Frequently Asked Questions

Once you have determined the zoning for the property, visit the American Legal’s website to view the City of Whitefish Zoning Regulations under Title 11 .

When you are viewing the zoning regulations, you should expand Chapter 2 Zoning Districts and select the specific zoning district you are looking for. This will list all permitted uses, conditional uses, and property development standards (including setbacks, building heights, and lot coverage) specific to each zone. 

Most Current Copy

We do not have a PDF of the current City Code on our website. American Legal is updated for every text amendment and is the most current.

In order to look up the zoning for your property, go to the City zoning map. You can search by address or zoom directly to your property to see what the zoning district is for your property or neighborhood. For a summary of the permitted uses and development standards for that zoning district, go to Sterling Codifier’s website to view the City of Whitefish Zoning Regulations Title 11, Chapter 2.

If the proposed structure will be greater than 200 square feet in size, it will require the issuance of a building permit. This includes both residential and commercial structures, as well as accessory structures such as sheds, decks, porches, etc.

Please contact the City of Whitefish Building Department at 406-863-2410 for questions regarding the issuance of building permits. Additionally, all structures regardless of size, must comply with the setbacks established in the City of Whitefish Zoning Regulations.

Within each zoning district there is a list of permitted uses (which can be commenced on a property without additional zoning review) and a separate list of conditional uses. Conditional uses require additional review through a Conditional Use Permit prior to commencement as the uses may be more impactful on the surrounding neighborhood, traffic and roadways, or include additional performance standards. 

Conditional Use Permits are first reviewed by the Whitefish Community Development Board for a recommendation for final review from the City Council, and run with the land not the property ownership. The time frame from application submittal to final decision on a Conditional Use Permit application is approximately 3 months.

To learn more about submitting Conditional Use Permit applications or to obtain a copy of the form, visit the Applications, Forms and Fee Schedule page.

A Zoning Variance is a request for a deviation from the requirements of the zoning regulations. For example, a deviation from the required setbacks or building height in a particular zone. Zoning Variance applications are reviewed by the Whitefish Community Development Board, and there are specific criteria which must be met in order for a variance to be approved. 

The criteria for review can be found in Section 11-7-7 of the City of Whitefish Zoning Regulations. In order for a variance request to be approved, all of the criteria must be met or found to be not applicable. 

The time frame from application submittal to final decision is approximately 2 months. To learn more about Zoning Variance or to obtain a copy of the Zoning Variance Permit application form, visit the Applications, Forms and Fee Schedule page.

The Architectural Review Committee reviews and acts on applications for commercial, industrial or public buildings, or triplex, fourplex or multi-family residential structures within the City of Whitefish. Detached single-family homes and duplexes are exempt from the Architectural Review Standards.

For More Information

For additional information or to download the application specific to your project visit the Architectural Review Committee page under the Boards and Committees.

If your property borders Whitefish Lake or Lost Coon Lake:

• Complete the Lakeshore Construction Permit Application (PDF) 
• The overall dock size is determined based on your lakeshore frontage 
• Existing constructed areas or surfaces within the Lakeshore Protection Zone (20 feet landward of the high water mark), may affect the permitted dock size

Submittals & Questions

The completed application, required fee, and additional application submittals must be turned into the City of Whitefish Planning Department. For additional information, visit the Lakeshore Development page which includes a link to the City of Whitefish Lakeshore Regulations, or contact the Planning Department.

Subdivision

In order to sell a portion of a property, the property must first go through subdivision review and receive both Preliminary Plat and Final Plat approvals before the new lot can be sold. Depending on a variety of factors, the division may require review as a minor waiver, a minor, or a major subdivision Preliminary Plat. Each has a different time frame for the application and review period, with the longest (major subdivisions) taking approximately 3 months before a final decision is made by the City Council. 

Final Plat

Once a subdivision has received Preliminary Plat, the new lot or lots are not officially created until the applicant completes Final Plat. This is a separate application process where the applicant must demonstrate they have met all conditions approved during the Preliminary Plat process. The Final Plat review takes approximately 1 to 2 months with a final decision made by the City Council. Once the Council approves the Final Plat, the lots will be created and can then be sold by applicant.

Exemptions

There are a few instances when subdivision review is not required for the creation of a lot under Montana State Law. These instances are know as Subdivision Exemptions and include Boundary Line Adjustments, Family Transfers, and Agricultural Exemptions.

Contact the Planning Department

If you are interested in dividing your land, you are encouraged to contact the Planning Department at 406-863-2410 to discuss the overall process and submittal requirements.

For more information on subdivisions or to review the applications, visit the Applications, Forms and Fee Schedule page.

Business License applications are submitted to the Whitefish City Clerk’s office. For information regarding the applicable application and required fee, visit the Business License page or contact the City Clerk’s office at 406-863-2400.

Short-term Rental Brochure, sometimes referred to as a vacation rental, rental of an entire privately owned house, townhouse unit, condominium unit, apartment or other residence, or any space within a dwelling unit rented independently, for stays of less than 30 days.  Short-term rentals are only permitted in certain areas of town (map).  Properties eligible for short-term rentals are required to obtain a Short-term Rental and Business License Combined Application.  If you have any questions, please call our office at 406-863-2410.

