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Guide
How to request Richmond public records
From City of Richmond pages. California’s Public Records Act is the state law; the City’s portal is how Richmond processes requests. This page is a how-to, not legal advice.
Where to file
The City of Richmond uses NextRequest for public-records requests:
You can view request status in the same portal. For questions that are not a records request, the City asks you to contact the department directly (Departments; directory).
Timeline the City publishes
Portal hours of operation for intake: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Requests after hours, on weekends, or on holidays are treated as received the next business day.
Initial response: up to 10 days from the date received. If the 10th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the response comes no later than the following business day.
Tips the City publishes for a clearer request
Be as specific as possible about the records you want.
Give a date range.
One request can cover multiple departments.
Name departments or staff if you know them.
For property-related records, include an address and, if available, a parcel number.
Leave an email or phone number so the City can clarify or update you.
Records the City lists as already online
Before filing, check whether the document is already posted. The City’s Public Records Request page lists categories such as:
Building, code enforcement, and engineering permits (May 1998–present)
Business license information; code enforcement / illegal dumping data; contracts