In accordance with the current Fee Schedule (Click for Fee Schedule), fees are charged for any work in the right-of-way.

The fee is due when a customer submits a Work in Street Permit application. The fee is based on the project or work and the duration of the project or work. The fee must be paid prior to permit issuance.

Please contact Right-of-Way Management for any questions.

[email protected]

Please note that the Work in Street Permit fee is due when submitting the application, and can be paid for at the Room 110 at City Hall

Room 110
900 East Broad St
Richmond, VA 23219

All fees for Work in Street Permits are due prior to permit issuance. Please note that metered parking fees associated with the work will be charged separately through DPW Parking Services. More information can be found on this page.
 

A sidewalk may be obstructed temporarily for the contractor to perform work.  Contractors must create temporary protected pedestrian pathways and bikeways if construction impedes a pedestrian pathway/bikeway. The pedestrian pathway/sidewalk shall remain accessible if possible. Any obstruction in the sidewalk must be approved prior to the setup of the work area. Required documentation for permit request with sidewalk obstruction and pedestrian detour:

• Right of Way Work Zone Policy
• Ordinance 2019-314
• Pedestrian Routing Plan must meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines,Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Virginia Work Area Protection Manual

Depending on the type of work that encompasses the sidewalk obstruction, additional plans and permits may be needed.
 

A lane obstruction involves the occupation of a lane or lanes during a project but not closing the street off completely. This can be in the form of a flagging operation, or other traffic shifts to allow continuous vehicular movement. This does include shoulder work, as equipment may need to be moved on and off the road.
Required documentation for permit request with full and partial lane obstructions:

• Right of Way Work Zone Policy
• Ordinance 2019-314
• Engineered/Detail Plans for construction; and,
• Maintenance of Traffic Plan (MOT) (must meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Virginia Work Area Protection Manual;,

Depending on the type of work that encompasses the lane obstruction, additional plans and permits may need to be approved.
 

A full street closure is designed to eliminate the exposure of motorists and bicyclists to work zones, while providing a safe working environment for workers by temporarily closing a street for construction and/or maintenance. During a full street closure, traffic is typically detoured, allowing workers full access to roadway facilities and ensuring that motorists and Bicyclists are rerouted properly to their destinations around the work area.
Required Documentation for permit request with full street closures:

• Right of Way Work Zone Policy
• Ordinance 2019-314
• Maintenance of Traffic Plan (MOT) and Vehicular Detour Plan, and Pedestrian Plan in accordance with standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and Virginia Work Area Protection Manual; and,
• Memorandum outlining the proposed work and logistics.
• Certified traffic technician or engineer may be required for Maintenance of Traffic Plans

 Depending on the type and nature of the work that requires the full street closure, special conditions may need to be imposed upon the approved permit.
 

Any Street/Lane Closure that will result in a loss of metered parking space(s) will require a parking permit from the Parking Division (Room 102 City Hall) in conjunction with the requirements for a Work in Street Permit.

Any person may apply for a permit by submitting a completed application form prescribed by the director. Parking permit applicants shall pay a fee equal to Fifty (50) percent of the daily meter charge for each parking space included in the permit multiplied by the number of days for which the permit is sought.  The parking permit will authorize such person to place a cover on or over a meter and to use a parking space regulated by that meter. A Parking permit may include multiple meters and parking spaces.  A parking permit provides no property interest in any parking space or any other part of the right-of-way.

Required documentation for permit request occupying use of metered parking spaces:
•    Number of metered parking spaces used
•    Length of time metered parking will be out of service

Depending on the type of work that requires the parking area; additional plans and permits may need to be approved.
 

Any Major or Minor Utility Cut made in a local, collector, or arterial road in the City will require a Work in Street Permit.

