Richmond Upzoning: Democrats’ Plan to Tear Down Single-Family Homes

Richmond is rewriting its entire zoning code. The result could allow two homes plus an accessory unit on nearly every single-family lot in the city — and critics say it will incentivize the demolition of the modest, historic homes that already provide affordable housing.

In this episode of Virginia Insider, Uriah Kiser breaks down the city’s Code Refresh proposal, the Style Weekly reporting that raised serious red flags, and why this rewrite appears to conflict with Richmond’s own 2020 master plan. From Carytown and The Fan to the broader question of who actually benefits from denser “dwelling units,” this is the story Virginia’s capital isn’t loudly advertising.

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Code Refresh is a comprehensive rewrite of Richmond’s zoning ordinance. According to reporting, it would upzone almost every residential parcel to permit denser development, including what’s called a “2+1” — two dwelling units plus an accessory dwelling unit on a single-family lot. Supporters frame it as the answer to affordable housing. The Style Weekly analysis argues the opposite: the incentives created by upzoning could accelerate the demolition of naturally occurring affordable housing — modest single-family homes and below-market apartments — rather than expand the supply of homes working families can actually buy or rent.

The rewrite also appears misaligned with Richmond 300, the master plan adopted in 2020 that includes a substantial section on historic preservation. Only about 6% of city property sits inside formal Old and Historic Districts. Neighborhoods celebrated for their character, including Carytown and The Fan, receive little additional protection under the drafts reviewed so far. Public engagement has been limited: city data shows roughly 5,000 people — about 2% of residents — have participated in meetings, emails, or comments during a process that has run less than two years, shorter than the three-to-five-year timeline the city itself previously outlined.

Uriah walks through the government language, the missing data, the Freedom of Information hurdles, and the broader context of housing demand in Virginia. Watch the full breakdown and decide for yourself whether this is thoughtful growth planning or a rushed rewrite that prioritizes density over the neighborhoods and housing stock already serving Richmonders.

Source: Style Weekly – “In The Zone” (July 2026)

https://www.styleweekly.com/in-the-zone-2/

City of Richmond Code Refresh page:

https://www.rva.gov/coderefresh

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