SALE OF REAL ESTATE

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

in effect

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-55 Applicability of article; role of Chief Administrative Officer.

Sec. 8-55. - Applicability of article; role of Chief Administrative Officer. (a) Applicability of article. No City-owned real estate shall be sold except in accordance with this article and any applicable provisions of the Constitution of Virginia, the Code of Virginia and the Charter of the City of Richmond. (b) Role of Chief Administrative Officer. The Chief Administrative Officer may delegate some or all of the duties required of him by this article to one or more officers or employees who report to the Chief Administrative Officer. (Code 2004, § 26-76; Code 2015, § 8-55; Code 2020, § 8-55; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. 2009-220-2010-8, § 2, 1-25-2010)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-56 Records and reporting.

Sec. 8-56. - Records and reporting. (a) Definitions. The term "parcel," when used in this section, means a unit of City-owned real estate identified with its own unique tax parcel number in the City Assessor's records. (b) City-owned real estate and surplus real estate. The Chief Administrative Officer shall prepare, maintain, and publish by July 1 of each year thereafter, a read-only, searchable list on the City's website records that enumerate: (1) All parcels. (2) Parcels currently used by the City and a description of such use. (3) Vacant parcels, as reflected in the City Assessor's records. (4) Parcels for which the City has solicited offers, bids, or proposals pursuant to the applicable provisions of this article. (5) Parcels operated and declared by the School Board to be surplus real estate pursuant to Code of Virginia, § 22.1-129. (6) Parcels declared by the City to be surplus real estate pursuant to Section 8-60. (7) Parcels located within an enterprise zone established pursuant to State law, an Arts and Cultural District, a Commercial Area Revitalization Effort Area, an Extra Commercial Area Revitalization Effort Area, a redevelopment or conservation area, or a rehabilitation district. (c) Biennial recommendations. By October 1 of every even numbered year thereafter, the Chief Administrative Officer shall provide to the Council a real estate strategies plan consisting of recommendations for the sale and disposition of those parcels that the Chief Administrative Officer has determined are no longer needed for municipal or public purposes. In addition, the plan must identify parcels that the Chief Administrative Officer proposes to use to facilitate development within the areas enumerated in Subsection (b)(7) of this section and to facilitate the development of affordable housing. Upon the Council's adoption of a resolution approving the plan, the parcels recommended by the Chief Administrative Officer for sale or other disposition in such resolution shall be deemed surplus real estate and, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, the Chief Administrative Officer may solicit offers, bids, and proposals in accordance with this article for the purchase of the parcels in accordance with the plan adopted by the Council. By October 1, 2019, and by October 1 of every odd numbered year thereafter, the Chief Administrative Officer shall submit a report on progress with regard to the recommendations set forth in the plan to the Council. (d) Annual report of real estate sales transactions. The Chief Administrative Officer shall prepare annually a report of all of the transactions relating to the disposal of parcels by the City during the 12 months preceding July 1 of each year. The Chief Administrative Officer shall submit such report to the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee of the Council or any successor committee thereof by September 1 of each year. (Code 2004, § 26-77; Code 2015, § 8-56; Code 2020, § 8-56; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. 2017-170, § 1, 9-25-2017)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-57 No sale of parks.

Sec. 8-57. - No sale of parks. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no City-owned real estate that has been designated as a City park shall be declared surplus property of the City under any circumstances. The Chief Administrative Officer shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that no City-owned real estate designated as a City park is declared surplus property of the City under any circumstances. (Code 2004, § 26-78; Code 2015, § 8-57; Code 2020, § 8-57; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-58 Disposition of unsolicited offer.

Sec. 8-58. - Disposition of unsolicited offer. (a) Receipt of offer. The Chief Administrative Officer shall prepare policies and procedures, and from time to time, as necessary, any modifications thereto, for the submission of unsolicited offers to purchase City-owned real estate in accordance with this article. The Chief Administrative Officer shall publish such policies and procedures, and any modifications thereto, on the City's website. If an unsolicited offer is made to purchase City-owned real estate in compliance with the policies and procedures published by the Chief Administrative Officer in accordance with this section, the Chief Administrative Officer shall immediately bring such offer to the attention of the Mayor and the members of the Council. (b) Requiring deposit from offeror. Upon the introduction of an ordinance to direct the sale of real estate to an offeror, the Chief Administrative Officer shall require a deposit from the offeror in accordance with Section 8-59 and shall require the offeror to execute a purchase agreement. (c) Council action on offer. No ordinance to direct the sale of real estate to an offeror who has submitted an unsolicited offer may be introduced until the Council has adopted a resolution declaring such real estate to be surplus as described in Section 8-60. The Council shall not act upon an unsolicited offer in accordance with Section 8-65 and other applicable provisions of this article until the Chief Administrative Officer first has proceeded in accordance with either Section 8-61 or Sections 8-62 and 8-63. (Code 2004, § 26-79; Code 2015, § 8-58; Code 2020, § 8-58; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. 2017-170, § 1, 9-25-2017; Ord. No. 2017-069, § 1, 11-13-2017)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-59 Deposit.

