---
title: "RSM/XL zone in Richmond: Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing"
place: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/richmond
zone: RSM/XL
bylaw: Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 (office consolidation, July 29, 2026)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-07
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/zoning/rsm-xl/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/zoning/rsm-xl.json"
---

# RSM/XL zone in Richmond: Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing

Small-scale multi-unit housing and compatible secondary uses, with a density bonus for six dwelling units to help achieve affordable housing objectives.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Small-scale multi-unit housing and compatible secondary uses, with a density bonus for six dwelling units to help achieve affordable housing objectives.
- **Main uses:** housing, small-scale multi-unit
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** bed and breakfast; boarding and lodging; community care facility, minor; home business; secondary suite
- **Minimum lot area:** 828.0 m²
- **Minimum lot width:** 18.0 m lot width (frontage 7.5 m); corner lots need an additional 2.0 m
- **Maximum lot coverage:** 45% for buildings; no more than 70% of the lot may be buildings, structures and non-porous surfaces
- **Maximum density:** Three dwelling units on lots of 280.0 m² or less; four on lots over 280.0 m², or six if within 400.0 m of a prescribed bus stop, lot over 281.0 m² and (for six units) an affordable housing contribution or unit is provided. Floor area ratio 0.55 on the first 464.5 m² of lot area plus 0.30 on the rest for one unit (or two with a suite), plus 40.0 m² for parking; 0.6 on the first 464.5 m² plus 0.30 on the rest for other development, plus 50.0 m² for flex space (80.0 m² in some cases)
- **Maximum height:** 2 ½ storeys and 10.0 m (within the vertical lot width envelope); 7.5 m for a flat roof
- **Maximum height, accessory buildings:** Accessory structures, detached garages and carports: 5.0 m to the roof ridge (pitched roof), 4.0 m (flat roof). Detached accessory buildings of 10.0 m² or less: 3.0 m (pitched roof), 2.5 m (flat roof)
- **Front setback:** 6.0 m
- **Rear setback:** One unit (or two with a suite): greater of 6.0 m or 20% of lot depth for up to 60% of the first-storey rear wall, and 25% of lot depth for the rest and any upper storey, up to 10.7 m; other small-scale multi-unit housing: 6.0 m
- **Interior side setback:** 2.0 m (lot width 20.0 m or greater); 1.8 m (18.0 m to under 20.0 m); 1.2 m (under 18.0 m)
- **Street side setback:** 3.0 m
- **Other rules:** An accessory building is not permitted in the front yard, interior side yard or exterior side yard; A maximum of two buildings over 10.0 m² are permitted on a lot, one behind the other; Fences within 3.0 m of a side lot line on a public road or 6.0 m of a front lot line on a public road may not exceed 1.2 m; elsewhere in a required yard 1.83 m; Private outdoor open space of at least 6.0 m² per dwelling unit is required

## Source

- [Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 (office consolidation, July 29, 2026), s. 8.19](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/RSM73169.pdf#page=1) (read 2026-11-07)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in Richmond: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/zoning/index.json

_Draft: taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and not yet reviewed by a person. Gov Handbook is an independent guide. Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/zoning/rsm-xl/_