How to Get a Building Permit in Richmond, BC
Building in Richmond, BC? When you need a building permit, how to apply through the MyPermit portal, and what happens after you submit.
Starting out in Richmond
How to Start Things in Richmond
Everything below is about the City of Richmond itself: its licences, permits, programs, and bills. BC-wide guides live on the British Columbia hub instead. Start with the three Richmond rules that trip people up, then browse the guides.
Starting out in Richmond: three rules worth knowing
You must hold a Richmond business licence — and post it
To conduct business in Richmond, you must hold a valid City business licence and post it in a conspicuous place, as the Business Licence Bylaw requires. Applications, updates, and renewals run through MyBusiness, the City's licensing service inside the MyRichmond portal; in-person applications start with the fillable form and a call to the Licence Division for the fee.
Source: City of Richmond: Business Licences (richmond.ca)
A complete licence application takes about four to six weeks
The City quotes a processing time of about four to six weeks for a complete business licence application (home-based and non-resident businesses excepted), provided every required approval — zoning, building, health, fire — has been met. Applications are not processed without the application fee, so an incomplete package doesn't start the clock.
Source: City of Richmond: Business Licences (richmond.ca)
Whole-home short-term rentals are banned outright
Richmond counts any stay under 90 days as a short-term rental, and renting out an entire home or unit short-term is not allowed under any circumstance. What exists instead is hosted rental: a Bed and Breakfast licence (single detached house, operator living there as a principal residence, up to three rooms and six guests, 500 metres from the next B&B) or a Boarding and Lodging licence (no more than two guests at a time). Both renew annually.
Source: City of Richmond: Residential Rentals — Short-Term Rentals (richmond.ca)
Free tools
No tools built for this city yet. The guides below cover the ground.
Guides that apply in Richmond
The guides and tools below are about Richmond itself: its own licences, permits, and programs. Province-wide and Canada-wide guides live on their own hubs.
How to Get a Business Licence in Richmond, BC
How to get a business licence in Richmond, BC: apply online through MyBusiness, by mail, or in person at City Hall, plus the $300 Metro West add-on.
How to Get a Richmond Public Library Card
Get a free Richmond Public Library card: the online and in-person routes, the ID to bring, and what borrowing and digital collections unlock.
How to Register for Richmond Recreation Programs
Register for Richmond recreation programs through MyRichmond: account setup, seasonal dates, the waiting room, and refunds, explained end to end.
How to Rent City Facilities in Richmond
Rent a City of Richmond hall, room, field or theatre: how booking works, published rates, deposits, insurance and lead times — and what to confirm first.
How to Run a Home-Based Business in Richmond, BC
Running a business from home in Richmond, BC? Bylaw 8500's four home-business licence classes, the rules your home must meet, and how to apply.
How to Run a Short-Term Rental Legally in Richmond
Richmond allows only part of your own home as a short-term rental. Here are the two City licences, the BC registry step, and the whole-home ban to check first.
How to Start a Food Truck in Richmond, BC
How to start a food truck in Richmond, BC: the City business licence, Vancouver Coastal Health permit, fire inspection and where trucks may operate.
Parent-and-Tot, Preschool and Early-Years Programs in Richmond
A parent's guide to Richmond's City-run preschools and seasonal early-years programs: ages, 2026/27 fees, and how registration actually works.
Renovating in Richmond: Permits, Secondary Suites and the Rules That Bite
Renovating in Richmond? A 2026 guide to when you need a building permit, what makes a secondary suite legal, and the gotchas that stall projects.
Richmond Property Taxes and Utility Bills
Richmond property taxes are due the first business day in July and flat-rate utilities by March 31. Deadlines, penalties, MyRichmond, PAWS and the Home Owner Grant.
Richmond Recreation Fee Subsidy
Richmond residents in financial hardship can get free drop-in admission and 90% off most registered recreation programs. Here is who qualifies and how to apply.