City of Richmond, Virginia - City Development Fees
City of Richmond | Independent City (FIPS 51760) | Central Virginia | Richmond, VA MSA
The City of Richmond is an independent city in central Virginia. Two City departments administer development-side fees. The Department of Planning and Development Review, through its Bureau of Permits and Inspections, administers building permit, demolition, Board of Zoning Appeals, Code Modification, Certificate of Occupancy, and re-inspection fees through the Permits Fee Schedule (rev 07-01-2024) and administers Special Use Permit continuance fees through the 2025 SUP application form. The Department of Public Utilities, through its Development Services group, administers water and wastewater connection charges under City Code Sec. 28-394 (Water) and Sec. 28-592 (Wastewater) through the Connection Charges schedule (rev 07-01-2024). Richmond does not impose statutory road impact fees under Va. Code Sec. 15.2-2317, does not maintain a per-unit cash proffer schedule under Va. Code Sec. 15.2-2303.4, and does not administer a Community Development Authority under Va. Code Sec. 15.2-5152.
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Connection Charges (Utility Tap Fees) | Confirmed | Combined Water + Wastewater 5/8 inch meter $8,420 total; 1 inch $13,450; 1.5 inch $23,700; 2 inch $33,410; 3 inch $76,550; 4 inch $109,750; 6 inch $191,300; 8 inch $289,900. Water-Only and Wastewater-Only schedules published separately. Fireline-Only schedule published separately. | July 1, 2024 |
| Zoning Application and Permit Fees (Partial Coverage) | Confirmed (partial) | Residential building permit $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000; Commercial building permit $131 + $8.50 per $1,000 over $2,000; BZA appeal $184; Code Modification $125 per section max $375; Certificate of Occupancy $263; Residential demolition $184; Commercial demolition $368 minimum; Residential re-inspection $32; Commercial re-inspection $63; SUP continuance $250 | July 1, 2024 |
| Statutory Road Impact Fees (Va. Code 15.2-2317) | Not applicable | Richmond is not a designated high-growth locality on the Virginia DHCD list governing Va. Code 15.2-2317 eligibility; no road impact fee program adopted | - |
| Per-Unit Cash Proffers (Va. Code 15.2-2303.4) | Not applicable | Va. Code 15.2-2303.4 (post-2016 HB 770) narrowed cash-proffer authority; Va. Code 15.2-2298 limits independent cities to conditional zoning agreements. Richmond is not on the proffer-system locality list; no per-unit Cash Proffer Policy schedule on rva.gov. | - |
| Special District Fees (CDA / TIF) | Does not apply | No Community Development Authority under Va. Code 15.2-5152 or equivalent development-side service-district fee schedule. Existing geography-bounded levies (Downtown Richmond BID via Venture Richmond, Manchester BID, Shockoe Bottom plan-area assessments) operate as ongoing member or property-tax-roll assessments, not as one-time development fees. | - |
Water and Wastewater Connection Charges (Department of Public Utilities)
The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Development Services group administers water and wastewater connection charges. The schedule below is verbatim from the official Connection Charges - Water and Wastewater PDF (rev 07-01-2024, posted 2025-03), effective July 1, 2024. Authority: City Code Sec. 28-394 (Water) and Sec. 28-592 (Wastewater); City Council approved, cannot be waived. The 3/4 inch meter is explicitly N/A across all three structures. New Services Team contact: 804-646-8544.
Combined Water + Wastewater Connection
| Meter Size | Installation | Capacity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8 inch | $5,200 | $3,220 | $8,420 |
| 1 inch | $5,400 | $8,050 | $13,450 |
| 1.5 inch | $7,600 | $16,100 | $23,700 |
| 2 inch | $7,650 | $25,760 | $33,410 |
| 3 inch | $28,250 | $48,300 | $76,550 |
| 4 inch | $29,250 | $80,500 | $109,750 |
| 6 inch | $30,300 | $161,000 | $191,300 |
| 8 inch | $32,300 | $257,600 | $289,900 |
Water-Only Connection (City Code Sec. 28-394)
| Meter Size | Installation | Capacity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8 inch | $5,000 | $1,020 | $6,020 |
| 1 inch | $5,200 | $2,550 | $7,750 |
| 1.5 inch | $7,400 | $5,100 | $12,500 |
| 2 inch | $7,450 | $8,160 | $15,610 |
| 3 inch | $28,000 | $15,300 | $43,300 |
| 4 inch | $29,000 | $25,500 | $54,500 |
| 6 inch | $30,000 | $51,000 | $81,000 |
| 8 inch | $32,000 | $81,600 | $113,600 |
Wastewater-Only Connection (City Code Sec. 28-592)
| Meter Size | Inspection | Capacity | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8 inch | $200 | $2,200 | $2,400 |
| 1 inch | $200 | $5,500 | $5,700 |
| 1.5 inch | $200 | $11,000 | $11,200 |
| 2 inch | $200 | $17,600 | $17,800 |
| 3 inch | $250 | $33,000 | $33,250 |
| 4 inch | $250 | $55,000 | $55,250 |
| 6 inch | $300 | $110,000 | $110,300 |
| 8 inch | $300 | $176,000 | $176,300 |
Fireline-Only Connection (City Code Sec. 28-394)
| Pipe Size | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2 inch | $7,400 |
| 3 inch | $25,000 |
| 4 inch | $25,000 |
| 6 inch | $27,000 |
| 8 inch | $30,000 |
Source: City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Connection Charges - Water and Wastewater PDF (rev 07-01-2024, posted March 2025), 2 pages, effective July 1, 2024, SHA-256 2015311d019bbb01db7599265bdadd378f7d8f87907721baaabea080030dc3de, accessed 2026-05-13. A separate Storm-water Connection Fee of $300 per stormwater connection to the public system is also noted in the same PDF.
