Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Addition / Remodel) in Whitefish, Montana
VerifiedRequired 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.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- Building permit required for new commercial construction, commercial storage buildings/garages of any size, commercial sheds over 120 sq ft, additions, and remodels
- One (1) set of digital plans with a licensed architect's stamp required (detailed construction drawings at 1/4-inch scale)
- Plans must comply with 2021 IBC, 2021 IRC, 2021 IECC, 2021 IEBC, 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, 2021 UPC, 2020 NEC, 2021 ISPSC, and 2021 IWUIC as adopted by the City of Whitefish
- Energy code compliance demonstrated via Prescriptive path or COMcheck
- Architectural Review Committee (ARC) approval required prior to building permit submittal for commercial/industrial/public buildings, triplex/fourplex/multi-family buildings, and two-unit townhouses
- Completed Plumbing Fixture Form required if there is any change in plumbing fixtures
- $500 plan review fee (deducted from building permit fees) required with application
- Applications submitted electronically via the Citizen Portal or by email to buildingdept@cityofwhitefish.gov
Required documents
- Required
Commercial Building Permit Application
City of Whitefish Planning & Building Department application (rev. 03-02-26), including project information and applicant affidavit
- Required
Architect-Stamped Construction Drawings (1/4-inch scale)
Site plan, floor plan, exterior elevations, foundation plan, and framing details stamped by a licensed architect
- Required
Architectural Review Committee (ARC) Approval Letter
Required for commercial/industrial/public buildings and multi-family/townhouse projects prior to building permit submittal
- Required
Energy Code Compliance (COMcheck or Prescriptive)
Demonstrates 2021 IECC compliance for commercial projects
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee | Based on a percentage of the estimated project cost (valuation-based); a deposit is required at time of permit submittal | City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page, 'Fees' section |
| Plan Review Fee (Commercial) | $500.00 (deducted from building permit fees at issuance) | City of Whitefish Commercial Building Permit Application (rev. 03-02-26), Required Documentation checklist |
Review timeline
Not published
Whitefish does not publish a plan-review timeline — contact the building department for current turnaround.
Inspection process
- 1
Footings / Foundation
String line or letter of survey required before concrete pour
- 2
Rough Framing / Rough Electrical / Rough Mechanical / Rough Plumbing
Trade rough-ins verified before walls closed
- 3
Fire Inspections
Underslab flush test (bag test), sprinkler visual, dry system air test, hydrostatic test, alarm and flow test, emergency/exit light test, hood test — as applicable to commercial fire protection systems
- 4
Final Building Inspection
All prior inspections must have passed, including Final Electrical (over 400 amp or commercial), Final Fire (after all necessary fire tests are completed), Final Planning, and Final Public Works
Tips
- Commercial, industrial, or public building projects (and triplex/fourplex/multi-family/two-unit townhouse projects) must obtain Architectural Review Committee approval before submitting the building permit application.
- A minimum of 24 hours notice is required to schedule any inspection.
- Fire inspections (sprinkler, alarm, hood test, etc.) are tracked separately on the Required Inspections List and must all pass before Final Building Inspection.
- reviewTimelineDays is null (hard-unpublished): the City of Whitefish publishes no plan-review turnaround for commercial building permits on its Building Permits / Inspections page, Planning & Building page, FAQ, Current Fee Schedule PDF, or Citizen Portal, and City Code 10-1-4/10-1-1 sets no review-day period. The Montana DLI 'three weeks' plan-review figure applies only to STATE-administered permits and excludes certified local programs; Whitefish reviews its own commercial plans as a fully DLI-certified jurisdiction, so the state figure does not govern. No governing figure exists after exhausting the city site, city code, and MT DLI — note that ARC (Architectural Review Committee) approval is a separate prerequisite step that must precede submittal. Contact Planning & Building at (406) 863-2410 for current review timelines.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a commercial building permit in Whitefish require an architect's stamp?
- Yes. The Commercial Building Permit Application requires one set of digital plans with a licensed architect's stamp, in contrast to the Residential Building Permit Application which does not require an architect's stamp. Source: City of Whitefish Commercial Building Permit Application (rev. 03-02-26).
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
- City of Whitefish Planning & Building Department — official building department
- Building Permits / Inspections | City of Whitefish
- Commercial Building Permit Application (PDF, rev. 03-02-26) | City of Whitefish
- Required Inspections List (PDF, rev. 09-01-25) | City of Whitefish
Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Whitefish building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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