Richmond, CA Building Permits Guide for Homeowners

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Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Richmond’s Building Division, part of the Community Development Department at City Hall, 450 Civic Center Plaza, handles permits, plan review and inspections. This guide explains what the city publishes about its permit process: the online iMS portal, how inspections are scheduled, how to look up permit records on your address, and how permit history affects a sale.

The city’s own pages carry current forms and fees, so confirm details with the division before you start work.

Richmond permits at a glance

Department	Building Division, Community Development Department, City of Richmond
City Hall	450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804
Online system	iMS permit portal for electronic submittals, inspection requests and permit record searches
Automated inspection line	510-447-1156 (press 1 to schedule an inspection, 2 to cancel)
Inspection lead time	The city asks you to plan at least three to four business days ahead; longer delays are possible in busy construction months
Permit records	Search by address, permit number or other criteria after creating an iMS login account
Other topics on the city’s permit page	Inspections, revisions to approved plans, and permit record or plan retrieval

How the Richmond permit process is laid out

The city organizes its permit information on an Obtaining Permits page, with linked pages for forms and handouts, building codes, permit records and the inspection system. The same page also covers revisions to approved plans, which matters if the scope of a job changes after the permit is issued.

Because the city’s pages are updated by staff, treat them as the starting point and call the Building Division to confirm which handout applies to your project.

The iMS portal

Richmond uses the iMS system for electronic permit submittals and inspection requests. To search the city’s electronic records you create a login account, and you can then search by address, permit number or other criteria.

For a seller, that search is the quickest way to see whether past work on the house was permitted and whether a permit was ever finalized. Pull the record before you list, so nothing about the permit history surprises you during escrow.

Step by step: a Richmond permit

1. Describe the project and find the handout

Start with the city’s Forms and Handouts page and the Building Codes page, or call the division. Ask whether your project needs a permit and whether Planning, Engineering or Fire review is also required.

2. Submit through iMS

The city accepts electronic permit submittals through its iMS portal. Create your account first, since the same login is used for records and inspections.

3. Handle revisions

If plans change after approval, the city’s page on revisions to approved plans explains the process. Do not build to a changed design until the revision is accepted.

4. Schedule inspections

Schedule through iMS or by phone at 510-447-1156. By phone, press 1 to schedule and 2 to cancel. The city advises planning at least three to four business days ahead.

5. Final inspection

A finaled permit is your proof that the work was inspected. Keep the record with your closing documents.

Richmond jobs that usually call for a permit

Typical projects that fall under the building code include additions, structural changes, new or relocated electrical circuits, plumbing and water heater replacement, HVAC replacement, re-roofing and garage or patio conversions. Cosmetic work such as paint or flooring generally does not need a permit, but the division is the final word on any specific project.

Permits and selling a Richmond house

Buyers and lenders ask about permit history, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work on the Transfer Disclosure Statement. Our statewide guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains what disclosure involves, and the seller closing costs guide shows what else to budget. If tenants live in the home, read the tenant-occupied home sale guide.

When a Richmond home has an open permit, an expired one, or work done without a permit, you generally have three options: finish and finalize the permit before listing, disclose the work and negotiate on the open market, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who takes the house in its current condition. Use this checklist:

Ask the city’s building division for the permit record on your address.
List every addition, garage conversion, enclosed patio or outbuilding, and note which have permits.
Gather final inspection records, plans and contractor invoices.
Ask what plans, fees and inspections it would take to permit each unpermitted item.
Compare that cost and time with a no-repairs cash sale. New construction can also be reassessed for property tax, which our Prop 13 guide explains.

Questions to ask the Richmond building division before you start

Does my project need Planning or Engineering approval in addition to a building permit?
Is there an exemption that applies, and what conditions come with it?
What plan-check deposit and fees apply, and how long will review take right now?
What inspections will be required, and in what order?
Can an existing unpermitted structure be legalized, and what would that involve?

Common permit mistakes homeowners make

The most common problems are starting work before the permit is issued, letting a permit expire, skipping a required inspection, and assuming a contractor pulled a permit when none exists. Each one can surface years later when a buyer’s agent, appraiser or lender asks for records.

A lapsed or never-finalized permit is easier to resolve while you still own the home and can answer questions from the city. If you are not planning to stay, decide early whether finishing the permit or selling the house as it stands makes more sense.

If you hired a contractor, ask for a copy of the permit and the final inspection record and keep them with your closing documents. A finaled permit is the clearest evidence that the work was inspected. Our capital gains guide also explains how improvement costs may matter when you sell.

How to sell a house in Richmond

Search the city’s iMS records for permits on your address.
Collect permits, final inspection records and any city notices.
Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
Choose your closing date.
Close with no repairs, permit cleanup or showings required.

See also our Richmond page, the Richmond as-is sale page and the Contra Costa County hub.

Own a Richmond home with unpermitted work? Sell as-is for cash.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the Richmond Building Division?

The city lists City Hall at 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804. The Building Division is part of the Community Development Department.

How do I schedule an inspection in Richmond?

Use the iMS portal or the automated line at 510-447-1156. By phone, press 1 to schedule an inspection and 2 to cancel one.

How far ahead should I schedule?

The city asks you to plan at least three to four business days ahead, and notes that busy construction months can mean longer delays.

How do I check permit records on my Richmond house?

Create a login with the iMS system, then search by address, permit number or other criteria.

Does the city publish a fee schedule?

The pages we could read did not show fee amounts, so ask the division for a current estimate before you apply.

Can I sell my Richmond house with unpermitted work?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer. Our statewide guide explains the disclosure rules.

More guides

Sources

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.