Trail RV, boat and trailer parking rules

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

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

Short answer

In the City of Trail you may keep one recreational vehicle on your lot, but not in the required front yard or exterior side yard. On a street, no vehicle may stay over 24 hours in a row, and a recreation vehicle in a residential area may not either. Other trailers may not be parked on a street unless attached to a towing vehicle.

Key facts

On the street	No vehicle may be parked on a street over 24 hours in a row. A recreation vehicle (camper, motor home, holiday trailer, recreational boat trailer) may not be parked on a street in a residential area over 24 hours in a row, hitched or not. Other trailers may not be parked on a street unless attached to a towing vehicle.Traffic Bylaw No. 2133, 1990 (consolidated), s. 5.01, 5.08; Traffic Bylaw No. 2133, 1990 (consolidated), s. 1 definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording no person shall park a vehicle on any highway for more than twenty-four (24) hours continuously No person shall park any recreation vehicle upon any highway in a residential area for more than twenty-four (24) hours continuously No person shall park any trailer upon any highway unless in emergency situations or “RECREATION VEHICLE” means a chassis mounted camper, a motor home, a holiday trailer, or a boat trailer intended exclusively for recreational use.
On your property	One recreational vehicle (motor home, travel trailer, tent trailer, private pleasure boat or utility trailer) per lot, and not in the required front yard or exterior side yard.Zoning Bylaw, s. 3(16)(a), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Not more than one recreational vehicle shall be parked or stored on a lot shall not be parked or stored in the required front yard “recreational vehicle” means a self propelled motor home, travel trailer, tent trailer, private pleasure boat or utility trailer;
Living in an RV	On a lot: no living or sleeping in an RV for more than 7 continuous days. On a street or City land: no living in an RV; guests of an adjacent home may sleep in one on the street up to 3 continuous days.Zoning Bylaw, s. 3(16)(b)-(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording for the purposes of living accommodation, including temporary sleeping quarters, in excess of seven continuous No recreational vehicle shall be parked or stored on a street or City-owned property for guests of an adjacent residence in excess of 3 continuous days
Fine	Street parking offences under Traffic Bylaw Part 5: $15 if paid within 5 days of the notice, $25 within 9 days, $35 after 9 days. No ticket amount found for the Zoning Bylaw rules (court fine up to $2,000).Traffic Bylaw No. 2133, 1990 (consolidated), s. 8.02(2); Zoning Bylaw, s. 2(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording issued pursuant to the provisions of Parts 3, 4, 5 and 7 of this Bylaw the sum of Fifteen ($15.00) Dollars as full satisfaction for each offence the sum of Twenty Five ($25.00) Dollars as full satisfaction for each offence the sum of Thirty Five ($35.00) Dollars as full satisfaction for each offence summary conviction to a fine or penalty not exceeding two thousand dollars
Bylaw	Traffic Bylaw No. 2133, 1990 (s. 5.01, 5.08); Zoning Bylaw No. 2503, 2002 (s. 3(16)).Traffic Bylaw No. 2133, 1990 (consolidated), cover; Zoning Bylaw, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording TRAFFIC BYLAW NO. 2133 , 1990 ZONING BYLAW NO. 2503, 2002

How it works

Two City of Trail bylaws apply. The Zoning Bylaw controls recreational vehicles on your lot. The Traffic Bylaw No. 2133, 1990 controls what may stay on the street.

Steps

On your lot, keep to one recreational vehicle (motor home, travel trailer, tent trailer, private pleasure boat or utility trailer), and not in the required front yard or exterior side yard.
Do not live or sleep in it on the lot for more than 7 continuous days.
On a street, do not leave any vehicle parked more than 24 hours in a row. A recreation vehicle (camper, motor home, holiday trailer, recreational boat trailer) may not be parked on a street in a residential area more than 24 hours in a row, hitched or not.
Do not park other trailers on a street unless attached to a towing vehicle (emergencies excepted).

Good to know

On a street or City land you may not live in an RV. Guests of an adjacent home may sleep in one on the street for up to 3 continuous days.
Vehicles over 5,500 kg or 7.5 m may not park on a local residential street for more than 4 hours.
Street parking offences under Traffic Bylaw Part 5 are $15 if paid within 5 days of the notice, $25 within 9 days, $35 after 9 days. I found no ticket amount for the Zoning Bylaw rules; a court fine of up to $2,000 applies.
Questions: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-364-0833; zoning, the Manager of Planning and Climate Action, 250-364-0864.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Warfield · Rossland · Montrose · Fruitvale · Castlegar · Salmo

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

Sources

Traffic Bylaw No. 2133, 1990 (consolidated), City of Trail (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Zoning Bylaw, City of Trail (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Department Directory, City of Trail (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.