The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) undertook a review of municipal bylaws in order to determine what amendments, if any, were required to deliver extraordinary Games.

Several amendments have been made to municipal bylaws including Parking and Traffic Amendment Bylaws, Noise Control Bylaws and the Sign Bylaw. Keep reading for more details.

1.  Parking and Traffic Amendment Bylaw - Special parking regulations will apply during the Olympic Games Period and are in effect February 1 to 28, 2010. There will be no parking on the odd side of the street at any time, no parking on the even side of the street 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and no parking on either side of transit routes.

Deliveries - To support more efficient traffic movements, commercial deliveries using oversized vehicles will be prohibited during peak hours. Permitted delivery times in the Village and Upper Village are from midnight to 6 a.m. Whistler Creek 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Function Junction will remain unrestricted to oversized vehicles. All other areas 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Fines ranges from $250 to $1,000.

Quick delivery zones that can be used by smaller quick delivery vehicles are permitted from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. (Village & Upper Village) and 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Whistler Creekside.) The remainder of the municipality including Function Junction will remain unrestricted to smaller quick delivery vehicles. Fines range from $250 to $500.
**Quick delivery vehicles will be managed by a permitting process. Permits can be obtained from the municipality by submitting proof of a valid commercial use vehicle insurance policy.

2.  Noise Control Amendment Bylaw ? Provides exemptions from noise arising from the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair or demolition of any competition or non-competition venue designated from the Games, and exemptions from noise arising from operation or use of any competition or non-competitions venue designated for the Games from December 28, 2009 to and including March 31, 2010.

Provides exemptions from noise arising from the deliveries of good, supplies or other materials to business premises from February 1, 2010 to and including March 31, 2010.

3. Sign Amendment Bylaw - Expands the definitions of what is a sign to address new technologies and advertising techniques.

As before, no person or business may display a sign unless he or she has first applied to the Signage Officer and obtained a sign permit for that sign.

Sign Permit Applications can be found on our website www.whistler.ca click on Business, Development Services, Sign Permits. Here you will find the Bylaw, the application form and requirements, and the permit/application fees. The fine amount listed here ($100) will remain the same. 

5.  Liquor License Amendments

Council has supported an extension of liquor licenses in the following cases:

• Extend restaurant, pub and lounge liquor service until 1:30 a.m. for February 12 to 28 period.
• Extend nightclub liquor service until 2:30 a.m. for February 12 to 28 period.

Whistler licensed establishments will not have to apply for an extension of closing hours during the February 12 to 28 period of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games based on Council support for longer hours and the province?s approval.

In November council supported a blanket half hour extension of closing hours beyond current council policy for all food primary and liquor primary establishments in Whistler during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

This allows restaurants, pubs and lounges to serve liquor until 1:30 a.m. and nightclubs until 2:30 a.m. Further to that decision, the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) issued a policy directive allowing Whistler licensed establishments to extend to these closing hours without an application to either the LCLB or to the RMOW.

With this provincial directive Whistler establishments are entitled to:

• Extend restaurant, pub and lounge liquor service until 1:30 a.m. during the February 12 to 28 period.
• Extend nightclub liquor service until 2:30 a.m. during the February 12 to 28 period.
• Click here for more information on Games Time food and beverage sales and service on outdoor patios.

Visit the Whistler Chamber of Commerce website whistlerchamber.com to prepare your business for the Games. Check out the the 2010 Transportation Guide for Businesses at http://www.whistlerchamber.com/2010-Opportunities/2010-Transportation.html  

Quick Delivery Zones allow smaller delivery vehicles to make essential deliveries throughout the day.  Smaller delivery vehicles are permitted from noon to 3 p.m. and 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. (Village and Upper Village) and 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. (Whistler Creek).

The remainder of Whistler including Function Junction will remain unrestricted to smaller delivery vehicles.

These zones facilitate essential deliveries during regular business hours. Businesses may apply for a quick delivery permit from the municipality by submitting proof of a valid commercial use vehicle insurance policy.

A limited number of neighbourhoods will only be accessible with a Localized Vehicle Permit (LVP).  These are for neighbourhoods in close proximity to venues.

