How to Register for Richmond Recreation Programs
Register for Richmond recreation programs through MyRichmond: account setup, seasonal dates, the waiting room, and refunds, explained end to end.
How to Rent City Facilities in Richmond
Rent a City of Richmond hall, room, field or theatre: how booking works, published rates, deposits, insurance and lead times — and what to confirm first.
Applies in: British Columbia
The short answer
In Richmond, you request a facility — you do not book it instantly — and the space is only yours once staff confirm it and, where required, payment and a deposit are received. The City of Richmond rents community centre rooms, halls, park pavilions, City Hall meeting rooms, and arts and culture spaces for meetings, workshops, birthdays, weddings, and private events. Rates, deposits, insurance rules, and lead times differ by venue, so the venue listing matters more than any single price. Start with the venue that fits your headcount and event type, submit the right request form, and budget for the deposit, insurance, and any music fees on top of the rent.
What you can rent
Community centres are the workhorse option. Cambie Community Centre lists board and multipurpose rooms for 12 to 20 people, with tables and chairs included, and East Richmond Community Hall lists a Main Hall for 100 people, with use of the kitchen, tables, and chairs included. West Richmond Community Centre lists four pre-set meeting rooms: Cypress for 50 people, Lions for 40, and Grouse and Seymour for 25 each. Groups generally do their own set-up and take-down at community venues, so include that time in your booking — at East Richmond, the 3-hour minimum already includes set-up and take-down.
Park and heritage venues suit different events. Richmond Nature Park's Kinsmen Pavilion at 11851 Westminster Highway has a Main Hall for 60 standing or 45 seated at tables, with kitchen, tables, and chairs included. Terra Nova Barn at 2631 Westminster Highway is a classroom-style facility for 42 people that includes a commercial kitchen, provided you hold a valid Food Safe Certificate. The City also lists arts and heritage facilities — the Richmond Cultural Centre, Gateway Theatre, Minoru Chapel, Branscombe House, and Britannia Shipyards — but their rental rates were not verified here, so check the City's facility rentals information.
City Hall is a separate, meeting-focused option. It sits at the corner of No. 3 Road and Granville Avenue, and rental space is available in the 2-storey low-rise portion of the building for meetings, workshops, training sessions, and private events. Commercial activities, registered political parties, and public rallies are not permitted inside City Hall, and rooms are generally not available on Mondays and Tuesdays because of Council meetings.
How booking works
For community venues, the route is a request form followed by staff review. Complete and submit the Room Rental Online Request Form, and staff review availability and event suitability before contacting you about next steps. The form does not guarantee space, and all bookings are subject to availability. For general facility and field bookings, the City lists phone 604-233-3304 and email Rentals@richmond.ca.
City Hall booking starts with an inquiry form. Send a completed City Hall Room Booking Inquiry Form to Customer Service at cityhallroombookings@richmond.ca, and staff review availability and event suitability before contacting you about next steps.
Richmond Cultural Centre bookings work on a longer clock. Room rental requests must be made at least four weeks in advance, or at least six weeks if you need additional technical or audiovisual support. Rooms are available, excluding statutory holidays: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Space is not guaranteed or considered booked until full payment, including a $300 damage deposit, is received. Inquiries can go to CulturalCentreRentals@richmond.ca, and the centre is at 7700 Minoru Gate. Its Boardroom seats up to 20 people boardroom-style and includes a 75-inch smart monitor with an HDMI connection; you bring your own laptop and HDMI cable.
Children's birthday parties have their own lead time: requests and bookings must be made at least three weeks before the party date, and the City lists 604-238-8073 for information.
What it costs
The fee table above carries the published figures; the pattern is what matters here. Community-centre rooms are the cheapest option, starting at $31.93/hour + GST at Cambie, while halls with kitchens cost more: East Richmond's Main Hall is $86.52/hour + GST with a 3-hour minimum, and the Kinsmen Pavilion is $30.00/hour + GST for meetings (2-hour minimum) or $50.00/hour + GST for social events (4-hour minimum). Terra Nova Barn is listed at $30.00/hour + GST and $50.00/hour + GST — confirm which rate applies to your booking type.
