Sechelt RV, boat and trailer parking rules

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

Sechelt, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Sechelt, an RV may not park on a street for more than eight hours, and unattached boat, utility or recreational trailers may not park on a street at all. Living in an RV is not allowed unless a zone permits it. Parking on your own lot is not clearly set out.

Key facts

On the street	A recreational vehicle may not park on any highway for more than eight hours, even if moved to another spot. Unattached utility trailers, boat trailers and recreational trailers may not be parked on a highway at all. No vehicle may stay on a highway more than 48 hours. Vehicle and trailer combinations over 15 m, or over 5,500 kg gross weight in a residential area between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., may not park on a highway.Highways and Parking Bylaw No. 516, 2012 (consolidated April 2026), ss. 6(c), 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No recreational vehicle will be permitted to park on any highway in excess of eight hours regardless if it is moved or not to another parking location. No person shall park any unattached utility trailer, boat trailer or recreational trailer on any highway. On any highway for a period in excess of forty-eight hours. Any culmination of vehicles including a towing apparatus is in excess of 15 metres in length.
On your property	Wrecked, derelict, unlicensed or abandoned trailers, recreational vehicles, boats and similar items may not be kept, stored or parked in any zone unless inside a fully enclosed building permitted by the Zoning Bylaw. Otherwise no limit on where, how many or what size was found.Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.2.1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording no wrecked, derelict, unlicensed, or abandoned motor vehicle, trailer, recreational vehicle except within a fully enclosed building that is permitted by this bylaw.
Living in an RV	Habitable residential use of movable structures, vehicles or boats not on water is prohibited in all zones unless a zone permits it. Exception: an RV or trailer may serve as a temporary building on a lot with an active building permit and approved water, power and sewage disposal. No abode or campsite in a public place without written permission. Short-term rental in an RV is not permitted.Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.2.1(c); Public Places Bylaw No. 518, 2012, ss. 3, 6; Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), s. 2.8.1(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Habitable residential use of movable structures, vehicles or boats that are not located on water. Recreational vehicles, trailers, sales office, or site office are permitted as temporary buildings or subject to the provision of recreational vehicles, trailers, sales office, or site office having No person shall take up temporary or permanent abode in or on any public place. No person shall establish or set up a campsite on a public place unless prior written Short-Term Rental is not permitted in a recreational vehicle, motor vehicle, tent, boat or any
Fine	Bylaw notices: RV over the 8-hour highway limit $100; unattached utility, boat or recreational trailer on a highway $50; RV over the weight limit $50; parked on a highway over 48 hours $50; use prohibited in zone (Zoning s. 2.2.1, including living in an RV) $300; temporary abode in a public place $200; campsite in a public place $300; RV or trailer as temporary building contrary to zoning $400.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw No. 515, 2012 (consolidated February 2026), Schedule A, Highways and Parking; Public Places; Zoning / Zoning Bylaw, temporary structures and vehicles, section 2.5; https://www.sechelt.ca/media/vqncrtjy/515-16-2025-bylaw-notice-enforcement-implementation-bylaw.pdf, Appendix A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Recreational vehicle over GVW $50 No Park unattached utility-boat- recreational $50 No Parked on highway more than 48 hours $50 No Temporary or permanent abode $200 No Campsite on public Place $300 No Use prohibited in zone $300 No 580, 2022 Section Use of an accessory building contravening $300 No 2.4.1 (a) Zoning 580, 2022 Section Temporary Building used as a dwelling $400 No 2.5.1 580, 2022 Section Temporary Building erected for other $400 No 2.5.2 than construction purposes or a period exceeding Building Permit limit 580, 2022 Section RV's, trailers, sales offices or site offices $400 No 2.5.3 not in conjunction with a development with a valid 520, 2012 5.7 (i) studio not bonded when $250 No required by inspector Recreational vehicle 516, 2012 9 (b) violated highway parking $100 No duration required by inspector Recreational vehicle 516, 2012 9 (b) violated highway parking $100 No duration Parked within five metres Recreational vehicle 516, 2012 9 (b) violated highway parking $100 No duration Parked within five metres 516, 2012 10 (f) $100 No
Bylaw	Highways and Parking Bylaw No. 516, 2012; Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022; Public Places Bylaw No. 518, 2012Highways and Parking Bylaw No. 516, 2012 (consolidated April 2026), Cover; Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025), Cover; Public Places Bylaw No. 518, 2012, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Highways and Parking Bylaw c) The parking requirement for a townhouse unit shall be 1.98 spaces per unit instead of 2 spaces per unit pursuant to Section 3.13 of Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022. Lot H District Lot 4292 Plan VAP7321 District of Sechelt Public Places Bylaw No. 518, 2012

How it works

On streets, the Highways and Parking Bylaw 516 says:

A recreational vehicle may not park on any highway (street) for more than eight hours, even if moved to another spot.
Unattached utility trailers, boat trailers and recreational trailers may not be parked on a highway at all.
No vehicle may stay on a highway more than 48 hours.
Vehicle and trailer combinations over 15 m, or over 5,500 kg gross weight in a residential area between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., may not park on a highway.

On your own property

Wrecked, derelict, unlicensed or abandoned trailers, recreational vehicles, boats and similar items may not be kept or parked in any zone unless inside a fully enclosed building permitted by the Zoning Bylaw 580. We did not find any other limit on where, how many or what size of licensed RVs and boats may be kept on a residential lot. Ask Planning at 604-740-8459.

Good to know

Living in a movable structure, vehicle or boat not on water is prohibited in all zones unless a zone permits it. Exception: an RV or trailer may serve as a temporary building on a lot with an active building permit and approved water, power and sewage disposal.
No abode or campsite is allowed in a public place without written permission under the Public Places Bylaw.
Short-term rental in an RV is not permitted.
Fines are in the cost field above. No early or late amounts are set.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Gibsons · Bowen Island · Lantzville · Nanaimo · Lions Bay · Parksville

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

Sources

Highways and Parking Bylaw No. 516, 2012 (consolidated April 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022 (consolidated May 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Public Places Bylaw No. 518, 2012 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Implementation Bylaw No. 515, 2012 (consolidated February 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Contacts directory, District of Sechelt (read 2026-11-06)
https://www.sechelt.ca/media/vqncrtjy/515-16-2025-bylaw-notice-enforcement-implementation-bylaw.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.