Colwood RV, boat and trailer parking rules
Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard?
Short answer
In the City of Colwood an RV may stay on a street no more than 12 hours, and a trailer may not be parked there unless its towing vehicle is attached. Any vehicle is limited to 72 hours in one spot. On your own lot, the rules found cover unlicensed vehicles only; ask about RVs and boats.
Key facts
| On the street | A recreational vehicle (motor home, travel trailer, tent trailer, camper) may not stay on any street for more than 12 hours; after that it may not be parked on the same street or within 500 m of the first spot for one week. Any vehicle: 72 hours at most in one spot (same 500 m, one week rule). A trailer may not be parked on a street unless the towing vehicle is attached. A household may not park more than two vehicles on the street.Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 1134, 2010 (consolidated to January 12, 2026), s. 31.21, 32.1, 30.4, 32.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThat is a Recreational Vehicle on any highway for a period greater than 12 hours. the initial permitted spot within one week of the expiry initial permitted time. no person shall park a vehicle on any highway for more than seventy-two (72) hours continuously. No person shall park a trailer or commercial vehicle on any street without the motive power unit being A household is not permitted to have more than two vehicles associated with that household parked |
|---|---|
| On your property | Land Use Bylaw: on any lot, no more than one vehicle outside a garage or carport may lack both current licence plates and a valid inspection certificate, except that implements of husbandry and up to two recreation vehicles (motor vehicle or trailer for accommodation during travel or recreation) may be kept. A permitted unlicensed vehicle must be in the rear yard or side yard behind the front building line. No separate rule on storing a licensed RV, boat or trailer was found.Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), s. 2.1.09(2)(a),(c), s. 3 (Recreation Vehicle) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe following uses shall be prohibited in all Zones: except that implements of husbandry and not more than two (2) recreation vehicles may be kept. other than in the rear yard or the side yard behind the front building line. means a motor vehicle or trailer designed or used primarily for accommodation during travel or recreation. |
| Living in an RV | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice ($ full / within 14 days / after 28 days): RV on street over 12 hours $150 ($125 / $175); parking over 72 hours $35 ($25 / $40); detached trailer $75 ($60 / $90); more than two household vehicles on the street $100 ($80 / $120); more than one restricted vehicle on a lot $100 ($80 / $120). Municipal ticket: $150, $35, $75, and $100 for the lot rule; the household-vehicle limit is not in the municipal ticket schedule.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026), Schedule B, Traffic and Highways Bylaw 1134; Land Use Bylaw 151; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022), Schedule 12, Schedule 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPark recreational vehicle on city street or boulevard Park recreational vehicle on city 31.21 $150.00 $125.00 $175.00 Park over 72 hours Park detached trailer Park more than two vehicles More than one restricted vehicle 31.21 Park a recreational vehicle on a City Street or Boulevard $150.00 Park over 72 hours Park detached trailer More than one restricted vehicle |
| Bylaw | Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 1134, 2010; Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 1134, 2010 (consolidated to January 12, 2026), PDF page 27; Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026), PDF page 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording49.16. Conduct construction on land adjacent to a highway where access from the highway to the land is required for that purpose; "Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 1134, 2010" - Consolidation Page 22 rated by the manufacturer. "HOUSEHOLD" means a dwelling unit, as defined in Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, and may include a unit within a single-family dwelling, duplex, townhouse, or multi-family dwelling. Colwood Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (With amendments to August 24, 2026) Consolidated for convenience only: |
How it works
Two bylaws apply in the City of Colwood: Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 1134 for streets and Land Use Bylaw No. 151 for private lots. Boats are not named in the street rules; a boat on a trailer falls under the trailer and general vehicle rules.
On the street
- A recreational vehicle (motor home, travel trailer, tent trailer, camper) may not stay on any street more than 12 hours. After that it may not be parked on the same street or within 500 m of the first spot for one week.
- Any vehicle: 72 hours at most in one spot, with the same 500 m, one week rule.
- A trailer may not be parked on a street unless the towing vehicle is attached.
- A household may not park more than two vehicles on the street.
On your lot
- No more than one vehicle outside a garage or carport may lack both current licence plates and a valid inspection certificate. Implements of husbandry and up to two recreation vehicles (a motor vehicle or trailer for accommodation during travel or recreation) may be kept.
- A permitted unlicensed vehicle must be in the rear yard or side yard behind the front building line.
- No separate rule on storing a licensed RV, boat or trailer on a residential lot was found. Ask Bylaw Services.
- The Unsightly Premises Bylaw counts unlicensed, unused or stripped trailers and boats as refuse.
Good to know
- No rule on living or sleeping in an RV was found in the street or land use bylaws.
- Fines: bylaw notice for more than two household vehicles on the street is $100 ($80 within 14 days, $120 after 28 days); more than one restricted vehicle on a lot is $100 ($80 / $120). Municipal ticket for the lot rule is $100; the household-vehicle limit is not in the municipal ticket schedule.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
View Royal · Esquimalt · Langford · Victoria · Metchosin · Highlands
RV, boat and trailer parking rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 1134, 2010 (consolidated to January 12, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Land Use Bylaw No. 151, 1989 (consolidated to August 24, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1911, 2021 (consolidated to March 9, 2026) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1314, 2010 (consolidated to April 8, 2022) (PDF), City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.