Official Community Plan Targeted Update


We are updating key areas of the Official Community Plan (OCP) to better meet the current and future needs of the community and guide growth and change over the next 25 years.

What is the OCP?

The Official Community Plan (OCP) describes a long-term vision for the community and guides decision-making concerning growth and change. View the current version of Richmond's OCP, last updated in 2012.

Why update the OCP now?

While the OCP remains relevant, complex challenges have emerged including rapid growth, housing, equity, climate change and environmental impacts.  In addition, the Province has enacted new legislation that alters how municipalities across British Columbia, including Richmond, must plan for the future of their communities.  Learn more about the Provincial Housing Legislation Changes.

In response to these challenges, Richmond is undertaking a targeted update of its OCP to increase housing diversity and affordability, support a more equitable community, strengthen land use responses to climate change, and enhance and protect the city's environment and natural assets.  Consideration will also be given to emerging trends and technologies and making administrative amendments.  Learn more about Council's endorsement of the OCP update.

How might Richmond change?

A DRAFT Growth Management Roadmap is proposed to direct growth where it can benefit the community most.  This means directing the right type of growth to the right places, including opportunities for more than 80% of residents to live within walking distance of mixed-use developments, urban villages, frequent transit service and amenities - and making sure that residential development is directed away from lands needed for agriculture, airport, industry, employment and nature.

Draft Proposed Land Use Map

The DRAFT Proposed Land Use Map applies a transit-oriented urban village approach to organize growth, including five new Neighbourhood Types.

View the DRAFT Proposed Land Use Map and Neighbourhood Types:

  1. Downtown Mixed-Use
  2. Downtown Perimeter
  3. Local Villages
  4. Arterial Connectors
  5. Neighbourhood Residential

Draft Strategic Directions

Draft Strategic Directions are proposed to support the proposed land use plan and address Richmond's housing, equity, climate and environment challenges.

View the DRAFT Strategic Directions:

What's happening now?

Phase Two of the OCP update's public engagement process has just wrapped up, which asked for your feedback to confirm that the DRAFT OCP Growth Management Roadmap, Land Use Map, Neighbourhood Types and Strategic Directions reflect your values and priorities for Richmond's future.  Thank you for your feedback.

View the OCP update's engagement information:

What's next?

The final phase, Phase Three, is where we will edit and refine the proposed OCP update, taking into account what we heard, and prepare bylaws for presentation to Council.  Staff reports are targeted for presentation in:

  • Fall 2025: Report on what we heard through Phase Two's public engagement
  • Fall 2025: FINAL updates to Richmond's Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) map and related development requirements
  • Late 2025: FINAL OCP Growth Management Roadmap, Land Use Map, and Neighbourhood Types, together with an overview of emerging trends and technologies
  • Spring 2026: FINAL Strategic Directions for housing, equity, climate and environment

Graphic showing phases of OCP Update

Staff Reports

OCP Phase 2 Display Boards

Planning & Development
CommunityPlanning@richmond.ca