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Richmond Recreation Fee Subsidy

Richmond residents in financial hardship can get free drop-in admission and 90% off most registered recreation programs. Here is who qualifies and how to apply.

Written October 24, 2026 · Edited November 9, 2026 · 9 min read

Applies in: British Columbia

The short answer

If you live in Richmond and money is tight, the City's Recreation Fee Subsidy Program (RFSP) can make recreation close to free. Qualifying residents get unlimited free admission to many drop-in programs and services, and 90 per cent off most registered programs — up to $300 per year in subsidy for children and youth aged 18 and under, and up to $100 per year for adults and seniors aged 19 and over. The program covers people of all ages, from preschoolers to seniors, not just children.

There is one thing to get straight before you look for a cutoff number: the City does not publish a single income threshold for this program on its program page. Eligibility is assessed by the City. Do not talk yourself out of applying because you cannot find a threshold to compare yourself against — if you are struggling to pay for basics such as food, clothing and housing, and you have no savings or other financial resources to fall back on, that is the City's definition of financial hardship, and the subsidy office is the place to confirm where you stand.

Who qualifies

Two tests, both of which must be met:

  1. You live in Richmond. This is a Richmond residents' program. You will need proof of your Richmond address when you apply.
  2. You are experiencing financial hardship. The City defines this plainly: difficulty paying for basic living costs such as food, clothing and housing, without savings or other financial resources.

The City determines financial hardship in one of two ways. The first is receiving government financial assistance from one of the following programs:

  • Youth Agreements
  • Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment (SAJE)
  • Income Assistance
  • Disability Assistance
  • Resettlement Assistance
  • Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
  • Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER)
  • Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
  • Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)

The second way covers people who do not receive one of those benefits but are still in financial hardship. For the 2026-2027 program year, September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027, the City publishes net-income limits by family size, based on line 23600 of the tax return. The limits are $26,442 for a family of one, $37,395 for two, $45,799 for three, $52,884 for four, $59,126 for five, $64,769 for six, and $69,959 for seven. The other limits are $250 for a family of one ($500 for two or more) on interest and investment income, $1,000 ($2,000) on rental income, $500 ($1,000) on capital gains, and $1,000 ($2,000) on RRSP contributions — all on the City's recreation fee subsidy page, which carries the full table for your family size. If you receive none of the listed benefits, contact the subsidy office at subsidy@richmond.ca or 604-247-4909 and ask how your situation is assessed, rather than guessing.

Individuals aged 19 and over can apply on their own, and families can apply together. The City defines a family as one or two adults, married or common-law, and their children who live in the same household — legal dependants aged 18 and under, plus dependants aged 19 to 24 who are enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution or in an Adult Graduation Diploma program. If more than one family shares a household, each family must apply separately.

What the subsidy covers

The subsidy applies to many registered and drop-in parks, recreation and cultural programs offered by the City of Richmond and Community Associations and Societies, plus select opportunities at the Richmond Olympic Oval. In practice, that breaks down as follows:

  • Drop-in programs and services: unlimited free admission to many of them. If your routine is drop-in swimming, skating, fitness or community centre programs, this is where the subsidy stretches furthest, because there is no annual dollar cap on the drop-in side.
  • Registered programs, children and youth (18 and under): a 90 per cent discount, up to $300 per year in subsidy. On a $100 registered program, that means you pay $10 and $90 counts toward your yearly subsidy amount.
  • Registered programs, adults and seniors (19 and over): a 90 per cent discount, up to $100 per year in subsidy. On a $100 registered program, that likewise means you pay $10, with $90 counting toward the yearly amount — so the adult cap is reached faster than the youth cap.

Two limits matter. First, the discount is on most registered programs, not every program, so confirm that the specific program you want is eligible before you register. Second, the dollar caps are per year: once a child has used $300 in subsidy for the program year, or an adult has used $100, further registered programs in that year are at full price, even though drop-in admission remains free.

How to apply

Applications are now being accepted for the 2026-2027 program year, which runs from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027. Apply through the City's Recreation Fee Subsidy Program page for that program year. The City typically processes a complete application in about 10 business days, longer from June to September, and notifies you by email or mail. You can submit the application by email, by mail, or in person at any City recreation facility, the Richmond Cultural Centre, or City Hall; in-person help is by appointment through the Registration Call Centre at 604-276-4300, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.

Before you start, gather:

  • Proof you live in Richmond, showing your name and Richmond address.
  • Proof of government assistance, if you are applying through that route — for example, documentation of Income Assistance, Disability Assistance, RAP, SAFER, GIS, CDB, or one of the other listed programs.
  • Household details, so the application covers everyone it should. Remember that dependants aged 19 to 24 count only if they are in full-time post-secondary education or an Adult Graduation Diploma program.

If any part of the form is unclear, or you are applying without one of the listed benefits, contact the subsidy office for application support rather than leaving a section blank: subsidy@richmond.ca or 604-247-4909. Newcomers from Ukraine who wish to apply for support are also asked to contact the subsidy office directly.

Apply before you register for the programs you want to use. Do not count on the subsidy covering a registration you already paid for before your approval came through — get the approval in place first, then register with the subsidy applied.

Renewal: apply again each program year

The subsidy is tied to a program year, not granted once and left running. The 2026-2027 year ends August 31, 2027, so if you still need support the following year, you apply again for the next program year. Treat renewal as part of the routine: when a new program year opens, reapply early, so there is no gap between the old year ending and your new approval arriving. If your circumstances change during the year — for example, you start or stop receiving one of the listed benefits — tell the subsidy office rather than assuming the change is picked up automatically.

