Long-Running RV Parking Fight Heads to B.C. Supreme Court
A dispute that has simmered for years in the Delbrook neighbourhood of North Vancouver has escalated into a legal battle as a resident launches court action against the municipality to park his recreational vehicle in his own front yard. Retired engineer Sui Kwong Lai is asking the B.C. Supreme Court to order the removal of a concrete barrier that the District of North Vancouver installed at the edge of his property to block access for his 35-foot RV.
The barrier was placed by district staff in June 2025, after a neighbour tipped off officials that Lai had driven the motorhome — a 2023 Newmar New Aire Class A — onto the driveway pad he built specifically for it. According to the court petition, the city did this without Lai’s consent.
Dispute Over Bylaws and Boulevard Access
Lai built the RV parking pad in early 2023 after consulting with district staff and reviewing local zoning and street bylaws he was given. A building inspector initially confirmed that the pad complied with zoning rules but raised concerns about the Turfstone surface Lai installed on the district-owned boulevard to connect the street to his property. The city later said the pad violated both the zoning and street bylaws, placing Lai at odds with officials.
In the months that followed, Lai says he received letters ordering him to remove the RV and the “unauthorised driveway,” with warnings that he was trespassing on public land. He disputes the city’s interpretation of the bylaws and says he contested numerous tickets and notices according to the proper procedures, but none were ever adjudicated.
Barrier, Enforcement and Legal Claims
Documents supporting Lai’s petition say the district even sent enforcement officers and an RCMP officer to attempt to tow the RV in April 2025, but the effort was abandoned after he argued the tickets hadn’t been properly adjudicated. Later in June, while Lai was away, staff removed the driveway and installed the concrete block — an action he says was taken without legal authority. He was later billed about $3,000 for that work.
At a public council meeting in June 2025, several neighbours complained about the RV and lack of enforcement, claiming the vehicle was an “eyesore” and lowering property values. The mayor and chief administrative officer responded by emphasising enforcement action, describing the situation as unsustainable.
In his court filing, Lai is seeking a judicial review of the district’s decision to install the barrier, claiming the municipality breached its duty of fairness, and he wants both interim and permanent injunctions to prevent the concrete block’s reinstallation.
Town’s Response and What Comes Next
The District of North Vancouver has declined to comment on the court action. The legal challenge is now before the courts, and none of the allegations have been tested in court, with the district yet to file a public response.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between individual property rights and local bylaw enforcement, especially around controversial issues like oversized vehicles and use of public boulevards. The outcome could set a precedent for how municipalities enforce parking regulations on private property in residential neighbourhoods.
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