Live/Work Zoning Matrix
What every Richmond zone says about running an office out of your home. Commercial and mixed-use zones are designed for it; multi-family zones permit it with conditions; single-family zones require a Conditional Use Permit. Special Use Permits can override almost any restriction.
Commercial / Mixed-Use
| Zone | Live/Work | Workspace cap | Non-resident employees | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
UB Urban Business | By-Right Designed for vertically mixed use. Live/work is the natural fit. Draft framework would carry this forward as MX. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
B-1 Neighborhood Business | By-Right Small-scale commercial integrated with surrounding residential. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
B-2 Community Business | By-Right Community-serving commercial; common live/work envelope. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
B-3 General Business | By-Right Broader commercial allowances; live/work generally workable. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
B-4 Central Business | By-Right Central business density; live/work integrated by design. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
B-5 Central Business | By-Right Central business district variant. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
B-6 Mixed-Use Business | By-Right Designed around vertical mix of residential over commercial. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
B-7 Mixed-Use Business | By-Right Adaptive-reuse loft territory; industrial bones, residential above or alongside office. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
R-MU Residential Mixed-Use | By-Right Residential-first but mixed-use is built into the zone intent. | 1,500 sq ft | anticipated |
|
Multi-Unit Residential
| Zone | Live/Work | Workspace cap | Non-resident employees | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RM (incl. variants) Multi-Family Residential | Conditional Multi-family. Live/work as principal use generally needs a Conditional Use Permit today. Draft framework would consolidate into RM. | — | case-by-case |
|
Single-Family Residential
| Zone | Live/Work | Workspace cap | Non-resident employees | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
R-1..R-8 Single-Family Detached | CUP Required Single-family detached districts. Home occupations only by-right; live/work as principal use needs a Conditional or Special Use Permit. Draft framework would consolidate into RA. | — | not by-right |
|
RO Residential Office | Conditional Residential-office district — limited professional office in a residential-form building. The closest existing analog to a live/work unit under current law. | — | limited |
|
Last verified 2026-05-27. Districts and live/work postures below combine the current Chapter 30 ordinance (in force) with anticipated treatment under the Code Refresh draft (not adopted). Use this as a navigation aid only — verify any specific parcel on Richmond GeoHub and against the current ordinance language before relying on a number.
The Code Refresh draft replaces today's district family (UB, B-1..B-7, R-MU, RM, R-1..R-8) with a simpler MX (mixed-use) / RM (residential mixed) / RA (residential) family. Once adopted, the matrix below will need a full rewrite against the new district names.
How to read this
- By-Right — permitted under the zone with no discretionary review. Just pull a building permit.
- Conditional — typically by-right up to a workspace cap; larger footprints trigger administrative review.
- CUP Required — staff-level discretionary review against neighborhood-character standards.
- SUP Required — City Council vote required. Used for adaptive-reuse cases that don't fit the zone but make sense for the parcel.
Informational only — not legal or planning advice. Richmond's Code Refresh draft has not been adopted by City Council; the 1976-era Chapter 30 ordinance remains in force as of May 2026. Verify any zone code, cap, or process directly with the City of Richmond Department of Planning & Development Review before purchase, lease, or build-out.