As mentioned in previous updates, on March 24th Council adopted the proposed amendments to the Richmond Official Community Plan, and the proposed amendments to the City’s Zoning Bylaw that simplify terms for SSMUH construction and improve livability of SSMUH.  

Additional information can be found in the  bylaws and  full report by City staff. 

Feburary 4, 2025

At Planning Committee on January 21st, Council gave first reading to the proposed amendments to the Richmond Official Community Plan, and gave three readings to the proposed amendments to the City’s Zoning Bylaw that simplify terms for SSMUH construction and improve livability of SSMUH.  

In June 2024, to comply with provincial legislation, Council amended zoning for almost 27,000 single-family and duplex lots to permit Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) development. Following this, staff undertook public consultation to gather feedback from the public, builders and designers to inform the design review. As a result, staff are proposing the following changes: 

• Remove the Development Permit (DP) requirement for SSMUH development on an irregular-shape lot. 

• Remove the DP requirement for construction of a building that encroaches into the rear yard, provided the building is limited to a single-storey and complies with the location and other criteria included in the zoning bylaw. 

• Increase permitted building height from 9 m (30 ft.) to 10 m (33 ft.) and introduce associated provisions to improve habitable space in the attic half-storey, contribute towards attractive streetscapes and varied roof shapes, and increase options to meet BC Energy Step Code requirements. 

• Undertake administrative changes to clarify conditions related to shared driveway width, building requirements within the rear yard setback, design requirements for a secondary suite, fence heights, floor area calculations for stairs and the eaves of attic half-storey, DP requirements within the Arterial Road Land Use Policy Area, and subdivision as it relates to duplex-type development on RSM zoned lots. 

Additional information can be found in the full report by City staff.