Bowen Island RV, boat and trailer parking rules
Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in Bowen Island?
Short answer
In Bowen Island, a licensed trailer can be parked on a street for up to 72 hours without a permit, and an unlicensed one cannot be parked on a roadway, boulevard or sidewalk. The bylaws we read do not set rules for storing an RV or boat on your own lot. Living in an RV on a lot is generally not allowed.
Key facts
| On the street | Trailers (and commercial vehicles) may not be parked on a street next to park, church, school or residential land without the owner's or occupier's consent; may not be parked next to business land for more than 3 hours (unless in front of land owned or occupied by the driver); a trailer may not be parked with its motive power unattached; unlicensed vehicles or trailers may not be parked on a roadway, boulevard or sidewalk; a licensed vehicle or trailer may not be parked there more than 72 hours without a permit. Trailers or commercial vehicles over 4,536 kg gross weight may not be parked on a street from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.Traffic and Use of Streets Bylaw No. 133, 2005 (consolidated July 2024), Bowen Island Municipality, ss. 11-16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingfor more than 3 hours except where such vehicle is parked No person shall park a trailer, semi-trailer or commercial vehicle on any street abutting lands used for park, church, school or residential purposes, except with the consent of the owner or occupier of exceeding 4,536 kg on any street between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. No person shall park a trailer or semi-trailer with its motive power unattached. No vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer that is not licensed in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Act exceeding 72 hours without displaying a permit. |
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| On your property | None set. The bylaws read for Bowen Island set no rule on keeping an RV, boat or trailer on a residential lot. |
| Living in an RV | Not allowed on a lot: the Land Use Bylaw prohibits any use located in a tent trailer, motor home, camper or other recreation vehicle without a permanent foundation or service connection, except as otherwise permitted, or temporary sleeping for non-paying visitors on a residential lot for up to 90 days in any 360-day period. During construction under a building permit one travel trailer or camper may be used for up to one year. Camping (staying overnight in a trailer or vehicle) in a municipal public place needs a permit.Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (consolidated November 2025), Bowen Island Municipality, ss. 3.3.5, 3.9; Use of Public Places Bylaw No. 537, 2021, Bowen Island Municipality, ss. 1, 3.2(j) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingA use located partially or totally in a tent trailer, motor home, camper, or other recreation vehicle, without a permanent foundation or permanent service for a period not exceeding 90 days in any 360-day may use one travel trailer or camper on the lot for temporary accommodation during the construction Camp means to stay overnight in a tent, trailer, Motor Vehicle or other form of shelter; Camp. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice for the trailer rules (ss. 11-16 of the Traffic Bylaw): $50 first offence ($25 early, $75 late); $100 second ($75 early, $125 late); $150 further ($125 early, $175 late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026), Bowen Island Municipality, Schedule AF · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording11 Park a trailer or commercial 50.00 25.00 75.00 Park a trailer without motive 50.00 25.00 75.00 Unlicensed vehicle or trailer 50.00 25.00 75.00 Parked for more than 72 50.00 25.00 75.00 |
| Bylaw | Bowen Island Municipality Traffic and Use of Streets Bylaw No. 133, 2005 (consolidated July 2024); Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002; Use of Public Places Bylaw No. 537, 2021Traffic and Use of Streets Bylaw No. 133, 2005 (consolidated July 2024), Bowen Island Municipality, title; Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (consolidated November 2025), Bowen Island Municipality, title; Use of Public Places Bylaw No. 537, 2021, Bowen Island Municipality, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingTraffic and Use of Streets Bylaw No. 133, 2005 LAND USE BYLAW NO. 57, 2002 Bowen Island Municipality Bylaw No. 537, 2021 |
How it works
The Traffic and Use of Streets Bylaw No. 133, 2005 sets the street rules. It does not mention boats or RVs by name, so they are covered only if they are vehicles or trailers. The bylaws we read set no rule on keeping an RV, boat or trailer on a residential lot.
Good to know
- On a street, a trailer or commercial vehicle may not be parked next to park, church, school or residential land without the owner's or occupier's consent. Next to business land the limit is 3 hours, unless it is in front of land owned or occupied by the driver.
- A trailer may not be parked with its motive power unattached. Unlicensed vehicles or trailers may not be parked on a roadway, boulevard or sidewalk. A licensed vehicle or trailer may not be parked there more than 72 hours without a permit.
- Trailers or commercial vehicles over 4,536 kg gross weight may not be parked on a street from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Living in an RV: the Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 prohibits any use located in a tent trailer, motor home, camper or other recreation vehicle without a permanent foundation or service connection, except as otherwise permitted. Temporary sleeping by non-paying visitors on a residential lot is allowed for up to 90 days in any 360-day period. During construction under a building permit, one travel trailer or camper may be used for up to one year.
- Camping overnight in a trailer or vehicle in a municipal public place needs a permit; without one the bylaw notice is $200 ($100 if paid early). Overnight in the ferry lane is also banned.
- Bylaw notice for the trailer street rules: $50 first offence, $100 second, $150 further.
- Questions: Bylaw Services, 604-947-4255 ext. 2 or bylaw@bimbc.ca.
Official forms and pages
- Traffic and Use of Streets Bylaw No. 133, 2005 (consolidated July 2024) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality
- Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (consolidated November 2025) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality
- Use of Public Places Bylaw No. 537, 2021 (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality
The same question in other places
Gibsons · Lions Bay · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver · Richmond · Sechelt
RV, boat and trailer parking rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Traffic and Use of Streets Bylaw No. 133, 2005 (consolidated July 2024) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 (consolidated November 2025) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Use of Public Places Bylaw No. 537, 2021 (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 196, 2008 (consolidated March 2026) (PDF), Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Parking Tickets and Violation Notices, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Bowen Island Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. How answers are checked.