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Business licences are required for all Whistler vacation rental properties.
In Whistler, a business licence is required for property owners to market, manage and provide paid accommodation to tourists. This applies to all vacation rentals, including self-managed tourist accommodation properties with Phase 1 covenants or without covenants. Any property that is being marketed as tourist accommodation without a business licence is considered a non-compliant tourist accommodation rental, and fines are applicable.
Learn more about the tourist accommodation requirements in Whistler.
The provincial government introduced the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act in 2024 to help municipalities regulate short-term rentals. The goal is to improve housing supply and affordability across B.C.
In order to receive a business licence, a property must be zoned to allow tourist accommodation. While there are many properties in Whistler zoned to permit tourist accommodation, properties that are zoned as residential are not allowed to provide tourist accommodation for any length of time. Property owners who have previously conducted tourist accommodation business without a licence, including self-management of their own unit(s), are now required to obtain a licence.
In Whistler, “residential” zoning means a fixed place of living, to which a person intends to return when absent. Therefore, regardless of the length of stay, tourist accommodation is not permitted in any residential-zoned area. To advertise and rent your property to tourists, your property’s zoning must state that tourist accommodation or temporary accommodation is a permitted use.
Check your property’s zoning and covenants
A one-time, nonrefundable application fee applies to all new applications.
The Tourist Accommodation Regulation Bylaw enhances the municipality’s ability to enforce against non-compliant tourist accommodation rentals because enforcement may be done based on illegal marketing and advertising, rather than requiring proof of rental activity having taken place. Contravention of the bylaw may be subject to fines of up to $500 per infraction. Business licence fees for tourist accommodation may help to fund additional bylaw enforcement.
RMOW bylaw enforcement staff are actively involved in investigating properties on a case by case basis that are being rented for tourist accommodation in contravention of RMOW regulations. Contraventions may be subject to fines of up to $500 per infraction.
Find more information about the Tourist Accommodation Review.
Bylaw Department – Business Licences
604-935-8249
businesslicences@whistler.ca
Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Municipal Hall
4325 Blackcomb Way,
Whistler, B.C. V8E 0X5
Tel: 604-932-5535
Fax: 604-935-8109
Toll-Free: 1-866-932-5535
Email: info@whistler.ca
© 2025 Resort Municipality of Whistler
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