City Services

New Customers

The City provides water and sewer that is billed on a monthly basis. To set up a new utility account, an application will need to be completed. Customers can receive their bill by mail or via email(E-Bill). Contact the Utility Billing Clerk for more information. 

Payment Methods

The City offers multiple methods for customers to pay utility bills. 

Automatic Bill Pay aka Automated Clearing House (ACH)

This will not only save you the cost of a stamp, but gives you the peace of mind that your monthly bill is paid on time. You will receive your monthly bill as usual. To enroll, complete the Electronic Fund Transfer Payment - Authorization Form and submit it with a voided check to the Utility Billing Clerk. On the tenth of each month, the net amount of your bill will be automatically debited from your checking account. 

Online Utility Payment

The new  Online Utility Payment portal, is live as of July 1, 2024. All customers are required to set up a new payment account that will allow you to have automatic payments charged to your credit card or debit card. This is required even if you had a payment account previously. Credit/debit card payment are assess a convenience fee.  

Traditional Methods of Payment

The Utility Billing is in the City Hall, located at 418 E. 2nd Street. Payments can be made to the Customer Service Specialists between 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday. A drop box is provided during non-business hours, and is located in the vestibule between City Hall and the Parking Structure, inside the Baker Avenue entrance. A payment envelope is included with the bill for mailing.  

Important Information You Need to Know

1. Utility bills are mailed or e-billed at the end of every month.
2. Utility bills are due and payable upon receipt. Any bills not paid by the 20th of each month will be considered delinquent.
3. Utility bills become delinquent on the 21st day following the original bill date. At that time a late notice will be sent.
4. The late notice will inform you of a date that a door tag will be hung and a $25.00 fee applied with it, as well as the date your water will be turned off if payment is not made.
5. If the account is delinquent on the turn off date, a $50.00 fee will be added to account, whether or not the water is physically turned off. Once an account lands on the turn-off list, the full balance must be paid before water will be turned back on. 
6. If the Post Office has not delivered your bill by the 5th of the month, contact the Utility Billing office, 406-863-2457. 

Garbage is a mandatory service that is billed by the City's Utility Billing Office pursuant to 4-2-2 of the Whitefish City Code. The City contracts with Republic Services for garbage collection. 

If you need to set up new garbage service or make changes to your current service, please contact the Utility Billing Office, 406-863-2457. Fees for solid waste disposal services was adopted by Council in 2022 by Resolution No. 22-12 (PDF)

Animal Resistant Container aka Bear Resistant Containers

The City worked with Republic Services and Montana, Fish and Wildlife to identify solutions to minimize bear attractants in Whitefish and reduce the risk of human and bear conflicts. In 2022 Council adopted new rates requiring all residential locations to be provided with a single 95-gallon bear resistant container. 

Important Things to Know

1. Place your card at the curb or alley the night before or by 7:00 a.m. on pickup day.
2. Place your cart within 2-feet of the curb. 
3. Carts must be at least 4-feet from obstacles preventing collection, including other carts.
4. Do not overfill the card, the lid must be closed for collection.
5. Items placed outside of the cart will incur additional fees.
6. Containers will not be tipped for collection if items are placed on top of the lids. 
7. Place carts so they can be opened towards the street or alley.
8. Your service location is the same spot the cart was delivered to. For some, this is in the alley. For others it is on the street. 
9. The cart that is placed at your home is your responsibility, the serial numbers on the cart is linked to your address. 

Additional bear resistant roll-out containers will be available upon request for an additional fee. If you have questions, please call the Utility Billing Office, 406-863-2457 during business hours. 

The City of Whitefish provides three parking permit options in the downtown area. 

Employee Parking Permit

The cost is $20 per month, per license plate, per permit, or $228 for an annual permit for a 12-month purchase. A limited number of permits are available and are valid Monday - Friday, 6:00 am - 6:00 pm. Permits can be used on a first-come first-serve basis and can only be used in the four lots:

1. Public parking lot south of the Library (West side of Lot)
2. 1st Street and Spokane Avenue parking lot
3. Uncovered lease parking of the Parking Garage (3rd level)
4. 3rd Street and Central Avenue parking lot

Covered Parking in the Parking Garage

The Parking Garage is located on the corner of East 1st Street and Baker Avenue. The Parking Garage is a three floor parking facility that has 62 covered lease parking spaces on the 2nd Level, with two EV Charging spaces. The Parking Garage is enforced from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday - Friday (excluding City Holidays). The City Council has adopted the following rates and discounts.

Payments are not refundable but may be transferred by changing the license plates that are assigned to a parking permit. 

Uncovered Parking in the Parking Garage

The Parking Garage is located on the corner of East 1st Street and Baker Avenue. The Parking Garage is a three floor parking facility that has 75 uncovered lease parking spaces on the 3rd Level, with 3 handicapped lease parking spaces, and two EV Charging Spaces. The Parking Garage is enforced from 6:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday - Friday (excluding City Holidays). The City Council has adopted the following rates and discounts. 

Payments are not refundable but may be transferred by changing the license plates that are assigned to a parking space. 

How Do I Purchase a Parking Permit?

The Finance Department, Customer Service Specialist, (406)863-2400 Option 1, can also assist with purchasing a permit. Please read the City of Whitefish Lease Parking Permit Terms and Conditions (PDF) for more information regarding lease parking. 

Overnight snow falls, measured by the Supervisor at 4:00 am, of 4 inches or more will initiate City snow plowing routes. 

Emergency and Priority Routes

Emergency and priority routes may be plowed out of sequence regardless of direction of travel due to hazardous winter time conditions. See list of the City of Whitefish Emergency and Priority Routes below.  More information on snow plowing and snow removal can be found under Public Works. 

Emergency Snow Routes

Priority Snow Routes

In The City of Whitefish has transitioned to a leaf vacuum service. The following rules apply: 

• Leaves shall be placed in the roadway, but no more than 6’ off the edge of curb or pavement. In previous years, placing leaves in the boulevard between the curb and sidewalk was fraught with issues including parked cars blocking leaf piles, numerous obstacles (trees, signs, fire hydrants), and complaints regarding damage to grass.
• City Crews will pick up leaves in six different zones.  Residents can use the City’s Leaf Pickup Mapping Tool to see which zone your property is located in and get a live update of which zone the crew is currently in. 
• Zones will be serviced in numerical order until weather makes it impractical to continue.  Therefore, if you miss the first round of collection in your zone, you will have another chance to get your leaves out to the street.
• There are several roadways where residents are asked to bag their leaves. This is due to limited access, inability to maneuver equipment, or some other impediment. These streets are shown in red on the Leaf Pickup Zone Map and listed on the Leaf Pick Up page..
• This service DOES NOT include the removal of grass clippings. Piles with branches, grass clippings, garden waste and pet waste will not be picked up.
• Please follow the City’s Alternate Side Parking restrictions to ensure the success of this new system. Park on the even side of the street (north and west) on even calendar days and the odd side of the street (south and east) on odd calendar days.

More information is provided on the Leaf Pick Up page.

The City will be performing curbside Christmas Tree Pickup for one week only. Trees should be at the curb before 7 am to take advantage of this service. The Public Works Department will post the dates of pickup on the Christmas Tree Pickup page. Questions about tree pickup procedures may be directed to the Public Works Department, publicworks@cityofwhitefish.gov, or (406)863-1260.

The City of Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department maintains all trees in City Parks or on City property in addition to trees in boulevards. More information is provided on the Urban Forestry page.