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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESVIRGINIARICHMOND CITY
FILE 51760 · COUNTY OF RICHMOND CITYSEAT · RICHMONDPOPULATION · 226KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Richmond City.

Richmond City in Virginia. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Richmond
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Richmond City at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatRichmond
Population (est.)226K
FIPS51760
Building departmentRichmond Department of Planning and Development Review
Permit portalRichmond Permit and Inspection Portal
Fire marshalRichmond Fire Marshal's Office
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Richmond City
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 51760
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

The City of Richmond enforces the 2018 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Richmond is an independent city and not part of any county, meaning it maintains its own independent building, zoning, and fire departments. All permit applications for residential and commercial projects must be submitted directly to the city's Department of Planning and Development Review. The city enforces specific historic district overlays and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act requirements that necessitate additional review for many projects.

The city enforces strict regulations under the Richmond Historic Preservation Ordinance, requiring a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior work on properties located within designated Old and Historic Districts.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is Virginia DPOR - Board for Contractors. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · Richmond Department of Planning and Development ReviewLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must hold a valid Virginia DPOR license, but no additional local city-specific contractor registration is required to pull permits.

Building

Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

Richmond Permit and Inspection Portal

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

Richmond Zoning Administration

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Richmond Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Richmond City usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
Verify employer status and DPOR/local requirements
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
Class A/B may use financial statement or surety bond for net worth/equity
State or county
County overlayContractors must provide proof of valid Virginia state licensure and general liability insurance as required by the state, with no additional local bond requirements beyond standard permit-specific insurance verification.
Verify
Varies
Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review
Source · Richmond Department of Planning and Development ReviewVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN RICHMOND CITY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Richmond City.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

RichmondRichmond City
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN RICHMOND CITY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Richmond City.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

Virginia DPOR - Board for Contractors

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/virginia
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

Richmond Permit and Inspection Portal
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Richmond Zoning Administration

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Richmond Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Richmond City?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through Virginia DPOR - Board for Contractors. Richmond City and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · Virginia DPOR - Board for Contractors
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Richmond City now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←