Richmond's special use permits add infill housing, one project at a time

Overview

Updated Aug 26

Mayor Danny Avula's office released a third draft of Code Refresh, the city's zoning rewrite, on August 17. The draft scales back the special use permit process and drops a plan to allow duplexes by right on most residential lots.

Richmond has added density one permit at a time since the Richmond 300 master plan passed in 2020, approving 7,475 housing units through 485 special use permits. Draft three keeps the SUP but trims it, and keeps the rule allowing one main home plus one accessory dwelling unit, raising the ADU limit to 1,200 square feet. The City Council must approve the rewrite for it to take effect.

Why it matters

Richmond's housing supply depends on a case-by-case permit process — a code refresh could change how fast the city grows.

Last Monday's email for Richmond, VA

Sent Nov 9. It carried:

The Collective Cup receives Virginia ABC restaurant license The Collective Cup, a coffee shop in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom, received a Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control...
Richmond contract for water treatment plant sewer improvements takes effect Richmond has a $3.4 million contract in place for sanitary sewer improvements at its water treatment plant. The term...
Richmond signs $3 million sole-source contract for gas measurement equipment Richmond's Department of Public Utilities holds a new two-year, $3 million contract with Ed Young Sales Company. The...
Richmond starts a two-year, $10 million utilities contract with Jacobs Richmond, Virginia's contract register lists a two-year, $10.0 million deal with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. for...

Get next Monday's: one short email a week. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Key Indicators

485

Special use permits proposed since 2021

Applications reviewed under the Richmond 300 master plan framework.

7,475

Housing units approved through SUPs

More than a third are in the city's 6th District.

7

SUPs denied out of 485

13 more were withdrawn; most projects get approved.

100

SUPs considered annually

The City Council votes on roughly 100 each year.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

Kevin Vonck

Richmond Planning Director

Leading the city's code refresh zoning overhaul

Danny Avula

Mayor of Richmond

Released Code Refresh Draft Three on August 17, 2026

Timeline

2 events Latest: August 18th, 2026 · 3 months ago

August 2026
Planning Commission backs Virginia Home apartment conversion
Latest Zoning

The commission voted unanimously to recommend a special use permit converting the 95-year-old Virginia Home in Byrd Park into 131 apartments. The City Council still must approve the permit.
August 18th, 2026
Mayor's office releases Code Refresh Draft Three
Rule Changes

The third draft of the zoning rewrite drops a plan to allow duplexes by right on most residential lots and keeps the special use permit, but scales it back. It keeps the one-home-plus-one-ADU rule and raises the ADU limit to 1,200 square feet.
August 17th, 2026

Scenarios

1

City Council passes Code Refresh Draft Three

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Mayor Avula's administration; Richmond City Council

Draft three keeps the special use permit but scales it back and drops the controversial by-right duplex proposal. Officials say it may be the final draft. Council approval would let more development proceed by right, trimming the roughly 100 annual SUP applications the city now handles.