Policy & Planning

Access and Inclusion Policy 4012 provides the policy framework for the City to further advance accessibility and inclusion in Richmond and to foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone that lives, works and plays here.

Access and Inclusion Policy 4012

The new Council-adopted Richmond Accessibility Advisory Committee held its first meeting on April 12, 2023. The Committee acts as a resource and provides advice to City Council to support the advancement of accessibility in the city.

For further information regarding the Richmond Accessibility Advisory Committee, visit the Advisory Bodies

The 2024 City of Richmond Enhanced Accessibility Design Guidelines and Technical Specifications (the Guidelines) is the result of a collaborative effort that involved contributions from community organizations who support people with disabilities in Richmond, City of Richmond staff, and civil engineering and accessibility consultants. The Guidelines are used in the development of all City major capital projects and retrofits of current facilities to promote barrier-free access and enhanced accessibility that go beyond the requirements of the BC Building Code. The 2024 Guidelines have been expanded from the original 2018 version to include a wider range of accessibility considerations and universal design concepts and to ensure City practices continue to align with national standards. The Guidelines are intended to assist City staff and the development community in the incorporation of accessibility features in City-owned or City leased premises. They are also provided to the public as a resource on an information-only basis.

The Accessible Events Checklist was created to assist with ensuring that City and City-supported events are physically accessible. By considering the event checklist, event planners can ensure that participants’ accessibility needs have been taken into account.

Accessible Events Checklist

On December 6, 2021, City Council adopted the 2021-2031 Collaborative Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Poverty in Richmond, which will help to guide the City’s approach, in collaboration with the community, to reduce and prevent poverty in Richmond. This plan sets out four strategic directions and 26 recommended actions to be completed over a 10 year period.

Update reports for the Collaborative Action Plan provide a high-level summary of the ongoing progress and achievements that the City has accomplished in collaboration with Community Associations and Societies, Richmond Public Library, community organizations and institutions, and senior levels of government.

2021-2031 Collaborative Action Plan 2022-2023 Highlights

The Community Poverty Reduction and Prevention Table was established to advance actions identified in the 2021–2031 Collaborative Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Poverty in Richmond. The Table meets bi-monthly and is comprised of representatives from community organizations and residents with lived/living experience.