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Richmond · Building on your lot

Running a business from home in Richmond

Home businesses need zoning compliance review and may have at most 1 nonresident employee or contractor on site; normal-level customer visits are allowed.

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Key points

  • Home businesses: Home businesses need zoning compliance review and may have at most 1 nonresident employee or contractor on site; normal-level customer visits are allowed.

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
Customer visits
  • Customer and client visits are allowed.
    Applies: If foot and car traffic stays at what is normal for the zoning district.
    § 15.04.610.230 · code text
    Customer and client visits are permitted, provided the home occupation does not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic in excess of that customarily associated with the zoning district in which the use is located.
Employees
  • At most 1 nonresident employee or contractor working at or reporting to the home.
    Applies: Residential or mixed-use districts; employees of licensed child-care facilities are excepted.
    § 15.04.610.230 · code text
    No more than one person other than resident(s) of the dwelling shall be employed on-site or report to work at the site of the home occupation, except for other employees of licensed child care facilities.
Permit
  • A zoning compliance review is required.
    Applies: Home occupations in a home, garage or accessory building in residential or mixed-use districts.
    § 15.04.610.230 · code text
    An application for zoning compliance review must be filed in accordance with the provisions of Article 15.04.804.
Businesses not allowed
  • business of distributing, transporting, or delivery of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products from the home
    § 15.04.610.230 · code text
    The business of distributing, transporting, or delivery of medical cannabis or medical cannabis products from the home is not an allowable home occupation.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Richmond?

Home businesses need zoning compliance review and may have at most 1 nonresident employee or contractor on site; normal-level customer visits are allowed.

General information, not legal advice.

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Richmond Municipal Code — full text