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Resort Municipality of Whistler

How to get a building permit in Whistler, BC

Where to apply, what Whistler asks for, what it costs, and who issues electrical and gas permits — with links to the city's own forms.

Where to apply in Whistler

MyWhistler online services portal (my.whistler.ca / my.whistler.ca/OnlineServices/LoginManager/, a Tempest-based system) for accounts, payments and inspection booking. Building permit applications are accepted in person or by mail at the Building Department, 4325 Blackcomb Way; email applications are NOT accepted. Note: Works and Services Charges cannot be paid online (in person or cheque only).

Official Resort Municipality of Whistler permit page

Building Department, building@whistler.ca, 604-935-8150, 4325 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC V8E 0X5. Engineering engineers@whistler.ca / 604-935-8192. Planning planning@whistler.ca / 604-935-8170.

Who issues electrical and gas permits

Technical Safety BC issues ALL electrical and gas permits. Whistler is NOT on TSBC's delegated-municipality list, so the municipality does not run its own electrical or gas program. The RMOW does directly issue plumbing, heat-pump, and fireplace/chimney/wood-burning-appliance permits, but electrical and gas go through technicalsafetybc.ca.

electrical
Technical Safety BC
gas
Technical Safety BC

Step by step in Whistler

  1. 1

    Confirm zoning before anything else

    Check the property's zone, setbacks, height and lot coverage, and whether it sits in a Development Permit Area. If it does, that approval has to come before the building permit — Whistler won't issue until land use is settled.

  2. 2

    Work out which permits you need

    Structural work needs a building permit from Resort Municipality of Whistler. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC issues ALL electrical and gas permits. Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

  3. 3

    Prepare drawings and documents

    Resort Municipality of Whistler asks for: Two (2) full sets of all drawings, scale 1:50 or 1/4"=1' with metric dimensions; Site plan showing utilities, property lines, setbacks, easements and finished grades; Recent land title search within 30 days ($21 fee charged if not provided); Wet-sealed Schedule A (coordinating registered professional) and wet-sealed Schedule B (architect; structural, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, and sprinkler engineers as applicable) plus copies of professional liability insurance; Geotechnical engineer report where required; Civil engineer Schedule H Part 1 if civil works proposed; BC Energy Step Code Pre-Construction Compliance Report; Home warranty insurance registration for all new dwellings (or registered owner-builder path via BC Housing); WorkSafeBC Notice of Project (required if hazmat detected, a registered professional is overseeing, or project value is $100,000+); Hydraulic load calculation for new plumbing fixtures; Written scope of work with declared construction value; Hazardous Materials Report if the building was built before 1990.

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    MyWhistler online services portal (my.whistler.ca / my.whistler.ca/OnlineServices/LoginManager/, a Tempest-based system) for accounts, payments and inspection booking. Building permit applications are accepted in person or by mail at the Building Department, 4325 Blackcomb Way; email applications are NOT accepted. Note: Works and Services Charges cannot be paid online (in person or cheque only).

  5. 5

    Pay the permit fee

    Building permit fees are based on the estimated/declared value of the project per Table 1, Schedule B of the Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw (minimum fee $105.17). A non-refundable foundation-permit fee of $459.96 is paid when a foundation permit is issued and credited to the building permit fee. Separate Works and Services Charges are levied on a floor-area basis ($/m2, roughly $24-$245 per m2 by occupancy/density) under the 2025 bylaw update. Confirm the current schedule with Whistler before you budget.

  6. 6

    Plan review, then build to inspections

    The building department reviews against the BC Building Code and zoning; answer any comments quickly. Once issued, post the permit on site and book inspections at each stage — footings, framing, rough-in, insulation, final. Don't cover work before it's inspected.

What Whistler asks for

  • Two (2) full sets of all drawings, scale 1:50 or 1/4"=1' with metric dimensions
  • Site plan showing utilities, property lines, setbacks, easements and finished grades
  • Recent land title search within 30 days ($21 fee charged if not provided)
  • Wet-sealed Schedule A (coordinating registered professional) and wet-sealed Schedule B (architect; structural, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, and sprinkler engineers as applicable) plus copies of professional liability insurance
  • Geotechnical engineer report where required
  • Civil engineer Schedule H Part 1 if civil works proposed
  • BC Energy Step Code Pre-Construction Compliance Report
  • Home warranty insurance registration for all new dwellings (or registered owner-builder path via BC Housing)
  • WorkSafeBC Notice of Project (required if hazmat detected, a registered professional is overseeing, or project value is $100,000+)
  • Hydraulic load calculation for new plumbing fixtures
  • Written scope of work with declared construction value
  • Hazardous Materials Report if the building was built before 1990