Sec. 8-59. - Deposit. No ordinance directing the sale of City-owned real estate to a purchaser under this article shall be adopted unless and until the purchaser has provided a deposit in an amount equal to ten percent of the proposed purchase price either by furnishing the Chief Administrative Officer with such deposit in the form of a certified or cashier's check or placing the deposit in escrow pursuant to a legally enforceable escrow agreement approved as to form by the Office of the City Attorney. If the Council adopts an ordinance directing the sale of the City-owned real estate to the purchaser, the deposit shall be applied to the purchase price upon closing of the sale of such City-owned real estate. The City may retain the proceeds of the deposit if the purchaser withdraws its offer to purchase the real estate before the final action of the Council on the ordinance to direct the sale of the real estate to the purchaser. However, the City shall not forfeit or waive any other remedies or rights the City may have otherwise by retaining the proceeds of the deposit. (Code 2004, § 26-80; Code 2015, § 8-59; Code 2020, § 8-59; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. 2022-130, § 1, 5-23-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-60 Declaration of real estate as surplus.

Sec. 8-60. - Declaration of real estate as surplus. No offer, bid or proposal for the purchase of City-owned real estate shall be sought by solicitation, whether by invitation for bids or request for proposals, or auction unless and until the Council shall first have adopted a resolution declaring such real estate to be surplus real estate and authorizing the seeking of offers, bids or proposals therefor by solicitation or auction. (Code 2004, § 26-81; Code 2015, § 8-60; Code 2020, § 8-60; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-61 Solicitation of offers by invitation for bids.

Sec. 8-61. - Solicitation of offers by invitation for bids. (a) Invitation for bids. If the Council, or the Chief Administrative Officer when authorized by resolution of the Council or upon receipt of an unsolicited offer to purchase City-owned real estate, determines that it is in the best interests of the City to sell surplus real estate with regard to price only, the Chief Administrative Officer shall invite bids for such real estate. All invitations for bids shall: (1) Be expressly conditioned on Council approval of the sale of the real estate to the successful bidder in accordance with Section 8-65; (2) Provide that bids will be evaluated solely on the basis of the price stated in the bid; (3) Require that each bid be received by the Chief Administrative Officer no later than a specifically stated date and hour; (4) Clearly state the requirements of Section 8-59; and (5) Clearly state the requirements of Section 8-67. (b) Solicitation. All invitations for bids shall be initiated by: (1) Publication on the City's website; and (2) Such other means as to provide reasonable notice of the invitation for bids to the maximum number of persons that can be reasonably anticipated to submit bids in response to the particular invitation for bids. (c) Acceptance or rejection of bids. Once the date and hour for the receipt of bids has passed and the bids have been evaluated, the Mayor may introduce an ordinance directing the sale of the real estate to the bidder whose bid complies with the conditions of this section and offers the highest price for the City-owned real estate. No other criteria shall be considered in evaluating bids solicited under this section. In the alternative, the Mayor may introduce a resolution rejecting all of the bids received. (Code 2004, § 26-82; Code 2015, § 8-61; Code 2020, § 8-61; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. 2017-069, § 1, 11-13-2017; Ord. No. 2022-130, § 1, 5-23-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-62 Solicitation of offers by request for proposals—Generally.

