---
title: "P1-A zone in Tofino: Comprehensive Commercial Institutional District"
place: Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tofino
zone: P1-A
bylaw: Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated for convenience only, updated April 4, 2024)
bylaw_read: 2026-11-08
review: draft
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/zoning/p1-a/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/zoning/p1-a.json"
---

# P1-A zone in Tofino: Comprehensive Commercial Institutional District

Primarily institutional and educational type uses with limited ancillary commercial and residential elements.

## Zone rules

- **Purpose:** Primarily institutional and educational type uses with limited ancillary commercial and residential elements.
- **Main uses:** Civic Uses; Assembly Uses; Educational Use (e.g. private schools); Arboreta, botanical gardens, wildlife refuges; Ancillary commercial: one restaurant/teahouse (max 69.7 m² (750 square feet)); gift shop/retail sales (combined max 92.9 m² (1,000 square feet)); gallery or display/performance facility for natural science and cultural interest; nursery and greenhouse facility (max 464.5 m² (5,000 square feet) internal floor area); one restaurant/cafeteria for students, staff, guests and visitors (max 69.7 m² (750 square feet) service floor area); Accessory student dormitory facility (one building only, maximum 32 bed spaces); Accessory Residential Use under Section 4.10(2); Commercial Child Care
- **Also allowed (secondary uses):** Accessory buildings and uses
- **Minimum lot area:** 2 hectares (4.9 acres)
- **Minimum lot width:** 36 m (120 feet)
- **Maximum lot coverage:** 10%
- **Maximum height:** 10.4 m (34 feet), and not more than 2 storeys (observation platforms and towers may be up to 15.2 m (50 feet))
- **Front setback:** 12.2 m (40 feet)
- **Rear setback:** 9 m (30 feet)
- **Interior side setback:** 4.5 m (15 feet)
- **Other rules:** Student accommodation and other residential components may not be used for tourist commercial accommodation; Dormitory units: no more than 32 guests/students, at least 5.6 m² (60 square feet) of floor area per bed space, and washroom facilities as set out in Table 1

## Source

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 770, 1997 (consolidated for convenience only, updated April 4, 2024), s. Part 35A](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/157800#page=100) (read 2026-11-08)

Rules in the bylaw's general sections (parking, fences, suites, home businesses) also apply. All zones in Tofino: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/zoning/index.json

_Draft: taken from the bylaw text by a research agent and not yet reviewed by a person. Gov Handbook is an independent guide. Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/zoning/p1-a/_