Pop. 116,448 · Contra Costa County
Home occupations in Richmond are permitted with limited customer traffic, typically by appointment only and restricted in volume. The business must not generate patterns of pedestrian…
Home-based businesses in Richmond require a Home Occupation Permit and a Richmond Business License. Operations must be incidental to the residential use, with no significant external…
California Health & Safety Code §1597.45 classifies licensed family day care homes as residential uses and preempts local zoning that would treat them differently from single-family…
Richmond generally prohibits exterior signage for home occupations. The business must not be visible from the street, which includes signs, window displays, and advertising on parked…
Unincorporated Contra Costa County requires a Home Occupation Permit (ministerial, issued over the counter) or a Land Use Permit before any business activity may be conducted from a…
The California Homemade Food Act sets uniform rules for cottage food operations, and Government Code 51035 bars local governments from prohibiting them in residential dwellings…
Richmond's Yard Maintenance rule requires grass to be maintained at six inches or less and properly disposed of, and treats overgrown weeds, bushes, trees, and vegetation as code…
Richmond is in the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) service area. EBMUD's Section 29 (Water Use Restrictions) permanently prohibits outdoor watering that causes runoff…
Richmond requires the branches of any tree extending over a public sidewalk, street, or other public way to be trimmed so they do not obstruct vision or the travel of motorists…
Richmond enforces overgrown weeds and brush as a City blight / property-maintenance violation through Code Enforcement, and the Richmond Fire Department's Fire Prevention Services…
Xeriscaping is encouraged in Richmond. Under California Civil Code 4735 and Government Code 53087.7, HOAs and cities cannot prohibit drought-tolerant landscaping or artificial turf as…
Richmond regulates removal of protected and heritage trees on private property. Permits are typically required before removing native oaks, heritage-designated trees, or trees of…
Since SB 676 took effect in 2024, Government Code 53087.7 protects only drought-tolerant living landscaping from local bans, so cities may again prohibit artificial turf. Civil Code…
SB 1383 requires every California resident and business to separate food scraps and yard waste from trash, with universal collection or on-site composting.
The 2012 Rainwater Capture Act allows California residents to capture rainwater from rooftops for non-potable outdoor use without a state water-right permit, preempting most local…
California Public Resources Code 4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures in State Responsibility Areas and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Portions of…
Open burning is prohibited in Richmond under Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Regulation 5 and Richmond Municipal Code fire provisions. Residential yard-waste burning…
California law requires working smoke alarms in every Richmond dwelling unit, with additional carbon-monoxide detector requirements. All units must have battery-backup or 10-year…
All consumer fireworks, including California-classified 'safe and sane' fireworks, are BANNED in Richmond. Possession, sale, use, or discharge of any firework within city limits is a…
Residential fire pits in Richmond must use gas or manufactured logs due to BAAQMD restrictions. No open wood fires. Portable fire pits must be at least 25 feet from structures. Use…
Backyard burning in unincorporated Contra Costa County is tightly limited: BAAQMD Regulation 5 prohibits burning yard waste, and recreational wood fires aren't among its allowed…
Wildfire rules in unincorporated Contra Costa County combine the state's 100-foot defensible-space requirement (PRC §4291) with the county fire code's hazardous-vegetation standards…
California uniformly applies the State Fire Marshal's propane storage standards through the California Fire Code, which all local jurisdictions must enforce as a minimum.
Swimming pool barriers in Richmond must comply with California Building Code and Health & Safety Code §§115920-115929 (Swimming Pool Safety Act). Pools built or remodeled after 2007…
Richmond requires a Planning Department permit for every residential fence regardless of height, plus a separate building permit for any fence 6 feet or taller. Contractors must hold…
Richmond allows fences of wood, metal, PVC, or masonry but prohibits barbed wire, razor wire, chain link, woven wire mesh, rope, cable, railroad ties, landscape timbers, utility poles…
Hedges in Richmond are treated as fences for height purposes: 4 feet in front yards and 6 feet in side/rear yards. Hedges within the corner vision triangle are limited to 3 feet…
Retaining walls up to 4 feet in exposed height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) do not require a building permit in Richmond unless they support a…
Richmond limits residential fences to 4 feet in front yards, 6 feet in side and rear yards, and 3 feet 6 inches in sight triangles, with exceptions up to 6-8 feet under specified…
Richmond's STR program (RMC Chapter 7.88) does not specify a numeric liability insurance minimum; operators must obtain a city business license, pay 10% Transient Occupancy Tax, and…
Richmond's Community Noise Ordinance (RMC Chapter 9.52) caps single-family residential property-line noise at 60 dBA, dropping to 50 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. STR guests must…
Short-term rentals in Richmond must provide the same off-street parking required for the underlying residential use, typically one to two spaces per dwelling unit. Hosts are expected…
Richmond requires short-term rental operators to obtain a City Business License and register with the Finance Department to collect and remit the 10% Transient Occupancy Tax. Hosted…
Richmond applies California Building Code occupancy standards and general nuisance provisions to short-term rentals rather than a dedicated per-room guest cap. A commonly applied rule…
Richmond imposes a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax on the rent charged for any lodging stay of fewer than 30 consecutive days, including short-term rentals. Operators must collect the tax…
Richmond requires a business tax certificate for STR hosts under RMC Chapter 7.04.020. STRs are classified as Class E (Hotel/Motel) under Measure U (approved Nov. 2020). Host must be…
Above-ground pools in Richmond CA are regulated under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act (HSC §§115920-115929). Permitted pools and spas must include at least two of seven…
All residential swimming pools and spas in Richmond must comply with the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (Health & Safety Code §§115920–115929), requiring a minimum 60-inch barrier…
All swimming pool and spa drains in Richmond must comply with the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act and California HSC §115928, requiring anti-entrapment drain…
A building permit from the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Division is required before installing any pool or spa in unincorporated areas. In-ground pools must be at least 5…
Hot tubs and spas fall under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act when capable of holding water deeper than 18 inches, requiring barriers, covers, or other approved safety features.