Sec. 8-62. - Solicitation of offers by request for proposals—Generally. (a) Request for proposals. If the Council, or the Chief Administrative Officer when authorized by resolution of the Council or upon receipt of an unsolicited offer to purchase City-owned real estate, determines that it is in the best interests of the City to sell surplus real estate with regard to factors other than price, but which may include price, the Chief Administrative Officer shall request proposals for the real estate. All requests for proposals shall: (1) Be expressly conditioned on Council approval of the sale of the real estate to the successful proposer in accordance with Section 8-65; (2) Set forth in detail the specific evaluation factors upon which the proposals received pursuant to that request will be evaluated; (3) Require that each proposal be received by the Chief Administrative Officer no later than a specifically stated date and hour; (4) Clearly state the requirements of Section 8-59; (5) Clearly state the requirements of Section 8-67; and (6) Be submitted in draft form prior to solicitation to the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee of the Council or any successor committee thereof and incorporate any additional evaluation factors that such committee may deem appropriate. (b) Solicitation. All requests for proposals shall be solicited by: (1) Publication on the City's website; and (2) Such other means as to provide reasonable notice of the request for proposals to the maximum number of persons that can be reasonably anticipated to submit proposals in response to the particular request for proposals. (c) Submission fee. The Chief Administrative Officer may require that all proposals submitted in response to any request for proposals include a nonrefundable submission fee in such amount determined by the Chief Administrative Officer not to exceed one percent of the assessed value of the real estate that is the subject of the request for proposals. Any such submission fee requirement shall be stated clearly in the request for proposals. (Code 2004, § 26-83; Code 2015, § 8-62; Code 2020, § 8-62; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. 2017-069, § 1, 11-13-2017; Ord. No. 2022-130, § 1, 5-23-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-63 Solicitation of offers by request for proposals—Evaluation of proposals.

Sec. 8-63. - Solicitation of offers by request for proposals—Evaluation of proposals. (a) Evaluation factors. Each request for proposals may be evaluated based on any or all of the following evaluation factors, provided such evaluation factors are enumerated in the request for proposals: (1) The proposed use of the real estate; (2) The financial ability of the proposer to provide for the proposed use of the real estate; (3) The past experience of the proposer in the development and use of properties for uses similar to the proposed use; (4) The effect of the proposed use of the real estate on other properties; (5) The compatibility of the proposed use of the real estate with the City's master plan; (6) The price the proposer offers to pay for the real estate; and (7) Such other evaluation factors as the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee of the Council or its successor Committee may deem appropriate and as the Chief Administrative Officer may deem appropriate when evaluation factors deemed appropriate by the Chief Administrative Officer do not conflict with evaluation factors deemed appropriate by the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee of the Council or its successor committee. (b) Evaluation process. The Chief Administrative Officer shall evaluate all proposals based solely upon all of the specific criteria enumerated in the request for proposals. The Chief Administrative Officer shall complete this evaluation within a reasonable period of time following receipt of all of the proposals and report the results of his evaluation both to the Mayor and to the Council at the same time. (c) Acceptance or rejection of proposals. Once the date and hour for the receipt of proposals has passed and the proposals have been evaluated, the Mayor may introduce an ordinance directing the sale of the real estate to the proposer whose proposal complies with the conditions set forth in Section 8-62 and is determined based on the evaluation factors stated in the request for proposals to be in the best interests of the City. In the alternative, the Mayor may introduce a resolution rejecting all of the proposals received. (Code 2004, § 26-84; Code 2015, § 8-63; Code 2020, § 8-63; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. 2017-069, § 1, 11-13-2017)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-64 Auction of surplus real estate.

Sec. 8-64. - Auction of surplus real estate. If the Council, or the Chief Administrative Officer when authorized by resolution of the Council, determines that it is in the best interests of the City to sell specific surplus real estate by auction, the Chief Administrative Officer shall offer such surplus real estate for sale at public auction through a qualified auctioneer with whom the City has contracted for the sale of surplus real estate. The Chief Administrative Officer shall ensure that notice of such public auction is given by: (1) Publication on the City's website; and (2) Such other means as to provide reasonable notice of the public auction to the maximum number of persons that can be reasonably anticipated to participate in such public auction. (Code 2004, § 26-85; Code 2015, § 8-64; Code 2020, § 8-64; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-65 Action of council.

