Tofino watering restrictions
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.
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.Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, Amendment 1224.01, s. 2(c), (f); Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016, s. 5(1); Water Restrictions, District Water Restrictions page (2023 post) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingChief 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 The prohibitions in subsections 5(2) and 5(3) are in force at all times of the year. Stage 1 Water Conservation is implemented between May 1 and October 1 every year unless other stages take effect in the interim. |
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| 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.Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, Amendment 1224.01, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingWatering 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 |
| 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.Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, Amendment 1224.01, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingWashing 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: |
| 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.Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, Amendment 1224.01, s. 2(d), (e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingthat 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. |
| 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1107.21, Amendment 1107.21, s. 2(1)(b); Municipal Ticket Information System Amendment Bylaw No. 1088.09, Amendment 1088.09, Schedule 14; Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 1088 (consolidated), MTI Bylaw 1088 s. 6(b); Schedule 14 (amended 1088.09) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingUse 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 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 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 Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016, as amended by Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016, s. 1; Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingDistrict of Tofino Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016. Water Use and Conservation Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024 |
How it works
Tofino's Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, as changed by Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 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
The same question in other places
Gold River · Port Alberni · Cumberland · Courtenay · Comox · Tahsis
Watering restrictions in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Water Use and Conservation Bylaw No. 1224, 2016 (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Water Use and Conservation Amendment Bylaw No. 1224.01, 2024 (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Water Restrictions, District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1107.21 (PDF), District of Tofino (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information System Amendment Bylaw No. 1088.09 (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 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.