City of Richmond

What City of Richmond does

The City of Richmond is a municipal government entity, founded in 1737 as the capital of the Colony of Virginia, providing comprehensive local government services to over 500,000 residents within its territorial jurisdiction under the authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The City operates a full-service municipal platform through approximately 30+ departments and offices spanning Public Utilities (DPU: water, wastewater, stormwater, natural gas, streetlights), public safety (Police, Fire, Sheriff, 911 Emergency Communications), judicial services (Circuit Court Clerk with OCRA remote access, VJEFS e-filing, VJOPS payments, SRA land records), finance and collections (Tax collection, Office of Financial Empowerment), economic and community development (Minority Business Development, Community Wealth Building, Housing), and administrative oversight (Mayor, Council, CAO, City Attorney, Auditor). Revenue is derived from property taxes, utility fees, BPOL/meals/sales taxes, court fees and fines, personal property taxes, special taxes, and intergovernmental transfers. Services are distributed through a multi-channel model including in-person offices, the RVA 311 citizen service center, online portals, 911 dispatch, and emergency alert systems.

The underlying technology platform is centered on integration and interoperability rather than proprietary systems: RVA 311 for service requests, OCRA for attorney subscription-based remote court access ($100/year per attorney), state-operated VJEFS/VJOPS/EVPS for court filings and payments, GTL GettingOut for inmate communications, Open Data Portal (data.richmondgov.com), GIS mapping applications, and partnerships with CSC eRecording, Simplifile, and Balance. Recent product launches (FOIA Library, Switch Together Solar Group Buying, TechDesk consultation) and digital transformation moves (2026 P-card overhaul, Circuit Court AI Local Rule effective January 2026, mandatory e-submission of attorney fee vouchers through EVPS effective July 2025) indicate a deliberate modernization agenda following infrastructure stress events.

The City has come under significant operational and budgetary pressure following a January 2025 water crisis in which main water treatment plant backup power systems failed during a winter storm, leaving over 500,000 residents without potable water for nearly a week. The City has since spent approximately $7 million on repairs, resolved roughly 90% of 232 identified regulatory compliance issues, and is pursuing a $1.4 billion decade-long capital improvement program. Mayor Danny Avula has requested $80 million from Virginia over two years; the state has proposed $50 million for combined sewer overflow control as part of its next budget. Concurrent risks include Henrico County's $300 million pursuit of water independence from Richmond's system, signaling potential erosion of the customer base for the City's largest utility operation.

Name

City of Richmond

Legal name

City of Richmond

Website

https://rva.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1737

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The City of Richmond is a municipal government founded in 1737 that provides utilities (water, wastewater, natural gas, stormwater), public safety, courts, tax collection, and community services to over 500,000 residents under the authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK), Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public safety services
• Utility services
• Court administration
• Property tax administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Residential and commercial real estate property taxes assessed by the City Assessor, with tax relief programs for elderly and disabled residents.
2. Utility Fees: Water, wastewater, natural gas, stormwater, and streetlight utility fees charged to residents and businesses to fund infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
3. Business Taxes and Licenses: BPOL (Business Professional Occupational License) tax, meals tax, sales tax, admission tax, and various business-related fees and licenses.
4. Court Fees and Fines: Circuit Court filing fees, marriage license fees, traffic violation fines, criminal court costs, and restitution collected through VJOPS.
5. Personal Property Taxes: Annual taxes on vehicles and personal property collected from residents.
6. Intergovernmental Revenue: State and federal funding including proposed $50 million in Virginia state funding for combined sewer overflow control, and ongoing appropriations for various programs.
7. Special Taxes: Transient occupancy tax, short-term rental tax, tourism improvement district fees, plastic bag tax, and cigarette tax.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The City of Richmond delivers core municipal government services to over 500,000 residents and businesses within its jurisdiction, including water, wastewater, stormwater, natural gas, and streetlight utilities; public safety through police, fire, and 911 emergency communications; Circuit Court services with electronic filing and remote case access; property and personal property tax collection; business licensing and BPOL taxes; parks and recreation; animal care; elections administration; community wealth building; and minority business development support. Technology-enabled citizen service platforms (RVA 311, rva.gov portals, VJEFS/VJOPS e-filing and payments, OCRA remote access) extend service delivery beyond physical offices.

