---
title: Fort St. John RV, boat and trailer parking rules
question: "Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in Fort St. John?"
place: Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fort-st-john
category: Parking, tickets and driving
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Fort St. John
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/rv-boat-trailer-parking/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/rv-boat-trailer-parking.json"
---

# Fort St. John RV, boat and trailer parking rules

**Question:** Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in Fort St. John?

**Short answer:** In Fort St. John, a trailer (including a boat trailer) may be parked on a street only while hitched to a towing vehicle, no vehicle may stay on a street longer than 24 hours unless a sign allows it, and no one may occupy an RV parked on a street. On your own lot, an RV or boat must be at least 2 metres back from the curb or sidewalk.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fort St. John, https://www.fortstjohn.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notices: occupying an RV on a street $200 ($100 within 14 days; $300 on days 31–60). Parked over 24 hours $40 ($30 early; $50 late). Trailer without a towing vehicle $40. Parked on a boulevard or sidewalk $40.  
**How long:** 24 hours maximum on a street, unless a sign allows longer.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-787-8150
- Online: Report a Problem, https://www.fortstjohn.ca/report-problem

## Key facts

- **On the street:** A vehicle may not be parked on a street for longer than 24 hours unless a sign allows it. A trailer may be parked on a street only while connected to a towing vehicle, and both must have current insurance, registration and plates. No parking on a boulevard or sidewalk, or within 5 m of a hydrant.
  - Source: [Highway and Traffic Bylaw No. 2605, 2025, ss. 23(h), 23(j), 23(k), 49](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/highway-and-traffic-bylaw-no-2605-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "for longer than 24 hours, unless parking for a longer period is expressly permitted by a" … "Trailer is connected to a towing vehicle" … "on a Sidewalk or trail" … "within 5 m of a fire hydrant"
  - Source: [Bylaw Services Frequently Asked Questions, Parking](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services-frequently-asked-questions)
  - Official wording: "no more than a consecutive 24-hour time period"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **On your property:** Recreational vehicles, boats, campers and utility trailers must be set back at least 2 m from the inside edge of the curb or sidewalk. Parking spaces in residential (R, RM) and P zones must be solely for private non-commercial vehicles.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (consolidated), s. 5.2(4)-(5)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Recreational vehicles, boats, campers and utility trailers must be setback a minimum of 2" … "m from the inside edge of the curb or sidewalk" … "Parking spaces in R, RM, or P zones must be solely for parking of private non-commercial"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Living in an RV:** Not on a street: no one may occupy a recreational vehicle at any time while it is parked on a highway.
  - Source: [Highway and Traffic Bylaw No. 2605, 2025, s. 48](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/highway-and-traffic-bylaw-no-2605-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Person must not occupy any Recreational Vehicle, at any time, while it is parked on a Highway."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: occupying an RV on a highway $200 ($100 within 14 days; $300 on days 31–60). Parked longer than 24 hours $40 ($30 early; $50 late). Trailer parked without a towing vehicle $40. Parked on a boulevard or sidewalk $40.
  - Source: [Highway and Traffic Bylaw No. 2605, 2025, Schedule B](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/highway-and-traffic-bylaw-no-2605-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "Occupying RV on Highway" … "200.00" … "100.00" … "300.00" … "Parked for longer than 24 hours" … "Trailer parked without towing" … "40.00" … "30.00" … "50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Highway and Traffic Bylaw No. 2605, 2025; Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (consolidated)
  - Source: [Highway and Traffic Bylaw No. 2605, 2025, title](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/highway-and-traffic-bylaw-no-2605-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC BYLAW NO. 2605, 2025"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (consolidated), title](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (Consolidated Version)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2605](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/highway-and-traffic-bylaw-no-2605-2025pdf) treats "recreational vehicle" broadly: travel trailers, tent trailers, motorhomes, campers and trailers carrying boats, snowmobiles or ATVs. The [Zoning Bylaw](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw) covers parking on your own lot.

## Steps

1. On a street, keep a trailer connected to a towing vehicle. Both need current insurance, registration and plates.
2. Do not occupy an RV parked on a street at any time.
3. Move any vehicle before 24 hours are up, unless a sign allows longer.
4. On your lot, set RVs, boats, campers and utility trailers back at least 2 metres from the inside edge of the curb or sidewalk.

## Good to know

- No parking on a boulevard or sidewalk, or within 5 metres of a hydrant.
- Heavy trucks may not park on streets in residential-only zones, which could affect large rigs.
- Residential and P-zone parking spaces must be for private, non-commercial vehicles.
- Under the Property Standards Bylaw, dilapidated or dismantled boats and trailers count as refuse and may not be left outdoors, and derelict vehicles are not allowed.
- No limit on number or size of RVs on a lot, no front-yard ban, and no rule on living in an RV on private land were found. The City's FAQ also mentions a midnight to 8 a.m. ban in certain areas that the bylaw does not show; ask Bylaw Services at 250-787-8150.

## Official forms and pages

- [Highway and Traffic Bylaw 2605, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/highway-and-traffic-bylaw-no-2605-2025pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 2470, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw)

## The same question elsewhere

- [RV, boat and trailer parking rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)

## Sources

- [Highway and Traffic Bylaw No. 2605, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/highway-and-traffic-bylaw-no-2605-2025pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 2470, 2019 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Standards Bylaw No. 2434, 2018 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/property-standards-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services Frequently Asked Questions, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services-frequently-asked-questions) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Fort St. John. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/rv-boat-trailer-parking/_