Under the California Building Code 2025 (adopted by Richmond), one-story detached tool and storage sheds 120 square feet or less are exempt from building permits. Zoning setbacks and…
Richmond permits conversion of an existing garage into an ADU as a ministerial process under RMC § 15.04.610.020 and California ADU Law. JADUs may be created within attached garages…
Richmond permits ADUs and JADUs ministerially in all residential zones, with no owner-occupancy requirement for the ADU. Studios/1-bedroom units may be up to 850 sq ft and 2+ bedroom…
Carports in unincorporated Contra Costa County are regulated as accessory structures under Title 8 (Zoning) of the County Ordinance Code and as covered structures under the California…
California HCD guidance and Health and Safety Code 18007 classify many tiny homes on wheels as manufactured housing or ADUs, granting statewide siting protections.
Richmond limits any vehicle to a maximum of 72 consecutive hours parked on a public street or alley, and operates a Neighborhood Permit Parking (NPP) Program in designated areas where…
Richmond prohibits overnight parking and vehicle storage in its paid city lots, enforces the 72-hour limit on all streets day and night, and only allows sleeping in vehicles at…
Abandoned, inoperable, unlicensed and junk vehicles are prohibited on both public and private property in Richmond, and parking-enforcement staff can remove and tow them under…
Richmond requires RVs, boats and trailers parked on city streets to be operable, currently DMV-registered, and moved at least once every 72 hours; they may be stored in residential…
Richmond allows only one business vehicle with up to one-ton payload capacity to be parked at a residential property; anything heavier must be stored on commercial or industrial…
California Civil Code sections 4745 and 1947.6, plus Government Code 65850.7, create statewide rights for residents to install EV charging stations and require expedited local…
Vehicle noise in Richmond is regulated under RMC Chapter 9.52 and California Vehicle Code §§27150-27207. Modified exhaust, loud stereos audible 50 feet away, engine revving, and…
Lawn equipment (mowers, edgers, trimmers, chainsaws) in Richmond may be operated between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends and holidays. Commercial…
Construction and demolition activity in Richmond is generally permitted Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Construction on Sundays and federal…
Amplified sound in Richmond requires consideration of time, place, and audibility. Outdoor amplified music audible beyond the property line during quiet hours (10 PM to 7 AM) is…
Richmond's nighttime quiet hours run from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM on weekdays and Saturdays, and until 8:00 AM on Sundays and holidays. During these hours, amplified sound, power tools…
Contra Costa County's Noisy Animal Ordinance (County Code §416-12.202) makes it a violation for an animal to create noise 30 continuous minutes or 60 intermittent minutes within 24…
California sets statewide airport noise limits under Title 21 CCR, with the state preempting most local aviation noise control because federal FAA authority dominates aircraft…
Livestock (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, pigs) is generally prohibited in Richmond's urban residential zones. Only limited agricultural zoning districts permit livestock, and minimum…
Richmond allows up to 6 hens in residential backyards with no roosters permitted. Coops must be set back at least 10 feet from any dwelling on neighboring property and kept clean to…
Richmond residential properties may keep up to 4 dogs and 4 cats per household without a kennel permit. Households with more than this limit may require a kennel or multiple-animal…
Beekeeping is permitted in Richmond residential zones with setbacks and hive limits. Hives must be kept at least 5 feet from property lines, flight paths directed away from neighbors…
All dogs over 4 months in Richmond must be licensed annually through Contra Costa County Animal Services and wear the license tag. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet when…
Wildlife in Richmond is protected under California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regulations. Feeding wildlife (raccoons, skunks, deer, coyotes) is prohibited and can draw…
California bans private possession of most exotic animals under CA Fish & Game Code §2118 and 14 CCR §671. Prohibited animals include monkeys, ferrets, most reptiles over certain…
Dangerous and vicious dog designations in Richmond follow California Food & Agricultural Code §§31601-31683, which preempts all breed-specific bans. Designations are behavior-based: a…