Permit fees in Whistler

Building permit fees are based on the estimated/declared value of the project per Table 1, Schedule B of the Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw (minimum fee $105.17). A non-refundable foundation-permit fee of $459.96 is paid when a foundation permit is issued and credited to the building permit fee. Separate Works and Services Charges are levied on a floor-area basis ($/m2, roughly $24-$245 per m2 by occupancy/density) under the 2025 bylaw update.

Fees change and vary by project — confirm the current schedule with Resort Municipality of Whistler.

Permit types in Whistler

Building permit

The core municipal approval to legally construct, add to, or structurally alter a building, issued after plan review confirms compliance with the BC Building Code and local bylaws.

Worth knowing about Whistler

Development-permit-first: many projects need a development permit before the building permit (or a letter from Planning confirming none is required). Pre-1990 buildings require a Hazardous Materials Report. Owner-builder path requires completing a course and passing an exam to register with BC Housing. Non-Resident Business Licence required for any contractor/designer/engineer based outside Whistler. Soil removal/deposit over 200 m3 needs a separate Removal and Deposit of Soil Permit. Secondary suites must meet 2024 BC Building Code s.9.37 and Zoning Bylaw 303.

Whistler permit questions

Where do I submit a building permit application in Whistler?

MyWhistler online services portal (my.whistler.ca / my.whistler.ca/OnlineServices/LoginManager/, a Tempest-based system) for accounts, payments and inspection booking. Building permit applications are accepted in person or by mail at the Building Department, 4325 Blackcomb Way; email applications are NOT accepted. Note: Works and Services Charges cannot be paid online (in person or cheque only).

Who issues electrical and gas permits in Whistler?

Technical Safety BC issues ALL electrical and gas permits. Whistler is NOT on TSBC's delegated-municipality list, so the municipality does not run its own electrical or gas program. The RMOW does directly issue plumbing, heat-pump, and fireplace/chimney/wood-burning-appliance permits, but electrical and gas go through technicalsafetybc.ca.

How much does a building permit cost in Whistler?

Building permit fees are based on the estimated/declared value of the project per Table 1, Schedule B of the Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw (minimum fee $105.17). A non-refundable foundation-permit fee of $459.96 is paid when a foundation permit is issued and credited to the building permit fee. Separate Works and Services Charges are levied on a floor-area basis ($/m2, roughly $24-$245 per m2 by occupancy/density) under the 2025 bylaw update. Fees vary by project, so confirm the current schedule with Resort Municipality of Whistler before budgeting.

What do I need to apply for a building permit in Whistler?

Resort Municipality of Whistler asks for: Two (2) full sets of all drawings, scale 1:50 or 1/4"=1' with metric dimensions; Site plan showing utilities, property lines, setbacks, easements and finished grades; Recent land title search within 30 days ($21 fee charged if not provided); Wet-sealed Schedule A (coordinating registered professional) and wet-sealed Schedule B (architect; structural, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, and sprinkler engineers as applicable) plus copies of professional liability insurance; Geotechnical engineer report where required; Civil engineer Schedule H Part 1 if civil works proposed; BC Energy Step Code Pre-Construction Compliance Report; Home warranty insurance registration for all new dwellings (or registered owner-builder path via BC Housing); WorkSafeBC Notice of Project (required if hazmat detected, a registered professional is overseeing, or project value is $100,000+); Hydraulic load calculation for new plumbing fixtures; Written scope of work with declared construction value; Hazardous Materials Report if the building was built before 1990.

Anything else to know about permits in Whistler?

Development-permit-first: many projects need a development permit before the building permit (or a letter from Planning confirming none is required). Pre-1990 buildings require a Hazardous Materials Report. Owner-builder path requires completing a course and passing an exam to register with BC Housing. Non-Resident Business Licence required for any contractor/designer/engineer based outside Whistler. Soil removal/deposit over 200 m3 needs a separate Removal and Deposit of Soil Permit. Secondary suites must meet 2024 BC Building Code s.9.37 and Zoning Bylaw 303.

Sources

General information only, not legal or code advice. Requirements vary by project and change over time — always confirm what applies to your job with Resort Municipality of Whistler before you build.

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