Building Division

The Building Division accepts permit applications through the electronic portal below:

iMS permit portal. 

For instructions and additional information, see our iMS Help site. 

Applicants unable to submit electronically may submit their permit applications in person by appointment. Scheduled appointments must adhere to Social Distancing protocols. To schedule an appointment, please click here, call (510) 620-6868 during counter hours to speak to a Permit Technician, or email your contact phone number to permittechs@ci.richmond.ca.us, and a permit technician will contact you directly to schedule the appointment. Customers arriving without an appointment may need to wait for openings, if available.

Permit inspections can be scheduled using a touch-tone telephone. Customers should dial the Inspection number, 510-447-1156, and follow the series of prompts by touch tone to schedule or cancel an inspection, or to retrieve inspection results. Please view or print the instructions to schedule or cancel an inspection by phone or text. Permit Inspections can also be scheduled using the iMS inspection portal.

Questions about the permitting process or the information above can be submitted to permittechs@ci.richmond.ca.us or by calling (510) 620-6868.

Thank you, and stay well!

(Mensaje en Español)

Special Announcements

• The City will have a Year-End Closure from December 24, 2025, through January 1, 2026. Please plan your building projects and submittals accordingly. See CEBC 105.2.1 for Emergency Repairs. Where equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted to the Building Division within the next working business day. The staff at the Building Division wishes you a peaceful and joyful time with your loved ones during the Holidays.
• Project Development Impact Fee Calculator is now available 
• Earthquake Brace and Bolt Grant Registration has been extended through October 17, 2025. See EBBTools – California Residential Mitigation Program
• On-Call Building Plan Check and Inspection Services - Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is now open
• Attention: The city has transitioned to a new permitting system, and eTRAKiT is no longer in service. Rest assured that nothing is lost, and you can continue to monitor and manage your project online. Please visit iMS to register for access. If you had previously registered with eTrakit, use the same email when registering for iMS for a seamless transition.