Most electrical work in Richmond requires a permit from the Building Regulations Division and must comply with the California Electrical Code (Title 24, Part 3), based on the National…
Richmond requires building permits for all roof replacements and repairs exceeding 100 square feet, enforced by the Building Regulations Division under the 2022 California Building…
Every dwelling in Richmond must have working smoke alarms in each sleeping room, outside each sleeping area, and on every level, as required by California Health & Safety Code §13113.7…
Richmond requires plumbing permits for water heater replacements, repipes, sewer lateral work, gas line modifications, and fixture additions under the 2022 California Plumbing Code…
California Health & Safety Code §17926 requires carbon monoxide alarms in every Richmond dwelling that has a fossil-fuel appliance, fireplace, or attached garage. Alarms must be…
Richmond has a persistent illegal dumping problem along industrial corridors and undeveloped parcels and aggressively prosecutes offenders under RMC Chapter 9.28 and California Penal…
Richmond residents must use the three-cart system provided by Republic Services: gray (trash), blue (recycling), and green (organics/compost). Carts are the property of Republic…
Republic Services offers Richmond residents two free bulk item pickups per calendar year for large items like mattresses, furniture, and appliances. Additional pickups and items…
Richmond uses single-stream recycling in the blue cart, collected weekly by Republic Services. California SB 1383 mandates organics recycling in the green cart, and AB 341/1826 require…
Republic Services is Richmond's exclusive franchised hauler and collects trash, recycling, and organics weekly on a route-specific day Monday through Friday. Carts must be at the curb…
Richmond's Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program, mandated under the MRP NPDES permit, prohibits all non-stormwater discharges to the municipal storm sewer system…
Substantial portions of Richmond along the shoreline, Marina Bay, Point Richmond, and the Iron Triangle lie within FEMA AE, VE, or X-shaded flood zones, requiring flood-resistant…
The California Coastal Act, Public Resources Code sections 30000 through 30900, requires Coastal Development Permits for nearly all work in the coastal zone and gives the Coastal…
Richmond does not maintain a formal city-run "no-knock" registry for residents to opt out of door-to-door solicitation. Residents rely on posted "No Soliciting" signs, which have the…
Commercial door-to-door solicitors in Richmond must register with the city and obtain a Peddler/Solicitor Permit under RMC Chapter 7.36, carry ID, and honor posted "No Soliciting"…
Richmond regulates outdoor lighting through zoning provisions requiring shielded fixtures, limits on light trespass, and consideration of wildlife impacts near shoreline habitats…
Richmond prohibits light glare and spillover that creates a nuisance to neighboring properties, typically limiting illumination at residential property lines to 0.5 foot-candles…
Richmond allows garage sale signs on private property during the sale and requires removal immediately afterward. Signs on utility poles, street signs, or in the public right-of-way…
Political signs receive strong First Amendment protection in Richmond and must be treated on the same terms as other non-commercial yard signs. California Civil Code §713 also…
Richmond limits residential garage sales to a reasonable frequency — typically interpreted as no more than 3-4 sales per calendar year per property, each lasting no more than 3…
Richmond does not require a permit for occasional residential garage/yard sales under RMC Chapter 6.42, treating them as exempt from business license requirements so long as they…
California's Toxic Mold Protection Act requires Richmond landlords to disclose known visible mold that exceeds health guidelines before a tenant signs a lease, and Richmond Code…
Richmond mandates rental unit registration with the Richmond Rent Program under the Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance (Measure L, 2016), with…
Richmond landlords must comply with federal and California lead-based paint disclosure rules for any housing built before 1978, providing the EPA pamphlet, a written disclosure form…
California evictions run through the unlawful detainer process. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 1161, nonpayment requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (excluding weekends and…
California landlords must keep rentals fit to live in. Civil Code §§ 1941 and 1941.1, reinforced by Green v. Superior Court, imply a warranty of habitability covering plumbing, heat…
Civil Code 1946.2 requires landlords statewide to have just cause to terminate tenancies of qualifying tenants who have lived in a covered unit at least 12 months.