City Hall charges by the half day and full day rather than by the hour, with lower non-profit rates: a single room (20–24 people) is $180.00 half day or $240.00 full day regular, or $125.00 and $160.00 non-profit, while a double room (25–70 people) is $360.00 or $480.00 regular, or $250.00 and $325.00 non-profit. The Cultural Centre Boardroom is $100 basic or $50 non-profit per minimum 4-hour block, plus tax.
Tax treatment follows the listing: some rates are quoted plus GST and some plus tax. Ask staff to confirm the total including tax, deposit, and music fees.
Deposits, insurance, and cancellation
Deposits are standard, but the amount and timing vary. Cambie, East Richmond, and the Kinsmen Pavilion each list a $500.00 damage or damage/cleaning deposit. The Cultural Centre requires a $300 damage deposit, paid as part of full payment before the space counts as booked. Terra Nova Barn requires a 50% damage/cleaning deposit at the time of booking. Assume the deposit is held separately from the rent and ask what conditions return it in full.
Insurance is the requirement most likely to catch first-time renters. For most parties or special events at community venues, event liability insurance is required, with minimum liability of $5,000,000 and both the City of Richmond and the relevant community association or society named as additional insured — the Richmond Nature Park Society at the Kinsmen Pavilion, and the East Richmond Community Association at Cambie and East Richmond. Insurance is also required for all Richmond Cultural Centre rentals, with a certificate of insurance required for the Boardroom. West Richmond is the published exception: no insurance is required for its meeting rooms unless food is served.
City Hall has the clearest published cancellation charges in this guide. Notice of cancellation must be in writing, and the charges are 50% of the total charge when notice is given less than 14 days before the booking, and 100% when notice is given less than 48 hours before the meeting. Other venues may set different terms in their rental agreements, so read the contract for your venue rather than assuming City Hall's schedule applies everywhere.
Music and alcohol rules also vary by venue. SOCAN and RE:Sound fees apply for events that play music. The East Richmond brochure lists $32.87 for rentals with music and no dancing, and $65.78 for rentals with music and dancing. On alcohol, East Richmond requires a liquor licence if liquor is served, with host liquor liability stated on the insurance policy and obtained in advance for hall bookings. Richmond Nature Park takes the opposite position: alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the premises. Do not carry an alcohol plan from one venue to another without checking the listing.
Fields, picnic sites, and outdoor bookings
Sports fields are booked through a different route from rooms, and regular sports groups should contact their local scheduler for field use permits. Other groups call 604-233-3304 or email Rentals@richmond.ca. The City's facility rentals information points readers to its sport field bookings information for rental rates and amenities. This guide does not quote field rates, because none was verified on the City's published pages used here.
Some picnic sites require rentals even though most park visits do not. London Heritage Farm at 6511 Dyke Road offers site rentals through the London Heritage Farm Society (604-271-5220), and at Woodwards Landing (11551 Dyke Road) the campground is a privately managed Girl Guides of Canada site, not a public campsite — the City's Parks Department (604-244-1208) is the contact for questions about that area of the park. If your event needs a reserved site, shelter, or cooking area, confirm whether the site requires a rental before you advertise a location to guests.
Before you confirm
Confirm five things in writing before you send invitations: the room and its capacity for your set-up, the total cost including tax, deposit, and music fees, the set-up and take-down time included in your booking, the insurance and licence documents you must provide and by when, and the cancellation terms in your rental agreement.
Related guides: food truck permits and licences in Canada, do freelancers need a business licence in Canada.
Renting a City of Richmond facility, in five steps
- Pick the right venue type for your eventCommunity centre rooms suit meetings and birthdays, halls suit larger gatherings, City Hall suits meetings and workshops, and the Richmond Cultural Centre suits arts and cultural bookings. Field and picnic bookings follow a separate route.
