Small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH)
If your property is in an area where the small-scale multi-unit housing zoning applies, you may be allowed to develop additional residential units on your property.
To see if your property is affected, view the small-scale multi-unit housing layer on our online GIS map or check the small-scale multi-unit housing map. View GIS map instructions on how to display the small-scale multi-unit housing map layer.
No, this depends on you as the property owner. Once Whistler’s new bylaws are adopted you are allowed (but not required) to increase density (the number of units) on your property.
No. In Whistler, to market and provide paid accommodation to tourists, your property needs to be zoned for tourist accommodation and you need a business licence. Learn more about tourist accommodation rules in Whistler.
The new changes increase the number of residential units for residential use.
We don’t have information to indicate how this will affect housing values.
The Province has indicated that they will review future property sales related to the small-scale multi-unit housing changes and adapt annual assessments.
We will share additional information as it becomes available from the Province and BC Assessment.
Property taxes are calculated according to the class of the property and its assessed value.
The RMOW will be looking at the impact on utilities.
The provincial legislation requires local governments to allow more housing options in neighbourhoods that currently have single-family and duplex homes.
This small-scale multi-unit housing zoning provides new opportunities to add additional housing units and a range of housing types to single-family and duplex neighbourhoods including auxiliary residential dwelling units (i.e. secondary suites, carriage houses, garden suites), detached dwelling, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes.
Existing building heights will be maintained. These can allow for up to three storeys. Â Our Building Department plans to review building height regulations in 2024.
Generally, existing setback requirements will be maintained.
However, the increased minimum side lot line setback for larger lots in the RI1, RS2, RS4, RI1, RT1, RT2, and RT6 zones that is required to achieve the greater maximum gross floor area are not required for small-scale multi-unit housing.
While the front and rear lot line setbacks haven’t been changed, certain zones have relaxed setback requirements for auxiliary buildings, including auxiliary residential dwelling units, in some circumstances. The details are in Part 5 of the Zoning and Parking Bylaw No.303, 2015. Â
Generally, the province recommends reducing the number of required off-street parking spaces for small-scale multi-unit housing.
Under the small-scale multi-unit housing zoning, for properties with three or four residential units the minimum number of required off-street parking spaces is one space per residential unit and the maximum number is six. Additionally, there is an allowance for tandem parking configurations.
We don’t know how much uptake there will be. These housing initiatives are intended to fit within broader provincial and local government strategies to increase housing types, availability, and affordability.
After the small-scale multi-unit housing zoning amendment bylaw adoption, the changes take effect June 29, 2024.
Many homes in Whistler are second homes, and as a result there is a shortage of housing for local employees and residents. A proportion of new residential units created through the small-scale multi-unit zoning will be required to be rental units for residents, or upon subdivision or stratification dedicated for employee housing. There will be no rent or price restrictions on these units.
The proportion of housing units required to support local housing needs are:
- A second detached dwelling or one of the units in a duplex dwelling;
- on a lot with three housing units: at least one unit; and
- on a lot with four housing units, at least two units.
There will be an annual statutory declaration requirement administered by the Whistler Housing Authority.
Additional small-scale multi-use housing units will only be added to Whistler’s housing inventory once they are developed. Whistler’s Official Community Plan allows for up to 1,000 additional bed units to address Whistler’s employee housing shortage.
Stratification of units will be permitted with a portion of the units covenanted for employee use. Please see above for explanation of the number of units per property.
To support the development of small-scale multi-unit housing, the following opportunities provide options for increased density:
- Whistler’s zoning bylaws permit gross floor area (GFA) exclusions for detached dwellings and duplex dwellings. The proposed bylaw will allow for GFA exclusions to apply to all small-scale multi-unit housing housing types.
- Under the small-scale multi-unit housing  zoning, larger properties in the following zones: RI1, RS2, RS4, RI1, RT1, RT2, and RT6 will be allowed a higher GFA with reduced frontage width and side lot line setback requirements. Â
- Properties in the following zones will also receive additional GFA to build small-scale multi-unit housing : RS1, RI1, RS2 and RS4.
Check with the RMOW Planning department to find out if increases in maximum GFA and allowable density may apply to your property.
Yes, covenants registered on title remain in effect. It is recommended you review your property title and any registered documents. Title searches and covenants are available from the Land Title and Survey Authority of B.C.
Housing is one of Whistler’s top four priorities in the 2023–2026 RMOW Strategic Plan.
These changes are also aligned with actions in the RMOW’s Housing Action Plan (endorsed by Council on May 16, 2023), including encouraging private sector development and developing a new infill housing program.
Whistler’s OCP also recommends exploring infill housing opportunities to support employee housing.
The RMOW monitors inquiries and applications for any building permits. If there is significant uptake of SSMUH opportunities, the RMOW will need to budget for and staff its building department accordingly.
The RMOW will be looking in the short-term at infrastructure capacity in larger single-family neighbourhoods. The RMOW will also be considering uptake and planning for future capacity needs.
The expanded development cost charges and new amenity cost charges are tools for the RMOW to help finance future community infrastructure and service needs.
Transit Oriented Development Area
The RMOW is required to designate the Whistler Gondola Exchange as a Transit Oriented Development Area. The related bylaw updates come into effect on June 30, 2024 and affect properties within 400 metres of the Gondola Exchange.
The updates mean that the RMOW cannot reject a rezoning application for a site that is zoned entirely or partially for residential use based on the proposed density and/or building height, if the proposed density and height are both at or under the provincially prescribed density and height.
Practically, this change will have little immediate effect, because the properties in this area are already built out as hotels and non-residential properties and would be subject to rezoning.
Proactive Planning
This is already in effect.
Yes, rezoning applications that do not align with Whistler’s Official Community Plan will still require a public hearing.
Official Community Plan amendment bylaws also require a public hearing.
Community members can provide feedback about housing proposals in the following ways:
- At a public hearings not prohibited by recent Provincial legislation
- Through the OCP public engagement processes, which will now happen every five years
- By emailing municipal staff planning@whistler.ca.
The RMOW is waiting for direction from the Province in summer 2024 about updating its 2022 Housing Needs Report. The municipality needs to update the report by January 1, 2025.
The RMOW is waiting for direction from the Province in summer 2024 about updating its Official Community Plan. The municipality needs to update its OCP by December 31, 2025.
