RTL3 zone in Richmond
Low Density Townhouses (RTL3). Low density town housing (and single detached housing in RTL1) (s.8.6.1).
The rules
| Name | Low Density Townhouses (RTL3) |
|---|---|
| Homes allowed | No unit cap; limited by FAR (s.8.6.4) |
| Floor space ratio | 0.6 |
| Floor space notes | Max FAR 0.6, plus 0.1 FAR used only for amenity space (s.8.6.4). 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.8.6.7); accessory buildings 5.0 m, structures 9.0 m. |
| Lot coverage | 40% |
| Coverage notes | Buildings max 40% (s.8.6.5). |
| Setbacks | front 6 m (20 ft), side 3 m (10 ft), rear 3 m (10 ft), flank 6 m (20 ft) |
| Setback notes | Front 6.0 m, interior side 3.0 m, exterior side 6.0 m, rear 3.0 m (6.0 m where the rear lot line abuts a public road or lane) (s.8.6.6). 65% max buildings + non-porous surfaces; 25% landscaping. Lot: min width 30.0 m (RTL4: 40.0 m local arterial, 50.0 m major arterial), depth 35.0 m; no min area for town housing (s.8.6.8). |
| Bonus density | +0.1 FAR amenity space. Bylaw 10760 (2026-06-08) removed the former affordable-housing density bonus. |
| Bylaw sections | s.8.6, 4.4, 5.4 |
What you can use it for
Town housingChild careSecondary suiteBoarding and lodgingCommunity care facility, minorHome business
What BC law allows on these lots
- 4 homes (lots over 280 m²)149 lots
- 6 homes (near frequent transit)86 lots
- 3 homes (lots up to 280 m²)1 lots
Our estimate per lot under BC's Bills 44 and 47, from lot size, transit distance and the urban boundary.
Example lots in RTL3
No addressed lots in this zone on the map.
Other zones in Richmond
RSM/LRAM1RSM/MRTL1RSM/SRS1/ARAH2RD1RAL1RTL4RSM/XLRTM2RS1/ERTM3RTH1RTM1RTP4RS1/FRI1RS1/BRDARTH4RTH2RS1/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.