Posted May 18, 2026

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is proud to join communities across the country in celebrating National Public Works Week (NPWW) from May 17 – 23, 2026. This year’s theme, “Rooted in Service Powered by Community” highlights how employees in public works connect to and support their local communities. 

Throughout the upcoming week, DPW will feature the crucial role its teams play in building a better Richmond – from maintain roads, alleys, sidewalks and bridges to refuse collection to engineers and traffic technicians, DPW employees embody the values of people-centered service, purposeful work, and reliable presence in every Richmond neighborhood.

Celebration highlights:

• Proclamation recognizing NPWW
• DPW Literature Display: City Hall lobby | May 18 through May 22 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (daily) | 900 East Broad Street
  
  • Learn more about the DPW and the essential services it provides to the community
• DPW Touch-A-Truck Event: Tuesday, May 19 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |Main Street Station (back lot)
  
  • This is a closed, invitation-only event for pre-k and elementary school students featuring guided, up-close viewing of DPW vehicles and demonstrations let by staff. Students will have the opportunity to meet the teams behind the equipment and learn how DPW supports and impacts their lives 
• Speed Management Symposium: Wednesday, May 20 | 5:30 – 8 p.m. |Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street | Free |Dinner | Open to the Public 
  
  • Join us and learn about Richmond’s efforts to reduce speeding and create safer streets at this community-focused event. 
  • What to Expect:
    
    • Dynamic Presentations – Expert talks on Vision Zero, Complete Streets, and the real health benefits of safer streets
    • Interactive Information Tables: Connect and talk with various city staff and non-profits, Richmond and VCU Police, VDOT, Drive Smart VA, Bike Walk RVA, and many more 
    • Q&A Session: Ask away! Bring your questions and ideas – this is your chance to be heard!
    • Heavy Refreshments: Good food and great conversation while you connect with neighbors who care about safer streets
    • RSVP recommended but not required at www.rva.gov/public-works/symposium
• DPW Employee Awards Ceremony & Luncheon: Thursday, May 21 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
  
  • A private, employee-only event recognizing outstanding service, employee and team awards, and commitment among DPW staff
• Live Music Concert/ Music at Main Street: Thursday, May 21 | 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Main Street Station (Patio), 1500 East Main Street | Free | Open to the Public
  
  • Music by Plunky and Oneness
  • Celebrate the spirit of public works with a free outdoor concert on the patio at Main Street Station. Bring family, friends, and lawn chairs for an evening of music, fun, and appreciation.

Richmond is one of only 225 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States – a recognition that underscores the city’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and public service. 

For more information about DPW, visit rva.gov/public-works or email AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 225 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; urban forestry; civil engineering and capital improvement projects along with the Department of Transportation (DOT). DPW delivers essential services that keep the city clean, safe, and healthy. The DOT plans, builds and maintains the city’s transportation system to ensure safe, reliable, and equitable mobility for all users. The department is responsible for traffic operations, street signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, bike lanes, and transportation programs that support economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. Guided by the city’s Vision Zero commitment, the DOT works to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries through data-driven policies, street design, and community partnerships. In addition, the DOT issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages Main Street Station and the RVA Bike Share Program. Report service requests to RVA311.com or call 3-1-1.

Reminder Reposted May 18, 2026

All citations issued in the past 30 days will be forgiven.

After hearing resident confusion and acknowledging a lack of warning period, the City of Richmond will now pause ticketing drivers for parking in the bike-lane buffer (as enabled by ORD. 2026-088). Ticketing will resume on June 1. 

Three Things Drivers Need to Know  

All citations issued in the past 30 days for vehicles parked in the bike-lane buffers will, after review, be forgiven. Drivers should fill out the Parking Citation Administrative Review Request form. If a citation has already been paid, drivers can request a refund by calling 804.646.3684. Please have your citation details and form of payment on hand. 

Vehicles that cannot fully fit within the marked parking space will be ticketed beginning June 1. Drivers should park fully within marked parking areas. If a vehicle cannot fit in a designated space without extending into a bike lane or the buffer, then drivers should seek an alternative legal parking location.  

Parking in the bike lane proper will still be ticketed. The pause on ticketing applies only to parking in the bike-lane buffer. If drivers park in the bike lane today, they will be ticketed. 

Additional resources

Bike Lane FAQ,rva.gov

Public sector collective bargaining has been working in Richmond since 2022, when we became one of the first localities in the Commonwealth to establish bargaining units across our workforce.  

Collective bargaining has enabled us to strengthen services for residents by working in partnership with our most valued resource, our people. It’s an essential tool, and we are proud of the progress we have made for our workforce and for the communities we serve.   

Our partners in labor, in the General Assembly, and in Governor Spanberger’s Administration are committed to the same principles of giving workers a seat at the table and using collective bargaining to strengthen public services. We know that work will continue and we’re eager to lend our experience to it.  

Meanwhile, in Richmond, our collective bargaining agreements remain in place and our relationships with our bargaining units and workforce leadership are strong.   

I remain committed to collective bargaining as a tool that strengthens public services and supports our workforce. 

The City of Richmond today announced that, through a targeted effort to increase compliance in the short-term rental industry, the Department of Finance has collected approximately $5.6 million in outstanding taxes. Moving forward, the City expects to generate approximately $2 million in additional annual revenue as a result of these efforts. 

“I’m so proud of the work the Department of Finance has done to not only bring folks into compliance but to make sure the City collects the revenue we’re owed. Every dollar counts, and this is a lot of dollars. When I say we’ve got to ‘Look For It, Find It, Fix It’, this is exactly what I’m talking about!” said Mayor Danny Avula.

A comprehensive review conducted by the Department of Finance’s Revenue Administration Division at the end of 2025 identified non-compliance among some STR market participants, dating back to July 2023. Following the review, the City worked with impacted entities to obtain business records, assess outstanding liabilities, and bring accounts into compliance.  

“A key theme across the City is ensuring the equitable distribution of tax burden balanced by improved collection rates that ultimately fund the services our residents rely on,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “Looking for issues, finding them, and fixing them serve as the cornerstone of the Administration’s focus on building a thriving City Hall that works for everyone. This work is one of many examples of the fruit born from a continuously improving well-run Finance Department that is committed to that vision.” 

The City will continue proactive enforcement measures across the STR industry to ensure all participants meet licensing, reporting, and tax obligations. These efforts include: 

• Reviewing licensed participants in the STR industry and investigating unlicensed participants 
• Requiring unlicensed participants to comply with licensing requirements and resolve outstanding liabilities  
• Establishing structured timelines for repayment where necessary  
• Continuing to enforce compliance through levies, garnishments, and other legal actions when warranted  

"Bringing taxpayers into compliance is a challenging effort. The results of this immediate effort reflect the time spent by the Revenue team in one specific area. The Revenue team will continue the work in other areas, in addition to STRs, but these results are a great start in that journey," said Ken Martinez Director of Revenue Administration. 

More on the Transit Occupancy Short-Term Rental Tax 

Under Richmond’s Transient Occupancy Short-Term Rental Tax framework, responsibility for collecting and remitting taxes depends on how a rental transaction is facilitated: 

• Accommodations intermediaries — third-party platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo—are responsible for collecting, filing, and remitting tax on transactions they facilitate  
• Accommodations providers — property owners or operators are responsible when transactions occur outside an intermediary platform  

Richmond’s Transient Occupancy Tax is assessed at 8% of the total room charge. 

Resources

Avula Administration’s Focused Collection Effort on Short Term Rentals , Memo from CAO Odie Donald II to City Council; May 14, 2026