Fair Zoning in Richmond
Fair Zoning in Richmond
Richmond is a majority-renter town. But more than half the city’s land is zoned for single-family homes. It’s time to make housing in Richmond work for all of us.
A project underway now – Code Refresh – could make it easier to build and preserve affordable housing in Richmond, and prevent our neighbors from getting pushed out. But only if residents (like us!) get involved.
What’s Code Refresh — and wait, what’s zoning anyway?
Zoning rules determine what can get built, and where. Every city and county in Virginia has zoning codes. In Richmond, these rules were last updated more than 50 years ago – before most current residents were born! They set limits on building new housing that make it difficult for many Richmonders to stay here today.
Code Refresh is a multi-year process that will rewrite the City of Richmond’s zoning ordinance. Do you wish you could buy groceries and go to work in the same neighborhood where you live? Are you worried that new construction will raise property taxes and force you out? Would you like more options for renting in more parts of town? Code Refresh could help answer these questions, but only if you raise your voice.
What’s our vision?
Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME of VA) emerged in 1971 to enforce the Fair Housing Act – a landmark civil rights law that made housing discrimination illegal. Ever since, we’ve fought for the rights of Virginians to live where they wish, free from bias. We’ve taken landlords to court, we’ve helped to pass new fair housing laws, and we’ve supported homebuyers and renters in finding safe, stable housing.
Now, we’re expanding our fight against housing discrimination to zoning. Current zoning codes encourage segregation. They concentrate wealth. They hoard opportunity. And they’re ripe for change.
Our vision for zoning in Richmond embraces three big ideas:
- Build more housing – of all types, in all parts of town, for people from all walks of life.
- Prevent displacement – this once majority-Black city has lost residents of color as rising prices and new arrivals force people out. The zoning overhaul should create displacement guardrails.
- Expand opportunity – children in the Richmond region have widely divergent educational outcomes, and that fact in many ways stems from residential segregation that is mirrored in our schools. This is unacceptable, and zoning has a role to play.
Discover more of our ideas through our op-ed in RVA Magazine and our appearance on the VPM podcast RVA’s Got Issues.
How can I get involved?
First, get on our Richmond zoning advocacy email list! We’re hosting in-person meetups, Zooms, and collaborating with other organizations to build the power of residents like you. Get in our loop so that we can make sure to let you know what’s next.
Then, learn more: the City of Richmond’s Code Refresh website offers background on the process and regular updates. And a nonprofit news site, The Richmonder, recently published a deep dive on what’s at stake.
