Development Permits

Within Development Permit Areas, a Development Permit is required before undertaking any development.

In the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s (RMOW’s) Official Community Plan (OCP), some lands are designated as Development Permit Areas.

When is a Development Permit Required?

A Development Permit is required before undertaking any of the following types of development on land that is located within a Development Permit Area:

• Alteration of land, including alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;
• Construction of, addition to, or alteration of any building including building colour;
• Interior renovations that close in storefront windows with display walls and cabinets that impede views into a store (applicable only to Whistler Village and Whistler Creek Development Permit Areas); and
• Subdivision of land.

To find out if your property is in a Development Permit Area, review the OCP Development Permit Area maps Schedule J through Schedule S. A property may be in more than one Development Permit Area.

If your property is located within a Development Permit Area, determine if an exemption applies for your type of development within either the OCP Development Permit Area Guidelines applicable to your property or Part 5, Section 28 of Zoning and Parking Bylaw 303, 2015. If an exemption does not apply, a Development Permit is required.

If a Development Permit is not required, you may still require:

•  A Building Permit prior to construction where applicable;
•  A Tree Cutting Permit prior to cutting, topping or limbing a tree within 20 metres of the Highway 99 right of way or a tree within a registered tree covenant area; and/or
• A Bylaw Variance if your proposal is inconsistent with applicable bylaws.

Application Process

Follow the two steps below to apply for a Development Permit:

1. If your property is in a Development Permit Area and your development does not qualify for an exemption (see When is a Development Permit Required above), call 604-935-8170 to schedule a pre-application meeting with Planning Department staff. Staff will review application requirements and provide information on the approval process.

2. Submit the relevant Development Permit Application and fees.

Review Process

Upon receipt by the Planning Department, your application will be assigned to a file manager in the Planning Department. The file manager will assess the application for completeness, review the application against applicable regulations and Development Permit Area guidelines, and refer the application to other affected municipal departments. The application will also be referred to the municipality’s Advisory Design Panel in circumstances required by the Advisory Design Panel terms of reference.

Less complex Development Permit applications may be approved and issued by the General Manager of Resort Experience. More complex developments require Council approval of issuance and may take longer to assess. Refer to the Land Use Procedures and Fees Bylaw.

Development Permits issued may include any development conditions permitted by the Local Government Act, as appropriate to the Development Permit Area and development in question. Development Permits are registered on title; therefore the specified conditions and requirements that development must adhere to “run with the land”, remaining in force until rescinded by the issuance of a new Development Permit.

Fees

The following application fees apply:

In addition to the application fee, the rates below will be applied to all applications to cover the RMOW's direct costs of processing, reporting, analysis and inspection related to the application:

Additional Resources

• Additional Submittal Requirements for Properties Zoned CC1 and CC1-E
• GIS Mapping
• Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015
• Whistler Village Construction Management Strategy
• Green Building Policy – Council Policy G-23
• Landscape Security for Development Permit – Council Policy G-09
• Roof Height Calculation

Contact

Planning Department
604-935-8170
planning@whistler.ca