- Submit a rental request, not a bookingUse the [City's Room Rental Online Request Form](https://www.richmond.ca/parks-recreation/about/facilityrental/facilities.htm) for community venues, the [City Hall Room Booking Inquiry Form](https://www.richmond.ca/city-hall/buildings/city-hall/rentals.htm) for City Hall, or the [Cultural Centre's online rental form](https://www.richmond.ca/culture/howartworks/cultural-centre/rentals.htm). A request is not a booking until staff confirm availability and, where required, payment is received.
- Allow the venue's lead timeRichmond Cultural Centre requests need at least four weeks in advance, or six weeks with technical or audiovisual needs. Children's birthday party requests need at least three weeks. Check the listing for your venue, because lead times vary.
- Pay the rent and the depositCommunity halls and the Kinsmen Pavilion commonly require a $500.00 damage/cleaning deposit, the Cultural Centre requires a $300 damage deposit with full payment, and Terra Nova Barn requires a 50% damage/cleaning deposit at the time of booking.
- Sort insurance, licences and music fees before the dayMost parties and special events need event liability insurance of at least $5,000,000. A liquor licence is required where liquor is served at venues that allow it, and SOCAN and RE:Sound fees apply where music is played.
Published Richmond facility rental rates to compare
| Cambie Community Centre board and multipurpose rooms (capacity 12–20) | $31.93/hour + GST; $500.00 damage deposit |
|---|---|
| East Richmond Community Hall Main Hall (capacity 100) | $86.52/hour + GST, minimum 3 hours; $500.00 damage/cleaning deposit |
| Richmond Nature Park Kinsmen Pavilion Main Hall (60 standing, 45 seated) | $30.00/hour + GST for meetings (minimum 2 hours); $50.00/hour + GST for social events (minimum 4 hours); $500.00 damage/cleaning deposit |
| Terra Nova Barn, 2631 Westminster Highway (capacity 42) | $30.00 or $50.00/hour + GST — confirm which rate applies to your booking; 50% damage/cleaning deposit at booking |
| West Richmond Community Centre meeting rooms (capacities 25–50) | $31.93–$50.00/hour + tax; Cypress $50.00/hour, Lions, Grouse and Seymour $31.93/hour |
| Richmond City Hall single room (seating 20–24) | Half day up to 4 hours $180.00 regular / $125.00 non-profit; full day $240.00 regular / $160.00 non-profit |
| Richmond City Hall double room (seating 25–70) | Half day up to 4 hours $360.00 regular / $250.00 non-profit; full day $480.00 regular / $325.00 non-profit |
| Richmond Cultural Centre Boardroom (maximum 20 people) | $100 basic / $50 non-profit per minimum 4-hour block + tax; $300 damage deposit |
Rates are the City of Richmond's published figures for the venues named. Rates vary by venue and change over time, so confirm the current rate for your date before you budget. Sport field rates are not quoted here: check the City's sport field bookings information instead.
Questions people ask
How do I book a City of Richmond community centre room?
Complete and submit the [City's Room Rental Online Request Form](https://www.richmond.ca/parks-recreation/about/facilityrental/facilities.htm) for the venue you want, then wait for staff to review availability and event suitability and contact you about next steps. The form alone does not guarantee the space. For general facility and field bookings, the City lists phone 604-233-3304 and email Rentals@richmond.ca.
How much does it cost to rent a hall in Richmond?
It depends on the venue. Published examples include $31.93/hour + GST for Cambie Community Centre board and multipurpose rooms, $86.52/hour + GST with a 3-hour minimum for East Richmond Community Hall's Main Hall, and $30.00/hour + GST for meetings or $50.00/hour + GST for social events at the Richmond Nature Park Kinsmen Pavilion. City Hall and Cultural Centre rates are higher and are set out in the fee table above. Always confirm the current rate for your venue and date.
Do I need insurance to rent a City facility in Richmond?
