Visiting During Session
Visitors tend to have many questions about accommodations when they are coming to the Capitol Square.
Many of these questions are addressed in our downloadable Visitor's Guide.
Other publications that may be of interest to educators and visitors alike
If you should have any other questions about your Capitol visit that are not answered on this page, or in the Visitor's Guide, please call the Legislative Education and Development Office, toll free, at 1-877-391-FACT. For quick and easy access to the topic of your choice, please see the list below:
Entry During the Legislative Session
The Capitol building remains open to accommodate the public during the Legislative Session. The general public enter the restored and expanded Capitol year round from the new entrance plaza near 10th and Bank streets. The General Assembly Building also remains open to accommodate the public during this time. Visitors to the General Assembly Building during the legislative session must use the far right door of the Darden Garden entrance from Capitol Square. The 9th Street doors are for exiting and entry for persons with disabilities.
Viewing the Legislative Session
Public galleries in the Capitol's House and Senate Chambers are limited to 99 people at any one time. In addition, the public may view the session from any of the committee rooms in the General Assembly Building or in the new Capitol Extension on television when the rooms are not in use. The General Assembly convenes its annual session on the second Wednesday in January and is in session for 60 days in an even-numbered year and 46 days in an odd-numbered year. Generally, the House and the Senate convene their respective floor sessions at 12 noon.
Meeting Schedules
The schedule of legislative meetings is continuously updated during session.
Accommodations for Individuals with Special Needs
The Capitol Building and Extension are accessible to persons with disabilities. Please contact us if you have any special needs and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Access to the General Assembly Building
A wheelchair-accessible ramp and door is located at the 9th Street entrance of the building. Please ring the bell located at that door and the Capitol Police will provide entry.
Elevators
All elevators in the General Assembly Building are wheelchair accessible.
Hearing Impairments
Individuals desiring the use of an interpreter during committee meetings should contact House Committee Operations at (804) 698-1540 or Senate Committee Operations at (804) 698-7450 for assistance. Individuals requiring the services of an interpreter should make this request known as far in advance as possible since legislative proceedings will not be delayed to provide this accommodation. Larger committee rooms are equipped with a personal listening system. Individuals may check out a receiver for use during meetings. The TDD number for the House is (804) 786-2369 and the Senate is toll free 1(866) 267-1474.
Telephones
Telephones that are wheelchair accessible are available in the General Assembly Building on the 1st floor and in the west hallway of floors 4, 5, 7, and 8.
Visual Impairments
Materials such as bill drafts or other legislative information or publication can be made available through audio means or printed in Braille.
Meriwether's Capitol: Dining and Catering
Meriwether's, a Dining Management Company headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, offers several dining options and venues for guests visiting the Capitol.
In the new Capitol Extension is a cafe (804-698-7438) is open to the public, Monday through Friday from 8:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy a meal in the cafe, which does have limited seating, or use Meriwether's take-out service.
A word of caution to our visitors: Food is not allowed in the original 18th-centry portion of the Capitol.
Meriwether's also operates a cafeteria in the General Assembly Building on the 6th floor, open from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Momday - Friday. The cafeteria offers some hot meals, as well as sandwiches and beverages. There is also a sandwich express window open during session each year. The Vending machines are located in the basement and floors 2, 3, and 7.
Parking
Handicap parking: Private vehicles with handicap tags are able to park and unload passengers on Bank Street near the new public entrance. There is no public parking on the Capitol Square grounds.
Motorcoach Parking: Three or four spaces are presently available on Bank Street between 10th and 12th Streets. Buses should not stay on Bank Street longer than 2 hours. As of 2008 the former "Bus Loop" behind Old City Hall is no longer available to school or tour buses visiting the Capitol. Overflow bus parking is available at the Virginia War Memorial, on 2nd Street south of Spring Street. Group leaders will need to be in phone contact with their drivers.
Public Parking: There are four free general public spaces (1 hour) on the north side of Bank Street, between 9th and 10th Streets. A limited number of metered public parking spaces (2 hours) are located on Bank Street, between Governor and 14th Streets, on the south side of Main Street, between 9th and 12th Streets and on 12th Street between Main and Bank Streets. Pay parking lots and decks are nearby on 8th and Grace Street and 7th and Marshall Streets. Downloadable maps of nearby parking lots and decks are available, as well as rates for these areas.
Note: Due to the increasing construction in Downtown Richmond, some parking lots listed on the links above may not exist any longer. If you have any questions about parking lots in the capitol vicinity, please call the Capitol Tour Desk at (804) 698-1788 or email the Tour Desk at vacaptours@leg.state.va.us.
Security Guidelines
Individuals visiting the Capitol, General Assembly Building and/or Patrick Henry Building will be asked to pass through metal detectors and all personal belongings will be searched. Due to these security measures currently in place, it is advisable to leave all non-essential personal items in your vehicle.