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Policies and Initiatives

Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR)

How does the RAR Apply in Richmond - City of Richmond Response Strategy
On March 27, 2006 the City of Richmond Council adopted a Richmond-Specific Riparian Management Approach as its response strategy for meeting the Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR).
(Council Report: Riparian Areas Regulation Response Strategy)

The Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) is a Provincial policy directive, which came into effect on March 31, 2006.

The RAR affects local governmental approvals for new residential, commercial and industrial developments.

Further information can be found in the following sections:

What are Riparian Areas?
Riparian areas are those areas adjacent to ditches, streams, lakes and wetlands.

Although they account for only a small portion of British Columbia's land base, riparian areas are a critical component of the Province's biodiversity and are typically areas of high ecological productivity.

Since all of Richmond's watercourses eventually enter the Fraser River, Richmond's upland riparian areas are critical for helping to provide suitable water quality to support the Fraser River aquatic environment.  Key functions include moderating water temperatures, providing nutrients through leaf litter and aquatic organisms, and filtering common pollutants.

About the RAR
The Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) is a Provincial policy directive under the Provincial Fish Protection Act (FPA).  The purpose of the Regulation is to provide protection for the features, functions and conditions that are vital for healthy water resource systems.

Affected local governments are prohibited from issuing approvals which do not protect riparian areas in accordance with the RAR.

What Activities are RAR Applicable?
The RAR applies to residential, commercial or industrial activities or ancillary activities within a designated riparian management area.  This includes:

  • Construction of buildings and structures (including residential buildings on farmland);
  • Creation of non-structural impervious or semi-impervious surfaces (eg parking lots, patios);
  • Removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;
  • Disturbance of soils;
  • Development of recreational activities (e.g. parks, trails, golf courses); and
  • Development of new services (e.g. sewer system, dykes and roads).

What Activities are RAR Exempt?
The RAR does not apply to the following activities: 

  • Development not within a riparian management area;
  • Farming activities or institutional development;
  • Existing permanent structures, roads and other development;
  • Reconstruction or repair of permanent structure if the structure remains on its existing foundation; and
  • Developments that have been approved but not yet built (requests for changes would however, trigger a review with reference to the RAR).

Further information:  Ministry of Environment - Riparian Areas Regulation Web-Site.

The City's adopted approach proactively identifies those watercourses within Richmond where the RAR applies and establishes two categories of riparian management areas:

  1. 15m Riparian Management Areas - Richmond's Major Canals/Sloughs (eg Bath Slough, Horseshoe Slough, No. 7 Road Canal)
  2. 5m Riparian Management Areas - Richmond's Minor Watercourses

Development activities, as identified in the RAR, are not permitted to occur within an identified Riparian Management Area.

How does the RAR Affect Richmond Developers, Businesses and Residents?
The City cannot issue approvals or permits unless they conform with the City's adopted RAR Response Strategy.

Shell at Horseshoe If a proponent is seeking permits or approvals from the City (e.g. development permits, rezoning, subdivision, temporary use permits, building permits, etc.) for a property that is wholly or partially within a Riparian Management Area , the proponent must demonstrate that the proposed development activity is either:

  1. An exempt RAR activity
  2. Not within the property's identified Riparian Management Area

The City's GIS map provides an approximation of the extent of the areas where the RAR is applicable.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to conduct a survey, following the methodologies outlined in the RAR, to establish the actual extent of the Riparian Management Area on site and to provide this information to the City.

Riparian management areas are to be measured horizontally from the high water mark of RAR applicable watercourses. High water mark is defined in the Provincial RAR Assessment Methods.

City of Richmond - Riparian Management Areas Map

Riparian Areas Map

PDF Document  Riparian Areas Map

Other Legislative Considerations
Areas within and outside of a riparian management area may still be subject to other legislative requirements such as:

  • Any development activity outside of the crest of the dyke adjacent to the Fraser River must be reviewed by the Fraser River Estuary Management Program (FREMP)
  • Any activity which could result in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat (HADD) required DFO authorization as stipulated by the Federal Fisheries Act.