Permits Fee Schedule and Zoning Application Fees (Department of Planning and Development Review)
The Department of Planning and Development Review Bureau of Permits and Inspections publishes a consolidated Permits Fee Schedule (revision 07-01-2024) covering building permits by construction value, demolition, Board of Zoning Appeals, Code Modification, Certificate of Occupancy, and re-inspection categories. The Special Use Permit continuance fee is published on the 2025 SUP application form. Administered by: City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review.
Building Permit Fees
| Permit Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential One and Two-Family Building Permit (base) | $63 plus $6.07 per $1,000 of construction value over $2,000 |
| Commercial Building Permit (base) | $131 plus $8.50 per $1,000 of construction value over $2,000 |
| Residential Demolition Permit | $184 |
| Commercial Demolition Permit | $368 minimum |
Zoning Review, Appeals, and Code Administration
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) appeal application | $184 |
| Code Modification request | $125 per section, maximum $375 |
| Certificate of Occupancy | $263 |
| Residential Re-inspection | $32 |
| Commercial Re-inspection | $63 |
| Special Use Permit (SUP) continuance fee | $250 |
Source: City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review Permits Fee Schedule (rev 07-01-2024), 2-page PDF, effective July 1, 2024, SHA-256 7e163d96e41b002cb7d0c2001129ad4a9461dc6f9f516fed88cc07e60268b15a, accessed 2026-05-09. SUP continuance fee from City of Richmond 2025 Special Use Permit Application Form, SHA-256 6bf4620ba1ae3c6ef9c735146194079ad158cdf5d37cac5ea32eb80005b86a3e, accessed 2026-05-13.
Honest gap disclosure: Rezoning, Special Use Permit (SUP) base application, Conditional Use Permit (CUP) base application, and Subdivision application base fee dollar amounts are codified in Richmond City Code Chapter 30 and not currently extractable from any rva.gov-hosted PDF schedule. ZoneFee attempted at least eight substitute paths during verification: the Permits Fee Schedule PDF (covers BoA, Code Modification, CofO, re-inspection, demolition - not rezoning/SUP/CUP/Subdivision base); the 2025 Rezoning Application Form PDF (cites "the appropriate fee" without a dollar amount); the 2025 Special Use Permit Application Form PDF (cites "appropriate fee" for the base, captures the $250 continuance only); the 2025 Conditional Use Permit Application Form PDF (cites "the appropriate fee"); the Planning and Development Review Forms landing page; the Planning and Development Review root; a Stage 5 capture of Richmond City Code Chapter 30 on Municode; and a Stage 5 capture of Municode Chapter 30 Article XIII. The Municode pages returned only an AngularJS shell (the content layer did not render to headless browsers). Current Chapter 30 rezoning, SUP base, CUP base, and Subdivision application base dollar amounts are unavailable via published sources at the time of this page's last verification. Confirm current amounts directly with the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review at 804-646-6304 before relying on this data for any financial decision.
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
Per ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, the items below were closed via official-source review without finding an applicable fee schedule. They are disclosed here rather than estimated or omitted silently.