For most parties and special events, yes. Community venue listings commonly require event liability insurance of at least $5,000,000, with both the City of Richmond and the relevant community association or society named as additional insured. Insurance is also required for all Richmond Cultural Centre rentals. One exception in the published listings is West Richmond Community Centre meeting rooms, where no insurance is required unless food is served.
Can I serve alcohol or play music at a rented Richmond facility?
It depends on the venue, so check the listing first. At East Richmond Community Hall, a [liquor licence](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/liquor-regulation-licensing/liquor-licence-permits/apply-for-liquor-licence-permit/apply-for-liquor-special-event-permit) is required if liquor is served, and the insurance policy should state host liquor liability and be obtained in advance. At Richmond Nature Park, alcoholic beverages are not permitted on the premises. Wherever music is played, [SOCAN and RE:Sound fees](https://www.entandemlicensing.com/resources/music-licensing-forms/) apply; the East Richmond brochure lists $32.87 for rentals with music and no dancing and $65.78 for rentals with music and dancing.
How far in advance do I need to book?
Richmond Cultural Centre room requests must be made at least four weeks in advance, or at least six weeks if your request includes additional technical or audiovisual needs. Children's birthday party requests and bookings must be made at least three weeks before the party date. Other community venues set their own expectations in their listings, so do not assume a last-minute request will be accepted.
Can I rent a sports field or picnic site in Richmond?
Yes, but fields and picnic sites are handled separately from room rentals. The City's facility rentals information points readers to its [sport field bookings information](https://www.richmond.ca/parks-recreation/about/sports/field-sports/fields.htm) for field rates and amenities, and regular sports groups should contact their local scheduler for field use permits while other groups call 604-233-3304 or email Rentals@richmond.ca. Some picnic sites require rentals: London Heritage Farm offers site rentals through the London Heritage Farm Society (604-271-5220), and at Woodwards Landing (11551 Dyke Road) the campground is a privately managed Girl Guides of Canada site, not a public campsite. This guide does not quote field rates because they were not verified on the City's published pages used here.
Sources
- City of Richmond, Facility Rentals — community centre and hall rates (Cambie $31.93/hour, East Richmond $86.52/hour), $500 deposits, $5,000,000 insurance, liquor-licence and SOCAN/RE:Sound requirements, Kinsmen Pavilion and Terra Nova Barn rates, and the Rentals contact (604-233-3304, Rentals@richmond.ca).
- City of Richmond, City Hall Rental Information — single and double room rates, the Monday/Tuesday unavailability note, and the cancellation charges (50% under 14 days, 100% under 48 hours).
- City of Richmond, Theatre and Studio Rentals (Richmond Cultural Centre) — four-week (six with technical needs) lead time, $300 damage deposit, insurance required for all rentals, Boardroom $100 basic / $50 non-profit per 4-hour block, and rental hours.
- City of Richmond, Sports Field Bookings — field rentals run through the Rentals Office (application form, rentals@richmond.ca), 21-day minimum for new bookings, and $5,000,000 insurance naming the City and School District No. 38.
- East Richmond Community Association, Facility Rental Brochure 2026 — SOCAN and RE:Sound fees ($32.87 music without dancing, $65.78 with dancing), Cambie and East Richmond rates, and cancellation terms.
- City of Richmond, Children's Parties (South Arm) brochure — party requests accepted a minimum of 3 weeks to a maximum of 8 weeks in advance; information line 604-238-8073.
- City of Richmond, London Heritage Farm — 6511 Dyke Road, operated with the London Heritage Farm Society, which offers site rentals; contact 604-271-5220.
- City of Richmond, Find a Park — Woodwards Landing — 11551 Dyke Road; the campground is a privately managed Girl Guides of Canada site, not a public campsite; Parks Department 604-244-1208.
- BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, Apply for a liquor Special Event Permit — a Special Event Permit is needed to sell or serve liquor at an event in a public place in BC; apply 4 to 6 weeks before the event (private $25/day, public $100/day).
- Entandem, Music Licensing Forms — Entandem is the SOCAN and RE:Sound joint venture that administers the music licences for live and recorded music at events and venues.