Coal and Petroleum Coke Regulations

Project Description


On December 18, 2018, the City Council directed staff to evaluate the legality and language of a proposed ordinance that would prohibit the storage and handling of coal and petroleum coke within the City of Richmond.  On April 23, 2019, the Council further directed the Planning Commission to review proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance that would remove the handling of coal and petroleum coke from the conditionally allowed uses in the City.  Staff is preparing amendments to the City’s Zoning Ordinance in response to the recently provided Council direction. 

Project Contact


Lina Velasco
Planning & Building Services Director
Lina_Velasco@ci.richmond.ca.us
(510) 620-6841

Planning Commission Public Hearing - July 18, 2019, 6:30 PM, 440 Civic Center Plaza, Council Chambers, 1st Floor 


Staff will be presenting amendments to the Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) by adding a new section 15.04.615 Prohibition of the Storage and Handling of Coal and Petroleum Coke, which would prohibit the establishment and/or expansion of storage and handling of coal and/or petroleum coke throughout the City of Richmond, with certain exceptions. The Article also phases out existing allowed uses of land involving the storage and handling of coal and petroleum coke, by providing a three-year amortization period for such existing allowed uses to transition to other lawful uses and materials.  The amendments include revising the definition of Chemical, Mineral, and Explosives Storage in Section 15.04.104.010 of the RMC to note that the storage and handling of coal and petroleum coke is prohibited. 

Draft Regulations