Plumbing Permit (Trade Permit) in Whitefish, Montana
VerifiedRequired 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.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- Trade Permit Application required for installation, alteration, or repair of any plumbing system, fixture, or water heater
- Governed by the 2021 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as adopted by the City of Whitefish — not the International Plumbing Code
- Completed Plumbing Fixture Form (Fixture Information Request) required for any change in plumbing fixtures, capturing fixture counts, service line length, and water pressure
- Application requires Montana contractor license number (Journeyman or Master) and project valuation
- Projects adding plumbing fixtures are subject to separate water/wastewater impact fees calculated by the Public Works Department
- Submitted via the Citizen Portal or by email to buildingdept@cityofwhitefish.gov
Required documents
- Required
Trade Permit Application
City of Whitefish Planning & Building Department application covering plumbing, electrical, and mechanical trade work
- Required
Plumbing Fixture Form (Fixture Information Request)
Required for any change in plumbing fixtures; used by Public Works to size water service and meter
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade (Plumbing) Permit Fee | 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 (applies to electrical, mechanical, and plumbing projects alongside building permits); confirm exact amount with Planning & Building at (406) 863-2410 |
| Water/Wastewater Impact Fee (plumbing fixture additions only) | Calculated by the Public Works Department per the City's 'Service Area Report and Impact Fee Study' (September 28, 2023) and set by City Council resolution; contact Rose Elliott at (406) 863-2462 | City of Whitefish Building Permits / Inspections page; City Code 10-2-12 (Impact Fee Rates) — this is a separate utility-system impact fee, not the trade permit fee itself, and does not apply to fixture-neutral repairs |
Review timeline
Not published
Whitefish does not publish a plan-review timeline — contact the building department for current turnaround.
Inspection process
- 1
Underslab Plumbing
Before concrete slab pour — verify pipe slope, materials, and cleanouts
- 2
Rough Plumbing
After pipes installed, before walls closed
- 3
Final Water (Pre-Final)
Requires service line/meter per the City's Required Inspections List; precedes Final Building Inspection
Tips
- Montana uses the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), not the International Plumbing Code — verify fixture and venting requirements against the 2021 UPC.
- The Plumbing Fixture Form is separate from the trade permit application itself and must accompany any application involving a change in plumbing fixtures, including a straightforward water heater swap that changes fixture count/type.
- Whitefish is DLI-certified for plumbing (P) permitting within city limits — permits are issued by the City, unlike a partially-certified city such as Havre where plumbing permits are mailed to the state Building Codes Bureau in Helena.
- reviewTimelineDays is null (hard-unpublished): the City of Whitefish publishes no review turnaround for plumbing trade permits on its Building Permits / Inspections page, Planning & Building page, FAQ, fee schedule, or Citizen Portal, and City Code 10-1-4/10-1-1 sets no review-day period. Because Whitefish is DLI-certified for Plumbing (P), these permits are reviewed by the City itself and are not routed to the state DLI, so the state's 'three weeks' state-administered figure does not govern. 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
- Who issues plumbing permits in Whitefish?
- The City of Whitefish Planning & Building Department issues plumbing permits directly, because Whitefish holds Montana DLI certification for Plumbing (P) permitting within city limits. Source: Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau, certified-jurisdictions list (bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/building-codes-permits/certified-city.pdf).
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
- Trade Permit Application (PDF) | City of Whitefish
- Plumbing Fixture Form (PDF) | City of Whitefish
- Montana DLI Building Codes Bureau — Certified City, County and Town Programs PDF
- City of Whitefish Code of Ordinances 10-2-12 (Impact Fee Rates)
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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