Title
To adopt a new Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia; to repeal the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2020; to prescribe the effect of such repeal; and to provide for the manner of amending the new City Code.
Body
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Contents and Designation of Code. The ordinances of the City of Richmond, Virginia, of a general and permanent nature, as revised and codified in Chapters 1 through 30 of the document entitled “Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2026,” a copy of which is maintained in both paper and electronic format by the Office of the City Clerk, are hereby adopted and constitute the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2026, as of the first moment of July 27, 2026.
§ 2. Repeal of Prior Code. All ordinances comprising The Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2020, including all amendments thereof and additions thereto, in force and effect on July 27, 2026, are hereby repealed as of the last moment of July 27, 2026, subject to the limitations set forth in section 3 of this ordinance.
§ 3. Limitations on Repeal of Prior Code. The repeal effected by section 2 of this ordinance shall not:
(a) Be construed to revive any ordinance or part thereof that has been repealed by a subsequent ordinance that is repealed by this ordinance; or
(b) Affect or impair:
(1) Any act done, forfeiture effective, offense committed, penalty incurred, or right established or accrued before the first moment of July 27, 2026; or
(2) Any prosecution, suit, or other proceeding pending on or any judgment or decree rendered on or before July 27, 2026.
References in contracts or other documents to provisions of The Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2020, shall be construed to refer to like provisions of the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2026.
§ 4. Additions or Amendments to New Code. Additions or amendments to the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2026, when adopted in such form as to indicate the intention of the City to make the same a part of the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2026, shall be deemed to be incorporated into the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2026, so that reference to the Code includes all such additions and amendments.
§ 5. Ordinances Adopted after October 14, 2025. Ordinances adopted after October 14, 2025, that amend or refer to ordinances that have been codified in The Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2020, shall be construed as if they amend or refer to like provisions of the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2026.
§ 6. Effective Date of Ordinance. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: May 20, 2026
TO: Laura K. Drewry, City Attorney
Office of the City Attorney
THROUGH: RJ Warren, Council Chief of Staff
City Council
FROM: Tabrica C. Rentz, Deputy City Attorney, Governance and Finance Division
Office of the City Attorney
RE: Recodification Ordinance
PURPOSE: To adopt a new Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia; to repeal the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2020; to prescribe the effect of such repeal; and to provide for the manner of amending the new City Code
BACKGROUND: The City Code was last recodified by Ord. No. 2020-238, adopted December 14, 2020. The City contracted with Municipal Code Corporation for recodification services. The recodification project has resulted in a 2,034-page document, identified as the Code of the City of Richmond, Virginia, 2026, to replace the 2020 City Code. This document is provided in Portable Document Format as an attachment to this Ordinance/Resolution memorandum. The proposed ordinance is necessary to adopt the new 2026 City Code in accordance with section 4.13 of the City Charter and section 15.2-1433 of the Code of Virginia.
The recodification resulted in a number of changes. The Code was reorganized to better utilize reserved section numbers. In some cases, section numbers were renumbered. Editorial conventions and citation formats for state laws were changed to make such conventions and formats uniform throughout the City Code. In addition, changes were made to bring the City Code into compliance with applicable laws, and terminology was updated to reflect contemporary names of organizations. A brief summary of those changes that the Office of the City Attorney believes to have the greatest interest to City officials and the public is attached to this Ordinance/Resolution memorandum.
The 2026 City Code is organized in generally the same way as earlier City Codes. The City Code, includes a table of contents, copy of the City Charter, each chapter of the City Code, an index, and a set of comparative tables to facilitate historical research. The City Code will be divided into two volumes, as a single volume has proven to be unwieldy. An internet version of the City Code will be available on Municipal Code Corporation’s website, to which the City’s website will link. After adoption of the recodified City Code, the regular supplementation will reflect ordinances amending provisions of the 2020 City Code adopted since October 14, 2025.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: N/A
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: N/A
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: June 22, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: July 27, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Governmental Operations
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Specifically, the Office of the City Attorney and the Clerk’s Office, and all City agencies that routinely use the City Code in general.
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.: N/A
ATTACHMENTS: Recodified City Code
Updates to City Code, 2026 Recodification
STAFF: Tabrica C. Rentz, Deputy City Attorney, Office of the City Attorney