Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Accessory Structure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves 200 sq ft shed on vacant lot at 803 N. 19th with no-concrete commitment
Summary
The Richmond City Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance allowing a 200 sq ft prefabricated shed to be placed on a vacant lot at 803 North 19th, provided petitioners agree the shed will not be placed on a concrete slab; staff had recommended denial because accessory structures normally require a primary structure first.
At the June 10 Richmond City Board of Zoning Appeals meeting the board approved BZA14-2026, allowing petitioners Jeremy and Nelly (identified in the record as co-owners) to place a 200-square-foot prefabricated storage shed on a vacant lot at 803 North 19th Street, subject to a written commitment that no concrete slab will be used for placement.
Petitioners told the board the shed is intended to store personal lawn equipment because their residence at 100 North 13th Street lacks sufficient storage. They described the structure as a portable, truck-delivered prefabricated shed with no footers or permanent foundations. A staff presentation noted the subject lot is a vacant double lot located in an I2/urban residential area, cited setback dimensions (36 ft rear, 10 ft south side) and historical records indicating a house and accessory structure existed on the lot in 1954 and were demolished in 1992. Thirty-five adjacent property owners were mailed notice and no responses were recorded.
Planning staff recommended denying the petition because article 5.14 and article 2.44 provide that an accessory structure generally should not be constructed on a lot prior to a primary structure. Staff also flagged that the lot qualifies as a buildable lot under the UDO and said there was "no practical difficulty" demonstrated. During discussion the board suggested removing language referencing placement on a concrete slab; the petitioners agreed to the written commitment to avoid a permanent slab.
Following the commitment, a motion to approve BZA14-2026 carried unanimously on a roll-call vote by Rob Tidro, Sher Oler Hemingway and Jeff Cook. The decision includes the written commitment that the shed not be placed on a concrete slab; the staff report remains in the record as the basis for the findings of fact.
Representative quote from the petitioners: the shed will be used for "just lawnmowers and weed eaters," to store personal yard equipment rather than business inventory, according to the petitioners' remarks to the board.
What happens next: Petitioners may place the prefabricated shed consistent with the written commitment and applicable setback requirements; building or site permits may still be required depending on final placement and anchoring method.
