RDA zone in Richmond
Arterial Road Two-Unit Dwellings. Two-unit housing fronting an arterial road (s.8.16.1).
The rules
| Name | Arterial Road Two-Unit Dwellings |
|---|---|
| Homes allowed | 4 units; 6 within 400 m of a prescribed bus stop on lots > 281 m2 with affordable housing reserve payment or one affordable rental unit (s.8.16.4.1). |
| Floor space ratio | 0.6 (max 334 m²) |
| Floor space notes | Max floor area = lesser of FAR 0.6 or 334.5 m2 (printed '334.5.0 m2') (s.8.16.4.2); each unit max 183.9 m2 (s.8.16.4.3). Exclusions: 10% open covered areas, entry/stair over 5 m up to 10 m2/unit (20 m2/lot), parking up to 37.5 m2/unit (75 m2/lot) (s.8.16.4.4). 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 storeys |
| Height notes | Principal buildings the lesser of 2 storeys or 9.0 m, within the residential vertical lot width/depth envelopes; flat roof 7.5 m; dormer ridges may project 0.915 m (s.8.16.7). |
| Lot coverage | 45% |
| Coverage notes | Buildings 45%; 70% incl. non-porous surfaces; landscaping 20/25/30% by lot width (s.8.16.5). |
| 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 2.0 m (lots 20 m+), 1.8 m (18-20 m), 1.2 m (< 18 m); exterior side 3.0 m (6.0 m on an arterial road); rear the greater of 6.0 m or 20% of lot depth for 60% of the rear wall and 25% for the rest/upper storeys, max 10.7 m, reducible to 6.0 m by Development Permit, 1.2 m on corner lots with 6.0 m exterior side yard; accessory buildings/garages front 12.0 m, rear 6.0 m (s.8.16.6). Side value shown is the minimum (narrow lots). Lot: min width 13.4 m (10.35-15.0 m variants), depth 30.0 m (s.8.16.8). |
| Bonus density | 6-unit bonus near prescribed bus stops tied to affordable housing (s.8.16.4.1c). |
| Bylaw sections | s.8.16.1-8.16.11, 4.2, 4.3, 5.4 |
What you can use it for
Two-unit housingSmall-scale multi-unit (up to 4/6 units per s.8.16.4)Secondary suiteBoarding and lodgingCommunity care facility, minorHome business
What BC law allows on these lots
- 3 homes (lots up to 280 m²)28 lots
- 4 homes (lots over 280 m²)23 lots
- 6 homes (near frequent transit)9 lots
Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.
Example lots in RDA
No addressed lots in this zone on the map.
Other zones in Richmond
RSM/LRAM1RSM/MRTL1RSM/SRS1/ARAH2RD1RAL1RTL4RSM/XLRTL3RTM2RS1/ERTM3RTH1RTM1RTP4RS1/FRI1RS1/BRTH4RTH2RS1/GRTL2RI2RTH3RS1/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 25, 2026.