City of Richmond infill builds are a different challenge than starting on open land. We begin with a thorough lot evaluation — checking setbacks, easements, and whether the parcel sits in a historic overlay that requires Commission of Architectural Review approval before a shovel goes in. Narrow-lot logistics shape everything from foundation pours to framing sequencing, since access is often limited to one side of the lot. We handle City of Richmond permitting from demolition through final CO, and we design to streetscape context so the finished home reads as something built for that block, not dropped onto it.
Site and lot conditions inside the city
Infill lots in the Fan and Museum District come with mature street trees, underground utilities, and neighbors close enough that staging equipment requires genuine coordination. Church Hill and Westover Hills parcels sometimes carry slope or drainage challenges that require engineered grading solutions. Forest Hill lots near the river corridor can involve floodplain review depending on the parcel’s elevation relative to the James. Every one of these factors gets evaluated before design begins — they’re not things we discover mid-project.
How permitting works in the City of Richmond
The City of Richmond runs its own permitting and inspection process, separate from Henrico or Chesterfield. For infill in historic or architecturally reviewed corridors, a Commission of Architectural Review submittal precedes the building permit application. Once CAR approval and zoning clearance are in hand, the standard sequence follows: site-plan approval, foundation inspection, framing inspection, and final certificate of occupancy. As a Virginia Class A licensed general contractor, RCBC pulls all permits and coordinates every trade and inspection from start to finish, keeping you out of the back-and-forth with the city.
Common questions
Do I need historic review approval just because I’m building in the Fan? Not every Fan parcel is in a CAR-protected overlay, but many are. We review the zoning map and overlay boundaries before design work starts, so you know exactly which approval tracks apply to your lot.
Can you build on an infill lot that already has a structure on it? Yes. Demolition is its own permit in Richmond, and we sequence demo, site clearance, and new construction permitting so there’s no unnecessary gap in the project timeline.
Who coordinates with city inspectors during the build? We do. RCBC manages every inspection — foundation, framing, rough mechanical, and final — so you’re not chasing down inspectors or waiting on third-party scheduling.