---
title: Tofino RV, boat and trailer parking rules
question: "Can I park an RV, boat, or trailer on the street or in my yard in Tofino?"
place: Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tofino
category: Parking, tickets and driving
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Tofino
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/rv-boat-trailer-parking/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/rv-boat-trailer-parking.json"
---

# Tofino RV, boat and trailer parking rules

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

**Short answer:** In Tofino, a trailer may not be parked on a street, boulevard or parking lot unless it is attached to a motor vehicle, and no vehicle may be used for camping or sleeping on a street. The bylaws we read set no other rule for keeping an RV, boat or trailer on your own lot.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tofino, https://tofino.ca)  
**Cost:** Fine: trailer where prohibited, bylaw notice $50, municipal ticket $50. Accommodation in a trailer or motor home, bylaw notice $240.  
**How long:** not applicable  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services (office, ext. 706), 250-725-3229
- Online: Parking, District of Tofino, https://tofino.ca/public-services/parking/

## Key facts

- **On the street:** A trailer may not be parked on a highway, boulevard or parking lot unless attached to a motor vehicle, and no vehicle may be parked on a street for camping or sleeping. Boat trailers may use designated Downtown Pay Parking areas; vehicles over 20 feet and trailers are banned from Municipal Office lots.
  - Source: [Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1091, 2009, s. 3.2(s), (t)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163621/)
  - Official wording: "Any trailer on any portion of a highway, boulevard, or parking lot when not attached to a" … "motor vehicle; or" … "Any vehicle, trailer or motor home on any portion of any highway, boulevard, or District" … "4,500 kilograms, on any highway in a residential area, between the hours of 11 pm of one day and"
  - Source: [Parking, Parking page FAQ](https://tofino.ca/public-services/parking/)
  - Official wording: "Trailers must be attached to a vehicle while parked." … "Boat trailer parking is permitted in designated Downtown Pay Parking areas." … "Vehicles over 20 feet and trailers are not permitted in these parking lots at any time."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **On your property:** One travel trailer or recreational vehicle may be used for accommodation on a lot while the principal building is being built under a valid building permit. No other rule on keeping an RV, boat or trailer on a residential lot was found.
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 770, s. 4.1(2)(h) (Accessory Buildings)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/)
  - Official wording: "One travel trailer or recreational vehicle may be utilized for accommodation while the principal building is being constructed during the time that work is being carried out in accordance with a valid building permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Living in an RV:** Not allowed on streets, boulevards or District property. In a vehicle elsewhere, overnight camping or sleeping is banned except in a designated campground, on private property with the owner's written permission on hand, or with Council's written permission. Camping on private property outside a campground is limited to 15 days a calendar year. (Sources differ: The District parking page says overnight camping in any vehicle is prohibited at all times; the Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw s. 11.3 allows it in a designated campground, on private property with the owner's written permission, or with Council permission. Following the bylaw.)
  - Source: [Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1091, 2009, s. 3.2(s)(ii)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163621/)
  - Official wording: "Any vehicle, trailer or motor home on any portion of any highway, boulevard, or District"
  - Source: [Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated), s. 11.3, 11.5](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/609/)
  - Official wording: "for the purpose of overnight camping or sleeping except:" … "(b) On private property with the express written permission from the owner or" … "for a period of greater than 15 days in a calendar year, except"
  - Source: [Parking, Parking page FAQ](https://tofino.ca/public-services/parking/)
  - Official wording: "Overnight camping in any vehicle is prohibited throughout the District of Tofino at all times."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Trailer where prohibited (s. 3.2(s)(i)): bylaw notice $50 ($25 within 14 days; $60 after 60 days). Trailer or motor home used for accommodation (s. 3.2(s)(ii)): bylaw notice $240 ($200 early, $280 late). Camping in a vehicle (s. 11.3): bylaw notice $240. Municipal ticket: $50 for both parking offences ($10 if paid within 7 business days).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated), Schedule A (Traffic and Parking Bylaw 1091; Public Property Use Bylaw 1098)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/)
  - Official wording: "Trailer Where Prohibited 3.2(s)(i) No $50 $25 $60 n/a" … "3.2(s)(ii) No $240 $200 $280 n/a" … "Vehicle Use For Camping 11.3 No $240 $200 $280 n/a"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), Schedule 7](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Trailer Where Prohibited 3.2(s)(i) $50.00" … "Trailer/Motor Home used for Accommodation 3.2(s)(ii) $50.00" … "Fines as set out in Schedule 7 are reduced to $10 per offense if the fine is paid within 7 business days of the date of issuance of the Municipal Ticketing Information."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Tofino Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1091, 2009; Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009; Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997
  - Source: [Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1091, 2009, title](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163621/)
  - Official wording: "District of Tofino Traffic and Parking Regulation"
  - Source: [Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated), title](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/609/)
  - Official wording: "DISTRICT OF TOFINO PUBLIC PROPERTY USE REGULATION BYLAW NO. 1098, 2009 Consolidated for Convenience Only This is a consolidated version of the parent bylaw that incorporates changes made pursuant to"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 770, title](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/)
  - Official wording: "Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1091](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163621/>), a trailer may not be parked on a highway, boulevard or parking lot in the District of Tofino unless it is attached to a motor vehicle. No vehicle may be parked on a street for camping or sleeping. Boat trailers may use the designated Downtown Pay Parking areas. Vehicles over 20 feet and trailers are banned from the Municipal Office lots. No general time limit for street parking of RVs or boats was found.

## Good to know

- Living in a vehicle is not allowed on streets, boulevards or District property. Elsewhere, overnight camping or sleeping in a vehicle is banned except in a designated campground, on private property with the owner's written permission on hand, or with Council's written permission. Camping on private property outside a campground is limited to 15 days a calendar year under the [Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/609/>).
- The District's parking page says overnight camping in any vehicle is prohibited at all times. The bylaw says otherwise, so confirm with Bylaw Services before you camp.
- On your own lot, the Zoning Bylaw allows one travel trailer or recreational vehicle for accommodation while the principal building is being built under a valid building permit. No other rule on keeping an RV, boat or trailer on a residential lot was found.
- A trailer where prohibited: a bylaw notice is $50 ($25 within 14 days; $60 after 60 days). A trailer or motor home used for accommodation is $240 ($200 early, $280 late). Camping in a vehicle is $240. A municipal ticket for either parking offence is $50 ($10 if paid within 7 business days).
- Pay-parking tickets are issued by Robbins Parking, not the District.

## Official forms and pages

- [Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1091 (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163621/)
- [Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098 (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/609/)

## Related questions

- [Tofino bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Tofino unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/unsightly-property.md)
- [Tofino zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Tofino short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/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)
- [Ucluelet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)

## Sources

- [Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1091, 2009 (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163621/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Public Property Use Regulation Bylaw No. 1098, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/609/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Zoning Bylaw No. 770 (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Parking, District of Tofino](https://tofino.ca/public-services/parking/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Tofino. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/rv-boat-trailer-parking/_