Encyclopedia
Long-stay site
A recreational vehicle (RV) or campground site rented for long periods. Depending on the facts, the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act may apply.
For example: A campground owner checks whether long-stay guests could be tenants under the Act. (Illustration only, not a real deal.)
Official source: Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act (BC Laws)
Example only, not a real client. Say a campground has a mix of short-stay and long-stay sites. You check whether long-stay guests may have rights under tenancy laws, since that affects how the property can be run.
What I’d tell a friend
Long-stay sites can bring steady income, but check what laws may apply to long-term occupants with a BC lawyer.
Why it matters to you
If campground guests stay long enough, they may be treated as tenants with legal protections. That changes how you can raise fees, end a stay or redevelop, and it changes what a buyer will pay for the park.
How to use it in your deal
Buyers should list every long-stay occupant with their start date, rent, agreement and whether they live there year-round. Get legal advice on whether tenancy laws apply before you count that income or plan changes. Owners should use written agreements, follow local zoning limits on length of stay and keep records.
Occupants who live on site full-time should know they may have rights and can check with the Residential Tenancy Branch. Keep a dated record of who stays through the winter, since year-round occupancy can be one of the facts that matter.
Mistakes I see
Assuming a written "camping agreement" settles the question. Planning to redevelop or raise rents without checking tenancy rules. Ignoring local bylaws that cap stays. Valuing long-stay income as if it were risk-free.
In BC and Vancouver
The Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act and Residential Tenancy Act can apply depending on the facts; the Residential Tenancy Branch decides disputes. Local zoning can limit occupancy length.
Official sources: Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act (BC Laws) · Residential Tenancy Act (BC Laws) · Zoning and Development By-law (City of Vancouver)
What it means
A long-stay site is a campground or RV site rented for an extended period, such as monthly or seasonal.
The legal status of long-stay occupants can differ from short-term guests.
What to check
Review agreements with long-stay guests and how long they have stayed.
Check with a BC lawyer on whether tenancy laws may apply, before you change rates or rules.
Questions to ask before you sign
- How many long-stay occupants are there and for how long?
- Do any live there year-round?
- Does zoning allow long stays?
- Could tenancy laws apply?
- What happens to that income if rules change?
Keep reading
Related terms: Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, Seasonal campground
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General information for British Columbia only. It isn’t legal, tax, accounting or financial advice, laws and rates change, and reading it doesn’t make you my client. Any numbers or scenarios are hypothetical. Check the linked official source and talk to a lawyer, accountant or other qualified professional before you act or sign anything. See the terms and disclaimer.