RTH3 zone in Richmond
High Density Townhouses (RTH3). High density town housing in the City Centre and other select areas (s.8.8.1).
The rules
| Name | High Density Townhouses (RTH3) |
|---|---|
| Homes allowed | No unit cap; limited by FAR (s.8.8.4) |
| Floor space ratio | 0.85 |
| Floor space notes | Max FAR 0.85, plus 0.1 FAR used only for amenity space (s.8.8.4). Town housing FAR exclusions (s.4.4): 10% open covered areas, 50 m2 per unit for accessory buildings/parking, 10 m2 stair/entry, 10 m2 top-storey open-to-below, green building systems. |
| Height | 12 m (39 ft) · 3 storeys |
| Height notes | Buildings max 12.0 m (3 storeys) (s.8.8.7); accessory buildings 5.0 m, structures 9.0 m. |
| Lot coverage | 45% |
| Coverage notes | Buildings max 45% (s.8.8.5). |
| Setbacks | front 4.5 m (15 ft), side 2 m (7 ft), rear 2 m (7 ft), flank 4.5 m (15 ft) |
| Setback notes | Front, exterior side and road setback 4.5 m; interior side and rear 2.0 m; lane 1.2 m (s.8.8.6). 70% max buildings + non-porous surfaces; 20% landscaping. Lot: min lot 1,800 m2 (RTH1 in City Centre excl. McLennan: 600 m2, width 20 m); width 40/50 m; depth 30.0 m (s.8.8.8). |
| Bonus density | +0.1 FAR amenity space. Bylaw 10760 (2026-06-08) removed the former affordable-housing density bonus. |
| Bylaw sections | s.8.8, 4.4, 5.4 |
What you can use it for
Town housingChild careSecondary suiteBoarding and lodgingCommunity care facility, minorHome businessLive/work dwelling (City Centre only)Home-based business (City Centre only)
What BC law allows on these lots
- Transit-oriented area (taller buildings)10 lots
Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.
Example lots in RTH3
No addressed lots in this zone on the map.
Other zones in Richmond
RSM/LRAM1RSM/MRTL1RSM/SRS1/ARAH2RD1RAL1RTL4RSM/XLRTL3RTM2RS1/ERTM3RTH1RTM1RTP4RS1/FRI1RS1/BRDARTH4RS1/GRTH2RTL2RI2RS1/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.