City of Richmond Zoning Bylaw 8500

See document for siting and coverage regulations for buildings and structures in Agriculture and Golf Zones. 

6. Seasonal farm labour accommodation shall only be permitted on:

a) a site zoned AG3;

b) a lot located in the Agricultural Land Reserve;

c) a lot designated for ‘agriculture’ in the General Land Use Map contained in the Official Community Plan; and

d) a lot classified as ‘farm’ under the BC Assessment Act. 7.

The following provisions must be met to permit seasonal farm labour accommodation:

a) minimum farm operation size of 8.09 ha;

b) the seasonal farm labour accommodation must be located on the same lot as an existing single detached housing;

c) only one seasonal farm labour accommodation is permitted per farm operation;

d) a building used for seasonal farm labour accommodation shall not exceed 400.0 m2;

e) a maximum of 40 seasonal farm labour occupants per seasonal farm labour accommodation is permitted; Section 14: Agriculture and Golf Zones 14.1-5 2706166

f) minimum floor area per occupant is to be 10.0 m2 ; and

g) a building used for seasonal farm labour accommodation shall be considered a dwelling with all regulations relating to density, minimum and maximum yards and height to apply.

8. The following limitations apply to seasonal farm labour accommodation:

a) a building used for seasonal farm labour accommodation must adhere to all relevant components of the Building Code and the City’s Building Regulation;

b) a lot that contains a building used for seasonal farm labour accommodation is subject to inspections by the City during any 12 month period to ensure that occupation is in compliance with the regulations contained in this zone;

c) a building used for seasonal farm labour accommodation does not need to be removed when not occupied by seasonal farm labour if the use is required on an ongoing, annual basis for the agricultural purpose of the farm operation;

d) if seasonal farm labour accommodation is no longer required for the farm operation, all buildings used for seasonal farm labour accommodation must be removed and the land restored to its original state; and

e) costs of removal of the seasonal farm labour accommodation building and restoration of land to its original state are to be the responsibility of the property owner.

farm retails/gates sales;

Roadside Stands and Farm-Based Wineries 

.1. A roadside stand that is used for farm retail sales shall: a) have an interior floor area of not more than 93.0 m², except for sites zoned Roadside Stand (CR) which shall have an interior floor area of not more than 190.0 m²; and b) have a use which is accessory to the use of the farm operation upon which the roadside stand is situated.

.2. Farm retail sales at a roadside stand are permitted if: a) all the farm product offered for sale is produced on the farm on which the retail sales are taking place; or b) at least 50% of the retail sales is limited to the sale of farm products produced on the farm on which the retail sales are taking place.

.3. The total area, both indoors and outdoors, used for the retail sales of all products shall not exceed 300.0 m².

.4. The floor area of all farm-based winery buildings and structures shall not exceed the lesser of: a) 1,000.0 m²; or b) a maximum floor area ratio of 0.05”. 

urban agriculture;

Uses Permitted in All Zones

...Agriculture is permitted as a secondary use in all zones (i.e., it occurs in conjunction with a principal use, for example single detached housing) in order to encourage and accommodate community gardens, green roofs, vertical farming and other forms of urban agriculture. The following conditions apply in certain instances with respect to agriculture being permitted as a secondary use in all zones:

a) There may be covenants or caveats registered on the title of the land which could restrict the type of agriculture permitted (e.g., prohibition on the raising of chickens, rabbits or other domesticated animals). Property owners and tenants are advised to check their current certificate of title for any covenants or caveats which may be registered and affect the use of the site.

b) Only properties which are assessed as a “farm” under the Assessment Act are permitted to raise livestock. c) A medical marihuana production facility and medical marihuana research and development facility is not permitted.