--- title: North Cowichan RV, boat and trailer parking rules question: "Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in North Cowichan?" place: North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/north-cowichan category: Parking, tickets and driving owner: municipal owner_body: Municipality of North Cowichan sources_read: 2026-11-06 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/rv-boat-trailer-parking/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/rv-boat-trailer-parking.json" --- # North Cowichan RV, boat and trailer parking rules **Question:** Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in North Cowichan? **Short answer:** In North Cowichan, a trailer or RV may not be parked on a public road for more than 4 hours, and no vehicle may stay parked on a road longer than 24 hours. The sources we read do not state a rule for keeping an RV, boat or trailer on your own lot. **Who handles it:** Municipal (Municipality of North Cowichan, https://www.northcowichan.ca) **Cost:** Fine: bylaw notice $200 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $220 after 28 days), or municipal ticket $200. **How long:** Trailer or RV on a road: 4 hours at most. Any vehicle on a road: 24 hours at most. **Where:** - Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-746-3108 ## Key facts - **On the street:** A trailer or recreational vehicle may not be parked on any highway (public road) for more than 4 hours. Any vehicle may not stay continuously parked on a highway longer than 24 hours. Vehicles over 5,500 kg gross weight are limited to 4 hours. Vehicles over 6 m long cannot be parked in a lane or angle-parking zone. RVs must not be parked outside an established parking area unless authorized. - Source: [Traffic Bylaw No. 2276, 1988, consolidated to September 14, 2026, ss. 7-8](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/Traffic%20Bylaw%202276.pdf) - Official wording: "No person may park a trailer or recreational vehicle on any highway for more than 4" … "continuously parked for a period longer than 24 hours" … "any vehicle having a gross vehicle weight exceeding 5,500 kg on" … "park a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle other than in an established parking" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **On your property:** None set. The Zoning Bylaw and Nuisance Abatement Bylaw that were read state no rule for keeping an RV, boat or trailer on your lot. - **Living in an RV:** On a street: no sleeping overnight in a vehicle on a highway. In parks: no remaining overnight without authorization. For living or sleeping in an RV on a private lot no rule was found. - Source: [Traffic Bylaw No. 2276, 1988, consolidated to September 14, 2026, s. 8(h)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/Traffic%20Bylaw%202276.pdf) - Official wording: "for the purpose of sleeping overnight in vehicle" - Source: [Parks and Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 3626, s. 2(e)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Parks%20%20and%20Public%20Places%20Regulation%20Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "remain overnight, except for security measures during a special event or activity" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $200 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $220 after 28 days) for a trailer or RV parked over 4 hours, parking over 24 hours, sleeping overnight in a vehicle, and most parking offences. Municipal ticket: $200 for the same offences. - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, Schedule A, Traffic Bylaw](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf) - Official wording: "Park trailer or recreational vehicle on" … "highway for more than 4 hours" - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw, Schedule 2, Section 16](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf) - Official wording: "Park trailer or creational vehicle on highway for more than 4 hours 7 (3) 200" … "Park for the purpose of sleeping overnight in vehicle 8 (h) 200" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 - **Bylaw:** Traffic Bylaw No. 2276, 1988 (ss. 7-8); Zoning Bylaw No. 2950 for private lots. - Source: [Traffic Bylaw No. 2276, 1988, consolidated to September 14, 2026, title](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/Traffic%20Bylaw%202276.pdf) - Official wording: "TRAFFIC BYLAW Bylaw 2276 CONSOLIDATION This consolidation is a copy of a bylaw consolidated under the authority of section 139 of the" - Source: [https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968, title](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968) - Official wording: "ZONING BYLAW 1997 No. 2950 CONSOLIDATION Current to September 14, 2026 Last amended on September 8, 2026" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 ## How it works The [Traffic Bylaw]() sets these limits on a highway (public road): - A trailer or recreational vehicle may not be parked on a road for more than 4 hours. Boat trailers count as trailers; boats are not mentioned separately. - Any vehicle may not stay continuously parked on a road longer than 24 hours. - Vehicles over 5,500 kg gross weight are limited to 4 hours. - Vehicles over 6 m long cannot be parked in a lane or angle-parking zone. - RVs must not be parked outside an established parking area unless authorized. **On your own lot:** the Zoning Bylaw and Nuisance Abatement Bylaw as we read them state no rule for keeping an RV, boat or trailer. Ask Bylaw Services at 250-746-3108 before assuming it is allowed. ## Steps 1. Move an RV or trailer off the road before 4 hours are up. 2. Move any vehicle before it has been on the road for 24 hours. 3. For storage on your property, ask Bylaw Services. ## Good to know - Sleeping overnight in a vehicle on a road is not allowed. In parks, remaining overnight without authorization is not allowed. - No rule was found on living or sleeping in an RV on a private lot. - A bylaw notice is $200 ($100 if paid within 14 days, $220 after 28 days) for an RV or trailer parked over 4 hours, parking over 24 hours, sleeping overnight in a vehicle, and most parking offences. A municipal ticket is $200 for the same offences. ## Official forms and pages - [Traffic Bylaw No. 2276, 1988 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/Traffic%20Bylaw%202276.pdf) ## Related questions - [North Cowichan bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/bylaw-fines.md) - [North Cowichan unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/unsightly-property.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) - [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md) - [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md) - [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md) - [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md) - [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md) - [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md) ## Sources - [Bylaw directory | Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/bylaw-directory) (read 2026-11-06) - [Traffic Bylaw No. 2276, 1988, consolidated to September 14, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/Traffic%20Bylaw%202276.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Parks and Public Places Regulation Bylaw No. 3626 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Parks%20%20and%20Public%20Places%20Regulation%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf) (read 2026-11-06) - [https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968](https://www.northcowichan.ca/media/968) (read 2026-11-06) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Municipality of North Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/rv-boat-trailer-parking/_