The Localized Vehicle Permit for the 2010 Olympic Games will be in effect from February 4, to February 28, 2010.

Only those neighbourhoods in close proximity to Olympic venues are identified as LVP areas, and are as follows:

• Creekside East (CRKE) Lake Placid Road, Gondola Way & Sarajevo Drive ? 6 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Creekside East (LANE) London Lane - 6 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Creekside West (CRKW) Taylor Way & Lake Placid Road to Alpha Lake Park ? 6 a.m. ? 4 p.m.

• Taluswood (TALU) Nordic Drive above Whistler Road - 6  a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Whistler Sliding Centre (GLAC) Glacier Drive 10 a.m. ? 10 p.m.

• Whistler Sliding Centre (GLAC) Glacier Lane 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.

• Whistler Village (SECV) Gateway Drive - 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Commercial businesses qualified to receive permits will make a request for their allotment of LVPs at the Permit Office. The RMOW will review these requests and confirm the number of permits to be issued. Once processed, permits will be available for pick-up by the business at the Permit Office.

A pre- Games and Games-time Permit Office is located at Municipal Hall: 4325 Blackcomb Way in Whistler

Local Vehicle Permit Office Hours

December 14 ? Feb 5: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

February 8 - February 28: 7 days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

The VANOC administered Sea to Sky Checkpoint permit distribution offices are open in four locations - in Whistler, Vancouver, Pemberton and Squamish.

Businesses will need to show their business license and proof of parking.

The checkpoint, north of Squamish near the Alice Lake turnoff is designed to manage traffic volume into and through Whistler during the Games. There will be no parking at venues or on municipal roads during the restricted hours ? see above Parking and Traffic Amendment Bylaw

The Sea to Sky Checkpoint will affect northbound traffic during the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (peak hours) from February 11 to 28, 2010. Anyone travelling outside the peak hours will not require a checkpoint permit. Permits are not required for vehicles travelling south.

Residents and businesses looking for more information on the Sea to Sky checkpoint, local vehicle permits or on how to plan ahead for travelling during the 2010 Winter Games are encouraged to visit www.travelsmart2010.ca

Municipally issued 2009 Commercial Vehicle Decals will be honoured until Jan 31, 2010. They are not valid during February 2010.

2010 Commercial Vehicle Decals

Starting March 1, 2010, Commercial Vehicle Decals will be available for sale at Municipal Hall for $20 (reduced from $30) Applicants must have a valid business license, commercial insurance for their vehicle and no outstanding parking tickets and will be required to use an in-car meter for parking up to a maximum of 2 hours.

You will need to confirm with your guests that you have designated parking space for the duration of their stay. It is the hotel's responsibility to ensure guests have their permits prior to travel up the Sea to Sky highway. If guests do not have a permit, they will need to visit the Squamish permit office and show confirmation of parking in order to secure a permit.

Alternatively, guests can travel outside the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., when permits will not be required, or they can travel by commercial motor coach, which do not need permits.

Guests without parking can take advantage of enhanced commercial motor coach services to Whistler. For more information on motor coach service to whistler, please visit whistler.com.

Commercial carriers providing service directly into Whistler will require a Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) Commercial Carrier Permit to drop passengers, stage vehicles and access various areas of the Resort.

Yes. All businesses operating within municipal boundaries are required to have a business license.

According to Business License Bylaw "no person shall carry on, within the municipality, any business unless he is the holder of a valid License issued to him under this bylaw by the License Inspector?.

Business is defined as "a commercial or industrial undertaking of any kind or nature or the providing of professional, personal or other services for the purpose of gain or profit.?

Persons and/or companies are thus deemed to be carrying on a business if they are involved in any of the following activities:

• Buying, selling, bartering, renting, or displaying any commodity for profit or gain;
• Advertising a business;
• Rendering or offering to render professional, personal, contractual, or other service for profit or gain;

If your business is located in the Resort Municipality of Whistler, your business license must be posted on the premises in a conspicuous place at all times. For businesses with more than one location within municipal boundaries, a separate license is required for each location.

You can apply for a business license through our website www.whistler.ca