Required documentation for permit request with major and/or minor utility construction and street cuts:

• Plans showing the installation path of the electrical, telecom, sewer, water, or gas lines
• Maintenance of Traffic Plan (MOT) (must meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Virginia Work Area Protection Manual;
• Per City Ordinance 2019-314 Any contractor that performs an excavation or causes an excavation to be performed in the public right-of-way shall, within at least three calendar days after the excavation is complete as determined by the Director of Public Works, maintain, repair or reconstruct the site of the excavation as necessary to maintain a condition satisfactory to the Director until such time as the City reconstructs, repaves or resurfaces the public right-of-way

Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent any person from performing an emergency excavation for the preservation of life or property so long as such person ensures compliance with the following requirements:

(a) Before the emergency excavation is initiated, the owner shall notify the
Department of Public Works Right of Way Division. The owner shall also notify all other federal, state or local authority required by applicable law.

(b) Within 24 hours after the initiation of the emergency excavation, or within 24 hours after the Department’s offices first open following the initiation of the emergency excavation, the owner shall apply for a permit for the emergency excavation.

The requirements above shall not apply to Federal, State or local governmental entities performing excavation work with their own forces but shall apply to all contractors or other persons that perform the excavation work on behalf of such Federal, State or local governmental entities.

Private development projects can range from a facade alteration to a high-rise project in downtown, to new buildings and infrastructure installation throughout the city.

A traffic control plan and pedestrian plan must be submitted, reviewed, and approved prior to the start of work that affects the right-of-way. Private development plans may require items found in the DPW Checklist.
Prior to any plan submittal, it is recommended that a meeting be set up with the Right-of-Way Manager to discuss the projects traffic control and pedestrian routing.

Traffic control plans (Maintenance of Traffic (MOT Plans) and pedestrian plans must also comply with DPW Administrative Directive Work Zone Policy

Required documentation for permit request that are for private development projects:

• Approved DEVR plan signed by Right of Way Management
• PODs/SUPs and Subdivision Plans are only conceptual plan. Construction Site Plans are required to be submitted to DPW and DPU upon approval of such plans prior to issurance of permits.
• PODs/SUPs and Subdivision plans should be designed per City of Richmond Better Streets Manual guidelines and requirements of the Department of Public Works Right of Way and Excavation Manual
• Streets/Roads should be designed according to VDOT Urban Manual guidelines. Design should follow ASTM guidelines per engineering best practices

Pre-Construction Meeting Scheduling:
•    A pre-construction meeting with the Right of Way Inspector is required 5 (five) business days prior to the start of any work or obstruction of the right-of-way.  This includes but not limited to:

• Demolition, mass grading, and sidewalk removal;
• Utility installation (Water and Sewer);
•  Any lane or sidewalk closures
• Permits are required prior to ANY work or obstructions in the right-of-way.  The City may require customers to schedule a meeting prior to permit issuance.

•    Contact Information for the Right of Way Inspector may be found on the Work in Street Permit
 

Mobile Portable Storage Containers

Attached is the application to work-in-streets-and-alley that must be filled out to obtain a permit to close any portion of the City’s right-of-way to place a POD/Storage Container. The application must include the following:

1. Applicant Name with contact number
2. Property owner information
3. Contractor information with state license number, class, and classification
   1. ( Place information from the POD/Storage Container company here )
4. Proposed work or site location
5. Brief description of work 
   1. ( “Barricade curb lane/parking lane of ___ Street to place a POD/Storage Container for …” )
6. Approximate length of work with start and end dates 
   1. ( If known )
7. WISP class and type with estimated cost of work 
   1. ( Within the public right-of-way )

Along with the application, a sketch or plan clearly showing the proposed location for the POD/Storage Container, labeling the street, sidewalk, and any other existing features near the location. Provide a distance to the nearest intersection or other fixed object ( tree, power pole, hydrant, etc… ).

Note: The application, attached sketch, insurance and payment form can be emailed to [email protected], approved and then then emailed back to you.

Forms

• WISP Application ( Printed version ) 
• WISP Application ( Fillable version) 
• Restricted Area for Dumpsters and PODS/Storage Containers Layout 

Parklets are small platforms that take the place of two or more on-street parking spaces. The offer amenities that allow people to stop, sit, and enjoy their neighborhood street life. Parklets act like a community front porch or stoop. For more information, click the below links. 

• Design guidelines
• Parklet application form