Statutory Road Impact Fees (Va. Code 15.2-2317)
Virginia road impact fees under Va. Code Section 15.2-2317 are restricted to localities formally designated as high-growth localities on the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development list governing 15.2-2317 eligibility. Richmond, an independent city in central Virginia with a mature and largely built-out urban core, is not a designated high-growth locality. No road impact fee ordinance surfaces on rva.gov fee landings. Doctrinal closure consistent with the City of Alexandria, VA pattern (same Va. Code 15.2-2317 logic for independent cities not on the high-growth list). Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Per-Unit Cash Proffer Schedule (Va. Code 15.2-2303.4)
Cash proffer applicability under Va. Code Section 15.2-2303.4 (post-2016 HB 770) is statutorily narrowed. Va. Code Section 15.2-2298 further limits independent cities to conditional zoning agreements rather than per-unit cash proffers. Richmond is not on the proffer-system locality list. No standalone Cash Proffer Policy schedule surfaces on rva.gov. Doctrinal closure consistent with the City of Alexandria, VA pattern. Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Special District Fees (CDA / TIF)
Richmond does not administer a Community Development Authority under Va. Code Section 15.2-5152 or any equivalent development-side service-district fee schedule. Existing geography-bounded levies (Downtown Richmond Business Improvement District via Venture Richmond, Manchester BID context, Shockoe Bottom plan-area assessments) operate as ongoing member or property-tax-roll assessments linked to ongoing service delivery, not as one-time development fees with a published per-unit schedule. No CDA / TIF development-side fee schedule located on rva.gov fee landings. Doctrinal closure consistent with the City of Alexandria, VA and Arlington County, VA patterns (BIDs are member assessments, not development fees). Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Rezoning, SUP Base, CUP Base, and Subdivision Application Fees (City Code Chapter 30)
Current Chapter 30 rezoning, SUP base, CUP base, and Subdivision application base fee dollar amounts are unavailable via published sources at the time of this page's last verification. Substitute paths attempted are listed in the Permits Fee Schedule section above. Confirm directly with the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review at 804-646-6304.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review (Bureau of Permits and Inspections) | Building permit fees (by construction value), demolition permits, Board of Zoning Appeals appeal, Code Modification request, Certificate of Occupancy, re-inspection, Special Use Permit continuance; rezoning / SUP base / CUP base / subdivision application base fees codified in City Code Chapter 30 | rva.gov/planning-development-review |
| City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (Development Services) | Water connection charges, wastewater connection charges, fireline connection charges, stormwater connection fee (City Code Sec. 28-394 and Sec. 28-592, City Council approved). Note: retail monthly service charges and Ccf volume tier rates published separately at /public-utilities/utility-rates are recurring retail rates outside ZoneFee's developer-side fee scope. | rva.gov/public-utilities |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| DPU Connection Charges - Water and Wastewater PDF (rev 07-01-2024, 2-page PDF effective July 1, 2024) | City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (Development Services) | 2026-05-13 |
| DPU Permits / Development Services landing page | City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities | 2026-05-13 |
| Permits Fee Schedule (rev 07-01-2024, 2-page PDF) | City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review (Bureau of Permits and Inspections) | 2026-05-09 |
| Planning and Development Review Forms landing | City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review | 2026-05-09 |
| Special Use Permit Application Form (2025 edition) | City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review | 2026-05-13 |
| Rezoning / Conditional Rezoning Application Form (2025 edition) | City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review | 2026-05-13 |
| Conditional Use Permit Application Form (2025 edition) | City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review | 2026-05-13 |
| DPU Utility Rates (retail monthly service charges and Ccf volume tiers, effective 2025-07-01; recorded as substitute-source probe disqualified as a developer-side tap-fee source) | City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities | 2026-05-13 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-05-13. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review (804-646-6304) and the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Development Services (804-646-8544) before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Connection Charges - Water and Wastewater PDF (rev 07-01-2024 effective July 1, 2024) and from the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review Permits Fee Schedule (rev 07-01-2024). The full Combined Water + Wastewater, Water-Only, Wastewater-Only, and Fireline-Only connection charge schedule is captured verbatim, as are the Permits Fee Schedule categories (building permit by construction value, demolition, Board of Zoning Appeals appeal, Code Modification, Certificate of Occupancy, re-inspection) and the $250 Special Use Permit continuance fee. Rezoning, SUP base, CUP base, and Subdivision application base fee dollar amounts are codified in Richmond City Code Chapter 30 and are not currently extractable from any rva.gov-hosted PDF schedule (eight substitute paths attempted, all returning either non-applicable content or AngularJS shell); those amounts are noted on this page as unavailable via published sources. Virginia road impact fees under Va. Code Section 15.2-2317 do not apply to Richmond (Richmond is not on the Virginia DHCD high-growth-locality list). Per-unit cash proffers under Va. Code Section 15.2-2303.4 do not apply to Richmond (independent city; Va. Code 15.2-2298 limits independent cities to conditional zoning agreements). No Community Development Authority under Va. Code Section 15.2-5152, no TIF zone, and no service-district development-side fee schedule exists on the official City website. ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change. Verify all current rates with the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review and the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Development Services before relying on this data for land acquisition, project budgeting, or any financial decision. This page is for research and due diligence reference only - it is not legal or financial advice.