Richmond · Renting & eviction

Rental registration and inspections in Richmond

Richmond's own rules on rental registration and inspections, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Richmond Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Richmond's code says

Richmond code What Richmond's code adds
Exemptions	Mobile home parks are exempt. § 6.40.050 · code text Mobile home parks shall be exempt from this chapter. Rental units in buildings properly registered as vacant property are exempt; inspection is required before occupancy after written notice. § 6.40.050 · code text Any residential rental dwelling unit(s) in a building that is properly registered as "vacant property" under Chapter 6.38 of this Code shall be exempt from this chapter. Transient lodging is exempt. § 6.40.050 · code text Transient lodging as defined in Section 15.04.104.020 of this Code shall be exempt from this chapter. New buildings or ADUs are exempt for 5 years from the certificate-of-occupancy date. Applies: Applies to newly constructed buildings or ADUs; not exempt if a complaint of substandard or illegal conditions is received. § 6.40.050 · code text Newly constructed buildings or ADUs shall be exempt from this chapter for a period of five years, unless a complaint of substandard or illegal conditions has been received. Rental units with Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) tenants are exempt if the agency inspects them for housing quality. Applies: Applies to units occupied by Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) tenants; complaint-based inspections still apply. § 6.40.050 · code text All residential rental dwelling units occupied by Housing Choice Voucher Tenants (Section 8) shall be exempt from this chapter provided that these residential rental dwelling units receive housing quality inspections by the administering agency and in accordance with the inspection schedule set by the administering agency.
Fee	The amount is set in the Master Fee Schedule. Applies: Applies to the registration/processing fee for residential rental dwelling units subject to inspection. § 6.40.090 · code text Owners of all residential rental dwelling units subject to inspection under this chapter shall pay a registration/processing fee on a pre-determined schedule in the amount set forth in the Master Fee Schedule (resolution establishing fees and charges for various municipal services).
Inspections	Additional inspections may occur based on a complaint or reasonable cause that a unit is substandard. Applies: Applies to complaint-based or reasonable-cause inspections. § 6.40.070 · code text Additional inspections of any residential rental dwelling unit may occur on a complaint basis or if the inspector has reasonable cause to believe any unit is substandard. Inspection is required once every 3 years. Applies: Existing Richmond rental units; exempt: mobilehome parks, registered vacant buildings, transient lodging, qualifying new units, agency-inspected Section 8 units (subject to complaint powers). § 6.40.070 · code text The owner shall permit an inspection of all residential rental dwelling units once every three years by the inspector, in order to determine whether any substandard conditions exist within such residential rental dwelling unit(s) or on the premises of the property.
Penalty	A special assessment lien, plus accrued interest and penalties, recovers an unpaid registration/processing fee. Applies: Applies to failure to pay the required registration/processing fee. § 6.40.090 · code text If the owner fails to pay the required fee, the City shall recover it, plus accrued interest and penalties, utilizing all remedies provided by law, including placing a special assessment lien against the residential rental dwelling unit. A special assessment lien, plus accrued interest and penalties, recovers an unpaid re-inspection fee. Applies: Applies to failure to pay the required re-inspection fee. § 6.40.100 · code text If the owner fails to pay the required fee, the City shall recover it, plus accrued interest and penalties, utilizing all remedies provided by law, including placing a special assessment lien against the residential rental dwelling units. The Master Fee Schedule re-inspection fee applies to the second and each later compliance re-inspection. Applies: Applies when violations are not corrected by the second compliance re-inspection or the minor-repair declaration is late. § 6.40.100 · code text If the owner fails to correct the violations by the second compliance re-inspection, or fails to submit a sworn declaration attesting to repair of the minor violations within the time provided, the owner shall pay a re-inspection fee for that second compliance re-inspection and for each additional re-inspection thereafter, as set forth in the Master Fee Schedule.
Registration	Owners must register rental dwelling units with the Building Regulations Division. Applies: Existing Richmond rental units; exempt: mobilehome parks, registered vacant buildings, transient lodging, qualifying new units, agency-inspected Section 8 units (subject to complaint powers). § 6.40.070 · code text It shall be the responsibility of all owners of residential rental dwelling units within the City to register such residential rental dwelling units with the Building Regulations Division and submit the registration/processing fee and the inspection fee.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Must landlords register or inspect rental units in Richmond?

Richmond's code: Mobile home parks are exempt. (§ 6.40.050); Rental units in buildings properly registered as vacant property are exempt; inspection is required before occupancy after written notice. (§ 6.40.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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