Building facade fenestration.

Richmond, Va., City Code § 30-451.9

in effect

Sec. 30-451.9. - Building facade fenestration. Fenestration requirements applicable to building facades along street frontages in the RP district shall be as set forth in this section. (1) Street level story. a. Non-dwelling uses. For non-dwelling uses, other than those listed in section 30-451.2(1), (4), (5), (11), (12), (16), (19), (30), and (45), a minimum of 60 percent of the building facade between three and ten feet in height along the street frontage shall be comprised of windows or glass doors or both that allow views into and out of the interior building space. The horizontal linear dimension of contiguous building wall that does not contain fenestration or doors shall not exceed 20 feet. Windows used to satisfy this requirement shall have a minimum height of four feet. In the case of a street level story having less than its full height above the mean grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot, a minimum of 30 percent of the building facade above such mean grade level shall be comprised of windows or glass doors or both that allow views into and out of the interior building space, provided that in the case of any portion of a story having less than five feet of its height above the grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot, the requirements of this subsection shall not apply. b. Dwelling uses. For dwelling uses, tourist homes, and shelters, windows or glass doors or both that allow views out of the interior building space shall comprise a minimum of 30 percent of the building facade between three and ten feet in height along the street frontage. The horizontal linear dimension of contiguous building wall that does not contain fenestration or doors shall not exceed 20 feet. In the case of a street level story having less than its full height above the mean grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot, windows or glass doors or both that allow views out of the interior building space shall comprise a minimum of 15 percent of the building facade above such mean grade level, provided that in the case of any portion of a story having less than five feet of its height above the grade level at the building facade along the street frontage of the lot, the requirements of this subsection shall not apply. In all cases, windows shall be double-hung, single-hung, awning, or casement type and fixed windows shall be permitted only as a component of a system including operable windows within a single wall opening. (2) Upper stories. a. Non-dwelling uses. For non-dwelling uses, other than those listed in Subsection (1)(a) of this section, windows or glass doors or both that allow views out of the interior building space shall comprise a minimum of 30 percent of the building facade between two and eight feet in height above the floor level of each story above the street level story. b. Dwelling uses. For dwelling uses, tourist homes, and shelters, windows or glass doors or both that allow views out of the interior building space shall comprise a minimum of 30 percent of the building facade between two and eight feet in height above the floor level of each story above the street level story. Such windows shall be double-hung, single-hung, awning, or casement type and fixed windows shall be permitted only as a component of a system including operable windows within a single wall opening. (Code 2020, § 30-451.9; Ord. No. 2022-245, § 2, 9-26-2022)

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_DIV27.1RPREPADI_S30-451.9BUFAFEFetched: 11/8/2026