Two members of Richmond City Council are seeking to largely scrap a 25-year-old policy of requiring city executives, managers and council appointees and staff to live in the city — ensuring they would be closer to the people they serve and also would contribute to the city through tax payments on their homes, cars and purchases.

Councilmen Andreas D. Addison, 1st District, and Michael J. Jones, 9th District, are spearheading legislation that would eliminate residency requirements for all but elected officials, the city’s chief administrative officer and the chiefs of the police and fire departments.

The legislation will receive its first test on Monday, April 2, when the full council convenes as the Organizational Development Standing Committee.

At least 50 people, including department heads, deputy CAOs, mayoral staff, the city attorney, the city assessor and a host of others, currently are covered by the policy. All are among the highest paid city employees.

Mr. Jones said that exemptions are all too common, which he believes undermines equity and fairness.

Among council appointees, he noted the chief of staff, Lou Brown Ali, and the new city auditor, Louis Lassiter, have received waivers, as did the previous city auditor, Umesh Dalal.

He said he doesn’t know how many people have received waivers on the administrative side.

“I’m a black-and-white kind of guy. If you have this kind of policy, then it has to apply 100 percent to everyone. No exceptions,” Mr. Jones said. “I don’t think it’s fair to apply to some and not to others.”

He said he agrees that the policy should apply to the CAO and police and fire chiefs, three top officials who are key figures.

Mr. Addison was not immediately available for comment.