Mistakes that cost people the subsidy

  • Looking for one cutoff number that applies to everyone, and giving up. The City publishes limits by family size, not one number for all — find your family size in the table above. The assessment is the City's to make, and the subsidy office exists to answer exactly that question.
  • Registering and paying first, then applying. Get approved first, then register with the subsidy in place.
  • Assuming every program is covered. The discount is on most registered programs and many drop-in programs, not all of them. Check the program before you count on the discount.
  • Missing the program-year boundary. An approval for 2026-2027 does not carry you through the next year on its own. Reapply when the next program year opens.
  • Applying as one household when you are two families. If more than one family shares an address, each family applies separately under the City's definition.

When this is not the right program

The Recreation Fee Subsidy is for City and Community Association parks, recreation and cultural programs. If the cost barrier is a private club, a school team fee, or organized sport registration through a separate body, this subsidy may not be the route — the City's program subsidies page also lists other funds, such as the Active Recreation and Sport Fund and KidSport Richmond, which cover different kinds of sport costs for children and youth. Check which fund matches the fee in front of you before applying to the wrong one. And if you are outside Richmond, this program does not apply at all: it is for Richmond residents only, and your own municipality's subsidy, if it has one, is the place to look.

Related guides: how to dispute a traffic ticket in British Columbia, how to start a sole proprietorship in BC.

Applying for the Richmond Recreation Fee Subsidy, in five steps

  1. Check the two tests: Richmond resident, in financial hardshipYou must live in Richmond and be experiencing financial hardship, which the City defines as difficulty paying for basic living costs such as food, clothing and housing, without savings or other financial resources to fall back on.
  2. Work out which eligibility route fits youOne route is receiving government financial assistance from a listed program, such as Income Assistance, Disability Assistance, the Rental Assistance Program, Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, or the Canada Disability Benefit. If you do not receive one of those benefits, the City assesses financial hardship another way — contact the subsidy office rather than guessing whether you qualify.
  3. Apply for the 2026-2027 program yearApplications are being accepted for the program year running September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027. Apply through the City's Recreation Fee Subsidy Program page, and contact the subsidy office at subsidy@richmond.ca or 604-247-4909 if you need application support.
  4. Provide proof of residency and, where it applies, assistanceHave proof that you live in Richmond ready, and proof of the government assistance you receive if you are applying through that route. An incomplete application is the most avoidable reason for delay, so check the current application form for exactly what the City asks for this year.
  5. Use the subsidy once approved, within the program yearOnce approved, use the subsidy for eligible drop-in and registered programs during the 2026-2027 program year. Each application is for one program year, so apply again for the next year.

What the Richmond Recreation Fee Subsidy covers

Drop-in programs and services (many, not every program)Unlimited free admission
Registered programs, children and youth (18 years and under)90% discount, up to $300 per year in subsidy
Registered programs, adults and seniors (19 years and over)90% discount, up to $100 per year in subsidy
Richmond Olympic OvalSelect opportunities included

Figures are from the City of Richmond's Recreation Fee Subsidy Program page. The discount applies to most registered programs, not every program, so confirm a specific program is eligible before you register.

Questions people ask

Who qualifies for the Richmond Recreation Fee Subsidy?

Richmond residents of all ages who are experiencing financial hardship. The City defines financial hardship as difficulty paying for basic living costs such as food, clothing and housing, without savings or other financial resources. You must live in Richmond, and the City determines financial hardship through one of two methods: receiving a listed form of government financial assistance, or another assessment for people who do not receive that assistance.

Is there a published income limit for the Richmond Recreation Fee Subsidy?

The City publishes net-income limits by family size (line 23600 of the tax return) — $26,442 for a family of one, up to $69,959 for a family of seven — plus limits on interest, rental income, capital gains, and RRSP contributions; the table is in Who qualifies above. There is no single threshold for everyone, so find your family size rather than looking for one cutoff number. If you are unsure whether your situation counts as financial hardship, contact the subsidy office at subsidy@richmond.ca or 604-247-4909 before assuming you do not qualify.

What does the subsidy actually pay for?

Unlimited free admission to many drop-in programs and services, and a 90 per cent discount on most registered programs, up to $300 per year in subsidy for children and youth aged 18 and under and up to $100 per year for adults and seniors aged 19 and over. It covers many parks, recreation and cultural programs offered by the City of Richmond and Community Associations and Societies, plus select opportunities at the Richmond Olympic Oval. It does not cover every program, so check the program you want.

How do I apply for the Richmond Recreation Fee Subsidy?

Apply for the current program year through the City's Recreation Fee Subsidy Program page. Applications are being accepted for 2026-2027, which runs September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027. Have proof that you live in Richmond ready, and proof of any listed government assistance you receive. If you need help with the application, contact the subsidy office at subsidy@richmond.ca or 604-247-4909. Newcomers from Ukraine who wish to apply are asked to contact the subsidy office directly.

Does the subsidy last, or do I have to reapply?

Each application is for one program year. The 2026-2027 program year runs September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027, so you apply again for the next program year rather than carrying the same approval forward indefinitely. Apply before the programs you want to use, and do not count on the subsidy covering a registration you already paid for before approval.

Can a whole family apply together?

Yes. Individuals aged 19 and over and families can apply. The City defines a family as one or two adults, married or common-law, and their children — legal dependants aged 18 and under, and aged 19 to 24 if enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution or in an Adult Graduation Diploma program — who live in the same household. If more than one family shares a household, each family applies separately.

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