{"title":"Whistler home-based business rules","question":"Can I run a business from my home in Whistler?","slug":"home-based-business","place":{"path":"ca/bc/whistler","name":"Whistler","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"business","name":"Starting and running a business"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Resort Municipality of Whistler","url":"https://www.whistler.ca"},"short_answer":"Yes. In Whistler a home occupation is permitted in all zones if the zoning bylaw's conditions are met, and it needs a business licence. Only one non-resident may work in it. Fees are $25 to apply, then $190 a year.","aliases":["home business whistler","home occupation whistler","work from home business licence whistler","home based artist studio whistler"],"cost":"$25 new application fee, then the standard $190 annual fee.","how_long":"The Municipality's page said home-based licences were taking about three to four weeks.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Business licences","value":"604-935-8249","note":"businesslicences@whistler.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"Business Licences, Resort Municipality of Whistler","value":"https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF)","url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf"},{"title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF)","url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"business-licence","title":"Whistler business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/business-licence/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Whistler zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"short-term-rental","title":"Whistler short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/short-term-rental/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/pemberton","name":"Pemberton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/squamish","name":"Squamish","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/anmore","name":"Anmore","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/home-based-business/"},{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/home-based-business/"}],"topic":{"title":"Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business/"},"facts":{"allowed":{"label":"Allowed","value":"Yes. A home occupation (a craft or occupation run as an accessory use of a home) is permitted in all zones if the conditions in the zoning bylaw are met.","short":"Yes, in all zones","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf","title":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026)","section":"Part 5, s. 12(1)","quotes":["a home occupation use is permitted in","all zones provided:"]},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf","title":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026)","section":"Part 2 definitions","quotes":["\"home occupation\" means a craft or occupation conducted as an accessory use subordinate to"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"licence":{"label":"Business licence","value":"Yes. A business licence is required (the 'Home occupation business' category; a separate licence applies to selling art from a home-based artist studio). $25 new application fee, then the standard $190 annual fee.","short":"Yes: $190 annual plus $25 new application","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/","title":"Business Licences, Resort Municipality of Whistler","section":"Home occupation business","quotes":["If you are conducting business in Whistler, you are required to hold a valid business licence.","This licence is for businesses based within a residential home in Whistler, or who require a licence to travel with them, including massage therapist, janitors, and trades people."]},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["New licence administration fee - $25.00.","Annual licence fee is $190.00 unless otherwise set out below, to a maximum annual fee"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"limits":{"label":"Limits","value":"Only one person who does not normally live in the home may work in the business. No products or materials may be stored outside a principal or auxiliary building. No alterations to show a non-residential use. In residential zones no products may be sold from the home, except a home-based artist studio may sell art and crafts made there.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf","title":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026)","section":"Part 5, s. 12(1)(a)-(d)","quotes":["alterations are not made to any building in a Residential zone to indicate it is","being used for any purpose other than its principal use;","the maximum number of persons who do not normally occupy the dwelling unit","no products or materials are stored outside of a principal building and auxiliary","other than a Home-based Artist Studio which is permitted to"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_allowed":{"label":"Businesses not allowed","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Whistler's bylaw bans no particular type of home business.","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (Part 5, s. 12); Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf","title":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026)","section":"title page","quotes":["ZONING AND PARKING BYLAW NO. 303, 2015"]},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023)","section":"title","quotes":["BUSINESS LICENCE AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 2253, 2019"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":4,"matched":4,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf), Part 5, s. 12, permits a home occupation (a craft or occupation run as an accessory use of a home) in all zones if its conditions are met. You also need a Whistler business licence in the \"Home occupation business\" category.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check that your business meets the conditions below.\n2. Apply online for a business licence ($25 application fee).\n3. Pay the annual fee of $190. The licence shows in your MyWhistler account five days after payment.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Only one person who does not normally live in the home may work in the business.\n- No products or materials may be stored outside a principal or auxiliary building.\n- You may not alter the home to show a non-residential use.\n- In residential zones no products may be sold from the home, except that a home-based artist studio may sell art and crafts made there (a separate licence applies).\n- The bylaw bans no particular type of home business. Tourist accommodation is separate (see short-term-rental).\n- We found no floor area, parking or sign limit in the bylaw. Ask Planning at 604-935-8170.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf","title":"Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Consolidated-Business-Licence-And-Regulation-Bylaw-No.-2253-2019.pdf","title":"Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019 (PDF, consolidated February 8, 2023)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/","title":"Business Licences, Resort Municipality of Whistler","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/building-and-development-permits/","title":"Building and Development Permits, Resort Municipality of Whistler","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/home-based-business/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/home-based-business.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/home-based-business.json"}}