How Do I ?

• Most Common Questions
• Government and Bylaws 
• Property, Taxes and Utilities 
• Recreation and Community Services
• Apply for a Permit or Grant
• Environmental Services (Garbage, Recycling and Water)
• Vandalism and Unsightly Property 
• Not a City Service

Most Common Questions

Apply for a City Job

For information on City jobs and employment opportunities, see Our Careers for general information and Career Opportunities for postings. For additional postings for our partners see Other Career Opportunities.

Find City Maps and Zoning Information

To view maps of the city or look up zoning information for a particular property, see Maps and GIS. For information about each zoning category, see Zoning Bylaw 8500.

Sign Up for a Recreation Program

Go to Program Registration to look for programs and to register online.

Inquire about a Parking Ticket

Parking Ticket information is displayed in the Parking Services section under Public Safety. In addition to other parking related information, you will find Payment Options, Disputing a Ticket, and Penalty Schedule.

Report a Problem or Request a Service

To report a problem or request a service online see the Customer Feedback page. When you complete our online form, your concern will be directed to the appropriate department based on the information provided.

If you prefer to contact someone by telephone, the menu on the Contact Us page will also direct you to non-emergency phone numbers for departments and services. If you are unable to find the appropriate contact, please call our Information Desk for assistance at 604-276-4000.

Find a Lost or Stolen Bike

Bikes that are recovered by the City staff or the RCMP are stored at the City's storage facility see Find a Lost or Stolen Bike in the Police/RCMP section under Public Safety.

Find Hours of Operation or Location of City Hall and Works Yard

See the Contact Us page for hours of operation, location and contacts. 

Government and Bylaws

Get Council Agendas and Minutes

You may view Agendas and Minutes for City Council and Council Committees in the City Council section under City Hall. You will also find information there on obtaining printed copies of Agendas and Minutes, and how to Watch Meetings Online.

Watch City Council Meetings Online

City Council Meetings can now be streamed live to your computer or you can view the recorded meetings by clicking on links in the Minutes and Agendas lists. See Watch Meetings Online for more information.

Speak at a Council Meeting

See Council Process in the City Hall section to find out how to be heard at Council Meetings and Council Committee Meetings. Also see Speak at a Public Hearing for additional information on Public Hearings.

Get on the Voters List

For information on how to register as an elector for the next General Local and School Election see the Local Government Elections section under City Hall, and browse the fly-out menus for this topic and for other election information.

View or Obtain a City Bylaw

Many of our bylaws are posted on this website for downloading in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. See City Bylaws for more information. If you wish to obtain a printed copy of a bylaw you may purchase one at our Customer Service Information Desk at City Hall. If you are unable to attend in person, you may send a courier with the appropriate fee. Generally, anything less that 4 pages there is no charge and anything over 4 pages it is 35 cents per page.

Please call 604-276-4000 for more information.

Property, Taxes and Utilities

Pay my Property Tax or Utility Bills

See the Finance, Taxes & Budgets section under City Hall to view information on Property Taxes and Utility Fees.

Apply for a Home Owner Grant

In order to receive the Home Owner Grant you must submit an application every year. See the Finance, Taxes & Budgets section under City Hall to view information on the Home Owner Grant Application.

Find Information about My Property

There is a great deal of information available on this website that would be of direct interest to property owners in Richmond. To assist you in locating all of the relevant information available, we have compiled a page of links. Please see My Property in the Land and Property section under City Services.

Obtain a Survey Certificate

Survey Certificates indicate lot size and foundation footprint for buildings on the lot. These can be obtained without owner authorization from the Customer Service Centre at City Hall. A fee of $15 will be charged.

Request an Inspection

A Public Works Inspection can be requested online through the Public Works Inspection Request Form. A Building Inspection may be requested by fax form or it can be requested and tracked via our IVR/Inspection Request Phone Line. See Building Inspection Request for more information.

Recreation and Community Services

Find a Community Centre Close to Where I Live

Please see the Community Centres Location Map in the Recreation & Community Centres section of this site.

Rent a Space in a Community Facility for Meetings or Parties

See the Community Facilities for Rental page for venues, locations and rates. Also see Birthday Parties for special party locations.

Find out What's Happening in Richmond

See our Calendar of Events page for upcoming events in Richmond. Also browse the Recreation & Community Centres and the Arts, Culture & Heritage sections for ongoing programs and activities. You should also visit the Special Events page in the Discover Richmond section for updates on major happenings.

Sign Up for a Recreation Program

Go to Program Registration to look for programs and to register online.

Bid on a Public Art Commission

Opportunities to bid on the contract for sponsored Public Art Projects are listed in the Public Art section under Arts, Culture & Heritage. See Call to Artists for more information.

