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To amend City Code § 30-930.9, concerning additional rights of owners to demolish certain properties, to establish a civil penalty for the razing, demolition, or moving of historic landmarks as authorized by Va. Code § 15.2-2306(F).
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That section § 30-930.9 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), be and is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 30-930.9. Additional rights of owners to demolish certain properties.
(a) Procedures. The following are procedures entitling owners to demolish properties:
(1) In addition to the right of appeal set forth in Section 30-930.8, the owner of a building or structure, the razing or demolition of which is subject to review under this division, shall, as a matter of right, be entitled to raze or demolish such building or structure provided that:
a. The owner has applied to the Commission of Architectural Review and, if denied, to the City Council for such right;
b. The owner has, for the period of time set forth in the time schedule established in subsection (b) of this section and at a price reasonably related to its fair market value, made a bona fide offer to sell such landmark, building or structure and the land pertaining thereto to the City or to any person, any other government body, firm or corporation which gives reasonable assurance that it is willing to preserve and restore the landmark, building or structure and the land pertaining thereto; and
c. No bona fide contract binding upon all parties thereto shall have been executed for the sale of any such landmark, building or structure and the land pertaining thereto prior to the expiration of the applicable time period set forth in the time schedule contained in subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Any appeal which may be taken to the court from the decision of the City Council, whether instituted by the owner or by any other proper party, notwithstanding the sections of this division relating to a stay of the decision appealed from, shall not affect the right of the owner to make the bona fide offer to sell referred to in this section. No offer to sell shall be made more than 12 months after a final decision by the City Council, but thereafter the owner may renew the request to the City Council to approve the razing or demolition of the historic landmark, building or structure.
(b) Time schedule. The time schedule for offers to sell pursuant to this section shall be as follows:
(1) Three months when the offering price is less than $25,000.00;
(2) Four months when the offering price is $25,000.00 or more but less than $40,000.00;
(3) Five months when the offering price is $40,000.00 or more but less than $55,000.00;
(4) Six months when the offering price is $55,000.00 or more but less than $75,000.00;
(5) Seven months when the offering price is $75,000.00 or more but less than $90,000.00; and
(6) Twelve months when the offering price is $90,000.00 or more.
(c) Notice required. Before making a bona fide offer to sell as provided for in this section, an owner shall first file a statement with the Secretary of the Commission of Architectural Review, and the owner shall publish the notice twice, not less than seven days apart, in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the City. The statement shall identify the property, shall state the offering price, and shall state the date that the offer for sale is to begin and the name of the real estate agent, if any. No time period set forth in this section shall begin to run until the statement has been both filed and published.
(d) Unauthorized demolition, razing, or moving. Any person who is responsible for the razing, demolition, or moving of a building or structure that is located in an old and historic district in violation of this division shall be liable for a monetary civil penalty equivalent to twice the market value of the razed, demolished, or moved building or structure on the property as determined by the assessed value of the property at the time of the razing, demolition, or moving of the building or structure. The City Attorney shall enforce this subsection by bringing an action in the name of the City in the circuit court. The filing of an action pursuant to this subsection shall not preclude action by the Zoning Administrator pursuant to the general laws of the Commonwealth in either a separate action or as part of the action seeking a civil penalty as authorized by this subsection.
§ 2. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: November 21, 2025
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
THROUGH: Will Perkins, Senior Legislative Services Manager
FROM: The Honorable Katherine Jordan, Councilmember 2nd District
RE: To amend City Code § 30-930.9, concerning additional rights of owners to demolish certain properties, to establish a civil penalty for the razing, demolition, or moving of historic landmark as authorized by Va. Code § 15.2-2306(F).
CNL-2025-0040
PURPOSE: This ordinance establishes a civil penalty for the razing, demolition or moving of a building or structure that is located in a historic district or that has been designated by a governing body as a historic structure or landmark. Virginia Code § 15.2-2306(F) allows such civil penalty to be up to twice the market value of the building or structure based on the assessed value at the time of its being razed, demolished, or moved.
BACKGROUND: This legislation takes advantage of expanded authority granted to localities from the General Assembly to increase fines for unpermitted demolition of contributing historic structures within the City’s Old & Historic Districts.
The City of Richmond Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan (attached), included adoption of this change as one of its “Big Moves” to help conserve historic resources. The Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan is a first of its kind comprehensive historic preservation planning initiative, and an outgrowth of the Richmond 300 Masterplan. Both plans were deeply community-informed, and the anti-demolition provision in particular has garnered widespread attention and support from the Richmond community.
Enhanced fines will provide a more effective deterrent against the willful or negligent unpermitted demolition of contributing historic structures throughout our City's Old and Historic Districts.
This problem is not theoretical: in 2023, historic 100 year-old storefronts in Church Hill were torn down without the necessary permits and approvals from the Commission of Architectural Review, and the City at the time was only able to levy a $200 fine. This was the precipitating event that led Delegate Delores McQuinn to champion and introduce the attendant enabling legislation (HB1415) in 2024, which passed with bipartisan support in the General Assembly.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The City of Richmond Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan (published April 2025), included adoption of this change as one of its “Big Moves” to help conserve historic resources. The Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan is a first of its kind comprehensive historic preservation planning initiative, and an outgrowth of the Richmond 300 Masterplan. Both plans were deeply community-informed, and the anti-demolition provision in particular has garnered widespread attention and support from the Richmond community.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan; Richmond 300 Masterplan
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon Adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: December 8, 2025
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: January 12, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: City Planning Commission
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Planning and Development Review
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: N/A
ATTACHMENTS: “City of Richmond Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan”
STAFF: Will Perkins, Senior Legislative Services Manager, (804-382-7811)