RD2 zone in Richmond
Two-Unit Dwellings (RD2). 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 (RD2) |
|---|---|
| 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 9 m (30 ft), side 2 m (7 ft), rear 6 m (20 ft), flank 3 m (10 ft) |
| Setback notes | RD2 (lane access): front 9.0 m (up to 50% of the building width may project 3.0 m; open porches/bay windows 0.7 m), interior side 2.0 m (portions under 5.0 m high may project to 1.2 m), exterior side 3.0 m, rear 6.0 m; parking portions no more than 18.0 m from the rear lot line, dwelling no further than 30.0 m from the front lot line, party wall at least 20% of wall length (s.8.4.6). Subdivision max two strata lots (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)5 lots
Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.
Example lots in RD2
No addressed lots in this zone on the map.
Other zones in Richmond
RSM/LRAM1RSM/MRTL1RSM/SRS1/ARAH2RD1RAL1RTL4RSM/XLRTL3RTM2RS1/ERTM3RTH1RTM1RTP4RS1/FRI1RS1/BRDARTH4RTH2RS1/GRTL2RI2RTH3RS1/DRS1/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 25, 2026.