Whistler’s Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303 designates five Temporary Use Permit (TUP) Areas where applications for cannabis retail stores may be considered.
Bylaw amendments to introduce and regulate cannabis retail stores in Whistler were presented to Council on September 20, 2022. A Public Hearing was held for the zoning bylaw amendment on November 29, 2022, and it was adopted by Council on January 10, 2023.
Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) for Cannabis Retail
The RMOW will be accepting cannabis retail TUP applications starting February 13, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. until March 13, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Applications can be submitted via email to planning@whistler.ca or dropped off in-person to the Planning Department in Municipal Hall.
Submitting an application does not guarantee approval. In addition to zoning and bylaw requirements, TUPs for cannabis retail stores must demonstrate alignment with Cannabis Retail Policy G-27 and must be approved by Council. Council can approve one cannabis retail store in each TUP area, up to a maximum of five stores in Whistler.
Cannabis Retail Policy
Cannabis Retail Policy G-27 outlines evaluation criteria to guide for the RMOW when reviewing applications for cannabis retail stores. Applications must be consistent with the Policy and follow an approval process by Council. The application guidelines and evaluation criteria set clear expectations and establish a transparent process.
Provincial Licence Referral
Applicants will be required to obtain a Cannabis Retail TUP and business licence from the RMOW, in addition to a Cannabis Retail Store licence from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB). The RMOW will review LCRB Cannabis Retail Store licence referrals after a complete TUP application has been accepted.
The municipal approvals process occurs in parallel to the provincial licensing process, similar to the approval process for liquor stores and pubs.
TUP Areas for Cannabis Retail
Council can approve up to five cannabis retail stores, one in each TUP Area: the Village, Village North, Creekside, Function Junction and Nesters Plaza, as outlined in Zoning Amendment Bylaw (Cannabis Retail) No. 2371, 2022.
Instructions for interacting with the embedded map below.
1. Click on any parcel in the TUP areas to get a property's addressing and the zoning information.
2. Use the 'Search' box to locate properties in the TUP areas by address.
3. Use the 'Bookmark' tool to center the map on any of the specific TUP areas or to take the map view back to the start view.