---
title: Tofino watering restrictions
question: "Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Tofino?"
place: Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tofino
category: Water, sewer, roads and snow
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Tofino
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/water-restrictions/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/water-restrictions.json"
---

# Tofino watering restrictions

**Question:** Are there lawn sprinkling or watering restrictions in Tofino?

**Short answer:** In Tofino, the Water Use and Conservation Bylaw sets three watering stages that start when the District gives notice. Wasting water is banned at all times. Check tofino.ca for the current stage before you water.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tofino, https://tofino.ca)  
**Cost:** Fine: bylaw notice $500 in each stage (amended January 20, 2026); municipal ticket Stage 1 $500, Stage 2 $1,000, Stage 3 $2,000.  
**How long:** Stages 1, 2 and 3 take effect when the District gives notice.  
**Where:**
- Online: Water Restrictions (District of Tofino), https://tofino.ca/general/public-services/water-restrictions/
- Phone: Infrastructure and Public Works emergency line, 250-726-7837
- Phone: Municipal Office, 250-725-3229

## Key facts

- **When restrictions apply:** Stages 1, 2 and 3 take effect when the Director of Infrastructure and Public Works and the CAO give notice (on the District website or in a newspaper at least 48 hours before; Stage 3 is effective immediately on posting). Wasting water is banned at all times of year. (Sources differ: The 2023 web post says Stage 1 runs May 1 to October 1 every year, which was the original s. 6.1; Amendment Bylaw 1224.01 (May 1, 2024) deleted that section, so stages now start by notice (the District's May 9, 2024 notice put Stage 1 in effect 'until further notice'). Following the amended bylaw. The current stage is not stated here: check tofino.ca.)
  - Source: [Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, Amendment 1224.01, s. 2(c), (f)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154001/)
  - Official wording: "Chief Administrative Officer are authorized to implement Stages 1, 2 or 3 as prescribed in Schedule" … "The implementation of Stage 3 restrictions is effective immediately upon the notice" … "By deleting section 6.1 Staged Conservation Restrictions"
  - Source: [Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016, s. 5(1)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1430/)
  - Official wording: "The prohibitions in subsections 5(2) and 5(3) are in force at all times of the year."
  - Source: [Water Restrictions, District Water Restrictions page (2023 post)](https://tofino.ca/general/public-services/water-restrictions/)
  - Official wording: "Stage 1 Water Conservation is implemented between May 1 and October 1 every year unless other stages take effect in the interim."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Sprinkling schedule:** Stage 1: no fixed days or hours; lawns, gardens, trees and landscaped areas by hand-held hose with automatic shut-off, canister, sprinkler or drip system. Stage 2: food plants only, by hand-held canister; odd addresses Mon, Wed, Fri, even addresses Tue, Thu, Sun; 6 to 9 a.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. Stage 3: same hours, odd addresses Mon and Thu, even Tue and Fri.
  - Source: [Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, Amendment 1224.01, Schedule A](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154001/)
  - Official wording: "Watering of lawns, gardens, trees, and landscaped areas is restricted to use of a hand-held hose" … "Odd numbered civic addresses may water on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between" … "Even numbered civic addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday between" … "Odd numbered civic addresses may water on Monday and Thursday between the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Allowed at any time:** Stage 1: hand-held hose with automatic shut-off, hand-held canister, sprinkler or drip irrigation. Stages 2 and 3: food plants by hand-held canister at the allowed times; washing wetsuits by hand, foot washes, rinsing boat motors and outdoor showers with a timed automatic shut-off are permitted.
  - Source: [Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, Amendment 1224.01, Schedule A](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154001/)
  - Official wording: "Washing of wetsuits by hand, foot washes and rinsing of boat motors is permitted." … "Outdoor showers are permitted provided they are equipped with timed automatic shut-off" … "watering of food plants by a hand-held canister as follows:"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **New lawns:** Lawns, gardens, trees and landscaped areas planted in the 90 days before Stage 1 starts may be watered as though Stage 1 is in effect. There are no exemptions during Stage 2 or 3.
  - Source: [Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, Amendment 1224.01, s. 2(d), (e)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154001/)
  - Official wording: "that have been planted in the 90 days prior" … "to the implementation of Stage 1 are not subject to Stage 1 restrictions and may be" … "For clarity, there are no exemptions to restrictions during Stage 2 or 3."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (amended January 20, 2026): $500 in each stage (Stage 1: $400 within 14 days, $500 after 60 days; Stage 2: $500 early and late; Stage 3: $500). Municipal ticket (2024): Stage 1 $500, Stage 2 $1,000, Stage 3 $2,000, halved if paid within 7 business days.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1107.21, Amendment 1107.21, s. 2(1)(b)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/178167/)
  - Official wording: "Use of Water 5.4 No $500 $400 $500 n/a" … "Use of Water 5.4 No $500 $500 $500 n/a" … "Use of Water 5.4 No $500 $500 n/a n/a"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Amendment Bylaw No. 1088.09, Amendment 1088.09, Schedule 14](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154798/)
  - Official wording: "Provisions of Bylaw –Stage 1 5.4 $500.00" … "Provisions of Bylaw –Stage 2 5.4 $1000.00" … "Provisions of Bylaw –Stage 3 5.4 $2000.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), MTI Bylaw 1088 s. 6(b); Schedule 14 (amended 1088.09)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/1426/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System%20Bylaw%20No.%201088%20(Consolidated%20Version%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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 Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016, as amended by Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024
  - Source: [Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016, s. 1](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1430/)
  - Official wording: "District of Tofino Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016."
  - Source: [Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, title](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154001/)
  - Official wording: "Water Use and Conservation Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Tofino's [Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1430/>), as changed by [Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01](<https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154001/>), applies to District water utility customers. Stages 1, 2 and 3 take effect when the Director of Infrastructure and Public Works and the CAO give notice, on the District website or in a newspaper at least 48 hours before. Stage 3 is effective immediately on posting. Wasting water is banned at all times of year. The current stage is not stated here, so check tofino.ca.

## Good to know

- Stage 1: no fixed days or hours. Lawns, gardens, trees and landscaped areas may be watered by hand-held hose with automatic shut-off, canister, sprinkler or drip system.
- Stage 2: food plants only, by hand-held canister. Odd addresses Monday, Wednesday and Friday; even addresses Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Filling hot tubs and power washing are prohibited.
- Stage 3: same hours, odd addresses Monday and Thursday, even addresses Tuesday and Friday. Indoor use is restricted to drinking and sanitation.
- Stages 2 and 3 also allow washing wetsuits by hand, foot washes, rinsing boat motors and outdoor showers with a timed automatic shut-off.
- Lawns, gardens, trees and landscaped areas planted in the 90 days before Stage 1 starts may be watered as though Stage 1 is in effect. There are no exemptions during Stage 2 or 3.
- An older web post says Stage 1 runs May 1 to October 1 every year. The amended bylaw replaced that, so confirm the current stage with the District.
- A bylaw notice (amended January 20, 2026) is $500 in each stage (Stage 1: $400 within 14 days, $500 after 60 days; Stage 2: $500 early and late; Stage 3: $500). A municipal ticket is $500 in Stage 1, $1,000 in Stage 2 and $2,000 in Stage 3, halved if paid within 7 business days. Running a tap or hose, or over-watering, is $500.

## Official forms and pages

- [Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224 (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1430/)
- [Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01 (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154001/)

## Related questions

- [Tofino bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Tofino yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/yard-waste.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/water-restrictions.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/water-restrictions.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/water-restrictions.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/water-restrictions.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/water-restrictions.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/water-restrictions.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/water-restrictions.md)

## Sources

- [Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016 (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/1430/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024 (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154001/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Water Restrictions, District of Tofino](https://tofino.ca/general/public-services/water-restrictions/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1107.21 (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/178167/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Amendment Bylaw No. 1088.09 (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/154798/) (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 6 of 6 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/water-restrictions/_