Building on a hillside in Richmond: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Richmond Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Richmond's code says

Richmond code What Richmond's code adds
Grading and retaining walls	Keep grading to a minimum on natural slopes over 26 percent, except grading needed only for foundations. Applies: Hillside land divisions: undeveloped land over 1 acre with an average slope of 15 percent or more. § 15.04.201.100 · code text Minimize grading in areas with greater than 26 percent slope except that required exclusively for foundations. Some grading is allowed, but landforms should keep their natural character. Applies: Natural slopes of 15-26 percent in hillside land divisions (undeveloped land over 1 acre, average slope 15 percent or more). § 15.04.201.100 · code text 15-26 percent. Some grading may occur, but landforms should retain their natural character. Only limited grading; major landforms must keep their natural shape. Applies: Natural slopes of 26-30 percent in hillside land divisions (undeveloped land over 1 acre, average slope 15 percent or more). § 15.04.201.100 · code text 26-30 percent. Limited grading may occur; however, major topographic features shall retain their natural land forms; Development and limited grading only if needed to avoid hazards or reduce environmental and visual impacts. Applies: Natural slopes over 30 percent in hillside land divisions (undeveloped land over 1 acre, average slope 15 percent or more). § 15.04.201.100 · code text Over 30 percent. Development and limited grading can only occur if necessary to avoid hazards or reduce environmental and visual impacts. Avoid 30-foot or greater height differences between terraces; above 30 feet, add benches with concrete drains every 20 feet. Applies: Hillside land divisions: undeveloped land over 1 acre with an average slope of 15 percent or more. § 15.04.201.100 · code text Avoid creating graded areas where there is a 30 feet or greater difference in height between terraces or benches; Graded slopes may be no steeper than 50 percent unless a soils report and stability study justify it. Applies: Hillside land divisions: undeveloped land over 1 acre with an average slope of 15 percent or more. § 15.04.201.100 · code text Slopes created by grading of the site shall not exceed 50 percent, without a soils report and stabilization study justifying it.
When hillside rules apply	Hillside standards apply at an average slope of 15 percent or more. Applies: Land divisions of undeveloped land over 1 acre, with the slope measured over any 25 feet of horizontal distance. § 15.04.201.100 · code text These standards apply to any land division on sites and lots or portions of undeveloped land greater than one acre in area with an average slope of 15 percent or greater over any horizontal distance of 25 feet or more, except mineral resource extraction and quarrying.

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What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Richmond?

Richmond's code: Hillside standards apply at an average slope of 15 percent or more. (Land divisions of undeveloped land over 1 acre, with the slope measured over any 25 feet of horizontal distance.) (§ 15.04.201.100); Keep grading to a minimum on natural slopes over 26 percent, except grading needed only for foundations. (Hillside land divisions: undeveloped land over 1 acre with an average slope of 15 percent or more.) (§ 15.04.201.100).

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