Tofino unsightly property rules and how to report
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.
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.Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 (consolidated), s. 3, 4, 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo 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. |
|---|---|
| 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.Bylaw Complaints, Bylaw Complaints page; Bylaw Services, Bylaw Services page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingComplaints may be submitted by completing the online complaint form below. Anonymous complaints are not accepted 250-725-3229 ext. 706 (Office) |
| 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.Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 (consolidated), s. 6, 7, 10, 11, 15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmay 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 |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated), Schedule A (Unsightly Premises Bylaw 701); Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), Schedule 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingAllow Property to Be Unsightly 4(a) Yes $200 $160 $240 50% Allow Rubbish to Accumulate 4(b) Yes $200 $160 $240 50% 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. |
| Bylaw | District of Tofino Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 (consolidated), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDistrict of Tofino Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 |
How it works
The District of Tofino's Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701 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
- 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.
- A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may serve an Order to Comply giving 14 days (or another reasonable time) to fix the problem.
- 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
The same question in other places
Ucluelet · Gold River · Port Alberni · Cumberland · Courtenay · Comox
Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Unsightly Premises By-law No. 701, 1995 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Complaints, District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Services, District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1107 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Tofino (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. How answers are checked.