Inspections

Richmond Fire-Rescue inspects buildings, venues and events, which include: 

• Public buildings
• Multi-family residential buildings
• Commercial buildings, including retail businesses, restaurants, industrial facilities.
• Major event venues 
• Food trucks  
• Childcare facilities

These inspections are assigned on a regular basis, to ensure buildings are safe for occupants, the general public and emergency responders.

We also inspect buildings based on complaints of fire and life safety hazards.

Some of the common fire and life safety inspection items include:  

• Fire alarms
• Sprinklers
• Fire extinguishers
• Fire exits
• Emergency lights
• Emergency generator
• Fire hose
• Standpipe
• Hydrants
• Business license
• Building alterations

NOTE: All buildings are expected to be in compliance with the BC Fire Code and BC Building Code, the Fire Protection and Life Safety Bylaw No. 8306 and any other applicable regulations.

Applying for a daycare license

If you are in the process of applying for a daycare license, you will need to have the proposed childcare facility inspected by Richmond Fire-Rescue to ensure fire and life safety requirements are fulfilled. 

You can do this by following these steps:

Step 1:

Visit Creating Child Care Spaces in Richmond for information on the process of obtaining municipal approval for the childcare space.

Step 2:

Once you have received municipal approval for the childcare space, you can schedule an inspection with Richmond Fire-Rescue by submitting a completed Request An Inspection Form at the bottom of this page. There may be an associated fee.

Obtaining operational approval from Richmond Fire-Rescue

In order to operate a food truck in Richmond, the food truck must obtain a valid Richmond Fire-Rescue decal that is issued annually.  

This decal is an indication that the food truck and owner have met the requirements for fire and life safety as it pertains to the systems on the truck. 

This means that your food truck has fire protection systems that are tested, inspected and maintained, ensures fire extinguishers are in place, correct electrical and gas decals are present and readily available for review. 

Get Your Food Truck Inspected

Richmond Fire-Rescue hosts an annual, single-day Food Vendor/Mobile Food Trucks Inspection Day each Spring.

You can schedule a Food Vendor/Mobile Food Trucks Inspection by submitting a completed Request an Inspection Form at the bottom of this page.

If an inspection is requested outside of the one-day inspection event, an inspection fee is applicable. 

Please review these resources prior to your inspection:

You can never have too much safety information.

Find out about putting preventative measures in place and what to do in the event of an emergency in the workplace.

Useful links and downloads: