COMMUNITY UNIT PLANS

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

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.1 Applicability of division.

Sec. 30-456.1. - Applicability of division. The regulations contained in this division shall be applicable to community unit plans and are established pursuant to and in accordance with Section 17.10(g) of the Charter. (Code 1993, § 32-456.1; Code 2004, § 114-456.1; Code 2015, § 30-456.1; Code 2020, § 30-456.1)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.2 Land eligible.

Sec. 30-456.2. - Land eligible. The owner of any tract of land situated in any district and which comprises not less than ten contiguous acres in area, except for intervening public streets and alleys, may submit to the Planning Commission a plan for the use and development of such land in a manner that does not conform in all respects with the regulations and restrictions prescribed for the district in which such tract is situated. (Code 1993, § 32-456.2; Code 2004, § 114-456.2; Code 2015, § 30-456.2; Code 2020, § 30-456.2)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.3 Content of preliminary plan.

Sec. 30-456.3. - Content of preliminary plan. A preliminary community unit plan containing the following information shall be submitted to the Planning Commission: (1) Maximum number of dwelling units and maximum amount of commercial and residential floor area proposed. (2) General character and location of all buildings, structures and open spaces. (3) General location of all means of ingress and egress and areas for the parking and circulation of vehicles. (4) Specific features of the plan which are intended to ensure compatibility with adjacent development. (5) Statement as to the manner in which such plan meets the criteria set forth in Section 30-456.4. (Code 1993, § 32-456.3; Code 2004, § 114-456.3; Code 2015, § 30-456.3; Code 2020, § 30-456.3)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.4 Approval or disapproval of preliminary plan; criteria.

Sec. 30-456.4. - Approval or disapproval of preliminary plan; criteria. The Planning Commission shall approve the preliminary community unit plan when it finds, after receiving a report from the Director of Planning and Development Review and after holding a public hearing thereon, that the use of the land and the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the structures, facilities and appurtenances proposed thereon will adequately safeguard the health, safety and welfare of the occupants of the adjoining and surrounding property; will not unreasonably impair an adequate supply of light and air to adjacent property; will not unreasonably increase congestion in streets; will not unreasonably increase public danger from fire or otherwise unreasonably affect public safety; and will not diminish or impair the established values of property in surrounding areas; otherwise, the Commission shall disapprove the plan. (Code 1993, § 32-456.4; Code 2004, § 114-456.4; Code 2015, § 30-456.4; Code 2020, § 30-456.4; Ord. No. 2009-221-2010-9, § 1, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.5 Action of Planning Commission.

Sec. 30-456.5. - Action of Planning Commission. The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing on the preliminary community unit plan. Notice of the time and place of such public hearing shall be given in accordance with general law. The names and addresses of all property owners within the City to whom notices are to be sent shall be furnished by the City Assessor and shall be as shown on the then-current tax records of the City. The action of the Planning Commission shall be based upon a finding of fact which shall be reduced to writing and preserved among its records. The Commission shall act by formal resolution, which shall set forth the reasons for its decision. When the Planning Commission approves a preliminary community unit plan, it shall transmit a copy of its resolution, together with its finding of fact, to the City Council. (Code 1993, § 32-456.5; Code 2004, § 114-456.5; Code 2015, § 30-456.5; Code 2020, § 30-456.5)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.6 Action of City Council.

Sec. 30-456.6. - Action of City Council. The City Council shall hold a public hearing on the preliminary community unit plan. Notice of the time and place of such public hearing shall be given in accordance with general law. The names and addresses of all property owners within the City to whom notices are to be sent shall be furnished by the City Assessor and shall be as shown on the then-current tax records of the City. The City Council may, by ordinance, approve the plan if it concurs in the finding of fact of the Commission. (Code 1993, § 32-456.6; Code 2004, § 114-456.6; Code 2015, § 30-456.6; Code 2020, § 30-456.6; Ord. No. 2019-085, § 2, 4-22-2019)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.7 Approval or disapproval of final plan; criteria.

