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Lake Cowichan RV, boat and trailer parking rules

Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in Lake Cowichan?

Lake Cowichan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Lake Cowichan, no vehicle may stay parked on a street for more than 72 hours, and no unlicensed trailer or camper may be parked on public streets. On a residential lot, no more than four vehicles, trailers, RVs or boats may be outside a building. Living in an RV on a lot is not allowed.

Key facts

On the streetNo vehicle may be parked on a highway for more than 72 hours continuously. No unlicensed vehicle, trailer or camper may be parked on public streets or rights-of-way. In residential areas, no vehicle over 20,000 kg or longer than 7.5 m may park on a local street for more than 2 hours. Parking is also barred within 6 m of a crosswalk.Traffic Bylaw No. 759-2003, s. 6.01(c), 6.07, 6.04 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
no persons shall park a
vehicle on any highway for more than seventy-two (72) hours continuously.
No person shall park an unlicensed vehicle, trailer or camper on public streets or
or a length in excess of 7.5 metres on a local street within a residential area for a
period longer than two (2) hours.
On your propertyNo lot may be used for parking or storing a trailer, RV, camper, boat or other vehicle unless a principal residential use is established on the lot. An improved residential lot may have no more than four motor vehicles, trailers, RVs, campers, boats or other vehicles in total unless completely enclosed in a building.Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, Vehicle Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
unless a principal residential use has been established
No improved residential lot shall be used for the parking or storage of more than a
total of four (4) motor vehicles, trailers, recreational vehicles, campers, boats, or other
Living in an RVNo on lots: living or sleeping in a trailer, RV, camper or other vehicle is prohibited on all lots in every zone, except where campground is a permitted or legal non-conforming use, or as the Zoning Bylaw specifically provides. The Traffic Bylaw says nothing on sleeping in a vehicle on a street.Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV, Vehicle Restrictions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Human habitation, occupancy, or residency in any trailer, recreational vehicle,
camper, or other vehicle is prohibited on all lots in every zone, except in zones where
specifically provided for in this bylaw.
FineTraffic Regulations Bylaw: a fine not exceeding $500 on summary conviction. No ticket schedule found for parking offences.Traffic Bylaw No. 759-2003, s. 9.01 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
commits an offence and is liable on
conviction to a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).
BylawTown of Lake Cowichan Traffic Bylaw No. 759-2003; Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (Vehicle Restrictions).Traffic Bylaw No. 759-2003, s. 9.03; Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024), Part IV · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This bylaw may be cited as the Town of Lake Cowichan Traffic Bylaw No.
right-of-way of a major highway designated in the aforementioned Article 4.3.15 a. Vehicle Restrictions No lot in any zone shall be used for the wrecking or storage of derelict vehicles or
TOWN OF LAKE COWICHAN ZONING BYLAW NO. 1055-2021 Consolidated as of February 24th, 2026

How it works

On streets, the Traffic Bylaw No. 759-2003 applies. On private lots, the Vehicle Restrictions in the Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 apply. In the Traffic Bylaw, a "recreation vehicle" means a camper, motor home, holiday trailer or boat trailer.

Good to know

  • On the street: no vehicle may be parked on a highway for more than 72 hours continuously. No unlicensed vehicle, trailer or camper may be parked on public streets or rights-of-way. Parking is also barred within 6 m of a crosswalk.
  • In residential areas, no vehicle over 20,000 kg or longer than 7.5 m may park on a local street for more than 2 hours.
  • On your property: no lot may be used for parking or storing a trailer, RV, camper, boat or other vehicle unless a principal residential use is established on the lot.
  • An improved residential lot may have no more than four motor vehicles, trailers, RVs, campers, boats or other vehicles in total unless completely enclosed in a building.
  • Living or sleeping in a trailer, RV, camper or other vehicle is prohibited on all lots in every zone, except where campground is a permitted or legal non-conforming use, or as the Zoning Bylaw specifically provides.
  • The Traffic Bylaw sets a fine not exceeding $500 on summary conviction. No parking ticket schedule was found. Ask Town Hall at 250-749-6681.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Ladysmith · Duncan · North Cowichan · Nanaimo · Lantzville · North Saanich

RV, boat and trailer parking rules in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Traffic Bylaw No. 759-2003 (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Zoning Bylaw No. 1055-2021 (consolidated Feb. 26, 2024) (PDF), Town of Lake Cowichan (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. How answers are checked.