Merritt RV, boat and trailer parking rules
Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard?
Short answer
In Merritt, an unattached trailer cannot be parked on a street, and a recreational vehicle may park on a City street for no more than two consecutive hours. On a residential lot you may keep one motor home, truck camper or travel trailer and one boat, each up to 10 m long.
Key facts
| On the street | No trailer or unattached recreational trailer on a street unless attached to a towing vehicle or in an emergency. No vehicle may stay on a highway over 48 hours continuously. Section 516 also limits recreational vehicles to two consecutive hours on a City street. Residents may apply for an annual permit to park one RV on their boulevard.Traffic Bylaw 1930, 2006 (PDF, consolidated June 3, 2025), s. 510; Traffic Bylaw 1930, 2006 (PDF, consolidated June 3, 2025), s. 519 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall park any trailer or unattached recreational trailer vehicle upon any highway unless in emergency situations or the may only be parked on a City street for a consecutive period no longer than two (2) hours a vehicle on any highway for more than forty-eight (48) hours Residents may apply for a permit to park a recreational vehicle on Residents may apply for a permit to park a recreational vehicle on the boulevard area attached to their residence Only one (1) permit per residence will be approved. |
|---|---|
| On your property | On a residential zoned lot you may keep one motor home, truck camper or travel trailer up to 10 m long, and one boat up to 10 m long. Other motor homes, campers, travel trailers and utility trailers may not be parked or stored. The Good Neighbour Bylaw also allows only one recreational vehicle per dwelling unit unless extras are fully inside a building.Zoning Bylaw 2284, 2020 (PDF, 2026 consolidation), s. 5.1.4; Good Neighbour Bylaw 2387, 2024, s. 10.2(g) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person at any time may park or store any commercial vehicle, truck, bus, motor home, truck camper, travel trailer, utility trailer one motor home, truck camper or travel trailer provided that the overall length does not exceed 10 metres one boat or vessel not exceeding a length of 10 metres more than one recreational vehicle may be parked per dwelling unit. Additional vehicles may be parked or stored on the property such that the vehicle is entirely enclosed within a building |
| Living in an RV | The bylaws read do not address sleeping in a parked RV directly. The Zoning Bylaw prohibits, in all zones, any use carried on wholly or partly in a tent, recreational vehicle, travel trailer or mobile home unless the bylaw specifically permits it. Campgrounds are for stays under 30 consecutive days.Zoning Bylaw 2284, 2020 (PDF, 2026 consolidation), s. 4.3.1(b); Zoning Bylaw 2284, 2020 (PDF, 2026 consolidation), s. 2 definitions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA Use that is carried on wholly or partly in a tent, recreational vehicle, travel trailer, or Mobile Home, except as specifically permitted by this Bylaw for a length of stay of less than 30 consecutive days, in travel trailers, recreational vehicles or tents |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: trailer parking on a highway $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 after 28 days); parking contrary to the weight and RV time rule $100; time limit violation $100. More than one RV on a lot (Good Neighbour Bylaw): $100 first offence, $250 second, $450 third.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2424, 2026, Schedule A, Traffic Bylaw and Good Neighbour Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTrailer Parking Violation 510 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 No Weight Restrictions Violation 516 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 No More than one recreational vehicle 10.2g $100.00 for $75.00 for $125.00 |
| Bylaw | City of Merritt Traffic Bylaw 1930, 2006 (ss. 510, 516, 519); Zoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 (s. 5.1.4); Good Neighbour Bylaw 2387, 2024 (s. 10.2(g)).Zoning Bylaw 2284, 2020 (PDF, 2026 consolidation), title; Good Neighbour Bylaw 2387, 2024, s. 1.1; Traffic Bylaw 1930, 2006 (PDF, consolidated June 3, 2025), s. 510 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingZoning Bylaw No. 2284, 2020 This Bylaw shall be cited as “City of Merritt Good Neighbour Bylaw 2387, 2024”. No person shall double park a vehicle on a highway. 510 TRAILER PARKING: No person shall park any trailer or unattached recreational trailer City of Merritt "City of Merritt Traffic Bylaw 1930, 2006" Consolidated For Convenience - June 3, 2025 |
How it works
Three City bylaws apply. The Traffic Bylaw 1930 governs streets, the Zoning Bylaw 2284 governs what may be stored on a residential lot, and the Good Neighbour Bylaw 2387 limits recreational vehicles (RVs) per home. The Traffic Bylaw counts a chassis-mounted camper, motor home, holiday trailer, or boat and trailer used only for recreation as a recreation vehicle.
Steps
- On the street: do not park an unattached trailer or recreational trailer on a street unless it is attached to a towing vehicle or in an emergency. An RV may park on a City street for no more than two consecutive hours. No vehicle may stay on a highway more than 48 hours continuously.
- On your lot: in a residential zone you may keep one motor home, truck camper or travel trailer up to 10 m long, and one boat up to 10 m long. Other motor homes, campers, travel trailers and utility trailers may not be parked or stored there.
- On the boulevard in front of your home: apply each year to the City for an RV parking permit (Traffic Bylaw s. 519, Schedule F). You need signed consent from the neighbours directly beside the spot and the neighbour directly facing it. Ask Bylaw Services (250-378-4224 ext. 216) for the form and whether the permit is still offered.
Good to know
- Only one boulevard permit per residence. The City decides the spot at its sole discretion, and Council can revoke it after three or more complaints. A refusal can be appealed to the Truck Parking Committee, whose further refusal is binding.
- The Good Neighbour Bylaw also allows only one RV per dwelling unit unless extras are fully inside a building. This may overlap with the Zoning rule of one RV plus one boat, and the bylaws do not settle it. Ask Bylaw Services.
- The bylaws do not directly address sleeping in a parked RV. The Zoning Bylaw bars any use carried on in an RV or travel trailer unless it specifically permits it.
- Bylaw notices: trailer parking on a highway $100 ($75 within 14 days, $125 after 28 days); time limit violation $100; more than one RV on a lot $100 first offence, $250 second, $450 third.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Logan Lake · Lytton · Kamloops · Princeton · Ashcroft · Peachland
RV, boat and trailer parking rules in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Traffic Bylaw 1930, 2006 (PDF, consolidated June 3, 2025), City of Merritt (read 2026-11-05)
- Zoning Bylaw 2284, 2020 (PDF, 2026 consolidation), City of Merritt (read 2026-11-05)
- Good Neighbour Bylaw 2387, 2024 (PDF), City of Merritt (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2424, 2026 (PDF), City of Merritt (read 2026-11-05)
- Contact, City of Merritt (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. How answers are checked.