DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT CANAL AREA

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 8, art. X

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-474 Designated.

Sec. 8-474. - Designated. The Downtown Riverfront Canal Area, for purposes of this article, shall refer to that certain property owned by the City in the vicinity of the Downtown Riverfront Canal System and leased to the Richmond Riverfront Corporation for its maintenance and operation and shall also include the bed, waters and walls of the Haxall Canal and the James River and Kanawha Canal, as to which the City maintains exclusive control. The Downtown Riverfront Canal Area is generally described as the area encompassing Brown's Island; the restored canal segments and adjoining walkway areas, exclusive of public right-of-way, from the vicinity of Sixth Street on the west to the vicinity of 18th Street on the east; and the canal segment between the floodwall opening and the Great Shiplock. The Downtown Riverfront Canal Area is more particularly designated as the property shown shaded on Department of Public Works drawing No. P-23226, dated December 2, 1997, and entitled "Controlled Public Access Area for Canal & Related Uses," along with the Haxall Canal and James River and Kanawha Canal segments referred to in this section, referred to as "the canals." (Code 1993, § 8-280; Code 2004, § 26-561; Code 2015, § 8-474; Code 2020, § 8-474)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-475 Unauthorized vehicles.

Sec. 8-475. - Unauthorized vehicles. It shall be unlawful for any person, unless specifically authorized, to drive any vehicle onto the sidewalks or grounds of the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area. This section shall not apply to persons authorized to operate City or Richmond Riverfront Corporation vehicles used for maintenance, emergency response vehicles, or vehicles traveling along paved surfaces to deliver goods or equipment in connection with an event or activity approved or sponsored by the Richmond Riverfront Corporation or its permittee. (Code 1993, § 8-281; Code 2004, § 26-562; Code 2015, § 8-475; Code 2020, § 8-475)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-476 Unauthorized boating.

Sec. 8-476. - Unauthorized boating. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or dock any boat in the waters within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area, except with the express written permission of the Richmond Riverfront Corporation. (Code 1993, § 8-282; Code 2004, § 26-563; Code 2015, § 8-476; Code 2020, § 8-476)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-477 Animals.

Sec. 8-477. - Animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to take any animal under such person's control into the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area. This section shall also not apply to: (1) Dogs or horses used by the members of the Department of Police; (2) Dogs restrained by a leash, provided that the person in control of the dog immediately removes any waste or excreta deposited by the dog; and (3) Those animals defined in Code of Virginia, § 51.5-44, provided that the liability of the owner of any such animal shall be as set forth in Code of Virginia, § 51.5-44. (Code 1993, § 8-283; Code 2004, § 26-564; Code 2015, § 8-477; Code 2020, § 8-477; Ord. No. 2005-292-248, § 1, 11-14-2005)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-478 Swimming, diving, jumping or wading in canals.

Sec. 8-478. - Swimming, diving, jumping or wading in canals. It shall be unlawful for any person to dive or jump into or to swim or wade in the canals within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area, except under emergency circumstances. (Code 1993, § 8-284; Code 2004, § 26-565; Code 2015, § 8-478; Code 2020, § 8-478)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-479 Feeding birds, animals or aquatic life.

Sec. 8-479. - Feeding birds, animals or aquatic life. It shall be unlawful for any person to feed birds, animals or aquatic life within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area. (Code 1993, § 8-285; Code 2004, § 26-566; Code 2015, § 8-479; Code 2020, § 8-479)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-480 Fishing in canals.

Sec. 8-480. - Fishing in canals. It shall be unlawful for any person to fish in the canals within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area, whether from the sidewalk areas, bridges, canal boats, boat maintenance facility, or any other access location. (Code 1993, § 8-286; Code 2004, § 26-567; Code 2015, § 8-480; Code 2020, § 8-480)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-481 Posting of signs or advertising.