Sec. 8-65. - Action of council. (a) Requirement for Council action. No City-owned real estate shall be sold unless and until the Council has declared the real estate to be surplus real estate and adopted an ordinance directing the sale of the real estate to the purchaser. (b) Contents of ordinance directing sale of real estate. Any ordinance directing the sale of surplus real estate to a purchaser shall contain the following information in the text of the ordinance: (1) Sufficient information to identify the real estate being sold; (2) The name of the purchaser; (3) The amount such purchaser proposes to pay for the real estate; (4) Any conditions of the purchase that the patron deems appropriate; and (5) Either a declaration that the real estate being sold is surplus real estate or a reference to a prior resolution declaring such real estate to be surplus real estate. Such ordinance shall direct the Chief Administrative Officer to execute the deed, which must first be approved as to form by the City Attorney, and any other documents necessary to consummate the sale of the real estate on behalf of the City. (c) Options. With regard to the sale of surplus real estate by any means authorized under this article, the Council may take action to do any of the following: (1) Authorize the sale of City-owned real estate to the purchaser recommended by the patron of the ordinance directing the sale of real estate to the purchaser by adopting such ordinance, which the Council may, if it chooses, amend to add, modify or remove conditions imposed on the purchase as permitted by the article; (2) Refuse to authorize the sale of City-owned real estate to the purchaser recommended by the patron of the ordinance directing the sale of real estate to the purchaser by rejecting such ordinance; or (3) Reject all responses to the solicitation and direct the Chief Administrative Officer to issue a new solicitation for the City-owned real estate by adopting a resolution to that effect. (d) Considerations by Council. The Council may consider any of the following before exercising any of the options in Subsection (c) of this section: (1) The amount of the offer, bid or proposal; (2) The amount at which the City Assessor has appraised the property; (3) The tax status and financial ability of the offeror, bidder or proposer; (4) The amounts of any other appraisals of the property; (5) The current use of the property; (6) The offeror's proposed use of the property; (7) The effect of the offeror's proposed use on other properties in the vicinity; (8) Any evaluation factors in a request for proposals, if applicable; (9) The conditions, if any, to be imposed on the purchase; and (10) Any other considerations the Council deems relevant. (Code 2004, § 26-86; Code 2015, § 8-65; Code 2020, § 8-65; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-66 Effect of ordinance directing sale of real estate.

Sec. 8-66. - Effect of ordinance directing sale of real estate. An ordinance directing the sale of real estate to a purchaser shall be deemed to require the conveyance of the real estate unless the purchaser does not comply with Section 8-67 or any condition set forth in the ordinance. If the purchaser of real estate set forth in the ordinance does not comply with Section 8-67 or any condition set forth in the ordinance, the City shall not attempt to seek offers, bids or proposals for the purchase of such real estate by solicitation or auction unless and until the Council has first approved or directed such solicitation or auction. The Council shall express such approval by adopting a resolution to that effect. (Code 2004, § 26-87; Code 2015, § 8-66; Code 2020, § 8-66; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-67 Payment.

Sec. 8-67. - Payment. After the Council has directed the sale of City-owned real estate, the purchaser shall pay the balance of the purchase price to the City within 15 days after the City gives the purchaser notice that the deed is ready for delivery. If the purchaser has not paid the balance of the purchase price within 15 days after notice that the deed is ready for delivery, the sale of the City-owned real estate shall be void, and the City shall retain the proceeds of the deposit submitted pursuant to Section 8-59. The provisions of this section shall apply unless the ordinance directing the sale of the City-owned real estate expressly provides otherwise. (Code 2004, § 26-88; Code 2015, § 8-67; Code 2020, § 8-67; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005; Ord. No. 2022-130, § 1, 5-23-2022)

Richmond, Va., City Code § 8-68 Sale of blighted or tax delinquent real estate acquired by city.

Sec. 8-68. - Sale of blighted or tax delinquent real estate acquired by city. (a) Sale for $1.00. The Chief Administrative Officer may provide for the sale of real estate for the nominal amount of $1.00 in accordance with Code of Virginia, § 15.2-958.1 if such real estate qualifies under the requirements of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-958.1(A). (b) Sale for other than $1.00. The Chief Administrative Officer may provide for the sale of real estate for valuable consideration other than $1.00 if such real estate qualifies under the requirements of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-958.1(A) for sale for the nominal amount of $1.00. (c) Ordinance required. No real estate shall be sold pursuant to this section unless and until the Council has adopted an ordinance directing the sale of the real estate to the purchaser. (d) Exemption from article; procedures. The requirements of this article, except for those set forth in this section, shall not apply to sale of real estate pursuant to this section. The Chief Administrative Officer may pursue the sale of real estate pursuant to this section by such procedures, including, without limitation, invitations for bids or public auctions, as the Chief Administrative Officer may prescribe in compliance with applicable law. (Code 2004, § 26-89; Code 2015, § 8-68; Code 2020, § 8-68; Ord. No. 2005-282-270, § 2, 12-12-2005)

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_ARTIIISAREESFetched: 11/8/2026