IN GENERAL

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 23, art. I

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-1 Definitions.

Sec. 23-1. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Appliance means a household or office device operated by gas or electric current. Ashes means refuse resulting from the burning of wood, coal, coke and other combustible material. Building materials means any material such as lumber, brick, plaster, gutters or other substances accumulated as a result of repairs or additions to existing buildings, construction of new buildings or demolition of existing structures. Bulk container means a metal container of not less than six cubic yards nor larger than eight cubic yards, made of watertight construction with doors opening on two sides and top, and constructed so that it can be emptied mechanically by specially equipped trucks. Bulk item means any refuse, other than an appliance or hazardous refuse, that does not fit into an empty mobile container or supercan. Business trash means any waste accumulation of dust, paper and cardboard, excelsior, rags or other accumulations, other than garbage or household trash, which are usually attendant to the operation of stores, offices and similar businesses. Commercial establishment means any retail, restaurant, manufacturing, wholesale, institutional, religious, governmental or other nonresidential establishment at which garbage or trash may be generated. Dwelling unit means a room or group of rooms within a building constituting a separate and independent housekeeping unit occupied or intended for occupancy by one family and containing kitchen and sleeping facilities, provided that a dwelling unit available for occupancy for periods of less than one month shall be considered a lodging unit as defined by Section 30-1220. Garbage means the byproduct of animal or vegetable foodstuffs resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food or other matter which is subject to decomposition, decay, putrefaction or the generation of noxious or offensive gases or odors or which, during or after decay, may serve as breeding or feeding material for insects or animals. Hazardous refuse means materials such as poison, acids, caustics, chemicals, infected materials, offal, fecal matter and explosives. Household trash means every waste accumulation of paper, sweepings, dust, rags, bottles, cans or other matter of any kind, other than garbage, which is usually attendant to housekeeping. Industrial waste means all waste, including solids, semisolids, sludges and liquids, created by factories, processing plants or other manufacturing enterprises. Litter means garbage, refuse, waste materials or any other discarded, used or unconsumed substance which is not handled as specified in this chapter. Mobile containers and supercans mean any containers for refuse provided by the City for use in the City, having a capacity of 90 to 95 gallons and equipped with wheels for mobility. Refuse means solid waste accumulations consisting of garbage, household trash, and business trash, as defined in this section. Tree and shrubbery trimmings means waste accumulation of tree branches, tree limbs, parts of trees, bushes, shrubbery and cuttings or clippings created as refuse of trees or bushes. Yard waste means waste accumulations of lawn, grass or shrubbery cuttings or clippings and leaves, free of dirt, rocks, large branches and bulky or noncombustible material. (Code 1993, § 31-1; Code 2004, § 86-1; Code 2015, § 23-1; Code 2020, § 23-1; Ord. No. 2018-027, § 1, 2-26-2018)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-2 Private refuse collectors or haulers.

Sec. 23-2. - Private refuse collectors or haulers. (a) No person shall engage in the business of collecting, hauling or transporting trash, garbage, litter or other similar substances in the City without first obtaining a license from the appropriate City agency. Any person engaging in such business shall conform to applicable ordinances, regulations of the Director of Public Works and requirements of other City departments. Upon failure to so conform, such permission shall be subject to revocation by the Director of Public Works. (b) All vehicles used for transporting refuse shall be fully enclosed or completely covered with a tarpaulin or a metal cover secured in such manner as to prevent material from leaking, spilling or blowing from such vehicle and, in addition, protected in such manner as to prevent odors and leakage. Additionally, for any contractor engaged in the demolition of any building or structure when hauling or moving any materials away from the site or location of such demolition, the vehicle must be so loaded and operated as to not violate this chapter. The driver of any vehicle shall be responsible for ensuring that no litter is thrown from the vehicle and that no litter occurs through the lack of proper covering. (Code 1993, § 31-2; Code 2004, § 86-2; Code 2015, § 23-2; Code 2020, § 23-2)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-3 Bulk containers utilized by commercial establishments.

