Frequently asked questions

Find an answer by searching for keywords, or choosing a relevant category or regulation.
Email planning@ci.richmond.ca.us if you don't find what you're looking for.
QuestionTags
What business activities can I do from my home?
Home Occupations
§ 15.04.610.230
Can I operate a home-based day care in the City of Richmond?
Home Occupations
What is the definition of a peddler business? Is my food truck considered a peddler business?
Mobile Food Vending
Where can I place my food truck?
Mobile Food Vending
§ 15.04.610.320
What's the process to get a mobile food vendor permit on private property?
Mobile Food Vending
§ 15.04.610.320
§ 15.04.806.010
§ 15.04.806.020
§ 15.04.806.030
§ 15.04.806.040
§ 15.04.806.050
§ 15.04.806.060
How can I renew my food truck permit?
Mobile Food Vending
§ 15.04.806.020
What are the setbacks, height, and size limits for ADUs?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
§ 15.04.610.020
Can I convert my attached garage into habitable space/ a room?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
§ 15.04.607.030
Can I convert my garage or shed into an ADU?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
§ 15.04.610.320
How can I legalize my ADU?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
How many ADUs can I have on my property?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
§ 15.04.610.020
What permits are required to build a new driveway on my property?
Easements & Right-of-Way
§ 15.04.201.040
§ 15.04.607.010
§ 15.04.607.020
§ 15.04.607.030
§ 15.04.607.040
§ 15.04.607.050
§ 15.04.607.060
§ 15.04.607.070
§ 15.04.607.080
§ 15.04.607.090
What are the height limits for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the City of Richmond?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
§ 15.04.610.020
Can ADU's be over 16 feet in height?
—
When applications feature a detached structure with a non-ADU related first story and an ADU on the second story, what is the height limit for the entire structure and the ADU?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
§ 15.04.610.020
GOV 7.1.13.2
Who should I talk to about Building Permits for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in the City of Richmond?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
§ 15.04.610.020
Can I widen my driveway?
Easements & Right-of-Way
§ 15.04.201.040
Can building projections extend into required yards in the City of Richmond?
Accessory Structures & Buildings
§ 15.04.601.020
What is the permitting process for building projections?
Accessory Structures & Buildings
Where are building projections allowed to be?
Accessory Structures & Buildings
§ 15.04.610.020
Can decks and porches be replaced in kind without permits?
Accessory Structures & Buildings
§ 15.04.601.020
Why can my neighbor do something that I cannot do for my own property?
Legal Non-Conforming Uses
How much do Building Permits for ADUs cost?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
How long does it take to get a building permit for an ADU?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
What's the process to legalize unpermitted structures?
Process
§ 15.04.803.010
§ 15.04.803.020
§ 15.04.803.030
§ 15.04.803.040
§ 15.04.803.050
§ 15.04.803.060
§ 15.04.803.070
§ 15.04.803.080
§ 15.04.803.090
§ 15.04.803.100
How does the City determine if a structure was constructed with the benefit of a building permit?
Process
Which department is in charge of managing trees?
Trees
Who is authorized to maintain or remove street trees?
Trees
How do I know if my property contains private easements?
Easements & Right-of-Way
What is a Certificate of Appropriateness and how does it relate to historical properties?
Historic Resources
§ 15.04.303.120
What determines planning fees? Why do they cost what they cost?
Process
What is zoning?
Zoning
What does the Richmond Zoning Ordinance regulate?
Zoning
§ 15.04.805.010
§ 15.04.805.020
§ 15.04.805.030
§ 15.04.805.040
§ 15.04.805.050
§ 15.04.607.010
§ 15.04.607.020
§ 15.04.607.030
§ 15.04.607.040
§ 15.04.607.050
§ 15.04.101.010
§ 15.04.101.020
§ 15.04.101.030
§ 15.04.101.040
§ 15.04.101.050
§ 15.04.609.010
§ 15.04.609.020
§ 15.04.609.030
§ 15.04.609.040
§ 15.04.609.050
How do I determine the Zoning District of my property?
Zoning
How do Specific Plans function in California’s planning process, and what role do they play in implementing the General Plan?
Zoning
What is an Assessor's Parcel Number (APN)?
Zoning
How do I determine what my Accessor's Parcel Number (APN) is?
Zoning
Who do I contact for help on properties outside of Richmond?
ZoningProcess
How do I contact the Residential Rental Inspection Program?
Process
Who owns the utility pole located on my property?
Utilities
Where do I make payments for planning permit fees?
Process
Where can I make a public records request?
Process
What should I do if I have been operating without a business license?
Process
What is the role of the Planning Commission?
Process
§ 15.04.802.030
What is the role of the Design Review Board?
Process
§ 15.04.805.010
§ 15.04.805.020
§ 15.04.805.030
§ 15.04.805.040
§ 15.04.805.050
§ 15.04.805.060
§ 15.04.805.070
What are the duties of the Zoning Administrator?
Process
§ 15.04.802.080
How do I report unpermitted construction or construction concerns?
Process
What are the potential penalties/fines associated with Code Enforcement Actions?
Process
Where is outside storage allowed on commercial properties?
Outdoor Storage
§ 15.04.601.070
How is outside storage regulated?
Outdoor Storage
§ 15.04.601.070
§ 15.04.610.400
123