Richmond VA > Planning and Development Review > Board of Zoning Appeals

Last Updated: 2010-01-27

The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) provides a means through which a property owner may seek relief from provisions of the zoning ordinance. The BZA hears and makes decisions regarding requests for variances and special exceptions, such as waivers involving setbacks, height, parking, etc. The BZA also makes decisions regarding appeals to any decision made by the City Zoning Administrator. The BZA is NOT empowered to change the use of a property.

Membership Information

The BZA is comprised of five citizen members and two alternates representing a cross-section of the city, appointed by the Circuit Court to serve a four-year term.

Members of the BZA cannot discuss with an applicant or members of the public any case pending before it nor will Board members consider information submitted directly to them by these parties pertaining to such cases. All written material desired to be considered by the Board should be submitted to the Secretary of the BZA, Room 511 of City Hall, no later than 15 days prior to the public hearing at which the case is to be considered.

Meeting Dates & Filing Schedule

BZA Meeting Filing Deadline Staff Review Filing Deadline
Zoning Office Meeting BZA Secretary
January 2, 2013 November 16, 2012 November 26, 2012 December 3, 2012
February 6, 2013 December 14, 2012 December 21, 2012 December 31, 2012
March 6, 2013 January 18, 2013 January 28, 2013 February 6, 2013
April 3, 2013February 15, 2013February 25, 2013March 4, 2013
May 1, 2013March 15, 2013March 25, 2013April 1, 2013
June 5, 2013April 12, 2013April 22, 2013April 29, 2013
July 3, 2013May 17, 2013May 28, 2013June 3, 2013
August 7, 2013June 14, 2013June 24, 2013July 1, 2013
September 4, 2013July 19, 2013July 29, 2013August 5, 2013
October 2, 2013August 16, 2013August 26, 2013September 3, 2013
November 6, 2013September 13, 2013September 23, 2013September 30, 2013
December 4, 2013October 18, 2013October 28, 2013November 4, 2013
**January 8, 2014November 15, 2013November 25, 2013December 2, 2013
February 5, 2014December 13, 2013December 23, 2013January 6, 2014
March 5, 2014January 17, 2014January 27, 2014February 3, 2014


BZA Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month and begin promptly at 1:00 p.m.

** [NOTE: The January 2014 meeting is scheduled for the 2ND WEDNESDAY of the month due to the New Year's Day holiday.]  

Applications shall be processed once the application form (Certificate of Occupancy/Zoning Compliance, building permit, sign permit, etc.) as well as the required plans (survey/site plan, floor plan(s) and elevation drawing(s)), the signed instruction pamphlet, the required fee and other information is submitted.

A $175.00 fee is required for any application involving single- or 2-family dwellings.

A $550.00 fee is required for any application involving all other uses.

A $250.00 fee is required to appeal a decision of the Zoning Administrator.

A $750.00 fee is required for any use where a zoning violation resulted from construction not in compliance with the approved plans.


For more information, contact the Secretary of the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Current Year Meeting Documents
       January
Docket    Minutes 		       February
Docket    Minutes 		         March
Docket    Minutes		           April
Docket    Minutes
           May
Docket    Minutes		           June
Docket    Minutes		           July
Docket    Minutes		           August
Docket    Minutes
       September
Docket    Minutes		        October
Docket    Minutes		        November
Docket    Minutes		        December
Docket    Minutes


Minutes of past BZA meetings are available electronically or in hard copy by contacting the secretary of the BZA, Roy Benbow at 646-3409 or the Zoning Administrator, William “Chuck” Davidson at 646-6353.

Contact Information:

Board of Zoning Appeals
City of Richmond
900 E. Broad St., Room 511
Richmond, VA
23219 USA
Map It
Phone: (804)646-3409
Fax: (804)646-5789

This is a print version of the webpage. The navigation of the site has been removed through the print css. If you require a printout of the page as it looks in your browser, please use screen capture.