Chilliwack RV, boat and trailer parking rules
Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard?
Short answer
In Chilliwack an RV may be parked on a street for at most 24 continuous hours, then must be moved off every street for at least 24 hours. A trailer must stay hooked to a vehicle that can tow it. On a lot, the Zoning Bylaw allows one resident-owned recreation vehicle where the zone permits it.
Key facts
| On the street | An RV may be parked on a street for at most 24 continuous hours, then must be moved off every street for at least 24 hours before returning. A trailer must always be attached to a vehicle able to tow it (unless it can move on its own). A vehicle combination over 18.3 m long cannot park on a street. A vehicle or trailer over 5,500 kg gross weight cannot park on a street next to residentially zoned property between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Other legally parked vehicles may stay up to 7 days (72 hours in Schedule 3 zones).Sources differ: The City page says vehicles with a gross weight of '5,500 kg or greater' may not park overnight on City streets in residential zones; the bylaw (which wins) says 'exceeding' 5,500 kg and where the adjacent property is zoned residential. Searched the Highway bylaw for boat, trailer, camp, sleep: boats are not mentioned in the bylaw, so no boat-specific rule is stated.Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 (consolidated July 2, 2025), s. 108(30); Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 (consolidated July 2, 2025), s. 110(1)-(3); Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 (consolidated July 2, 2025), s. 108(24); Parking Regulations · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wordingany recreational vehicle (RV) for a continuous period in excess of 24 hours. The RV must then be moved off of any Highway for at least 24 hours before it can be returned to the Highway; unless it is capable of independent propulsion or is attached to a Vehicle mechanically capable of towing or pulling it at all times; in excess of 18.3m in length; exceeding a gross Vehicle weight of 5,500 kg, where the adjacent real property is zoned between 7:00 pm and 7:00 am of the following day on a Highway for a continuous period in excess of seven days other than the zones A recreational vehicle may be parked on the street for a maximum of 24 continuous hours before it must be parked off-street Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 5,500 kg or greater are not permitted to park overnight |
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| On your property | Only where the lot's zone permits urban or rural ancillary uses: the Zoning Bylaw allows off-street parking of 1 recreation vehicle owned by a resident of the property. A recreation vehicle is a vehicle or trailer equipped as temporary living or sleeping quarters, no wider than 2.6 m in transit.Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 4.06(6)(a)(ii)(E)(II); s. 4.06(7)(a)(ii)(E)(II); Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 2 (Recreation Vehicle) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wording1 RECREATION VEHICLE owned by a resident of the property RURAL ANCILLARY USES are permitted subject to the following conditions: URBAN ANCILLARY USES shall be permitted subject to the following conditions: not having a width in transit mode greater than 2.6m at any point |
| Living in an RV | Not on a lot: the Zoning Bylaw defines a recreation vehicle as prohibited for use as a dwelling unit, and prohibits any use located within a recreation vehicle in all zones unless a zone expressly permits it (except temporary uses such as markets and vending).Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 2 (Recreation Vehicle); s. 4.03(1)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wordingand is prohibited for use as a DWELLING UNIT; Any use located all or partly within a Tent, Recreation Vehicle or MOTOR VEHICLE except for temporary use such as FARMERS MARKETS |
| Fine | Bylaw notice amounts (Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4573, Schedule A): parking an RV over 24 hours, $100; parking a vehicle combination over 18.3 m, $100; parking a motor vehicle or trailer over 5,500 kg in a residential zone, $100; parking non-motorized vehicles (s. 110(1)), $100. Each is $90 if received within 14 days and $110 if paid more than 28 days after the notice. A Zoning Bylaw violation on a lot is $500 by bylaw notice or $1,000 by ticket.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018, No. 4573 (consolidated April 21, 2026), Schedule A, Highway and Traffic Bylaw 4686; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018, No. 4573 (consolidated April 21, 2026), s. 6(2), (3); Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 3.03(2), (3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wordingParking an RV in Excess of 24 Hours 108(30) 100.00 90.00 110.00 Parking of Non-Motorized Vehicles 110(1) 100.00 90.00 110.00 Parking of Vehicles in Excess of 18.3m in Length 110(2) 100.00 90.00 110.00 Parking any Motor Vehicle or Trailer Exceeding a Gross Vehicle Weight of 5,500kg in a Residential Zone If received by the City within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to If more than 28 days after the person received or is presumed to have received the the fine for any violation is hereby established as the penalty for any violation is hereby established as $500, |
| Bylaw | Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 (streets); Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (private lots); Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018, No. 4573 (ticket amounts).Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 (consolidated July 2, 2025), Title; Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000, s. 1.01; Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018, No. 4573 (consolidated April 21, 2026), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-05Official wordingHighway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 This BYLAW may be cited as “Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000”. This bylaw may be cited as “Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018, No. 4573”. |
How it works
On streets, the Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 sets the rules. A recreational vehicle (RV) may be parked on a street for a maximum of 24 continuous hours, then must be moved off every street for at least 24 hours before it returns. A trailer must always be attached to a vehicle able to tow it, unless it can move on its own. Other legally parked vehicles may stay up to 7 days, or 72 hours in some zones.
On your own lot, the Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 allows off-street parking of 1 recreation vehicle owned by a resident of the property, only where the lot's zone permits urban or rural ancillary uses. A recreation vehicle is a vehicle or trailer equipped as temporary living or sleeping quarters, no wider than 2.6 m in transit.
Good to know
- Boats are not mentioned in the Highway and Traffic Bylaw or the Zoning Bylaw, so the City sets no boat-specific rule. A boat on a trailer is still a trailer. Ask Planning how the zoning rules apply to your lot.
- A vehicle or trailer over 5,500 kg gross weight cannot park on a street next to residentially zoned property between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. The City's Parking page says "5,500 kg or greater"; the bylaw says "exceeding", so confirm with the City.
- A vehicle combination over 18.3 m long cannot park on a street.
- Vehicles on City streets must be licensed and insured. Storage insurance only covers private property.
- Living in an RV: the Zoning Bylaw does not allow a recreation vehicle to be used as a dwelling unit on a lot. The street rules say nothing about sleeping in an RV, but the 24-hour limit applies.
- Also on a lot, unlicensed vehicles are limited to 1 in urban areas and 2 in rural areas unless enclosed.
- Ticket amounts: $100 for parking an RV over 24 hours, a vehicle combination over 18.3 m, or a vehicle or trailer over 5,500 kg in a residential zone, or for parking a non-motorized vehicle. Each is $90 if received within 14 days and $110 if paid more than 28 days after the notice. A Zoning Bylaw violation on a lot is $500 by bylaw notice or $1,000 by ticket.
- Illegal parking can be reported to Bylaw Enforcement, 604-793-2908.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Harrison Hot Springs · Kent · Abbotsford · Mission · Hope · Township of Langley
RV, boat and trailer parking rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Parking Regulations, City of Chilliwack (read 2026-11-05)
- Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2019, No. 4686 (consolidated July 2, 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2018, No. 4573 (consolidated April 21, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2020, No. 5000 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.