---
title: Whistler home-based business rules
question: "Can I run a business from my home in Whistler?"
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/home-based-business/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/home-based-business.json"
---

# Whistler home-based business rules

**Question:** Can I run a business from my home in Whistler?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Resort Municipality of Whistler, https://www.whistler.ca)  
**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:**
- 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

- **Allowed:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 12(1)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a home occupation use is permitted in" … "all zones provided:"
  - Source: [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 2 definitions](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
  - Official wording: ""home occupation" means a craft or occupation conducted as an accessory use subordinate to"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Business licence:** 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.
  - Source: [Business Licences, Home occupation business](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - 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." … "Annual licence fee is $190.00 unless otherwise set out below, to a maximum annual fee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Limits:** 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.
  - Source: [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), Part 5, s. 12(1)(a)-(d)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Businesses not allowed:** None set. Whistler's bylaw bans no particular type of home business.
- **Bylaw:** Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (Part 5, s. 12); Business Licence and Regulation Bylaw No. 2253, 2019
  - Source: [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026), title page](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
  - Official wording: "ZONING AND PARKING BYLAW NO. 303, 2015"
  - 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: "BUSINESS LICENCE AND REGULATION BYLAW NO. 2253, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[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.

## Steps

1. Check that your business meets the conditions below.
2. Apply online for a business licence ($25 application fee).
3. Pay the annual fee of $190. The licence shows in your MyWhistler account five days after payment.

## Good to know

- 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.
- You may not alter the home to show a non-residential use.
- 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).
- The bylaw bans no particular type of home business. Tourist accommodation is separate (see short-term-rental).
- We found no floor area, parking or sign limit in the bylaw. Ask Planning at 604-935-8170.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf)
- [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 business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/business-licence.md)
- [Whistler zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Whistler short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/short-term-rental.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Home-based business rules in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/home-based-business.md)
- [Pemberton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pemberton/home-based-business.md)
- [Squamish](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/home-based-business.md)
- [Lions Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/home-based-business.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/home-based-business.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/home-based-business.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/home-based-business.md)

## Sources

- [Zoning and Parking Bylaw No. 303, 2015 (PDF, consolidated August 8, 2026)](https://www.whistler.ca/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-_and_Parking_Bylaw_303_2015_2026-08-07.pdf) (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)
- [Business Licences, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/business-licenses/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building and Development Permits, Resort Municipality of Whistler](https://www.whistler.ca/business-development/building-and-development-permits/) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. 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/home-based-business/_