permit approval by the Commission. If the Commission fails to approve or disapprove the preliminary plat within 90 days after it has been officially submitted for approval, the subdivider, after ten days' written notice to the Commission, may petition the Circuit Court of the City to enter an order with respect thereto as it deems proper, which may include directing approval of the preliminary plat. For the purposes of this subsection, a preliminary plat shall not be deemed officially submitted until the Secretary of the Commission determines that it contains all of the information required by this chapter.
(c) The Secretary of the Commission shall complete all actions on final subdivision plats within 60 days after it has been officially submitted to the Commission for approval by either approving or disapproving the final plat in writing and giving with the disapproval specific reasons therefor. Specific reasons for disapproval may be contained in a separate document or may be written on the final plat itself. The reasons for disapproval shall identify deficiencies in the final plat which cause the disapproval by reference to specific duly adopted ordinances, regulations, or policies and shall generally identify modifications or corrections as will permit approval of the final plat. If the Commission fails to approve or disapprove the final plat within 60 days after it has been officially submitted for approval, the subdivider, after ten days' written notice to the Commission, may petition the Circuit Court of the City to decide whether the final plat should or should not be approved. The court shall hear the matter and make and enter an order with respect thereto as it deems proper, which may include directing approval of the final plat. For the purposes of this subsection, a final plat shall not be deemed officially submitted until the Secretary of the Commission determines that it contains all of the information required by this chapter.
(d) If the Commission disapproves a preliminary plat or the Secretary of the Commission disapproves a final plat and the subdivider contends that the disapproval was not properly based on the ordinance applicable thereto or was arbitrary or capricious, the subdivider may appeal to the Circuit Court of the City. The court shall hear and determine the case as soon as may be practicable, provided that the subdivider's appeal is filed with the Circuit Court within 60 days of the written disapproval by the Commission or the Secretary of the Commission.
(Code 1993, § 26-86; Code 2004, § 94-256; Code 2015, § 25-293; Code 2020, § 25-293)
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_CH25SULA_ARTIVPL_S25-293APDEFetched: 11/8/2026