The City of Richmond shifted to optional remote work at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, ahead of forecasted severe weather. Normal operations are expected to resume on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. 

Given the forecasted severity of the weather, some City Services may be impacted. Specifically: 

• The Department of Social Services; Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities; and Richmond Public Libraries will not host public appointments or visitors after 1 p.m. UPDATE: The Main Library will close to visitors as of 1 p.m.
• Services provided on the 1st Floor of City Hall will remain available, while EDI and Southside Plaza will not host public appointments or visitors after 1 p.m.
• Property and building inspections may be delayed. 

Residents should visit go.rva.gov/severe-weather for the latest updates and follow the City of Richmond’s social media channels for updates on City operations. For more information on weather conditions, please monitor reliable resources such as the National Weather Service.  

 Inclement Weather Shelters  

To protect and shelter Richmond’s most vulnerable residents, the Salvation Army Inclement Weather Shelter, located at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue will hold continuous operations through noon on Tuesday, March 17th. Libraries are closed to visitors as of 1 p.m., and transportation was provided to residents from the library to the Salvation Army Shelter.  

To ensure there is shelter for anyone in need, the CARITAS surge shelter will also hold continuous operations through noon on Tuesday, March 17.  

Richmond Ready Alerts  

Residents are encouraged to sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts to receive critical emergency and weather alerts from the City of Richmond. Residents can text ‘RVAREADY’ to 888-777 to receive a sign-up link or visit rva.gov/richmondreadyalerts to learn more.  

“TechDesk” Consultation to Identify Service Gaps and Improve Cross-Departmental Coordination 

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is pleased to announce the launch of TechDesk, a new pilot program designed to help commercial permit applicants navigate complex technical review questions which may arise during the permitting process. The structured consultation program will bring together representatives from reviewing departments and offices to provide coordinated guidance, clarify requirements, and identify next steps in resolving outstanding issues related to development permitting and review.  

“Government is here to work for people, not against them,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II . “TechDesk will ensure that, when a permitting or planning issue is raised through the course of development, applicants aren’t waiting around for an answer. This is a forcing mechanism for accountability, and I am confident it will set us on the right course for streamlining these processes moving forward.”

TechDesk is not a separate permitting process and does not replace standard permitting procedures. Rather, it is a mechanism through which commercial development applicants may escalate questions or concerns to ensure a coordinated response from all City-reviewing stakeholders.  

Insights gathered over the 90 – 180 day pilot will help the City identify high-impact opportunities for operational improvement, which will be incorporated to the City’s new permitting software platform, currently under development by the Department of Planning and Development Review.  

“Time and time again, we’ve heard from the development community how onerous our permitting and review process can be,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations Al Wiggins . “TechDesk is an early start at making complex permitting challenges run smoother so that we can be a City of choice for the next great development. As a government, we need to be ready to partner in making those ideas a reality.”

For more information on the process, see below. To learn more about the TechDesk and review frequently asked questions, please visit the City of Richmond Permits and Inspections webpage and open the “TechDesk” drop down menu. 

How does it work?

Step 1:

Applicants who have questions or are otherwise experiencing issues with their project can contact the City at PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov to seek clarification or guidance. Please include the following information:

• Project name
• Permit number
• Property address
• Description of issue or question
• Relevant plan sheets or supporting documentation

Step 2:

City staff will review the inquiry and attempt to resolve the issue within five business days.

Step 3:

If the issue cannot be resolved through standard coordination, the matter may be elevated to the TechDesk.

Step 4:

The applicant will be prompted to schedule a consultation through the TechDesk scheduling portal. If you have not been contacted by the TechDesk to schedule your consultation within 6 business days from the receipt of your original inquiry, you may reach out to techdesk@rva.gov to request a booking.  

Step 5:

Relevant departments will meet with the applicant to discuss the issue and identify clear next steps.  

Step 6:

Following the consultation, a summary of action items will be provided to the applicant.  

TechDesk consultations will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00am –3:00pm EST and will be conducted via Microsoft Teams, unless otherwise coordinated by the applicant with TechDesk staff.  

Elections Office & Early Voting Closure Notice 03/16/2026

Due to inclement weather, the Office of Elections and early voting will close at 12:00 p.m. today (March 16).

If you have an urgent election-related matter, please email vote@rva.gov. Our office will try to respond to emails as available. The office is expected to reopen on Tuesday, March 17 at 8:30 a.m.

Updates will be posted on this website if conditions change.

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is pleased to make available its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)  for the Fiscal Year which ended on June 30, 2025. The 195-page report details the City’s financial activities throughout the fiscal year and includes an overview and analysis of financial statements and disclosures so that residents may better understand their government’s financial footing as we execute on the FY2026 budget and enter the FY2027 budget  season.  

“Protecting fiscal integrity ensures the City is poised for future growth and is able to meet its service demands” write Mayor Danny Avula and Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II in the report’s introduction. “Moving forward to FY 2026, the Administration will continue to expand on FY 2025 accomplishments, streamline processes, enhance customer service, and ensure continued financial stability and resiliency.” 