Product overview

City of Richmond operates a multi-service municipal platform offering essential government services through its RVA.GOV website. The core services include Public Utilities (water, wastewater, stormwater, natural gas, streetlights), Public Safety (Sheriff's Office, 911 Emergency Communications, Police, Fire), Judicial Services (Circuit Court Clerk with electronic filing and remote access systems), Financial Services (Treasurer's Office with tax collection and Financial Empowerment programs), and Economic Development (Community Wealth Building, Minority Business Development). Key technology-enabled services include OCRA for attorney remote case access, VJEFS/VJOPS for court e-filing and payments, RVA 311 for service requests, and GTL GettingOut for inmate communications. The city has recently launched a FOIA Library, Switch Together Solar program, and TechDesk consultation service. The infrastructure supports flood resilience (3.28 miles protecting 750 acres) and water treatment serving over 500,000 residents following a 2025 water crisis that prompted $7 million in repairs and a $1.4 billion decade-long capital improvement program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Municipal utility services delivering natural gas, water, wastewater, stormwater, and streetlight utilities to Richmond residents and businesses, including flood protection systems and water treatment infrastructure serving over 500,000 residents.
• RVA 311 Citizen Service System Centralized service request and information system allowing residents to submit non-emergency service requests, access city information, and be routed to appropriate city departments via phone (311 or 804-646-7000) or online portal.
• OCRA (Officer of Court Remote Access) Subscription-based remote access service for attorneys to view Circuit Court cases filed from 2011 to present without visiting the courthouse. Annual subscription fee of $100 per attorney plus $50 for each additional attorney-supervised staff member.
• VJEFS (Virginia Judiciary E-Filing System) Electronic filing system allowing attorneys to file civil cases and subsequent pleadings with the Richmond Circuit Court electronically, operated in coordination with the Supreme Court of Virginia.
• VJOPS (Virginia Judiciary Online Payment System) Secure online payment system enabling payment of traffic and criminal court fines, fees, restitution, and court costs.
• Secure Remote Access (SRA) Self-subscription service enabling remote online access to Circuit Court land records; applications can be completed and paid for online.
• Electronic Recording System Electronic deed recording system providing two vendor options (CSC eRecording and Simplifile) for recording documents in the Deed Book of the Richmond Circuit Court.
• Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) Financial literacy, budget workshops, tax assistance, and financial counseling programs partnering with Balance, United Way VITA, and community organizations to deliver financial empowerment services for Richmond residents.
• Community Resource Navigators Over-the-phone guidance service helping residents triage personal financial issues, identify action steps, and make referrals to programs such as eviction relief, food scarcity, and employment services.
• Minority Business Development (OMBD) Office dedicated to advancing the growth, sustainability, and competitiveness of minority-owned and emerging small businesses, ensuring diverse businesses can access and compete for City of Richmond contracts.
• Community Wealth Building (OCWB) Office partnering with nonprofits, educators, businesses, and agencies to remove barriers to self-sufficiency, coordinate services, and advocate for community transformation supporting long-term economic mobility in Richmond.
• Richmond City Sheriff's Office Municipal sheriff's office maintaining secure jail operations, court security, inmate transport, civil process, faith-based and community-based programming for returning citizens, and the Jail Mental Health Program (with OAR and RBHA partners).
• GTL GettingOut Inmate Communications Inmate communication platform providing video visitation (8:00 AM - 6:00 PM), phone services (7:30 AM - 11:30 PM), and money deposit functionality (Connect Network) for friends and family of inmates.
• VINE Victim Notification Service Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) service allowing crime victims to search for offender custody status and register for telephone and email alerts when custody status changes (Virginia toll-free (800) 467-4943).
• Richmond Ready Alerts Emergency Notification Emergency notification system that delivers weather, emergency, and public-safety alerts to Richmond residents via email and online registration.
• TechDesk Commercial Permit Consultation Consultation program launched in 2026 providing commercial permit applicants with direct guidance and support through the City's permitting and development review process.
• FOIA Library Public-facing library launched in June 2026 that gives the public online access to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records held by the City of Richmond.
• Switch Together Solar Group Buying Program Group buying program launched in June 2026 that allows Richmond residents to purchase residential solar panels collectively, supporting the City's sustainability goals.
• Animal Care & Control Municipal animal care and control services including adoptions, fostering, animal licensing and permits, cruelty registry, lost & found, volunteer programs, and pet assistance for Richmond residents.
• Parks and Recreation Municipal parks, recreation facilities, and community programming serving residents, including event scheduling and facility reservations at 2401 West Leigh Street.
