Whitefish building permits

Building department

Address

418 E 2nd Street, PO Box 158, Whitefish, MT 59937

Phone

(406) 863-2410

Email

buildingdept@cityofwhitefish.gov

Office hours

Planning & Building Department, 418 E 2nd Street, Whitefish, MT 59937 (inspection requests: (406) 863-2414 or buildingdept@cityofwhitefish.gov, minimum 24 hours notice required)

Website

Official site

Permit portal

Apply online at Whitefish's portal

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Whitefish — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.

Codes adopted

Montana adopts a single statewide building code by rule and, by default, enforces it directly — local governments only gain enforcement authority once the state certifies them. Under the Montana Building Codes Act (Mont. Code Ann. Title 50, Chapter 60), the Department of Labor & Industry's Building Codes Bureau adopts one state building code applicable everywhere (§ 50-60-203, codified further at Administrative Rules of Montana Title 24, Chapter 301) — currently the 2021 editions of the IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, ISPSC, and UPC, with the 2020 NEC for electrical (effective statewide since 6/11/2022 per the Bureau's own Current Codes page). A city, county, or town may adopt and enforce its own building-code program under § 50-60-301, but its adopted code "may include only codes adopted by the Building Codes Bureau" — a local edition can never diverge from or be less stringent than the state's. Critically, under § 50-60-302, a local government cannot enforce ANY building code — even one it has formally adopted — until the Bureau certifies its program (requiring an approved code, a published fee schedule, an enforcement plan, and properly licensed or nationally certified inspectors); certification is granted per TRADE, not as one blanket designation. The Bureau's own "Certified City, County and Town Programs" list uses the key B=Building, P=Plumbing, E=Electrical, M=Mechanical, SP=Pool, W=Wildland-Urban-Interface — a jurisdiction can be certified for Building only while Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical remain directly state-enforced within the same city limits (e.g., Havre, Anaconda-Deer Lodge), or certified across all trades (e.g., Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell). Non-certified jurisdictions — most of Montana's unincorporated county land, since very few counties appear on the certified list — fall under direct enforcement by the state Building Codes Bureau (§ 50-60-304). Montana also exempts private homes and buildings of four or fewer dwelling units not serving transient guests from the state building-permit requirement entirely, though electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits remain separately required regardless. Always confirm with the specific jurisdiction which trades it is certified for versus which remain directly state-enforced.

• Montana has a mandatory statewide building code administered by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Building Codes Bureau, amended by the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) Title 24, Chapter 301. Cities, counties, and towns may become 'certified' to locally administer permitting and inspection for all or part of the code (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, swimming pool, WUI, etc.); non-certified areas fall under direct state administration by the DLI Building Codes Bureau. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, Certified City, County and Town Programs and Current Codes pages (bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits).
• Whitefish is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for Building (B), Plumbing (P), Electrical (E), Mechanical (M), Swimming Pool (SP), AND Wildland-Urban Interface (W) within Whitefish city limits — the fullest certification tier on the DLI list, matching only Bozeman and Columbia Falls statewide. Certified Building Official of record: Tad Lisowski, (406) 863-2410. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, 'CITY CODES BUILDING OFFICIAL PHONE JURISDICTION' certified-jurisdictions PDF (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf), updated 04/22/2026. Legend on that PDF: B = Building, P = Plumbing, M/G = Medical Gas, E = Electrical, M = Mechanical, SP = Pool, W = WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) — 'W' is NOT a water-heater designation.
• 2021 International Building Code (IBC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited directly on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page as a code applicable plans must meet
• 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page
• 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page; energy code compliance demonstrated via Prescriptive path, REScheck (residential), or COMcheck (commercial)
• 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page
• 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page
• 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page
• 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page (Montana uses the Uniform Plumbing Code, not the International Plumbing Code)
• 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page
• 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — statewide effective June 11, 2022; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page; Whitefish is DLI-certified for swimming pool (SP) permitting
• 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — statewide edition; cited on the City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page ('2021 IWUIC'); Whitefish is DLI-certified for WUI (W) and requires a Fire Risk Assessment per the 2021 WUI code on new construction and addition Residential Building Permit applications
• City of Whitefish Code of Ordinances, Title 10 (Building Regulations), Chapter 1 (Building Codes): Section 10-1-1 Adoption of Technical Codes and Administrative Regulations; Section 10-1-4 Building Permits. Source: codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/whitefishmt

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel)

  Required for new single-family and two-family residential construction, additions, remodels, and repairs within Whitefish city limits. Reviewed against the 2021 IRC and 2021 IECC as adopted by the City of Whitefish, plus the 2021 IWUIC (Fire Risk Assessment required for new construction and additions). Applications are submitted through the City's Citizen Portal or by email to buildingdept@cityofwhitefish.gov.

