---
title: "Whistler business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a business licence in Whistler, and how do I get one?"
place: Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/whistler
category: Starting and running a business
owner: municipal
owner_body: Resort Municipality of Whistler
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/business-licence/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/business-licence.json"
---

# Whistler business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply

**Question:** Do I need a business licence in Whistler, and how do I get one?

**Short answer:** Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in Whistler needs a Resort Municipality business licence, with a separate licence for each premises and class of business. Apply online. It costs $25 to apply, then $190 a year unless the fee schedule lists another amount.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Resort Municipality of Whistler, https://www.whistler.ca)  
**Cost:** $25 for a new application, then an annual fee of $190 unless the schedule lists another amount, up to $2,000 a year. Examples: restaurant without liquor $200, taxi $200, bank $350. $10 to change a licence.  
**How long:** The licence is available in your MyWhistler account five days after payment.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Business licences, 604-935-8249 (businesslicences@whistler.ca)
- Online: Business Licences, Resort Municipality of Whistler, https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/

## Key facts

- **Who needs one:** Anyone carrying on any business in Whistler, with a separate licence for each premises and each class of business at a premises. Contractors, designers and engineers based outside Whistler who work there need a non-resident licence. Not needed for registered society fundraising, school programs, or garage and yard sales.
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023), s. 3, 5, 6, 10](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person may carry on any business in the Resort Municipality without a valid and" … "Every person who operates a business at more than one premises must apply for" … "a garage or yard sale."
  - Source: [Building Permit Application Guide | Resort Municipality of Whistler, Section 1, Project contacts](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/building-and-development-permits/building-permit-application-guide/)
  - Official wording: "A contractor, designer/architect, or engineer based outside of Whistler, but performing work in Whistler, is required to obtain a Non-Resident Business Licence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $25 for a new application, then an annual fee of $190 unless the schedule lists another amount, up to $2,000 a year. Examples: restaurant without liquor $200, taxi $200, bank $350. $10 to change a licence.
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023), Schedule A](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "New licence administration fee - $25.00." … "Change of licence fee - $10.00." … "Annual licence fee is $190.00 unless otherwise set out below, to a maximum annual fee" … "Restaurant without Liquor Service $200.00" … "Bank $350.00 Dog Sled or Outdoor Kennel Operators $500.00"
  - Source: [Business Licence Fees, Licence fees](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/business-licence-fees/)
  - Official wording: "The annual licence fee is $190 unless otherwise set out below, to a maximum annual fee of $2,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Apply online (standard, tourist accommodation, food service, commercial and other categories). Zoning must permit the business, and the applicant must have paid all fees and fines. Commercial applications are reviewed by Planning, Building, Fire and Bylaw; some businesses need a health or liquor approval first.
  - Source: [Business Licences, top of page](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "Business licence applications are submitted online follow the applicable link below, depending on business type."
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023), s. 24(a)-(c)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the zoning of the business premises permits the business activity;" … "all licence fees, and any outstanding fees or fines owed to the Resort"
  - Source: [Commercial Business Licences, Application review process](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/commercial-business-licences/)
  - Official wording: "Planning Department – Zoning" … "Building Department – BC Building Code regulations" … "Fire Department – BC Fire Code regulations"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Renewal:** Licences run January 1 to December 31. They renew automatically each year unless you opt out. Invoices go out in November or December; renewal fees are due January 31.
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023), s. 14, 18](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Licences issued under this bylaw are valid for the period commencing January 1" … "and expiring December 31 of each year unless cancelled under this bylaw."
  - Source: [Business Licence Fees, Renewals](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/business-licence-fees/)
  - Official wording: "Business licences expires on December 31 each year and renew automatically unless you have opted out during the application process." … "Invoices for renewed licences are sent out in November or December each year and are due and payable January 31 each year."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inter-community licence:** No general inter-community licence. Ride-hailing companies with a provincial Transportation Network Services licence apply for an inter-municipal business licence to operate across Lower Mainland municipalities including Whistler; fee not stated.
  - Source: [Vehicles for Hire, Ride-hailing](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/vehicles-for-hire/)
  - Official wording: "A Transportation Network Service licence and an inter-municipal business licence are required to operate a ride-hailing, Transportation Network Services business with ride-hailing vehicles."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $500, or $300 if paid early. Municipal ticket: $500. A court can fine up to $10,000 per offence.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018, Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019, s. 3](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carry on business without a 3 $300 $500 No"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005, Schedule B3](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Carry on business without a licence 3 $500"
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023), s. 53](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "carries on a business without holding a valid licence for that business;" … "$10,000 for each offence."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019, as amended (Amendment Bylaw No. 2451, 2024 changed tourist accommodation fees)
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023), title](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "CONSOLIDATED "BUSINESS LICENCE AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 2253, 2019""
  - Source: [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw | Resort Municipality of Whistler, Bylaw page](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/frequently-requested-bylaws/business-licence-and-regulation-bylaw/)
  - Official wording: "Business Licence and Regulation Amendment Bylaw (Tourist Accomocation Business Licence Fees) No. 2451, 2024"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf), anyone carrying on any business in Whistler needs a licence, with a separate one for each premises and each class of business at a premises. Contractors, designers and engineers based outside Whistler who work there need a non-resident licence. No licence is needed for registered society fundraising, school programs, or garage and yard sales.

## Steps

1. Check that zoning permits your business (see zoning-lookup).
2. Apply online in your category (standard, tourist accommodation, food service, commercial or other). You must have paid all fees and fines.
3. Commercial applications are reviewed by Planning, Building, Fire and Bylaw. Some businesses need a health or liquor approval first.
4. Pay the fees. Your licence appears in your MyWhistler account five days after payment.

## Good to know

- Licences run January 1 to December 31 and renew automatically unless you opt out. Invoices go out in November or December; renewal fees are due January 31.
- Tourist accommodation fees differ between the Municipality's pages and the consolidated bylaw (see short-term-rental).
- No general inter-community licence exists. Ride-hailing companies with a provincial Transportation Network Services licence apply for an inter-municipal business licence to operate across Lower Mainland municipalities including Whistler; the fee is not stated.
- Operating without a licence: a bylaw notice is $500, or $300 if paid early; a municipal ticket is $500; a court can fine up to $10,000 per offence. The Municipality's page says $500 per day.

## Official forms and pages

- [Business Licence Fees, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/business-licence-fees/)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Whistler home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/home-based-business.md)
- [Whistler short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/short-term-rental.md)
- [Whistler zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Whistler bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Business licence fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/business-licence.md)
- [Pemberton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/business-licence.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/business-licence.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/business-licence.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/business-licence.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/business-licence.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/business-licence.md)

## Sources

- [Business Licences, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence Fees, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/business-licence-fees/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Commercial Business Licences, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/commercial-business-licences/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Vehicles for Hire, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/vehicles-for-hire/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2174, 2018 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL002174.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1719, 2005 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/CBYL001719-2025-09-03-Signed.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Permit Application Guide | Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/building-and-development-permits/building-permit-application-guide/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw | Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/municipal-services/bylaws-and-regulations/frequently-requested-bylaws/business-licence-and-regulation-bylaw/) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Resort Municipality of Whistler. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/business-licence/_