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To amend City Code § 27-197, concerning parking prohibitions in specified places, to modify the prohibited parking zone near intersections and to allow the Chief Administrative Officer to establish longer no-parking distances. (As Amended)
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That section 27-197 of the Code of the City of Richmond be and is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 27-197. Parking prohibited in specified places.
(a) No person shall park a vehicle, except as may be permitted in accordance with Chapter 24, Article II, Division 4.1 or when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device, in any of the following places:
(1) On a sidewalk.
(2) In front of a public or private driveway.
(3) Within an intersection.
(4) Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
(5) On a crosswalk.
(6) Within 20 feet of [a crosswalk at an intersection] the intersection of curb lines at an intersection, except where official signs or pavement markings establish a greater distance.
(7) In front of a ramp leading to the crosswalk at an intersection or located at any other point along a curb, constructed for use of persons with disabilities.
(8) [Within 30 feet upon the approach to any flashing beacon, stop sign or traffic control signal located at the side of a roadway.
(9)] Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb or within 30 feet of points on the curb immediately opposite the ends of a safety zone, unless a different length is indicated by official signs or markings.
[(10)] (9) Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad grade crossing.
[(11)] (10) Within 15 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station and on the side of a street opposite the entrance to any fire station within 75 feet of the entrance when properly signposted.
[(12)] (11) Alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction where such parking would obstruct traffic.
[(13)] (12) On the roadway side of any vehicle parked at the edge or curb of a street.
[(14)] (13) At any place where official signs prohibit parking or during street cleaning.
[(15)] (14) At any place where an order, rule, or regulation issued under section 2-428 prohibits or restricts parking.
[(16)] (15) On a curb, or with any wheels off of the roadway and on the far side of the curb from the roadway.
[(17)] (16) On a median.
[(18)] (17) Within a bicycle lane. For purposes of this subdivision, the term “bicycle lane” means that portion of a roadway designated by signs and/or pavement markings for the protection and preferential use of bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards or scooters, and mopeds.
(b) No person other than a police officer or a licensed or certified emergency medical services provider shall move a vehicle into any such prohibited area or away from a curb such distance as is unlawful; start or cause to be started the motor of any motor vehicle; or shift, change or move the levers, brake, starting device, gears or other mechanism of a parked motor vehicle to a position other than that in which it was left by the owner or driver thereof or attempt to do so.
(c) The Chief Administrative Officer or the designee thereof may establish a greater distance than that prescribed in subsection (a)(6) at any intersection when determined necessary to promote public safety or the safe and efficient movement of traffic, provided that the limits of the greater no-parking area are designated by official signs, pavement markings, curb markings, or any combination thereof.
§ 2. That, within 60 days after the adoption of this ordinance, the Chief Administrative Officer shall cause the Department of Public Works to provide to the Council an implementation plan for the changes required by this ordinance. Such implementation plan shall include, to the extent applicable, updates to relevant enforcement practices and materials, identification of intersections where a greater no-parking distance may be warranted, and installation or modification of signs, pavement markings, curb markings, or other traffic control devices necessary for implementation.
§ 3. That, within 180 days after the adoption of this ordinance, the Chief Administrative Officer shall cause the Department of Public Works to provide to the Council a report regarding the implementation of this ordinance. Such report shall include, to the extent applicable, a summary of implementation activities completed, intersections at which a greater no-parking distance has been established pursuant to section 27-197(c) of the Code of the City of Richmond (2026), as amended, any operational, enforcement, traffic safety, or other implementation issues identified, and any recommendations for further administrative or legislative action.
§ 4. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.