Posted May 13, 2025

~ Reminder: current permits expire on June 30 ~

RICHMOND, Va.  – New parking decals for residents of the Fan Restricted Parking District are on sale. They cost $25 each and are limited. Both mail-in and in-person renewal options are available for qualifying residents. The current Fan parking permit expires June 30, 2025.

Residents must display the Fan permit on their cars to park more than one hour from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and, also on West Avenue, parts of Boyd and Birch Streets, and the 1600 and 1800 blocks of West Grace Street, the regulation is one hour from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Sunday.

A resident is either the residing owner of record or renter of property located within the Restricted Parking District. A City of Richmond Residential Parking Permit Application must be completed and approved prior to decal issuance. To enable the Department of Public Works to verify residency, the following information and photo identification must be provided:

• Residential property owners must provide either a copy of their real estate bill or other information that verifies ownership of the property
• Renters must provide a valid written lease for the property in the Fan Parking District, and have the appropriate approval of the property owner on the application they present

A resident of the district is defined as an owner of record or renter of property in the district and members of their immediate family who reside with the owner or renter at the address in the district:

(1) Who are licensed drivers, and

(2) Whose domicile is the address for which they are seeking to obtain the parking permit

Annual Visitor Passes also are available and limited to two per house or building address at a cost of $35 each.

Annual Visitor Passes must be purchased at the same time the Fan permit is purchased and are restricted to residential homeowners.

Property owners and renters are required to comply with the residency requirements and the motor vehicle registration requirements of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Residents can get more information, verify residency in the Fan Parking District and purchase a permit through the online portal at: https://www.rva.gov/public-works/parking-enterprise

Fan decals and applications are also available at:

• City Hall
• 900 East Board Street, Room 102
• Richmond, Virginia 23219

The office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For additional details, please use the 3-1-1 mobile app or online portal at www.RVA311.com or call 3-1-1.

We’re Social! For updates on projects, activities and events visit us on X @DPW_RichmondVA

Posted May 9, 2025

~ Daily promo codes available on social media to the first 50 riders unlocking a free 45-minute ride ~

RICHMOND, VA – In celebration of National Bike to Work Week, May 12 – 18, RVA Bikeshare is inviting residents to ditch the car and hop on a bike! Each day during the week, RVA Bikeshare will post a new promotional code on its X and Instagram accounts. The first 50 riders to redeem the daily code will unlock a free 45-minute ride. Riders need to be registered with the program to be eligible to use the code.

This special promotion celebrates eco-friendly commuting and provides Richmonders with a fun, healthy way to bike to work, run a quick errand or take a scenic ride around the city.

Follow RVA Bikeshare on social media to get the daily promo code (posted each day during the week of May 12 -18):

• Instagram: @rvabike_share
• X: @rvabikeshare

RVA Bikeshare currently operates 20 self-service stations across the city and a fleet of electric bikes. They provide a crucial multimodal link for many Richmond residents, serving as a reliable first-and-last-mile solution in their daily commutes.

RVA Bikeshare is a program of the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility, a division of the Department of Public Works. To learn more about RVA Bikeshare or explore membership options, visit rvabikes.com

For more information on the Department of Public Works, go to rva.gov/public-works

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

The City of Richmond’s Department of Finance is in the process of finalizing the remaining one-time real estate tax rebate checks. The rebate, approved by City Council in 2024, aims to provide financial relief amid rising property values and housing costs. At this time, approximately 36,057 residents have yet to receive their rebate checks, and 8,205 residents have received rebate checks but have not deposited them.

As part of the City’s continued commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility, we are implementing a revised distribution timeline to ensure accurate processing and timely delivery to our homeowners.

Updated Timeline:

• Verification and Processing Period: Currently being completed
• Check Printing and Mailing Begins: June 17, 2025
• Estimated Delivery Window: Beginning June 30, 2025

Residents that have recently deposited an incorrect check that listed “Hartshorn Community Council” and have received a return fee from their bank can submit a request for reimbursement via RVA311 by calling 311 for assistance or submitting a ticket online at rva311.com.

Once on the website, please follow the below instructions:

1. Click “Create New Request”
2. Click “Real Estate Taxes”
3. Click “Continue” through the pop up window
4. Fill out the requested information including uploading a photo of the return check fee from your bank.

The City of Richmond has completed the initial reset of its p-card program and has begun the steps necessary for a wholesale reevaluation of the program. Since the original announcement on April 30, the Department of Procurement Services (DPS) has reduced the number of p-cards by 79%, bringing the total number of active p-cards to just 67, from 320.  

Over the next 60-90 days, DPS will reevaluate and redesign the City’s p-card system, in line with an audit from the City Auditor’s office and an independent assessment from the NIGP (the Institute for Public Procurement). Based on those recommendations, DPS will begin revising City procurement policies and procedures and will train staff on proper implementation and use. 

During the program reset: 

• The only allowable p-card purchases will be those where public health, safety, and critical services would be disrupted if not allowed or where no other payment option exists. 
• No travel-related purchases will be permitted on p-cards. City employees will follow the existing travel advance/reimbursement policy. 
• No Amazon purchases will be permitted on p-cards. 
• No food purchases will be permitted on p-cards (excepting mission-critical, citizen-supporting programs like summer food programs or after-school programs). 
• Department directors will no longer be issued p-cards, allowing directors to better focus on approval of purchases. 

The City of Richmond will continue to update the public as progress is made towards a new and improved p-card infrastructure

Department of Parks Recreation and Community Facilities Announces Merger of Park Ranger and James River Park System Outdoor Education Programs 

Merger will allow for enhanced visitor services within the park system

Richmond, VA – As visitors flock to Richmond’s beloved park spaces, the City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation, & Community Facilities is announcing the merging of two public-serving programs. Effective immediately, the Park Ranger program and James River Park System Outdoor Education program will become a streamlined initiative, enhancing visitor services through youth and public programs throughout Richmond’s vibrant park system. The mission of the Park Ranger program is to “engage park visitors and improve access to shared spaces.”  

“When the City Council first approved funding for the park ranger program in 2022, the goal was to enhance the experience for park users,” said Kristen Nye, former City Council President and lead patron of the program's funding. “I’m excited to see the program evolve and build on the services already available to Richmond families and park visitors.”   

The combination of Outdoor Education and Park Rangers will expand supportive services throughout Richmond parks. Park visitors can expect to see more opportunities for consistent public programs within and beyond the James River Park System. Park Rangers will lead regularly scheduled programs at the nature center and offer opportunities for volunteers to serve as hosts, trail monitors, or river safety ambassadors.

The Park Ranger program will continue to provide outreach services to individuals visiting the parks, provide wilderness first aid as needed, and facilitate invaluable communication and partnership with first responders during emergencies. Accompanying this expanded scope of services offered to park visitors, the Park Ranger program will continue to provide high quality school programs, summer camps, and professional development opportunities for students and teachers. 

"The best way to ensure our parks are open and welcoming to all has always been through activation of the space," says former James River Park Superintendent and Groundwork RVA Executive Director Nathan Burrell." The merger of these two programs offers just that, by accelerating public engagement opportunities in the spaces we love for all Richmonders".    

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