Sec. 30-456.7. - Approval or disapproval of final plan; criteria. After approval of a preliminary community unit plan by the City Council and within a period of time specified in the ordinance adopting such plan, a final plan indicating in detail the proposed layout of the site and character of improvements thereon shall be submitted to the Planning Commission. After receiving a report from the Director of Planning and Development Review, the Commission shall, by formal resolution, approve the final plan if it finds that the requirements of Section 30-456.4 are met and that such plan is consistent with objectives of the preliminary plan as adopted by the Council and not in conflict with any conditions specified by the Council. The Commission shall not approve the final plan if revisions thereto subsequent to Council approval have resulted in an increase in the number of dwelling units or amount of residential or commercial floor area or in any greater deviation from the zoning district regulations than proposed in the preliminary plan. (Code 1993, § 32-456.7; Code 2004, § 114-456.7; Code 2015, § 30-456.7; Code 2020, § 30-456.7; Ord. No. 2009-221-2010-9, § 1, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.8 Permits for construction and occupancy.

Sec. 30-456.8. - Permits for construction and occupancy. A copy of the resolution approving a final community unit plan shall be transmitted to the Zoning Administrator, who shall thereby be authorized to review for sufficiency the necessary permits for construction and occupancy. Application for building permits shall be made within a period of time specified in the resolution; otherwise, the action of the Planning Commission shall be considered null and void. (Code 1993, § 32-456.8; Code 2004, § 114-456.8; Code 2015, § 30-456.8; Code 2020, § 30-456.8)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.9 Preliminary plan may be considered final plan.

Sec. 30-456.9. - Preliminary plan may be considered final plan. When a preliminary community unit plan indicates in detail the proposed layout of the site and character of improvements thereon and meets all other requirements of this division and when no modifications are made to such plan subsequent to its approval by the City Council, the plan shall be deemed to be the final plan. In such case, the City Council may authorize the issuance of necessary construction and occupancy permits within a specified period of time, and further approval by the Planning Commission shall not be required. (Code 1993, § 32-456.9; Code 2004, § 114-456.9; Code 2015, § 30-456.9; Code 2020, § 30-456.9)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.10 Submission fees.

Sec. 30-456.10. - Submission fees. (a) A fee of $3,000.00, plus $100.00 per acre over ten acres shall accompany the preliminary community unit plan application, which amount shall be paid into the City treasury. (b) A fee of $1,500.00, plus $100.00 per acre over ten acres shall accompany each final community unit plan application, which amount shall be paid into the City treasury. (c) A fee of $1,500.00 shall accompany each application for an extension to a community unit plan, which amount shall be paid into the City treasury. (d) A fee of $1,500.00, plus $100.00 per acre amended over ten acres shall accompany each application for an amendment to a community unit plan, which amount shall be paid into the City treasury. (e) A letter of acceptance for a preliminary community unit plan, final community plan, extension of a community unit plan or amendment of a community plan shall not be accepted until satisfactory evidence has been presented to the Secretary of the Planning Commission that any delinquent real estate taxes applicable to the subject property have been paid. If an application for an amendment to a community unit plan is made, this subsection shall apply only to the properties which are included in the amendment application. (Code 1993, § 32-456.10; Code 2004, § 114-456.10; Code 2015, § 30-456.10; Code 2020, § 30-456.10; Ord. No. 2007-54-121, § 1, 5-29-2007; Ord. No. 2010-237-2011-16, § 1, 1-24-2011)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-456.11 Posting of notice on property.

Sec. 30-456.11. - Posting of notice on property. In the case of each application for a community unit plan or amendment to a community unit plan, it shall be the responsibility of the Department of Planning and Development Review to post on the property that is the subject of the community unit plan, a sign or signs notifying interested parties of the application and pending public hearings thereon. Such sign shall be posted at least 15 days prior to the scheduled Planning Commission public hearing on the application, shall remain on the property until final disposition of the application by the City Council, and shall comply with any applicable standards established by the Department of Planning and Development Review and approved by resolution of the Planning Commission. (Code 2004, § 114-456.11; Code 2015, § 30-456.11; Code 2020, § 30-456.11; Ord. No. 2006-259-262, § 1, 10-23-2006; Ord. No. 2015-148-158, § 1, 7-27-2015)

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_DIV30COUNPLFetched: 11/8/2026