Demolition / Moving Permit in Whitefish, Montana
VerifiedDemolition 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.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- Demolition or moving of a structure is processed via the standard Building Permit Application (no separate demolition-specific application form is published by the City)
- Replacement of a residential structure with a new residential structure at the same site (with less than 500 sq ft increase and no meter-size change) requires the City be given a reasonable notification period to schedule an inspection of the original structure prior to demolition, to confirm square footage and meter size
- Replacement of a nonresidential structure with a new nonresidential structure of the same size and use likewise requires advance notice for a pre-demolition inspection
- Demolition or moving of a structure is exempted from City impact fees under Code Section 10-2-3(A)(3), regardless of the impact-fee treatment of any subsequent replacement construction
- Owner must obtain utility disconnection verification before demolition work begins (standard practice referenced across Montana municipal demolition permitting; confirm specific utility-disconnect procedure with Whitefish Public Works at (406) 863-2460)
Required documents
- Required
Building Permit Application (Residential or Commercial)
City of Whitefish Planning & Building Department application, used for demolition/moving of a structure since no separate demolition-specific form is published
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (Demolition/Moving) | Based on a percentage of the estimated project cost/valuation, consistent with the City's general building-permit valuation-based fee methodology; a deposit is required at time of permit submittal | City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page, 'Fees' section — demolition/moving permits are not exempted from the building permit fee itself, only from the separate utility impact fee per Code 10-2-3(A)(3) |
Review timeline
Not published
Whitefish does not publish a plan-review timeline — contact the building department for current turnaround.
Inspection process
- 1
Pre-Demolition Inspection
Required with reasonable advance notice when a replacement structure is planned at the same site, to confirm the original structure's square footage and meter size per City Code 10-2-3(A)(6)-(7)
Tips
- Whitefish does not publish a standalone demolition permit application or a dedicated demolition bond requirement (unlike Billings' $10,000 site bond) — demolition is processed through the general Building Permit Application.
- If you plan to demolish and rebuild at the same site, notify the Building Department with reasonable advance notice so the City can inspect the original structure before demolition begins — this confirms square footage and water meter size for impact-fee exemption purposes.
- Demolition and moving of a structure are explicitly impact-fee-exempt under City Code 10-2-3(A)(3), but this exemption applies to the utility impact fee, not the underlying building permit fee.
- reviewTimelineDays is null (hard-unpublished): demolition/moving is processed through the standard Building Permit, for which the City of Whitefish publishes no review turnaround (checked the Building Permits / Inspections page, Planning & Building page, FAQ, fee schedule, and Citizen Portal); City Code 10-1-4/10-1-1 and the demolition-relevant 10-2-3 set no review-day period (10-2-3 requires only 'reasonable' advance notice for the pre-demolition inspection, not a numeric review clock). The Montana DLI 'three weeks' figure applies only to state-administered permits and does not govern a fully certified local program. No real governing figure was found after exhausting the city site, city code, and MT DLI. Contact Planning & Building at (406) 863-2410 for current review timelines.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a separate demolition permit in Whitefish?
- No standalone demolition permit application is published by the City of Whitefish; demolition or moving of a structure is processed through the standard Building Permit Application. Demolition is explicitly recognized and exempted from impact fees (not the permit fee itself) under City Code Section 10-2-3(A)(3). Source: City of Whitefish Code of Ordinances 10-2-3, codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/whitefishmt.
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
- City of Whitefish Code of Ordinances 10-2-3 (Exemptions)
- City Forms & Permits | 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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