Sec. 8-481. - Posting of signs or advertising. It shall be unlawful for any person to paint, mark or write on or post or otherwise affix to or upon a controlled public accessway within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area or any fixture thereon any sign or other form of commercial, noncommercial, or political advertising, promotion, solicitation, communication, or display. It shall furthermore be unlawful for any person to cause or with knowledge permit such actions to be taken on such person's behalf. (Code 1993, § 8-287; Code 2004, § 26-568; Code 2015, § 8-481; Code 2020, § 8-481)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-482 Throwing trash, litter or debris into canals or upon sidewalks or open areas.

Sec. 8-482. - Throwing trash, litter or debris into canals or upon sidewalks or open areas. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, sweep or otherwise deposit trash, litter or debris of any kind into the canals or upon sidewalks or open areas within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area. (Code 1993, § 8-288; Code 2004, § 26-569; Code 2015, § 8-482; Code 2020, § 8-482)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-483 Glass bottles or containers.

Sec. 8-483. - Glass bottles or containers. It shall be unlawful for any person to take any glass bottle or glass food or beverage container of any type into the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area, except with the express written permission of the Richmond Riverfront Corporation. (Code 1993, § 8-289; Code 2004, § 26-570; Code 2015, § 8-483; Code 2020, § 8-483)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-484 Throwing, kicking or hitting balls, Frisbees or similar objects.

Sec. 8-484. - Throwing, kicking or hitting balls, Frisbees or similar objects. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, kick, or hit any ball, Frisbee TM or any other similar recreational object within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area, except with the express written permission of the Richmond Riverfront Corporation. (Code 1993, § 8-290; Code 2004, § 26-571; Code 2015, § 8-484; Code 2020, § 8-484)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-485 Bicycling, skateboarding or roller blading.

Sec. 8-485. - Bicycling, skateboarding or roller blading. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle, to skateboard, to roller blade or roller skate, or to engage in any similar activity within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area, except under emergency circumstances or otherwise with the express written permission of the Richmond Riverfront Corporation. (Code 1993, § 8-291; Code 2004, § 26-572; Code 2015, § 8-485; Code 2020, § 8-485)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-486 Sales of food, beverages or merchandise.

Sec. 8-486. - Sales of food, beverages or merchandise. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any food, beverage or merchandise within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area or on any public property or public right-of-way within 100 feet of the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area. However, within the Downtown Riverfront Area, such activity shall be permitted in accordance with a concession, license, permit or other express written authorization obtained from the Richmond Riverfront Corporation. (Code 1993, § 8-292; Code 2004, § 26-573; Code 2015, § 8-486; Code 2020, § 8-486)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-487 Unauthorized structures or equipment.

Sec. 8-487. - Unauthorized structures or equipment. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect a booth, stage, platform or any other structure or to place a table or other equipment within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area for any purpose, except with the express written approval of the Richmond Riverfront Corporation. (Code 1993, § 8-293; Code 2004, § 26-574; Code 2015, § 8-487; Code 2020, § 8-487)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-488 Administrative authorization of permanent encroachments.

Sec. 8-488. - Administrative authorization of permanent encroachments. The Director of Public Works may authorize any permanent encroachments within the Downtown Riverfront Canal Area pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 24-110(b)(1) for the administrative approval of encroachments. (Code 1993, § 8-293.1; Code 2004, § 26-575; Code 2015, § 8-488; Code 2020, § 8-488)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-489 Design and operation of authorized canal boats and barges; load capacity.

Sec. 8-489. - Design and operation of authorized canal boats and barges; load capacity. Canal boats and barges operating on the waters of the James River and Kanawha Canal, in accordance with the express written authorization granted by the Richmond Riverfront Corporation or the City, shall be designed, built, maintained, and operated in a manner consistent with protecting public safety. Any boat or barge placed in service on the James River and Kanawha Canal shall carry no more than 40 passengers. The load capacity of each boat or barge shall be posted in a readily visible location on the vessel. (Code 1993, § 8-294; Code 2004, § 26-576; Code 2015, § 8-489; Code 2020, § 8-489)

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_CH8CINEREES_ARTXDORICAARFetched: 11/8/2026