Richmond · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Richmond
Richmond sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures, pools and home businesses in residential districts. Fence height depends on the yard, every fence needs Zoning Conformance approval, and taller fences need Zoning Administrator approval.
Key points
- Front fences: Residential front fences are limited to 4 feet, or 6 feet with approval if the part above 4 feet is at most 50% solid.
- Side and rear: Residential side and rear fences are limited to 6 feet, or 8 feet with Zoning Administrator approval in some locations.
- Accessory structures: Residential accessory structures are limited to 14 feet and set back 5 feet from property lines, unless at most 9½ feet within the setback.
- Pools: Pools need a safety cover or drowning prevention feature and must be at least 15 feet from street side lines, 5 from interior lines.
- Home businesses: Home businesses need zoning compliance review and may have at most 1 nonresident employee or contractor on site; normal-level customer visits are allowed.
- Rooftop solar: Complete small rooftop solar applications meeting the checklist get permits in 3 business days, with inspections within 2 business days of request.
Each rule below is marked Richmond code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Fences and walls
Richmond code Residential front fences are limited to 4 feet, or 6 feet with approval if the part above 4 feet is at most 50% solid. Residential side and rear fences are limited to 6 feet, or 8 feet with Zoning Administrator approval in some locations.
All 10 Richmond rules on fences and walls, with the code text →
Sheds, garages and other accessory structures
Richmond code Residential accessory structures are limited to 14 feet and set back 5 feet from property lines, unless at most 9½ feet within the setback.
All 6 Richmond rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →
Running a business from home
Richmond code Home businesses need zoning compliance review and may have at most 1 nonresident employee or contractor on site; normal-level customer visits are allowed.
All 4 Richmond rules on running a business from home, with the code text →
Solar panels and EV chargers
Richmond code Complete small rooftop solar applications meeting the checklist get permits in 3 business days, with inspections within 2 business days of request.
All 5 Richmond rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Swimming pools
Richmond code Pools need a safety cover or drowning prevention feature and must be at least 15 feet from street side lines, 5 from interior lines.
All 4 Richmond rules on swimming pools, with the code text →
Grading and erosion control
| Steepest cut or fill slope |
|
|---|
Building on a hillside
Richmond code Keep grading to a minimum on natural slopes over 26 percent, except grading needed only for foundations. Some grading is allowed, but landforms should keep their natural character.
All 7 Richmond rules on building on a hillside, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
| Exemptions |
|
|---|
Noise and construction hours
Richmond code Construction equipment: 75 dBA (mobile) or 60 dBA (stationary), weekdays 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Construction equipment: 60 dBA (mobile) or 55 dBA (stationary), weekends and legal holidays 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
All 5 Richmond rules on noise and construction hours, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| Local rules | Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Richmond code May not pay the in-lieu fee; must provide on-site inclusionary housing or another approved alternative. The fee is set from time to time by City Council resolution.
All 7 Richmond rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Parking spaces required for homes
| Parking in the front yard |
|
|---|---|
| Spaces per apartment or condo |
|
| Spaces for a single-family home |
|
Home alarm permits and false alarms
Richmond code No false alarm fine A fine for all responses to a false alarm
All 3 Richmond rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →
Signs on homes
| Signs that need no permit |
|
|---|
Trash and recycling carts
Richmond code Owners must subscribe with the franchised collector for garbage, recycling and organic waste collection Yes: place source separated organic waste, including food waste, in the organic waste container
All 4 Richmond rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Historic homes
Richmond code A demolition permit is required for a building, structure or object more than 45 years old The demolition application must include an eligibility evaluation
All 7 Richmond rules on historic homes, with the code text →
Other Richmond rules on this
Richmond's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Pens, barns and pigeons at home (Ch. 9.24)
- Animal keeping on residential lots (§ 15.04.610.070)
- Flood damage prevention (Ch. 12.56)
- Outdoor lighting standards (Art. 15.04.604)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What are the grading rules in Richmond?
Richmond's code: Cuts may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. (Unless the owner provides a soil or geology report showing a steeper cut is safe.) (§ 12.44.060); Compacted fills may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical. (Applies to compacted fills.) (§ 12.44.060).
Can I run a family child care home in Richmond?
California law sets this for every city, including Richmond: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).
How many parking spaces does a home need in Richmond?
Richmond's code: Inoperable vehicles must not be stored or parked in the front yard (Residential areas) (§ 11.78.020); 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit (Duplexes or 2 or more attached units) (§ 15.04.607.040).
What signs may I put up at my home in Richmond?
Richmond's code: Address signs required by and conforming to the Building Code need no permit (§ 15.04.609.060).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Richmond property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question