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

# Nanaimo RV, boat and trailer parking rules

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

**Short answer:** In Nanaimo no vehicle may stay on a street more than 24 hours without written permission, and a trailer may not be left on a street unhitched. On a single-dwelling lot, cars, RVs and boats combined are capped at four, or the number of spaces the Parking Bylaw requires if greater.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**Cost:** Street tickets are $35 each (early $26.25, late $43.75). Zoning tickets for RVs, boats or too many vehicles on a lot are $200 (early $150, late $250).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Information, 250-755-4422 (Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Email: Bylaw Information, bylaw.info@nanaimo.ca

## Key facts

- **On the street:** No vehicle may be parked on any street for more than 24 hours continuously without written permission of the General Manager, Engineering and Public Works. A trailer may not be left on a street without its towing vehicle attached. A vehicle left apparently unattended on a public road for more than 72 hours may be moved or impounded (s. 16). Parking to take up overnight abode is not allowed on any part of a street.
  - Source: [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw 1993 No. 5000, s. 4(21), (37), (39)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/5000.pdf)
  - Official wording: "On any highway for a continuous period exceeding 24 hours, without" … "first obtaining the written permission of the General Manager," … "A trailer on any portion of a highway without the motive power unit attached." … "Upon any portion of a highway for the purpose of taking up overnight abode." … "may move or cause to be moved a vehicle, or seize," … "detain or impound a vehicle" … "the vehicle is left apparently unattended on a highway, public place, or other public right-" … "of-way for a period exceeding 72 hours."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **On your property:** On a lot with a single residential dwelling, the combined total of motor vehicles, recreational vehicles and recreational boats parked or stored is at most four, or the number of parking spaces the Parking Bylaw requires, whichever is greater. No commercial boats, and no commercial vehicle over 8,600 kg gross weight, on residential lots. No more than two unlicensed motor vehicles on any lot.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500, ss. 6.12.1-6.12.4](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a) Where the principal use is single residential dwelling, the maximum total combined" … "number of motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, and recreational boats parked or" … "stored on a lot shall be: four, or an amount equal to the number of parking spaces" … "required by the Parking Bylaw, whichever is greater; and" … "No lot zoned residential shall be used for the parking, storage or repair of commercial boats." … "more than two unlicensed motor vehicles"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Living in an RV:** Not on a street: parking to take up overnight abode is prohibited. On a residential lot: sleeping in an RV is allowed only (a) during construction of a single dwelling while the building permit is in good standing, or (b) for non-paying guests of the owner or occupant for up to 42 days in a calendar year. RVs may not be rented. Tents, tarps and other temporary shelters for sleeping or camping are prohibited on any property.
  - Source: [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw 1993 No. 5000, s. 4(37)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/5000.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Upon any portion of a highway for the purpose of taking up overnight abode."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500, ss. 6.7.7-6.7.8](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Temporary accommodation within a recreational vehicle is permitted during the" … "construction of a single residential dwelling provided a building permit has been issued for" … "for non-paying guests of the owner or occupant of a single residential dwelling on the lot, provided such" … "use does not exceed 42 days in the calendar year."
  - Source: [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242, Property Maintenance Bylaw s. 7](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf)
  - Official wording: "erect or occupy a temporary" … "shelter for the purposes of transitory, short-term, interim or permanent lodging"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Parked over 24 hours (s. 4(21)), overnight abode (4(37)), trailer without towing vehicle (4(39)): $35 each (early $26.25, late $43.75). Zoning: unlawful RV occupation (6.7.7), RV occupation over 42 days (6.7.8), too many vehicles on a lot (6.12.3), commercial boat (6.12.4): $200 (early $150, late $250).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, Schedule A, Traffic and Highways / Zoning](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4(21) Parked over 24 hours 35.00 26.25 43.75" … "4(37) Park taking up overnight abode 35.00 26.25 43.75" … "4(39) Park trailer without power unit attached 35.00 26.25 43.75" … "6.7.7 Unlawful Occupation of Recreational 200.00 150.00 250.00" … "6.7.8 Occupy Recreational Vehicle Exceeding 200.00 150.00 250.00" … "6.12.3 Exceed Number of Vehicles Permitted 200.00 150.00 250.00" … "6.12.4 Commercial Boat Not Permitted 200.00 150.00 250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw 1993 No. 5000 (street parking); Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (lots); Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242 (temporary shelters).
  - Source: [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw 1993 No. 5000, title](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/5000.pdf)
  - Official wording: "TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAYS REGULATION BYLAW 1993 NO. 5000"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500, title](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of Nanaimo Zoning Bylaw No. 4500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Nanaimo has no web page on RV or boat parking, so the rules come from the [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw 1993 No. 5000](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/5000.pdf) for streets and the [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) for private lots. No RV- or boat-specific street rule was found. Posted signs and time limits may be stricter.

## On the street

- No vehicle may be parked on a street more than 24 hours continuously without written permission of the General Manager, Engineering and Public Works.
- A trailer may not be left on a street without its towing vehicle attached.
- Parking to take up overnight abode (sleeping or living in it) is not allowed on any part of a street.
- A vehicle left apparently unattended on a public road for more than 72 hours may be moved or impounded.

## On your lot

- A lot with a single residential dwelling: motor vehicles, recreational vehicles and recreational boats parked or stored total at most four, or the number of parking spaces the Parking Bylaw requires, whichever is greater. For multiple-family lots of up to four units the limit is three per principal dwelling unit.
- No commercial boats and no commercial vehicle over 8,600 kg gross weight on residential lots. No more than two unlicensed motor vehicles on any lot.
- A recreational vehicle is a camper, travel trailer, fifth wheel or motor home up to 2.6 m wide. No size limit for an RV or boat on a residential lot was found.

## Good to know

- Sleeping in an RV on a residential lot is allowed only during construction of a single dwelling while the building permit is in good standing, or for non-paying guests of the owner or occupant for up to 42 days in a calendar year. RVs may not be rented.
- Tents, tarps and other temporary shelters for sleeping or camping are prohibited on any property under the [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf).
- Tickets: $35 for parking over 24 hours, overnight abode, or a trailer without its towing vehicle. $200 for unlawful RV occupation, RV occupation over 42 days, too many vehicles on a lot, or a commercial boat.

## Official forms and pages

- [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw 5000 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/5000.pdf)
- [Zoning Bylaw 4500 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf)

## 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)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)

## Sources

- [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw 1993 No. 5000 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/5000.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 4500 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/4500.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) (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 Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/rv-boat-trailer-parking/_