---
title: Smithers RV, boat and trailer parking rules
question: "Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in Smithers?"
place: Smithers, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/smithers
category: Parking, tickets and driving
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Smithers
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/rv-boat-trailer-parking/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/rv-boat-trailer-parking.json"
---

# Smithers RV, boat and trailer parking rules

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

**Short answer:** In Smithers, no vehicle may be parked on a street for more than 24 continuous hours, and overnight street camping is prohibited. In residential zones, RVs, campers, trailers and boats may be stored long term only when completely on your parcel. You may not live in an RV outside a campground.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Smithers, https://www.smithers.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notices: RV not on the property $300; overtime parking over 24 hours $60; overnight camping on a street $60.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Town Hall (bylaw enforcement), 250-847-1600 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **On the street:** No vehicle may be parked on any highway for more than 24 continuous hours, or moved within the same block to avoid time limits. Camping overnight on a street is prohibited. In angle-parking zones, a vehicle with trailer over 6 m may not park.
  - Source: [Traffic Bylaw No. 2013, s. 3.2(17)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290949/)
  - Official wording: "on any highway, for a continuous period exceeding twenty-four (24) hours;"
  - Source: [Traffic Bylaw No. 2013, s. 3.2(16)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290949/)
  - Official wording: "any trailer attached thereto exceeds six (6) metres;"
  - Source: [Traffic Bylaw No. 2013, s. 3.1(11)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290949/)
  - Official wording: "amps overnight on any street or in any park or in any parking area, other than"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **On your property:** In residential zones, long-term parking or storage of recreational vehicles, campers, trailers or boats is prohibited except when completely located on a parcel. Commercial vehicles over 12 m or 22,000 kg must be fully enclosed.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.12.2(b)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "the long-term parking or storage of recreation vehicles, campers, trailers or boats" … "is prohibited except when completely located on a parcel."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Definitions](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "“recreational vehicle” means a vehicle designed to be used for temporary living and travel,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Living in an RV:** No. RVs parked or stored in residential zones may not be used for short-term rental or residential use, and using an RV or tent for any accommodation outside a campground is prohibited. Overnight camping on streets is also prohibited.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.12.2](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "shall not be used either for short-term rental or residential use."
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, s. 2.19.2](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "Use of Recreational Vehicles and/or tents for any type of accommodation is prohibited"
  - Source: [Traffic Bylaw No. 2013, s. 3.1(11)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290949/)
  - Official wording: "amps overnight on any street or in any park or in any parking area, other than"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: failing to park an RV on the property (Zoning s. 2.12.2.b) $300 (schedule also shows $150 early, $400 late; s. 8.1 reads the columns differently). Overtime parking over 24 hours (Traffic s. 3.2.17) $60, no 24-hour discount, $100 late. Overnight camping on a street (s. 3.1.11) $60, or $40 within 24 hours, $100 late. (Sources differ: Amounts are from the Schedule A table of Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011 (adopted Aug. 25, 2026). The table headings read Penalty / Early Payment (within 14 days) / Late Payment (after 28 days), but s. 8.1 of the same bylaw says the Column 3 amount is payable within 14 days, Column 4 between 14 and 28 days and Column 5 after 28 days, so which figure is the 'full' amount is unclear; confirm with the Town. No Municipal Ticket Information bylaw was found in the bylaw library. Traffic table columns: Final Demand, Within 24 HR, Within 7 Days, Late Payment; the figures are listed in that order.)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Zoning table](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/)
  - Official wording: "Failure to park RV on property 2.12.2.b 300.00 150.00 400.00 YES" … "Overtime parking 24 hours 3.2.17 60.00 60.00 60.00 100.00 NO" … "Unauthorized overnight camping 3.1.11 60.00 40.00 60.00 100.00 NO"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Schedule A, Traffic table](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/)
  - Official wording: "Overtime parking 24 hours 3.2.17 60.00 60.00 60.00 100.00 NO" … "Unauthorized overnight camping 3.1.11 60.00 40.00 60.00 100.00 NO" … "Final Within 24 HR Within 7 Late Compliance"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Town of Smithers Traffic Bylaw No. 2013; Zoning Bylaw No. 1987 (s. 2.12, 2.19)
  - Source: [Traffic Bylaw No. 2013, Title](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290949/)
  - Official wording: "TOWN OF SMITHERS BYLAW NO. 2013 Page 7 3.2 PARKING OFFENCES Except when necessary to avoid conflicts with traffic, or to comply with the Law, or" … "Sifiithcr BYLAW NO. 2013 TRAFFIC BYLAW A Bylaw to provide for the regulation of traffic in the Town of Smithers"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Title](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)
  - Official wording: "TOWN OF SMITHERS ZONING BYLAW NO. 1987"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

On streets, the [Traffic Bylaw No. 2013](<https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290949/>) says no vehicle may be parked on any highway for more than 24 continuous hours, or moved within the same block to avoid time limits. Camping overnight on a street is prohibited. In angle-parking zones, a vehicle with a trailer over 6 m may not park.

On your property, the [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987](<https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/>) prohibits long-term parking or storage of recreational vehicles, campers, trailers or boats in residential zones except when completely located on a parcel. Commercial vehicles over 12 m or 22,000 kg must be fully enclosed.

## Good to know

- Living in an RV: RVs parked or stored in residential zones may not be used for short-term rental or residential use, and using an RV or tent for any accommodation outside a campground is prohibited.
- Bylaw notices: failing to park an RV on the property $300; overtime parking over 24 hours $60; overnight camping on a street $60. The early and late amounts and their timing should be confirmed with the Town.
- Questions: Bylaw Enforcement at 250-847-1600.

## Official forms and pages

- [Traffic Bylaw No. 2013](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290949/)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/)

## Related questions

- [Smithers bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Smithers zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Smithers short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/short-term-rental.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)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)

## Sources

- [Traffic Bylaw No. 2013, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290949/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2011, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/290948/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact Us, Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/contact-us) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Smithers. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/rv-boat-trailer-parking/_