• Emergency Communications (911) 24/7 emergency communications and dispatch center providing police, fire, and EMS dispatch services, Text-to-911 capability, community outreach, and employment opportunities.
• Elections Administration Municipal elections administration including voter registration, ballot processing, polling place management, and election information for Richmond residents at 2134 West Laburnum Avenue.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 residents served by municipal water system
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRichmond DPU participates in FEMA's Community Rating System program, which provides flood insurance discounts to residents based on community flood mitigation efforts. The city released a flood resilience kit during Virginia Flood Awareness Week as part of this partnership.
• Balance (Financial Counseling)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Office of Financial Empowerment partnered with Balance to provide online resources focused on financial literacy and education. Balance offers comprehensive financial counseling including debt reduction, homeownership, and money management guidance.
• United Way VITA ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree tax preparation services for qualifying families and individuals with income of $69,000 or less through United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program during February-April tax season.
• The Center for Working Families (TCFWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to empower Richmond residents to achieve financial stability through education, workforce development, and family-support services.
• Office of Community Wealth BuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-office collaboration to provide financial literacy and build wealth across the city of Richmond through coordinated programs and services.
• Office of Minority & Business DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to equip residents with knowledge to become successful entrepreneurs through business development support and fiscal education programs.
• Richmond Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative community safety partnership for Project Lifesaver International program to locate individuals with developmental disorders who may wander.
• Alzheimer's Foundation of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Project Lifesaver program providing support for individuals with Alzheimer's and related disorders.
• Autism Society of Central VirginiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Project Lifesaver program providing support for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
• Virginia Special OlympicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting Project Lifesaver and related community programs.
• OAR (Opportunity. Alliance. Re-entry.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Jail Mental Health Program providing pre- and post-release services to mentally ill inmates including clinical case management reentry services.
• RBHA (Richmond Behavioral Health Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Jail Mental Health Program providing mental health and substance use treatment services to inmates at RCJC.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City of Virginia Beach: Largest city in Virginia, operates as an independent municipal government providing utilities, public safety, courts, and community services. Closely comparable in governance structure, scale, and service scope to Richmond.
• City of Charlottesville: Independent Virginia city operating municipal services under the same state framework as Richmond; comparable in service delivery model, though smaller in scale.
• City of Newport News: Independent Virginia city delivering municipal utilities, courts, public safety, and community services under the same state-level governance structure as Richmond.
• City of Alexandria: Independent Virginia city delivering a full suite of municipal services including utilities, courts, public safety, and community development. Highly comparable in governance and service breadth to Richmond.
• City of Hampton: Independent Virginia city providing comparable municipal services including water utilities, public safety, courts, and community programs. Operates as a peer jurisdiction within the Hampton Roads region.
• City of Chesapeake: Independent Virginia city with a comparable portfolio of utilities, public safety, courts, and community development functions serving a similar population base to Richmond.
• City of Norfolk: Independent Virginia city providing similar municipal services including its own water utility, police, fire, courts, and social services. Operates under the same statewide municipal framework as Richmond.
• City of Roanoke: Independent Virginia city with similar municipal service portfolio and structure; comparable in scale and service delivery model to Richmond.
• City of Lynchburg: Independent Virginia city operating utilities, courts, public safety, and community services under the same statewide municipal governance framework as Richmond.

Regional players

• Henrico County: Neighboring Virginia jurisdiction that is both a current customer of Richmond's water system and an active competitor building pipeline infrastructure to exit that relationship — directly material to Richmond's utility outlook.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/richmondvirginia
• Facebookfacebook.com/RVAGov
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/richmondva
• Instagraminstagram.com/rvagov

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Richmond