Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity

Richmond, Va., City Code ch. 29, art. II, div. 2, subpt. III

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-137 Generally.

Sec. 29-137. - Generally. (a) Required. It shall be unlawful to operate or cause to be operated within the City any taxicab unless a certificate of public convenience and necessity has been issued to the owner thereof by the Chief of Police covering the operation of such vehicle and unless the conditions, regulations and restrictions set forth and prescribed in this article have been complied with by such owner. An owner shall operate under only one certificate, and the certificate shall provide for the operation of a specified number of taxicabs. It shall be unlawful to operate or cause to be operated more vehicles than the number provided in the certificate. Additional vehicles may be operated by a certificate holder only upon written application on a form provided by the Chief of Police, approval of such application, payment of fees provided under this article and compliance with all other sections of this article. (b) Expiration; application and renewal. The certificate of public convenience and necessity shall remain in effect until January 31 following its issuance and may be renewed thereafter annually. The Chief of Police shall prescribe a form to be used in applying for the certificate and a form to be used in applying for a renewal. (c) Interruption of use; lapse. A certificate of public convenience and necessity shall lapse with respect to an individual vehicle or any one of the specified number of vehicles for which the certificate has been issued when the particular vehicle has not been used to provide taxicab service for 60 or more consecutive days. (d) Transferability. A certificate of public convenience and necessity shall not be transferable. (e) Fees. In addition to any other fees prescribed elsewhere in this Code, each applicant for a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall pay an application fee of $15.00 per vehicle listed in the certificate and upon each annual request for renewal of such certificate shall pay the same fee. (f) Limitation of number issued. When it appears that it is in the public interest to limit the number of the owner's certificates issued by the Chief of Police, the Council may, if it finds after an advertised public hearing that it is in the public interest, prescribe the maximum number of vehicles for which such certificates are to be issued. Thereafter, no new certificates shall be issued until the total number of vehicles for which certificates are outstanding is less than the prescribed number, provided that renewal of an existing certificate shall not be regarded as a new certificate for purposes of this section. (g) Age and mileage limits of vehicles under certificate. It shall be unlawful for a certificate holder to place into service a taxicab which either is more than 12 model years old or which is more than eight model years old and has more than 300,000 miles at the time it is placed into service. (h) Minimum specifications for vehicles. It shall be unlawful for a certificate holder to place into service a taxicab unless the vehicle is a hardtop vehicle with a minimum of four doors and wheel size of at least 14 inches. (Code 1993, § 30-12; Code 2004, § 110-32; Code 2015, § 29-137; Code 2020, § 29-137; Ord. No. 2015-198-205, § 1, 11-9-2015)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-138 Denial.

Sec. 29-138. - Denial. Subject to Section 29-91, the Chief of Police shall refuse to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity pursuant to this article to a person who has filed an application therefor under this article if, after investigation, the Chief finds any of the following: (1) The applicant's vehicles do not meet the standards set forth in Section 29-30, 29-31, 29-32, 29-35 or 29-36; (2) The applicant fails to meet the requirements of Section 29-56 or 29-57; (3) The applicant has been convicted of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere within the past 12 months to three or more violations of this article or of any other local law in the Commonwealth governing the operation of taxicabs or other for-hire vehicles; or (4) The applicant knowingly makes or causes to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false statement on the application. (Code 1993, § 30-48; Code 2004, § 110-69; Code 2015, § 29-138; Code 2020, § 29-138)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-139 Revocation.

Sec. 29-139. - Revocation. Subject to Section 29-91, the certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to this article shall immediately become void and shall be immediately surrendered upon the occurrence of any of the following: (1) The Chief of Police determines, after investigation, that any or all of the vehicles subject to the certificate fails to comply with Section 29-30, 29-31, 29-32, 29-35 or 29-36 and the certificate holder, after notification of the violations, knowingly operates or permits to be operated such vehicle prior to correcting the violation; (2) The Chief determines, after investigation, that the certificate holder is in violation of Section 29-56 or 29-57 and the certificate holder knowingly fails to comply with such section within 15 days after notification of such violation; (3) The certificate holder is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere within a 12-month period to three or more violations of this article or of any other local law in this Commonwealth governing the operation of taxicabs or other for-hire vehicles; (4) The Chief finds, after investigation, that the certificate holder has knowingly made or caused to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false statement on the application for a permit which was issued to such certificate holder; or (5) The Chief finds, after investigation, that a charge has been made above or below the rates prescribed by Section 29-34 with the knowledge, consent or permission of the certificate holder. (Code 1993, § 30-49; Code 2004, § 110-70; Code 2015, § 29-139; Code 2020, § 29-139)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 29-140 Issuance after denial; reissuance after revocation.

Sec. 29-140. - Issuance after denial; reissuance after revocation. Any person refused a certificate of public convenience and necessity under Section 29-138 or whose certificate of public convenience and necessity is revoked under Section 29-139 shall not be eligible for issuance of a new certificate until such time as the grounds for refusal of a certificate under Section 29-138 no longer apply. However, if a certificate is refused or revoked for knowingly making or causing to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false statement or for the fact that a charge was made above or below the rates prescribed by Section 29-34 with the knowledge, consent or permission of the certificate holder, such owner shall not be eligible until 12 months from the date of refusal or revocation. (Code 1993, § 30-50; Code 2004, § 110-71; Code 2015, § 29-140; Code 2020, § 29-140)

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=CH29VEHI_ARTIITA_DIV2DRPECEPUCONE_SDIIICEPUCONEFetched: 11/8/2026