---
title: Tofino unsightly property rules and how to report
question: "How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Tofino?"
place: Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tofino
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Tofino
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/unsightly-property/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/unsightly-property.json"
---

# Tofino unsightly property rules and how to report

**Question:** How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Tofino?

**Short answer:** In Tofino, owners and occupiers must not let their property become unsightly or let rubbish pile up. Report a property with the online Report a Bylaw Violation form (anonymous complaints are not accepted) or call Bylaw Services at 250-725-3229 ext. 706.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tofino, https://tofino.ca)  
**Cost:** Fine: bylaw notice $200; municipal ticket $200. Graffiti $100.  
**How long:** An Order to Comply usually gives 14 days (or another reasonable time) to fix the problem.  
**Where:**
- Online: Report a Bylaw Violation (online form), https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/
- Phone: Bylaw Services (office, ext. 706), 250-725-3229

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not allow their property to become or stay unsightly, or let water, rubbish or noxious, offensive or unwholesome matter collect on or around it, and must remove unsightly accumulations of filth, discarded materials, rubbish or graffiti. Placing graffiti on or next to a public place is banned.
  - Source: [Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 (consolidated), s. 3, 4, 5](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1241/)
  - Official wording: "No person shall place graffiti on walls, fences or elsewhere on or adjacent to a public place." … "Allow the real property to become or remain unsightly; or" … "shall remove from it unsightly accumulations of filth, discarded materials, rubbish or graffiti."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** Use the online Report a Bylaw Violation form on the District website (anonymous complaints are not accepted), or contact Bylaw Services at 250-725-3229 ext. 706 or by email.
  - Source: [Bylaw Complaints, Bylaw Complaints page](https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/)
  - Official wording: "Complaints may be submitted by completing the online complaint form below." … "Anonymous complaints are not accepted"
  - Source: [Bylaw Services, Bylaw Services page](https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "250-725-3229 ext. 706 (Office)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What happens next:** A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may serve an Order to Comply giving 14 days (or another reasonable time) to fix the problem. If not done, the District may enter and clean up at the owner's cost; unpaid costs by December 31 are added to property taxes. The owner may appeal to Council in writing at least 72 hours before the deadline.
  - Source: [Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 (consolidated), s. 6, 7, 10, 11, 15](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1241/)
  - Official wording: "may serve on such owner or occupier an Order to Comply which requires the person to remedy the nuisance within 14 days of service of such Order to Comply" … "may enter on the property and effect the removal at the expense of the person who has failed to comply." … "the costs shall be added to and form part of the taxes payable on the property as taxes in arrear." … "at least 72 hours prior to the expiry of the time given in the Order to Comply to remedy the nuisance, appeal to the Council"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Allowing property to be unsightly (s. 4(a)) or rubbish to accumulate (s. 4(b)): bylaw notice $200 ($160 within 14 days; $240 after 60 days); municipal ticket $200 ($100 if paid within 7 business days). Graffiti (s. 3): $100 on both.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated), Schedule A (Unsightly Premises Bylaw 701)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/163658/)
  - Official wording: "Allow Property to Be Unsightly 4(a) Yes $200 $160 $240 50%" … "Allow Rubbish to Accumulate 4(b) Yes $200 $160 $240 50%"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), Schedule 12](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Allow Property to be Unsightly 4(a) $200.00" … "Fines as set out in all Schedules with the exception of Schedule 7 are reduced by 50% 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 Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995
  - Source: [Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 (consolidated), s. 1](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1241/)
  - Official wording: "District of Tofino Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Tofino's [Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1241/>) says owners and occupiers must not allow their property to become or stay unsightly, or let water, rubbish or noxious, offensive or unwholesome matter collect on or around it. They must remove unsightly accumulations of filth, discarded materials, rubbish or graffiti. "Rubbish" includes derelict automobile bodies. Placing graffiti on or next to a public place is banned.

## Steps

1. Fill in the online Report a Bylaw Violation form, or contact Bylaw Services at 250-725-3229 ext. 706 or by email. Bylaws are enforced mainly on a complaint basis, and anonymous complaints are not accepted.
2. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may serve an Order to Comply giving 14 days (or another reasonable time) to fix the problem.
3. If it is not fixed, the District may enter and clean up at the owner's cost.

## Good to know

- The owner may appeal to Council in writing at least 72 hours before the deadline.
- Unpaid cleanup costs on December 31 are added to property taxes.
- Unsightly property or accumulated rubbish: a bylaw notice is $200 ($160 within 14 days; $240 after 60 days). A municipal ticket is $200 ($100 if paid within 7 business days). Graffiti is $100 on both.

## Official forms and pages

- [Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701 (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1241/)

## Related questions

- [Tofino bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Tofino noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/noise-rules.md)
- [Tofino RV, boat and trailer parking rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Ucluelet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/unsightly-property.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/unsightly-property.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/unsightly-property.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/unsightly-property.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/unsightly-property.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1241/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Complaints, District of Tofino](https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/bylaw-complaint/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Services, District of Tofino](https://tofino.ca/public-services/safety/bylaw-enforcement/) (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/unsightly-property/_