Industrial Zoning Reference
Richmond industrial zoning, explained for industrial users.
Richmond's industrial land is governed by Section 12 of Zoning Bylaw 8500, a stable set of six zone families that separate heavy industry, light industrial, business park, industrial retail and industrial storage. Many individual Richmond properties, particularly newer strata projects, carry site-specific zones from Part C of the bylaw instead of the standard codes, so parcel-level confirmation matters more here than in most municipalities.
The Industrial Zones
Every industrial zone in Richmond
The broad heavy-and-general industrial zone: manufacturing, warehousing, bulk fuel, concrete and asphalt plants, waste management, wrecking and recycling (including hazardous), and outdoor storage, alongside compatible uses.
General industrial with a limited range of compatible uses: manufacturing, warehousing, contractor and fleet services, commercial storage, vehicle repair, custom indoor manufacturing and recycling depots. Maximum FAR 1.0 (1.2 in the City Centre).
General industrial plus stand-alone offices and limited compatible uses, including microbrewery, winery and distillery, commercial education and indoor recreation. IB2 is reserved for rezonings implementing the City Centre Area Plan.
General industrial, stand-alone offices and a limited retail range (warehouse sales, showroom retail, building and garden supply). IR2 is the City Centre Area Plan rezoning sub-zone.
Storage and shipping uses. IS covers storage, shipping and industrial uses at FAR 1.0; IS1 is restricted to commercial vehicle parking and outdoor storage at very low coverage.
Recent changes: The Section 12 zone set has been stable; recent amendments are targeted, including site-specific height caps in the IL zone and non-accessory parking added as an IL use. Site-specific Part C zones continue to be created through rezonings.
What This Means in Practice
Zoning is the first check, not the last.
- Newer Richmond industrial strata frequently sits on site-specific Part C zoning rather than standard Section 12 codes; check the parcel in the Richmond Interactive Map, which links directly to the applicable bylaw section.
- A zone listing a use as permitted is the start, not the finish: conditional uses, accessory-use limits, outdoor storage rules and site-specific conditions all live in the schedule fine print.
- Parking and loading are usually governed by a separate parking bylaw or section; a building can be correctly zoned and still fail your trailer or fleet requirements.
- Many individual properties carry site-specific or comprehensive-development zoning instead of a standard code, so always confirm the actual zone on the parcel, not the area around it.
- Confirm current regulations with the municipal planning department before committing; bylaws are amended continuously.
If you are evaluating a building or a site in Richmond and want a read on whether the zoning actually supports your operation, or which zones to target for a requirement, I do this work as part of every assignment.
This page is a plain-language summary of Richmond’s industrial zoning prepared by Samuel Brahem, Industrial Sales and Leasing, NAI Commercial (BC) Ltd., for general orientation only. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for the bylaw itself. Zoning bylaws change; always confirm current regulations, permitted uses and site-specific conditions with the official bylaw and the municipal planning department before making decisions. Last verified against the official source on September 14, 2026.