Sec. 23-3. - Bulk containers utilized by commercial establishments. Any commercial establishment using a bulk container for its refuse shall employ the services of a private contractor to service that container. Such container shall at all times be covered and shall be clean, neat and maintained in a good state of repair. Cleaning up materials spilled from the container when emptying shall be the responsibility of the private contractor or the property owner or occupant. No refuse shall be placed adjacent to any bulk container. The property owner of any establishment for which a bulk container screening requirement applies must maintain such screening in a clean and neat condition and in good state of repair. (Code 1993, § 31-3; Code 2004, § 86-3; Code 2015, § 23-3; Code 2020, § 23-3)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-4 Hazardous refuse.

Sec. 23-4. - Hazardous refuse. No contagious disease refuse or any other refuse that may cause a public health hazard shall be placed in any receptacle used for collection by the City or collection by any private agency, unless so authorized under this section. In particular, the following types of refuse items shall be given special care and preparation before disposal of the items in any refuse container: (1) Hypodermic syringe, needle or similar instrument. No person shall dispose of or discard any hypodermic syringe, hypodermic needle or any instrument or device for making hypodermic injections before first breaking, disassembling, destroying or otherwise rendering the instrument or device inoperable and incapable of reuse. Such hypodermic syringe, needle, instrument or device shall not be disposed of without safeguarding by wrapping or securing the syringe, needle, instrument or device in a suitable manner so as to avoid the possibility of causing injury to the collection personnel. (2) Ashes. Ashes that are to be collected by the City or private collectors must have been wetted and cooled to the touch prior to collection. Ashes shall be placed in suitable containers of such size and weight as stipulated in Section 23-72 and shall not be placed with the normal refuse unless separately wrapped, so that they will not cause injury to the collection personnel. (3) Pressurized cans. All pressurized cans containing pesticides or any other dangerous materials shall be released of all pressure before being deposited in a receptacle for collection by the City or any private collection agency. (4) Glass. All broken glass or any type of glass that may cause injury to refuse collection personnel shall be separately wrapped to prevent injury and placed with the normal refuse. (5) Pesticides. All pesticide containers and other poisonous containers shall be emptied before being placed for collection. (Code 1993, § 31-4; Code 2004, § 86-4; Code 2015, § 23-4; Code 2020, § 23-4; Ord. No. 2005-144-121, § 1, 6-13-2005)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-5 Construction or use of commercial-type incinerators for burning solid waste.

Sec. 23-5. - Construction or use of commercial-type incinerators for burning solid waste. It shall be unlawful for any person to construct or use any commercial-type incinerator for the burning of rubbish or other readily combustible solid waste material in any zoning district of the City except those areas zoned for industrial or agricultural uses. (Code 1993, § 31-5; Code 2004, § 86-5; Code 2015, § 23-5; Code 2020, § 23-5)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-6 Private landfill.

Sec. 23-6. - Private landfill. No person shall operate a disposal site of any kind on any property within the City for the disposal or storage of trash, garbage, refuse, litter, junk, demolition materials or other such substances without first obtaining the approval of the Council. Such approval may be granted only upon the Council's determining that the applicant has met all of the requirements of law, including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to on-site grading and drainage. (Code 1993, § 31-6; Code 2004, § 86-6; Code 2015, § 23-6; Code 2020, § 23-6)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-7 Abatement by City.

Sec. 23-7. - Abatement by City. (a) In addition to the other penalties provided in Section 1-16, whenever the Chief Administrative Officer determines that there has been a violation of one or more of the sections of this chapter, the Chief Administrative Officer shall give notice in writing of that fact to the owner or occupant, or both, of the property on which such violation exists, which notice shall state that the owner or occupant, or both, shall abate such violation within ten days from the date the notice was served. Such notice shall set forth the location and nature of the violation. (b) Service of notice required to be given under this section shall be made by mailing the notice to the last known street or post office address of the person, agent, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or occupant to whom it is directed by mail or by delivery thereof in person. Proof of so mailing or delivering the notice shall be sufficient evidence that the notice was served, and the date of mailing or delivery, as the case may be, shall be the date of service. The term "proof of mailing" shall include either the use of certified mail or a written affirmation signed by the sender that reflects the date of mailing. If the last known street or post office address of the person, agent, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or occupant is unknown or the notice so mailed is returned undelivered by the post office, service of the notice shall be made by posting the notice on the land or premises on which the violation exists or on the land or premises abutting the sidewalk, street or alley on which the violation exists. Proof of posting the notice shall be sufficient evidence that the notice was served, and the date of posting shall be the date of service. (Code 1993, § 31-7; Code 2004, § 86-7; Code 2015, § 23-7; Code 2020, § 23-7; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-8 Appeal of abatement by City.

