Owner Use Guidelines for Whistler Properties:
1. Residential Zoning; allows the owner(s) full time or part time occupancy, long term rentals (30 days or more) and is generally used by full time residents, weekend/holiday recreational users and long term investers (holding property while renting to long term tenants).
2. Phase 1 Zoning (most flexible) allows the owner(s) the following;
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to occupy their property on a full time basis
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to rent their property long term
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to rent their property on a nightly or short term basis
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to operate their own rental business (see LINK to owner operator Search Engines) or use one of the many professional rental management companies at Whistler (see LINK to Rental Management Companies)
The Phase 1 has a registered Covenant which states that if you are not using your property on a full-time basis you are obligated to make it available for short term rental when it will be vacant. This appears to be “more or less a gentleman’s agreement”. These properties are generally subject to the Residential Tax Rate (lower than the Commercial Rate).
3. Phase 2 Zoning (generally applies to Hotel/Lodge type suites) allows the owner(s) the following;
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personal use of their property for up to 28 days in the summer season (April 15 to Nov 15) and up to 28 days in the winter season (Nov 15 to April 15)
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to book a maximum of up to 21 days at any time in each season (these bookings require a minimum of 6 months advance booking notice)
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make short term bookings which the hotel can honor if the occupancy rate is less than 80% (this may not affect the long term booking days)As these properties are operated similar to a hotel or Lodge and must be made available for nightly rental when not being occupied by the owners they are subject to the split property tax classification from the Resort Municipality of Whistler which is a combination of the Residential rate (lower) and the Commercial rate (higher). Most Phase 2 properties offer front desk and hotel management contracts which include pooled revenue sharing, making this type of investment somewhat hands free
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