RD1 zone in Richmond
Two-Unit Dwellings (RD1). Two-unit housing with compatible uses; RD1 has front-yard vehicle access, RD2 lane access from the rear (s.8.4.1).
The rules
| Name | Two-Unit Dwellings (RD1) |
|---|---|
| Homes allowed | 4 units; 6 if not in a Transit-Oriented Area, within 400 m of a prescribed bus stop, lot > 281 m2, and affordable housing reserve payment or one affordable rental unit (s.8.4.4.1). |
| Floor space ratio | 0.55 on lots 0–929 m²; 0.3 + 232 m² on lots over 929 m² |
| Floor space notes | Values shown are for the maximum-unit form: FAR 0.55 on the first 929.0 m2 of lot area + 0.30 on the balance (s.8.4.4.2b). One house (or house + suite), or any lot in a Transit-Oriented Area: 0.55 on the first 464.5 m2 + 0.30 on the balance (s.8.4.4.2a, 8.4.4.3). Exclusions per s.4.2-4.3 except entry/stair over 5 m capped at 10 m2 per unit / 20 m2 per lot and parking up to 50 m2 per unit / 100 m2 per lot (s.8.4.4.4). Secondary suite (s.5.4): inside the dwelling, one per principal unit, min 33 m2 (single detached) or 25 m2 (SSMUH/town housing), max the lesser of 40% of the unit's floor area or 120 m2, not stratified; extra parking stall on listed arterial roads. |
| Height | 9 m (30 ft) · 2.5 storeys |
| Height notes | Principal buildings 2 1/2 storeys within the residential vertical lot width and depth envelopes; flat roof 7.5 m (s.8.4.7.1). 9.0 m = envelope height plane (s.4.18). RD2 dormers may project 1.0 m outside envelopes (s.8.4.7.2). Accessory structures 9.0 m. Height also limited by the residential vertical lot width envelope (s.4.18: planes 1.2 m in from each side lot line rising 6.0 m (lots <=15 m wide) or 5.0 m (wider lots) then sloping inward to a 9.0 m maximum height plane) and the residential vertical lot depth envelope (s.3.4: 4.0 m vertical at the front setback then 2:1). Building height is measured from finished site grade to the highest point (s.3.4). |
| Lot coverage | 45% |
| Coverage notes | Buildings 45%; buildings + structures + non-porous surfaces 70%; 30% live-plant landscaping (s.8.4.5). |
| Setbacks | front 6 m (20 ft), side 1.2 m (4 ft), rear 6 m (20 ft), flank 3 m (10 ft) |
| Setback notes | Front 6.0 m, interior side 1.2 m, exterior side 3.0 m, rear 6.0 m (s.8.4.6). Subdivision max two strata lots; no air-space parcels (s.8.4.8). |
| Bonus density | 6-unit bonus near prescribed bus stops tied to affordable housing reserve payment or one affordable rental unit (s.8.4.4.1d, 8.4.11). |
| Bylaw sections | s.8.4.1-8.4.11, 4.2, 4.3, 4.18, 5.4, 5.15 |
What you can use it for
Two-unit housingSingle detached housingSmall-scale multi-unit (up to 4/6 units per s.8.4.4)Secondary suiteBoarding and lodgingCommunity care facility, minorHome business
What BC law allows on these lots
- 4 homes (lots over 280 m²)481 lots
- 6 homes (near frequent transit)136 lots
- Transit-oriented area (taller buildings)30 lots
- 3 homes (lots up to 280 m²)6 lots
Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.
Example lots in RD1
- 10111 Bridgeport Rd 1,089 m² · 11,722 ft²
- 10591 Gilmore Cres 1,192 m² · 12,831 ft²
- 11631 King Rd 892 m² · 9,601 ft²
- 3740 Blundell Rd 889 m² · 9,569 ft²
- 4580 Danforth Dr 1,115 m² · 12,002 ft²
- 5120 Merganser Dr 923 m² · 9,935 ft²
- 6260 Riverdale Dr 978 m² · 10,527 ft²
- 8080 Lurgan Rd 1,557 m² · 16,759 ft²
- 8611 Odlin Cres 1,346 m² · 14,488 ft²
- 9211 Glendower Dr 910 m² · 9,795 ft²
Other zones in Richmond
RSM/LRAM1RSM/MRTL1RSM/SRS1/ARAH2RAL1RTL4RSM/XLRTL3RTM2RS1/ERTM3RTH1RTM1RTP4RS1/FRI1RS1/BRDARTH4RS1/GRTH2RTL2RI2RTH3RS1/DRD2RS1/KRS2/ARS2/BRTARCD
Read from Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500 (adopted 2009-11-16; office consolidation Jul 29, 2026; residential sections amended to Bylaw 10760, 2026-06-08) ↗, checked 2026-10-21. Summaries are our reading of the bylaw: confirm with Richmond before buying or designing. Page rebuilt October 26, 2026.