If you own land within a development permit area then you will require a development permit prior to:

• Subdividing the land;
• Starting construction of, adding to, or altering of any building or other structure; or
• Altering the land.

A development permit is a permit approved by Council that sets forth conditions under which multi-family residential, commercial, industrial or institutional development may take place. Once approved, it becomes binding on the existing and future owners of the property. A Development Permit is not a Building Permit. A Building Permit must be obtained prior to any construction.

The municipality has three types of Development Permit Applications, depending on the scope and type of development. A brief description of each application type and associated process is summarized below.

Development Permit Application Process
The process to obtain a development permit starts by contacting the Resort Planning Section if you own property in Whistler Village, the Upper Village or Creekside; or by contacting the Community Planning Section if you own land located elsewhere within a development permit area. Following the pre-application meeting the owner or the owner’s agent will submit a development permit application.

Upon receipt, the application will be circulated to other municipal departments for review. In addition, depending on the complexity of the proposed development, the application may be taken to the Advisory Design Panel and/or the Advisory Planning Commission for review. Once the review has been completed, the applicant may be asked to submit revised plans. 

When the application is deemed ready for a decision, staff will prepare a Council report and have the application placed on a Council agenda. Staff will present the application to Council along with a recommendation. Council with then render a decision or send the application back to staff for further review.
 
Click here to download the Development Permit Application.

Development Permit Application - Delegated
The following types of development proposals may be eligible for a more streamlined approval process:

• Development permits authorizing:
• exterior repainting of an entire building, or an entire part of a building;
• landscape changes or new landscaping, including both installation of planting materials  and  installation of  permanent planters, guardrails,  rock stacking and other hard landscaping;
• changes to exterior building materials or roofing materials;
• exterior lighting alterations or installation of additional exterior lighting, whether the lighting is to be attached to a building or placed elsewhere on the property;
• exterior building repairs;
• new exterior windows or doors, in existing or new locations;
• placement of exterior communications equipment, chimneys, HVAC equipment, and other appurtenances;
• new buildings or structures with floor areas up to 20 m2;
• additions to buildings or structures, whether fully or partially enclosed or fully open to the outside except for a roof covering, where the total interior floor area is increased by 20 m2 or less;
• new buildings or structures for storage of refuse and recycling facilities conforming to the Resort Municipality Garbage Disposal Bylaw No. 1445, 1999;
• approval of comprehensive sign plans, amendments to a comprehensive sign plan and issuance of a development permit for the signs where a sign permit is not required.
• All development permits within Development Permit Area #19 (Residential Estate Lands) of the Official Community Plan; and
• All development permits authorizing the construction of single family and duplex dwellings within Development Permit Area #24 (Rainbow Lands) of the Official Community Plan.

Proposed developments that meet these criteria generally follow the same process as a Development Permit Application; however, the permit may be approved by the General Manager without having to go to Council.

Click here to download the Development Permit Application – Delegated.

Development Permit Application for Landscape Alterations - Delegated
For modifications to existing landscaped areas on property within Whistler Village, Upper Village and Creekside, a Development Permit (Delegated) is required. A new streamlined and consultative process allows the municipality to work with local property owners in an effort to ensure potential benefits from landscaping are fully realized. Following an initial site visit with Resort Planning staff and within two weeks of receipt of a complete application, applicants will be advised of the decision on their application.

Click here to download the Development Permit Application for Landscape Alterations – Delegated.

DEVELOPMENT VARIANCE PERMIT
A Development Variance Permit is a permit approved by Council that varies the regulations set out in a zoning bylaw, a land use contract, or a subdivision bylaw (with the exception that use and density cannot be varied).

Click here to download the Development Variance Permit Application.