Residential Rental Housing Fees

All rental properties within the City of Richmond must be enrolled with the Rent Program, and pay the accompanying annual fee. Landlords must enroll all properties with at least one Rental Unit and complete a Tenancy Registration form for each tenancy in a rent-controlled unit. For more information about Enrollment and Registration, please refer to the Enrollment and Registration page.

At their meeting on July 1, 2025, the Richmond City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Rental Housing Fee in the amount of $267 for Fully Covered Rental Units and $151 for Partially Covered Rental Units which includes Governmentally Subsidized Rental Units.

Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Rental Housing Fee Resolution

Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget & Rental Housing Fee Study

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How to Pay Residential Rental Housing Fees Online

  1. Log into your iMS Account (Scan QR code or click here)
  2. Enter your exact Invoice Number in the "Goto Record #" box at the top of the screen
  3.  Click Add to Cart  
  4. Click Credit or eCheck to process a payment through our secure credit card payment processor

Note: If payment is made with a Credit Card, a 2.95% transaction fee will be added to your total amount due. If paying by eCheck, a minimum $1 Service Fee may be charged.

  1. Which properties are subject to the Rental Housing Fee?
  2. How much is the Rental Housing Fee?
  3. How can I pay the Rental Housing Fee?
  4. When is the Rental Housing Fee due?
  5. Does my Rental Unit qualify for the Rental Housing Fee for Governmentally-Subsidized Rental Units?
  6. Are there penalties for late or nonpayment of the Rental Housing Fee?
  7. I recently purchased a rental property. Whose responsibility is it to pay the Rental Housing Fee?
  8. Why is the Rental Housing Fee necessary?
  9. How was the amount of the Rental Housing Fee calculated?
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City of Richmond Fees Applicable to Residential Rental Properties

Contact or visit each department's web page to confirm if you are required to pay the associated fees for your rental property. 

Business License Tax (Finance Department)

The Richmond Rent Program requires all Landlords maintain an up to date business license for each rental property they operate within the City of Richmond. 

To determine if your business license is current, or register for a business license, please visit the Business License webpage: Richmond Business License.

Residential Rental Inspection Program Fee (Community Development Department: Building Division)

All owners of rental dwelling units within the City are subject to the Residential Rental Inspection Program except those units that are exempt per Richmond Municipal Code Section 6.40.090, including:

  • Residential rental housing units that are subsidized by federal, state, or local government, and/or
  • Newly constructed residential rental units for a period of five (5) years from the date of construction.
Program Fees (effective 7/1/2025)
  • Registration/Processing Fee (Annual for owners of 3 or more units; every 3 yrs. for owners of 1-2 units) - $106.00
  • Initial Inspection Fee (per unit, every 3 yrs.) - $211.00 
  • Re-inspection Fee (per unit) - $90.00 

To learn more about the Residential Rental Inspection Program program, including how to enroll and pay the appropriate fees, please visit our Residential Rental Inspection Program webpage: Residential Rental Inspection Program.

Fire Prevention Services Fee (Fire Department)

Owners of residential apartment buildings are required to pay an annual fire prevention fee, and receive an inspection for buildings of three units or more. Fees vary by building size; please see the Fire Prevention Master Fee Schedule for more information.

Please contact Inspector Eric Govan of the Richmond Fire Prevention Services Division to schedule an inspection, pay your fees, and find out more information: Eric_Govan@ci.richmond.ca.us.

City of Richmond FY 2025-2026 Fee Summary

FY 2025-2026 Fee Summary - English
FY 2025-2026 Fee Summary - Spanish