British Columbia

Richmond approves 11,000 square foot limit on farmland mega-homes

Homes built on agricultural property are now limited to just under 11,000 square feet.

The debate over mega-homes on farmland has sparked heated public debate since January

After months of public consultation around the issue of mega-homes being built on the Agricultural Land Reserve, Richmond city council has settled on a limit. (Tina Lovgreen/CBC)

After months of contentious public hearings, Richmond city council has voted to limit the size of homes that can be built on the Agricultural Land Reserve. 

City councillors voted 7-1 to pass a bylaw that caps the size of farmhouses built on half acre properties to 10,764 square feet.

Homes built on properties smaller than half an acre are now limited to 5,382 square feet.

Since the start of 2017, 65 per cent of building permit applications have been for houses larger than 10,000 square feet.

Earlier this year, the city rejected a building permit for a 40,000 square foot home that would fit 21 bedrooms.

Until now, Richmond was one of the few Lower Mainland municipalities not to have any kind of size restrictions on farmland homes.