Sec. 23-8. - Appeal of abatement by City. (a) A person so notified under Section 23-7 may appeal in writing to the Chief Administrative Officer within ten days following service and ask to be heard. Upon receipt of such appeal, the Chief Administrative Officer shall designate a Hearing Officer to consider the appeal within ten days. Such Hearing Officer shall issue a finding within three days following such hearing. If compliance is required, abatement shall take place within ten days following the issuance of a finding. (b) If there is no appeal or if the Hearing Officer determines that compliance with the abatement notice is proper and if an owner or occupant so notified fails to comply within the ten days following notice or a finding by a Hearing Officer, whichever is later, the Chief Administrative Officer shall cause the violation to be abated and shall transmit a statement of charges to the owner or occupant and shall also transmit to the Director of Finance a statement of all costs incurred thereby, which shall be added to the taxes assessed against the real estate on which the violation existed for the ensuing tax year and shall be collected with such taxes by any manner prescribed by law for the collection of City taxes, if the owner or occupant has not made payment prior thereto. (Code 1993, § 31-8; Code 2004, § 86-8; Code 2015, § 23-8; Code 2020, § 23-8; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-9 Emergency requiring immediate abatement.

Sec. 23-9. - Emergency requiring immediate abatement. Should the Chief Administrative Officer determine that a violation of one or more of the sections of this chapter has created an emergency that requires immediate abatement, the Chief Administrative Officer may call upon the person so violating to abate the condition at once. If abatement does not take place, the Chief Administrative Officer may cause the violation to be abated, and the cost of abatement shall be collected as set forth in this chapter. If this section is invoked, the alleged violator shall be entitled to an administrative hearing with regard to any challenge to the propriety of the charge assessed for abatement. (Code 1993, § 31-9; Code 2004, § 86-9; Code 2015, § 23-9; Code 2020, § 23-9; Ord. No. 2004-360-330, § 1, 12-13-2004)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-10 Injunction.

Sec. 23-10. - Injunction. Nothing contained in this chapter shall preclude the City at any time from applying to a court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction to abate the violation of any section of this chapter or to otherwise maintain an action to compel a responsible party to abate, raze or remove a public nuisance under authority of State law. (Code 1993, § 31-10; Code 2004, § 86-10; Code 2015, § 23-10; Code 2020, § 23-10)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 23-11 Permit and fees for disposal of inert solid waste at East Richmond Road Landfill.

Sec. 23-11. - Permit and fees for disposal of inert solid waste at East Richmond Road Landfill. (a) Applicability. The requirements imposed by this section apply to the disposal of inert solid waste at the East Richmond Road Landfill, operated by the Department of Public Works. For purposes of this section, the term "inert solid waste" means waste that is not chemically active. (b) Permit. The Director of Public Works shall establish a regulation governing the issuance of permits to commercial haulers and contractors who deliver inert solid waste to the East Richmond Road Landfill for disposal. Such regulation shall include, at a minimum, the following elements: (1) Permit holders shall display a permit issued pursuant to this section on their vehicles in order to use the East Richmond Road Landfill. (2) Permit holders shall renew their permits annually at a time prescribed by the Director of Public Works. (3) Each applicant for a new permit or for annual renewal of a permit shall pay a permit fee of $100.00. (c) Handling fee. In addition to possessing a valid permit issued pursuant to this section, permit holders shall pay a fee known as the inert material handling fee in the amount of $15.00 for each ton or portion of ton of inert solid waste disposed of at the East Richmond Road Landfill. The Director of Public Works shall establish a regulation governing the method by which the total fees owed by each permit holder are to be calculated and the method by which the City will bill permit holders for the fees owed. (Code 2004, § 86-11; Code 2015, § 23-11; Code 2020, § 23-11; Ord. No. 2009-55-78, §§ 1, 2, 5-26-2009; Ord. No. 2010-35-41, § 1, 2-22-2010)

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_CH23SOWA_ARTIINGEFetched: 11/8/2026