The report, which was assembled by the City’s Department of Finance and verified via an unaudited opinion by external auditor CliftonLarsonAllen, conforms with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) established by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Key takeaways include:

• The City ended FY2025 in a stable and positive financial position 
• General Fund revenues slightly exceeded expenditures 
• Bond ratings were reaffirmed or improved by all major rating agencies 
• The surplus totals $12.6 million, allocated as follows: 
  • Revenue Stabilization: $4,436,154   
  • Unassigned: $1,901,209   
  • Capital Reserve: $5,069,890   
  • Special Purpose: $1,267,473  

“You can tell a lot about a government by how it handles taxpayer dollars, and this year’s ACFR says a lot about Richmond,” said CAO Donald. “It says that we are in a strong financial position, that we have budgeted appropriately to meet our obligations, and that we are capable of making the investments necessary to move Richmond ever forward. I encourage every Richmonder to browse the document and gain a fuller understanding of the depth and breadth of your government operations.”   

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Residents are encouraged to review tornado safety guidance   

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is actively monitoring forecasted severe weather expected to impact the region Monday, which may include strong storms and the potential for tornadoes. To coordinate preparedness and response efforts, the City will activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) beginning Monday morning.  

The EOC will serve a crucial role as a centralized hub for city agencies to collaborate. The center will facilitate the coordination of resources, effective communication, and the implementation of action plans aimed at promptly addressing any challenges that may arise. 

All press requests for information and interviews relating to the EOC activation should be directed to AskOSC@rva.gov . 

Tornado Safety Tips  

Residents are encouraged to review tornado safety guidance and be prepared if severe weather develops. 

• Before the storm: Identify a safe shelter location, such as a basement or interior room on the lowest floor away from windows and stay informed by monitoring weather alerts.
• During the storm: Move immediately to your safe location if a warning is issued and protect your head and neck.
• After the storm: Avoid downed power lines and damaged structures as well as follow guidance from local officials. 

Inclement Weather Shelters   

To protect and shelter Richmond’s most vulnerable residents, the Salvation Army Inclement Weather Shelter, located at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue and operated by the Salvation Army, will be open tonight through Tuesday, March 17.  

Additionally, the Main Library, located at 101 E Franklin Street, will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday and can be used as a tornado and severe weather shelter.   

Richmond Ready Alerts   

Residents are encouraged to sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts to receive critical emergency and weather alerts from the City of Richmond. Residents can text ‘RVAREADY’ to 888-777 to receive a sign-up link or visit rva.gov/richmondreadyalerts to learn more. 

Residents should also visit go.rva.gov/severe-weather and the City of Richmond’s social media channels for updates on City operations. For weather updates, please monitor reliable sources of information such as the National Weather Service. 

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La Ciudad de Richmond monitorea activamente el clima severo  

Se recomienda a los residentes revisar los consejos de preparación ante tornados  

Richmond, VA — La Ciudad de Richmond está monitoreando activamente el clima severo pronosticado para la región el día lunes, el cual podría incluir tormentas severas y la posibilidad de tornados. Para coordinar los esfuerzos de preparación y respuesta, la Ciudad activará su Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia (EOC, por sus siglas en inglés) a partir del lunes por la mañana. 

El EOC desempeñará un papel fundamental como centro de coordinación para que las agencias municipales colaboren. El centro facilitará la coordinación de recursos, la comunicación efectiva y la implementación de planes de acción destinados a abordar de manera oportuna cualquier reto que pueda surgir. 

Todas las solicitudes de prensa relacionadas con información o entrevistas sobre la activación del EOC deben dirigirse a AskOSC@rva.gov . 

Consejos de Seguridad ante Tornados

Se recomienda a los residentes revisar los consejos o guía de preparación ante tornados y estar listos en caso de que se desarrolle clima severo. 

• Antes de la tormenta: Identifique un lugar seguro, como un sótano o una habitación interior en el nivel más bajo, lejos de las ventanas, y manténgase informado monitoreando las alertas meteorológicas.
• Durante la tormenta: Diríjase de inmediato a su lugar seguro si se emite una advertencia y proteja su cabeza y cuello.
• Después de la tormenta: Evite caminar cerca de las líneas eléctricas caídas y las estructuras dañadas, y siga las instrucciones de las autoridades locales. 

Refugios por Clima Inclemente

Para proteger y brindar refugio a los residentes más vulnerables de Richmond, el Refugio por Clima Inclemente operado por el Ejército de Salvación (Salvation Army en inglés), ubicado en el 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue, estará abierto desde esta noche hasta el martes 17 de marzo. 

Además, la Biblioteca Principal, ubicada en el 101 E. Franklin Street, estará abierta de 9:00 a. m. a 8:00 p. m. el lunes y podrá utilizarse como refugio durante tornados y clima severo. 

Alertas Richmond Ready  

Se recomienda a los habitantes a inscribirse en las alertas Richmond Ready para recibir avisos críticos de emergencia y condiciones meteorológicas por parte de la Ciudad de Richmond. Los residentes pueden enviar un mensaje de texto con la palabra ‘RVAREADY’ al 888‑777 para recibir un enlace de inscripción o visitar rva.gov/richmondreadyalerts para obtener más información. 

Los residentes también deben visitar go.rva.gov/severe-weather y los canales de redes sociales de la Ciudad de Richmond para obtener actualizaciones sobre las operaciones de la Ciudad. Para actualizaciones meteorológicas, por favor monitoree fuentes confiables de información.