New information and bulletins

Check this page for updates related to building information and  bulletins.

Building Department service updates during COVID-19

The Resort Municipality of Whistler is currently evaluating how best to provide essential services as we progress through the COVID-19 situation.  

Until further notice staff will be responding to incoming communications as staffing levels allow. Your patience and understanding during this time is appreciated. 

Please check back here for up-to-date information on Building Department services.

April 8, 2020 - The Building Department is now accepting documents and permit applications, and issuing permits

The Building Department is now able to accept documents and permit applications from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday, at Municipal Hall. A drop box is available at the door to the Building Department entrance, accessible from the east side of Municipal Hall  through the parking lot. During these hours, applicants can ring the doorbell at the Building Department vestibule door. A Building Department staff member will come to the front entry to remotely open the door to the vestibule. Once the automatic door has been activated, and the fob light goes green, the applicant can then open the exterior door and place their packages, drawings, and/or permit documents into the drop bin. For more information about the new drop off procedure, and for the permit issuance procedure, please refer to the RMOW Permits and Inspections Bulletin - Drop off & pick up procedure for permit applications, drawings, and documents during the COVID-19 outbreak.

April 1, 2020 - The Building Department is now conducting Building and Plumbing Inspections

Inspections can be scheduled online at my.whistler.ca/inspections, using your 8-digit permit number, or by phone at 604-935-8150.

When possible, the inspectors will be doing inspections remotely via video call. The inspector will be in touch with the site contact prior to the inspection to confirm if the inspection will take place on-site or remotely.
Please note that If anyone working on the site has been ill or has travelled outside of Canada within the last 14 days, no on-site inspections will be conducted.

If the inspection needs to be conducted on site:

• The name and phone number of the contact that will be meeting the inspector on site will be required when booking the inspection. All other workers will need to vacate the site prior to the inspectors arrival.
• During the inspection, provincial guidelines regarding social distancing will need to be followed.
• As always, ensure yellow permit placard is posted and approved permit plans are on site. If approved plans are not on site, the inspection, whether remote or on-site, will be cancelled.

New BC Building Code is effective December 10, 2018

The new BC Building Code is effective December 10, 2018 and will apply to building permits applied for on or after that date.

Some important BC-specific code changes introduced in the 2018 BC Building Code include:

• Increasing building accessibility for persons with disabilities;
• Improving the energy efficiency of buildings to require compliance with new building energy efficiency codes and standards;
• Providing a variation to the National Building Code requirements for mid-rise combustible buildings to require 10 percent street frontage and exterior cladding with increased fire resistance; and
• Updating radon data, based on recent studies. Proposed change will include Whistler as location in BC requiring radon rough-ins.

For more information about the 2018 BC Building and Plumbing Code: 2018 BC Codes

For a summary of 2018 BC Building Code Changes and technical bulletins:

• Summary of changes
• General technical bulletin
• Accessibility bulletin
• Mid-rise combustible construction bulletin
• New Radon Rough-in Requirements

BC Energy Step Code

Learn more about the implementation of BC Energy Step Code in Whistler.

RMOW Technical Bulletin - Snow load

Environment Canada was contracted by the RMOW to provide an updated ground snow load calculation for all areas in Whistler, based on site elevation.  This request is in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the introduction section of Division B Appendix C “Climatic and Seismic Information for Building Design in Canada” from the 2018 BC Building Code, for locations not listed in the table.

The new ground snow load calculation and clarifications on code requirements for snow loading in whistler can be found in the RMOW Technical Bulletin - Snow Loads.

RMOW Permits and Inspections Bulletin - Fire Separations

Review the RMOW Permits and Inspections Bulletin - Fire Separation for clarification regarding the code requirements for Fire Separations for residential suites and multi-family residential units, as addressed in the 2018 BC Building Code.