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RAH2 zone in Richmond: High Density Low Rise Apartments

Richmond, British ColumbiaDraft, not yet reviewedBylaw read 2026-11-07

In short

4 to 6 storey apartments, plus compatible uses.

Zone rules

Purpose4 to 6 storey apartments, plus compatible uses.
Main uses
  • child care
  • congregate housing
  • housing, apartment
Also allowed (secondary uses)
  • boarding and lodging
  • community care facility, minor
  • home business
Minimum lot area2,400.0 m²
Minimum lot width40.0 m
Maximum lot coverage60% for buildings; no more than 80% of the lot may be buildings, structures and non-porous surfaces
Maximum densityFloor area ratio 2.0, plus 0.1 for amenity space and 0.1 for market rental units; 2.28 for the development site shown on Figure 1 in the City Centre (RAH2)
Maximum height25.0 m; 35.0 m in specific areas identified in the City Centre Area Plan
Maximum height, accessory buildings5.0 m (accessory buildings); 12.0 m (accessory structures)
Front setback3.0 m (also applies to exterior side yard)
Rear setback1.5 m (also applies to interior side yard)
Interior side setback1.5 m (also applies to rear yard)
Street side setback3.0 m (also applies to front yard)
Other rules
  • For apartment housing with more than 60 dwelling units, market rental units must make up at least 15% of the total residential floor area
  • 20% of the lot area must be landscaped with live plant material
  • Minimum lot depth is 40.0 m

Source: Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 (office consolidation, July 29, 2026), s. 8.12 (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply, and a lot can have site-specific rules. The City publishes the bylaw as one PDF per zone or group of zones (each zone's source_url; pdf_page counts within that PDF, and lines point into the saved combined text). The City says the office consolidation has no Council sanction, is for convenience of reference only, is not the official version and is not admissible in a court of law; certified copies come from the City Clerk. Zones listed as "in progress" by the City (for example ZR5, ZC30, ZA4) are not part of the consolidation and are not listed here. Zone pages are taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and have not yet been reviewed by a person: confirm with the bylaw before you rely on them. How answers are checked.

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