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• Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel)

  Required for new commercial, industrial, office, and multi-family construction, additions, and remodels within Whitefish city limits. Requires a licensed architect's stamp on digital plans. Reviewed against the 2021 IBC and 2021 IECC (via COMcheck or prescriptive path) as adopted by the City of Whitefish.

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• Electrical Permit (Trade Permit)

  Required for electrical installation, alteration, or repair work in Whitefish, governed by the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted statewide and by the City of Whitefish. Whitefish is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for electrical (E) permitting, so this permit is issued by the City itself, not the state.

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• Plumbing Permit (Trade Permit)

  Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Whitefish, governed by the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted statewide and by the City of Whitefish. Whitefish is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for plumbing (P) permitting, so this permit is issued by the City itself, not the state.

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• Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Trade Permit)

  Required for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and related mechanical installations in Whitefish, governed by the 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as adopted by the City of Whitefish. Whitefish is a Montana DLI-certified jurisdiction for mechanical (M) permitting, so this permit is issued by the City itself, not the state.

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• Re-Roofing Permit

  Required for re-roofing in Whitefish only where roof sheathing is being replaced; governed by the 2021 IRC/IBC roofing provisions as adopted by the City. Submitted as a Building Permit Application (residential or commercial, per structure type).

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• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit

  Rooftop solar photovoltaic installations in Whitefish require an Electrical Trade Permit (Whitefish is DLI-certified for electrical permitting) for the interconnection work, plus a Building Permit for the structural mounting component, both issued by the City of Whitefish under the 2020 NEC and 2021 IBC/IRC as adopted locally.

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• Demolition / Moving Permit

  Demolition or moving of a structure within Whitefish city limits is processed through the standard Building Permit Application; the City's impact-fee code (Title 10, Chapter 2) explicitly recognizes 'demolition or moving of a structure' as a distinct regulated activity, exempting it from impact fees while requiring advance notice for a pre-demolition inspection when a replacement structure is planned.

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• Fence and Retaining Wall Permit

  Fences up to 6 feet 6 inches (rear/side yards) or 48 inches (front yard setback) are regulated via a dedicated low-cost Fence Permit; taller fences and retaining walls over 4 feet high or subject to surcharge load are regulated through the standard Building Permit process.

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• EV Charger Installation Permit (Trade Permit)

  An electric vehicle charging station (Level 2 or DC fast charger) installation in Whitefish requires an Electrical Trade Permit for the circuit/interconnection work, issued directly by the City (Whitefish is DLI-certified for electrical (E) permitting), plus a Building Permit if a new canopy, carport, or structural mounting component is added — the same two-permit pattern already documented in this file's solar-pv-permit entry. No standalone EV-charger-specific application or fee schedule (of the kind some larger Montana cities publish) was found on the City of Whitefish's site.

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• Sign Permit (Commercial/Business Signage)

  Required to erect commercial/business signage within Whitefish city limits, governed by the City's sign regulations (sign district standards in Appendix G of the Sign Permit Application) and a dedicated, tiered sign-permit fee schedule. Applications are reviewed by the Planning & Building Department against the sign standards for the parcel's assigned Sign District (Highway, Old Town, Community Business/Resort, Business Service, or Residential). The permit covers the sign only — any structural, foundation, or electrical work for the sign requires a separate permit.

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• Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Review (via Building Permit)

  Whitefish does not publish a standalone Fire Sprinkler Permit or Fire Alarm Permit application separate from the standard Building Permit. Fire suppression and fire alarm system installation is reviewed as part of the standard Residential or Commercial Building Permit application (this file's residential-building-permit and commercial-building-permit entries), and verified through a dedicated sequence of fire-specific inspections on the City's Required Inspections List. Montana's DLI Building Codes Bureau does not certify a distinct 'Fire' trade for local jurisdictions (Whitefish's DLI certification covers Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Swimming Pool, and WUI — 'W' is Wildland-Urban Interface, NOT a fire-suppression-plan-review certification), so fire-code authority in Whitefish runs through City Code Title 9 (Fire Regulations), which adopts the International Fire Code by reference from the Montana Department of Justice's Fire Prevention and Investigation Bureau, enforced locally by the Whitefish Fire Chief. A dedicated local 'Fire Prevention Program Fee' — 29% of the building permit fee — is added to every building permit specifically to fund the Fire Department's development-related review and inspection costs.

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• Change of Use Zoning Compliance Permit

  Required under City Code 11-7-9 prior to a change in use of a commercial or residential property WHEN a building permit or conditional use permit is not otherwise required. Covers changes such as a retail space converting to a restaurant or office (or vice versa), a commercial space converting to residential use, or a residential use converting to a residential short-term rental — any conversion to a use with different development standards or parking requirements. Where a change of use also involves construction that requires a Commercial Building Permit (this file's commercial-building-permit entry), that permit process (and its Certificate of Occupancy, withheld until all City Code requirements are met per City Ordinance 03-23) governs instead.

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