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To request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be prepared and submitted to the Council, within 90 days of the adoption of this resolution, a statement detailing the fiscal impact to the City of establishment of a rental inspection district at the property located at 4022 Midlothian Turnpike and commonly known as Belt Atlantic Apartments.
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WHEREAS, section 36-105.1:1 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, authorizes localities to establish residential rental inspection districts for the purpose of ensuring that residential rental dwelling units are safe, decent, sanitary, and compliant with the Building Code; and
WHEREAS, by Ordinance No. 2025-161, adopted November 10, 2025, the Council established regulations to govern residential rental inspection districts in the city of Richmond, as set forth in sections 5-160 through 5-167 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2026), as amended; and
WHEREAS, prior to the establishment of any residential rental inspection district, section 5-163(d) of the Code of the City of Richmond (2026), as amended, requires the Chief Administrative Officer to provide a statement to the Council detailing the fiscal impact to the City of establishing such district, which statement shall account for, without limitation, any staffing and other needs for effective enforcement of residential rental inspection district regulations; and
WHEREAS, the Council is considering establishment of a residential rental inspection district at the property located at 4022 Midlothian Turnpike, identified as Tax Map Parcel No. S004-3294/001 and commonly known as Belt Atlantic Apartments; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes a fiscal impact statement as required by section 5-163(d) of the Code of the City of Richmond (2026), as amended, is the appropriate next step in its consideration of the establishment of such district;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
That the Council hereby requests that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be prepared and submitted to the Council, within 90 days of the adoption of this resolution, a statement detailing the fiscal impact to the City of establishment of a rental inspection district at the property located at 4022 Midlothian Turnpike, identified as Parcel No. S004-3294/001 and commonly known as Belt Atlantic Apartments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That such statement shall reasonably anticipate and evaluate the fiscal impact to the City of meeting staffing, administrative and other needs for effective enforcement of residential rental inspection district regulations as applied to such district.
DATE: September 14, 2026
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
THROUGH: Will Perkins, Senior Legislative Services Manager
THROUGH: Sophie McGinley, Council Policy Analyst
FROM: The Honorable Stephanie Lynch, Councilmember 5th District
RE: To request that the Chief Administrative Officer cause to be prepared and submitted to the Council, within 90 days of the adoption of this resolution, a statement detailing the fiscal impact to the City of establishment of a rental inspection district at the property located at 4022 Midlothian Turnpike and commonly known as Belt Atlantic Apartments
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PURPOSE: To request that the Chief Administrative Officer prepare and submit to City Council, within 90 days of adoption, the fiscal impact statement required by City Code § 5-163(d) for the potential establishment of a residential rental inspection district at 4022 Midlothian Turnpike, commonly known as Belt Atlantic Apartments. The fiscal impact statement will inform Council’s consideration of whether to subsequently designate the property as a residential rental inspection district.
BACKGROUND: City Council established the Residential Rental Inspection Program in 2025 through Ordinance No. 2025-161, which established procedures for designating residential rental inspection districts where proactive inspection may be warranted to protect tenant health, safety, and welfare and maintain safe, decent, and sanitary housing conditions. City Code § 5-163(d) requires the Chief Administrative Officer, prior to the establishment of a residential rental inspection district, to provide Council with a statement detailing the fiscal impact of the proposed district, including anticipated staffing and other needs for effective enforcement.
Belt Atlantic Apartments, located at 4022 Midlothian Turnpike, is a 620-unit multifamily property constructed in 1971. During the preceding 48 months, the property received seven notices of Building Code violation, approximately 427 responses from Richmond Fire and Emergency Services, and 1,247 Richmond Police Department calls for service, including 218 incident-based reports. RVA311 records reviewed for the property also identify 33 service requests since July 2024 involving concerns including leaks and flooding, mold, lack of air conditioning or hot water, plumbing problems, pest conditions, electrical concerns, and other maintenance and habitability issues.
Based on the size and age of the property and the documented history of complaints, code enforcement activity, and emergency-service responses, Council is considering whether establishment of a residential rental inspection district at Belt Atlantic Apartments is appropriate. This resolution does not establish such a district. Rather, it requests the fiscal analysis required under City Code as the next step in Council’s evaluation of a potential future designation.
The expected date of introduction is Monday, September 14, 2026, for expedited consideration.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Council’s consideration of a potential rental inspection district at Belt Atlantic Apartments has been informed by complaints and service requests submitted by residents and tenants concerning maintenance, safety, and habitability conditions at the property.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: This resolution advances several adopted and current City housing priorities by supporting Council’s evaluation of an additional tool for preserving safe and habitable rental housing.
The Mayoral Action Plan (MAP) identifies Thriving Neighborhoods as a core pillar and establishes the goal of meeting the housing needs of a growing city so that Richmonders across income levels can access affordable housing in safe neighborhoods with strong public amenities. Within that pillar, Goal B calls for developing a new model of affordable housing and strengthening housing stability, while Goal D calls for keeping neighborhoods safe and prepared. The MAP also includes Goal F under the Thriving Economy pillar to invest in Southside, including increasing the number of new, preserved, or rehabilitated housing units in Southside. Evaluating the feasibility of proactive rental inspection at Belt Atlantic supports these objectives by examining a potential mechanism for preserving existing multifamily housing while ensuring that occupied rental units remain safe and habitable.
The resolution also supports One Richmond: An Equitable Affordable Housing Plan, which identifies access to safe, healthy, and affordable housing as a central housing-equity objective and recognizes preservation and improvement of the existing affordable rental stock as an important component of housing stability. Obtaining the required fiscal analysis will allow Council to determine whether application of the Residential Rental Inspection Program at a large, older multifamily development with documented maintenance and habitability concerns is operationally and financially feasible.
Finally, the proposal supports Richmond 300, Goal 14: Housing, which establishes the overarching objective that Richmonders have access to quality housing options throughout the city. Evaluating the potential use of proactive rental inspection complements Richmond 300’s emphasis on housing quality and preservation by addressing the condition of existing rental housing in addition to the production of new units.
FISCAL IMPACT: Adoption of this resolution does not itself establish a residential rental inspection district or impose the ongoing costs associated with administering such a district. The resolution directs the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare, within 90 days, the fiscal impact statement required by City Code § 5-163(d), including a reasonable assessment of staffing, administrative, enforcement, and other resource needs associated with a potential Belt Atlantic Rental Inspection District. Any fiscal impact associated with establishment and operation of the district would be considered by Council following receipt of that analysis and prior to any subsequent designation.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: September 14, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: September 14, 2026 [expedited consideration]
REQUESTED AGENDA: Expedited adoption
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: N/A [expedited consideration]
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Office of Chief Administrative Officer,
Planning and Development Review,
Richmond Fire and Emergency Services.
Richmond Police Department,
City Attorneys Office
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: None
ATTACHMENTS: N/A
STAFF: Sophie McGinley, Council Policy Analyst, (804) 646-5826