---
title: Highlands RV, boat and trailer parking rules
question: "Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in Highlands?"
place: Highlands, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/highlands
category: Parking, tickets and driving
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Highlands
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/rv-boat-trailer-parking/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/rv-boat-trailer-parking.json"
---

# Highlands RV, boat and trailer parking rules

**Question:** Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in Highlands?

**Short answer:** In Highlands, a trailer or camper detached from a vehicle may not be parked on any road. On a lot, no more than three recreation vehicles may be parked outside a building. Nobody may live in an RV or camper on a road, or use one as a dwelling on any lot.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Highlands, https://www.highlands.ca)  
**Cost:** Detached trailer or camper on a road: $50. Other fines range from $50 to $500.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District of Highlands Municipal Hall (Bylaw Enforcement), 250-474-1773

## Key facts

- **On the street:** A trailer or camper detached from a motor vehicle may not be parked on any road. Vehicles over 4,000 kg gross weight or 7.0 m long may not park on a road between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Abandoning a vehicle, trailer or boat on a road or public place is banned. Check signs for local time limits.
  - Source: [Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300, s. 5.10, 5.11, 6.12(e)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1448)
  - Official wording: "No person shall park on road right-of-ways:" … "(a) a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight of more than 4,000 kilograms; or" … "no person shall park a" … "trailer or camper that is detached from a motor vehicle on any road right-of-" … "shall abandon, deposit or leave any vehicle, trailer, or boat upon or in any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **On your property:** No more than three recreation vehicles (campers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, or motor vehicles built mainly for temporary recreational sleeping) may be parked or kept outside a building on a lot. No more than one unlicensed vehicle outside a building; unlicensed or commercial vehicles must be at least 10 m from every lot line.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated June 2026), s. 3.9(1), (3), (5)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622)
  - Official wording: "No more than three (3) recreation vehicles shall be parked or kept outside a building on a lot." … "No more than one (1) unlicensed vehicle shall be parked or kept outside a building on a lot." … "No unlicensed vehicle or commercial vehicle shall be parked or kept on a lot within 10 metres of"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated June 2026), s. 1 'Recreation Vehicle'](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622)
  - Official wording: "RECREATION VEHICLE means any camper, travel trailer, fifth wheel or motor vehicle with a maximum"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Living in an RV:** No. On a road, no one may use a vehicle, trailer or camper for lodging, sleeping or as a residence. On any lot, using an RV, camper or vehicle as a dwelling unit is prohibited in all zones.
  - Source: [Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300, s. 5.16](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1448)
  - Official wording: "No person shall use any vehicle, trailer or camper parked on a road right-of-way" … "for the purpose of lodging, sleeping accommodation or a residence."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated June 2026), s. 3.7(2)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622)
  - Official wording: "recreational vehicle, camper, or building or structure other than a dwelling unit as a dwelling unit is" … "prohibited in all Zones."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Detached trailer or camper on a road (s. 5.11): $50 ($40 within 14 days; $60 after 28). Over 4,000 kg or 7 m overnight (s. 5.10): $50. Abandoning a vehicle, trailer or boat on a road: $200. Contrary to zoning s. 3.9: $200. Living in a parked vehicle on a road: notice $500 but ticket $75; schedules differ. (Sources differ: CONFLICT: for occupying a parked vehicle, trailer or camper, the Bylaw Notice schedule (No. 475) lists $500 ($400 early, $600 late) with section 6.01, while the Municipal Ticket schedule (No. 478) lists $75 with section 5.16. The two schedules' section numbers are also offset in several rows. Check with the District which applies.)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025, Schedule A, Bylaw 300 and Zoning Bylaw](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623)
  - Official wording: "Park detached trailer/camper 5.11 $ 50.00 $40.00 $60.00" … "Occupancy of parked vehicle/ trailer/" … "6.01 $500.00 $400.00 $600.00" … "Permit vehicles, driveways, and parking" … "3.9(1-11)" … "Park vehicle in excess of 4,000 kgs." … "Abandon vehicle/trailer/boat"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025, Schedule A, Appendix 4 and 10](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635)
  - Official wording: "Park detached trailer/camper 5.11 $ 50.00" … "Occupancy of parked vehicle/ trailer/ camper 5.16 $ 75.00" … "Permit vehicles, driveways, and parking contrary to bylaw 3.9(1-11) $200.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Highlands Bylaw No. 300 to Regulate Roads and Traffic; Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998.
  - Source: [Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300, title page](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1448)
  - Official wording: "DISTRICT OF HIGHLANDS BYLAW NO. 300 A BY-LAW TO REGULATE ROADS AND TRAFFIC WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF HIGHLANDS"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated June 2026), footer](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622)
  - Official wording: "Highlands Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1448) bars a trailer or camper detached from a motor vehicle from being parked on any road. A vehicle over 4,000 kg gross weight or 7.0 m long may not park on a road between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Abandoning a vehicle, trailer or boat on a road or public place is banned, and so is parking an unlicensed vehicle on a road. Check signs for local time limits.

On your own lot, the [Zoning Bylaw No. 100](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622) allows no more than three recreation vehicles (campers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, or vehicles built mainly for temporary recreational sleeping) parked or kept outside a building. No more than one unlicensed vehicle may be outside a building, and unlicensed or commercial vehicles must be at least 10 m from every lot line.

## Good to know

- Nobody may use a vehicle, trailer or camper for lodging, sleeping or as a residence on a road. Using an RV, camper or vehicle as a dwelling unit is prohibited in all zones.
- No separate limit on boats or utility trailers was found. Detached vehicle parts may not be kept outside a building.
- Fines: detached trailer or camper on a road: $50 ($40 within 14 days; $60 after 28). Over 4,000 kg or 7 m overnight: $50. Abandoning a vehicle, trailer or boat on a road: $200. Breaking the zoning rule on vehicles: $200.
- Living in a parked vehicle on a road: the bylaw notice schedule says $500, but the ticket schedule says $75. The two disagree, so ask the District which applies.

## Official forms and pages

- [Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1448)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622)

## Related questions

- [Highlands bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Highlands unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/unsightly-property.md)
- [Highlands zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/zoning-lookup.md)

## 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)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)

## Sources

- [Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1448) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 100, 1998 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1622) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Highlands. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/rv-boat-trailer-parking/_