Apply for a Permit or Grant

Apply for a City Grant

The deadline for City Grant is posted each year around August or September. For information on current Grant Applications and to download a form, see the City Grant Program page in the Social Planning section under Planning, Building & Development. You can also read the News Releases in our News & Events section.

Obtain a Licence or a Permit

Information and forms for various permits and forms can be found throughout the City website in conjunction with related information. In addition, we have created one central page that links to all of the available permits and licence information and forms currently provided on this site. See the Permits and Licences page under City Services.

Apply for Permit to Cut Down Trees on My Property

For information on the Tree Protection bylaw and to download forms, see Tree Protection Bylaw in the Environmental Protection section under Sustainability & Environment. If you have general tree inquiries or would like to report a possible illegal tree cutting, please contact 604-247-4684. 

Apply for a Filming Permit

For information, contacts, and application forms see Filming in Richmond in the Filming on Location section under Business & Local Economy.

Purchase a Dog Licence

See the Pets & Animals section in Public Safety to view information on how to purchase Dog Licences.

Environmental Services (Garbage, Recycling and Water)

Obtain a Garbage Pick Up Schedule

A Recycling & Garbage Collection Schedule is available online, it is also available for pick up at the City Hall Front of House brochure racks for Recycling & Garbage information. In addition, reminders regarding changes to schedules due to statutory holidays are posted on this website in the Recycling & Garbage News Releases page.

Locate the City Dump or Recycling Depot

For location and hours of the City Landfill see Extra Garbage Disposal Options. For recycling see Recycling Depot. For other related information follow the links for Recycling & Garbage in the City Services menu.

Report Watering Restriction Violations

You may use the online Customer Feedback form to report a problem or to report by phone, please call 604-276-4355.

Volunteer for a Water Meter

A voluntary program is in place for property owners who want to have a water meter installed. For information on how this program affects your water bill and how you can apply for a water meter see Water Meter Program in the Roads, Dikes, Water & Sewers section under City Services.

Vandalism and Unsightly Property

Report Graffiti, Vandalism or Illegal Dumping

Report Unkempt City Property i.e. Parks, Boulevards

You may use the online Customer Feedback form to report a problem or you may call the Public Works call centre at 604-244-1262 or in the case of Parks, call the Parks Department at 604-244-1208.

Report Unkempt Private Property

You may use the online Customer Feedback form to report a problem. Please see Unsightly Premises for more information.

Not a City Service

Many of the frequently asked questions the City receives pertain to services provided by other governments or agencies. Here are a few of them:

Obtain a Marriage Licence, or Birth Certificate

The registering of births, deaths, and marriages, and the issuing of certificates is a Provincial Government responsibility. See the Ministry of Health Services, British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency website at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/life-events.

Report Construction and Loud Noise Issues

Please see the Noise section for Environmental Health on this website for detailed information.

Report Dog Issues

Please call the Regional Animal Protection Society at 604-275-2036 between the hours of 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (weekdays) and 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (weekends). After hours please call the RCMP Non-Emergency 604-278-1212.

Contact Richmond's Local Hospital

See the Health and Wellness page for information about Richmond Health Services and the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. The location of our Hospital is pinpointed on our Emergency Facilities Map.

Contact Passport Office or Citizenship and Immigration

Please see the Government of Canada Passport Office website. Also see Immigration Direct for Immigration and Citizenship information.

Contact Driver Licensing Office

Driver Licensing is a Provincial Government responsibility which has been contracted to ICBC the crown corporation responsible for driver insurance. Please see the ICBC Driver Licensing webpage or contact ICBC Driver Testing and Vehicle Information at 604-661-2800

Get Rid of Rodents

For rats and mice, please call the Richmond Health Department at 604-233-3147.

Contact Someone about Bee Hives or Wasp Nests

Control or elimination is the property owner's responsibility. Please call the Richmond Health Department at 604-233-3147 for advice or assistance.

Contact Someone about Wild Animals on Private Property

The Regional Animal Protection Society will respond if the animal is injured. Please call 604-275-2036 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm weekdays and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm weekends. After hours, please call the City's 24 hour call centre at 604-270-8721.

For nuisance animals such as skunks, raccoons, squirrels or possums you must call a private pest control company for assistance.

For rats and mice call the Health Department at 604-233-3147.

Richmond does not ordinarily have problems with larger wild animals. If you have general questions or concerns regarding wild animals, please call the Provincial Wildlife Conservation Officer in Surrey at 604-582-5250.

To report wild animals at large or the feeding of wild animals, please contact BC Wildlife Services at 1-800-663-9453.

Dispose of Dead Animals