California Civil Code § 1954 limits when a landlord may enter a rented home. Except in emergencies, abandonment, or with tenant consent, the landlord must give reasonable written…
California sets no fixed dollar or percentage cap on rent late fees, but a late fee in a residential lease is treated as liquidated damages. Under Civil Code § 1671, such a fee is…
To end a California month-to-month tenancy, a tenant gives 30 days' written notice. A landlord gives 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year, or 60 days if a year or more…
California limits annual rent increases statewide to 5% plus the local change in the cost of living, capped at 10%, under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB-1482). It also lets…
California requires written notice before raising a month-to-month tenant's rent. Under Civ. Code § 827, increases of 10% or less in 12 months need 30 days' notice; increases above 10%…
As of July 1, 2024, California landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of whether the unit is furnished. The deposit, minus any lawful…
California adverse possession requires five years of continuous, open, hostile possession AND payment of all property taxes during that period under Code of Civil Procedure § 325. A…
California Civil Code 714 (the Solar Rights Act) voids HOA restrictions that significantly increase solar system costs or reduce efficiency by more than 10 percent, and applies fully…
Richmond must process residential rooftop solar permits within 3 business days under AB 2188 and offers SolarAPP+ online automated permitting, with restrictions generally limited to…
Homeowner associations in Richmond operate under the California Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act (Civil Code §§4000–6150), which governs most private community rules…
California law requires Richmond HOAs to offer Internal Dispute Resolution and Alternative Dispute Resolution before filing suit against a member, under Civil Code §§5900–5965. Members…
Richmond HOAs may impose monetary fines for violations of CC&Rs only after adopting a written schedule of fines, providing advance written notice, and offering a hearing, as required…
California HOAs may levy regular and special assessments, charge late fees and interest, record liens, and ultimately foreclose on delinquent owners under the Davis-Stirling Act. State…
California tightly regulates HOA governance. The Common Interest Development Open Meeting Act (Civil Code 4900-4955) governs board meetings and member access, sections 5100-5145…
California HOAs enforce recorded CC&Rs and architectural rules, but Civil Code section 4765 requires architectural decisions to be fair, reasonable, and in good faith, and sections…
Richmond restricts food truck operations within a set distance of permitted restaurants (commonly 100-500 feet), limits operating hours, and prohibits parking on certain residential…
Richmond requires Mobile Food Facility (MFF) operators to hold a Contra Costa County Environmental Health permit, a Richmond business license, and comply with the California Retail…
Medical cannabis patients in Richmond have the same rights as adult-use consumers under Prop 64 and the Compassionate Use Act, with the added benefits of purchasing from…
Health and Safety Code section 11362.2 grants every adult 21 or older the statewide right to cultivate up to six cannabis plants indoors, and bars local governments from completely…
Richmond parks close from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM under RMC Chapter 10.16, with violators subject to trespass citations. Shoreline parks administered by the East Bay Regional Park District…
Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 9.32 imposes a juvenile curfew prohibiting minors under 18 from being in public places between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM Sunday-Thursday and 11:00 PM to 5:00…
California Civil Code §1708.8 (the anti-paparazzi statute) creates physical and constructive invasion of privacy claims against drone operators who capture images of people engaged in…
Commercial drone operations in California follow uniform federal rules under 14 CFR Part 107 plus statewide California provisions in Civil Code 1708.8 and Public Utilities Code 21401…
Contra Costa County has no dedicated data-center ordinance. In the unincorporated county, a data center is treated as an industrial use, allowed in the L-I, H-I, C-M, or W-3 industrial…
Contra Costa County has no ordinance specific to cryptocurrency or blockchain mining. A commercial mining operation is treated as a data center or industrial use, allowed in the L-I…
Contra Costa County has no codified decibel ordinance for stationary sources. A data center's cooling and generators are held to the 2045 General Plan land-use compatibility standard…
California sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, $16.90 per hour for all employers as of January 2026. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher…
California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act under Labor Code 245-249 mandates paid sick leave for nearly all employees statewide. SB 616 (2023) raised the minimum to 40 hours…
California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant…
California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However…
California broadly prohibits open carry of firearms statewide under Penal Code 25850 (loaded firearms in public) and Penal Code 26350 (open carry of unloaded handguns). The prohibition…
California prohibits carrying loaded firearms in vehicles statewide under Penal Code 25400 and 25850. Unloaded handguns transported in private vehicles must be in a locked container or…
California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Labor Code 2812. The…
The California Values Act (SB 54, 2017) codified at Government Code 7284-7284.12 limits state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It applies…
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use…
The California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The…
California prohibits grocery stores and large retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags under Public Resources Code 42280-42288, enacted by SB 270 (2014) and ratified…
California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that…
California Public Resources Code 42270-42273, enacted by AB 1884 (2018), prohibits full-service restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless requested by the customer…
California prohibits sale of tobacco and vapor products to anyone under 21 statewide under Business and Professions Code 22958, enacted by SBX2-7 in 2016. The Tobacco 21 standard…
California bans retail sale of most flavored tobacco products statewide under Health and Safety Code 104559.5, enacted by SB 793 (2020) and upheld by voters via Proposition 31 in…
California requires statewide licensing of tobacco and vape retailers under the STAKE Act and the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act. Business and Professions Code 22970…