Ladysmith RV, boat and trailer parking rules
Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard?
In Ladysmith, no vehicle may stay parked on a street more than 72 hours, and a trailer may not be parked on a street without its towing vehicle. On a lot with a single unit dwelling you may keep one boat up to 10 m and one RV up to 11 m in an unenclosed area. Nobody may live in an RV on the street.
Key facts
| On the street | No vehicle may stay parked on a street more than 72 hours continuously. A trailer may not be parked on any street without its towing vehicle attached. On a boulevard, an RV, boat or trailer may not be parked longer than 72 hours.Streets and Traffic Bylaw 1999, No. 1309, consolidated September 2, 2026, s. 32, 47(2), 67 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingon any highway for more than seventy-two (72) hours continuously. without the motive power unit attached on any highway within the Municipality. No person shall park a recreational vehicle, boat or trailer on a boulevard for a period longer than 72 hours. |
|---|---|
| On your property | Only on a parcel with a single unit dwelling, in an unenclosed area: one boat up to 10 m, one RV up to 11 m, and one commercial vehicle up to 5,500 kg. Commercial vehicle and equipment parking must be at least 1.5 m from interior side and rear lot lines and not in front or exterior side yards.Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 5.17(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOnly on a Parcel where a Single Unit Dwelling is the Principal Use, a commercial Not more than one Boat is parked or stored per Parcel, and the Boat may not exceed a length of 10 metres. Not more than one Recreation Vehicle is parked or stored per Parcel, and the Recreation Vehicle may not exceed a length 11 metres. |
| Living in an RV | Not on a street or boulevard: no one may occupy a vehicle, trailer, camper or boat parked there for lodging, sleeping or as a residence. On a lot, an RV may not be occupied overnight while parked or stored, except one short-term stay for guests within a calendar year.Streets and Traffic Bylaw 1999, No. 1309, consolidated September 2, 2026, s. 40(5); Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, s. 5.17(a)(iv) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall occupy a vehicle, trailer, camper or boat parked on a highway or boulevard for the purpose of lodging, sleeping accommodation Recreation vehicles are not occupied overnight while parked or stored, other than one Short-Term occupancy for guests within one calendar year. |
| Fine | Streets bylaw schedule (first amount if paid within 30 days, second after 30 days): parked beyond time limit $20 / $35; sleeping in vehicle, trailer, camper or boat $30 / $50; RV over 6.5 m on boulevard beyond time limit $30 / $50; trailer without towing vehicle $20 / $35. A $35 fee is added if the ticket is not disputed or paid.Streets and Traffic Bylaw 1999, No. 1309, consolidated September 2, 2026, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingParked beyond time limit $20.00 $35.00 Use vehicle, trailer, camper or boat for $30.00 $50.00 RV over 6.5 m. parked on boulevard beyond time limit $30.00 $50.00 Non-commercial trailer parked with no motive power unit attached $20.00 $35.00 an administrative fee of $35.00 shall be added to |
| Bylaw | Streets and Traffic Bylaw 1999, No. 1309 (streets); Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, s. 5.17 (private lots)Streets and Traffic Bylaw 1999, No. 1309, consolidated September 2, 2026, title; Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingStreets and Traffic Bylaw 1999, No.1309 ZONING BYLAW 2014, NO.1860 |
On the street
The Streets and Traffic Bylaw 1999, No. 1309 sets these rules in Ladysmith:
- No vehicle may stay parked on a street more than 72 hours continuously.
- A trailer may not be parked on any street without its towing vehicle attached.
- On a boulevard, an RV, boat or trailer may not be parked longer than 72 hours.
- No one may occupy a vehicle, trailer, camper or boat parked on a street or boulevard for lodging, sleeping or as a residence.
On your property
Under section 5.17 of the Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, on a parcel with a single unit dwelling you may park, in an unenclosed area, one boat up to 10 m, one RV up to 11 m and one commercial vehicle up to 5,500 kg. Commercial vehicle and equipment parking must be at least 1.5 m from interior side and rear lot lines, and not in front or exterior side yards. An RV on a lot may not be occupied overnight, except one short-term stay for guests within a calendar year.
Fines
Street tickets (first amount if paid within 30 days, second after 30 days): parked beyond time limit $20 / $35; sleeping in a vehicle, trailer, camper or boat $30 / $50; RV over 6.5 m on a boulevard beyond the time limit $30 / $50; trailer without its towing vehicle $20 / $35. A $35 fee is added if the ticket is not disputed or paid.
Good to know
- The zoning text does not say the boat or RV must stay out of the front yard. Ask Bylaw Compliance at 250-245-6446.
- A trailer or RV for a wrangler may be allowed up to 30 days.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
North Cowichan · Duncan · Lake Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich
RV, boat and trailer parking rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Water Restrictions (read 2026-11-06)
- Streets and Traffic Bylaw 1999, No. 1309, consolidated September 2, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Zoning Bylaw 2014, No. 1860, consolidated September 29, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
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.