The Legacy Homes Program is a voluntary inclusionary zoning, was a recommendation from the 2017 Strategic Housing Plan (PDF). This program is intended to provide new housing in Whitefish affordable to people with moderate incomes who work in Whitefish. The program includes both rental and home ownership opportunities; homes will be located throughout the community.

According to the 2025 Community Housing Needs Assessment there is a pronounced shortage of rental and ownership options for households earning between 60– 120 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). To meet demand, the city would ideally construct an additional 930 new housing units (in the appropriate AMI categories) by 2035 and work to rehabilitate 539 units that are at risk of aging out of the region’s housing inventory.

• If a developer would like to obtain the Legacy Home incentives, 10% of the project will include housing affordable to people with moderate incomes.  A developer can receive incentives for subdivisions, residential conditional use permits (CUP), or residential planned unit developments (PUD).
• A Housing Mitigation Plan (PDF) must be submitted as part of a complete application and describe how the project will comply with the regulations.
• To help off-set the cost to developers, the regulations provide for Legacy Homes Program Incentives (PDF) which are incremental reductions to some development standards.
• There are several ways to comply with the Legacy Homes Program including development the units within the development, pay a Fee-in-Lieu (PDF) of units, providing the units off-site, dedicate land or an alternative, including a combination of the various options.

The Whitefish Housing Authority (WHA) will guide prospective renters and owners through the application process and determine eligibility for a Legacy Home. Visit the WHA website, call 406-862-4143, or email the WHA to learn more about the application process and to get qualified to rent or buy a Legacy Home.

Affordable Housing Initiatives

For more information on affordable housing initiatives in Whitefish visit the Whitefish Strategic Housing Steering Committee page.

View the Legacy Homes Program Administration (PDF), stop by City Hall, or call 406-863-2410 to talk with a Planner. The Whitefish Planning Department is coordinating administration of the Legacy Homes Program with the Whitefish Housing Authority.

All dogs must be vaccinated against rabies to qualify for a license. You will need to provide proof of rabies vaccine when purchasing a license and renewal of vaccine.

No. The license you purchase through the Flathead County Animal Shelter is a lifetime license.

A lifetime license is $45.

Yes. Dogs and all other animals are not permitted to run at large. When not on the owner’s premises, dogs must be kept on leashes. Loose dogs may be impounded.

If your dog is impounded, it will be taken to the County Animal Control Shelter located south of Kalispell. The dog will be held up to 96 hours. If it has a tag, shelter personnel will notify the owner within one business day that the dog is impounded and how it can be redeemed. Contact the County Animal Control Shelter at 406-752-1310.

Loud or frequent barking is considered disturbing the peace, and the owner is subject to substantial penalties under the ordinance.

Yes. Any person who owns or is in control of a dog or other domestic animal that deposits feces in any City park, City boulevard, or other City-owned property, or in any other publicly-owned property, or in any privately-owned property, and who fails to promptly dispose of such feces in a trash receptacle, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor unless the owner of such property consents thereto.

If the dog has a current Flathead County license, you can call the County Animal Control Shelter at 406-752-1310, for the owner’s information. If the dog does not have a current license and no identification please call the Police Department.

Yes. If you have been transported by Whitefish Ambulance, and you have insurance, please contact Systems Design (our billing company) at 1-800-238-9398 with your insurance information.

Yes. Full payment is required or arrangements must be made within 90 days of the date on the original invoice.  The minimum monthly payment required is $35.00, unless other arrangements have been made with our billing service.  Please contact Systems Design at 1-800-238-9398 for more information.    

Please call Systems Design West at 1-800-238-9398 to make your payment.  You can also visit their website at emspatient.com/whitefish.  

Yes. Residents inside the City of Whitefish and within the Whitefish Fire Service Area are eligible to apply for Rescue Care. 

All of our firefighters are cross-trained to provide emergency medical care.  This combined response provides the additional personnel necessary to assist with a medical event.  

In the case of a motor vehicle accident, the fire truck can help with scene lighting and diverting traffic. This response increases safety for the patient and our responders.  The fire engine also carries diverse rescue equipment for extracting individuals from a vehicle.   

If a Rescue Care member needs ambulance transport by the Whitefish Fire Department, Rescue Care will bill the individual’s insurance carrier and consider whatever insurance covers as payment in full. The annual membership fee covers everything else.

A member’s Rescue Care coverage extends to all household members who are: permanent residents of the same single-family (non-commercial) dwelling, within the City’s ambulance service area, and living together as a family unit.  Please note that this excludes roommates and boarders. 

Membership benefits also include household members living in nursing homes or other substitute care facilities in the City’s ambulance service area. Those not included in the household membership are required to obtain their own membership. 

Rescue Care coverage does not entitle a member to be picked up or transported outside of the City’s ambulance service area.

Rescue Care is an annual membership that runs July 1 through June 30. You can purchase Rescue Care anytime during the year and the price is the same.     

Yes. Rescue Care will start when the Ambulance Billing Clerk receives the payment.

Rescue Care memberships expire on June 30th. Memberships do not expire one year from the date of payment.

Rescue Care household membership is just $59 for residents within City limits or $185 per year for individuals residing outside of City limits, but still within the Whitefish Ambulance Service Area.  

It is as simple as completing the Rescue Care application and returning it to Whitefish City Hall or the Whitefish Fire Department with your payment.  

The Whitefish Police Department is located in the Whitefish Emergency Services Center (ESC) at 275 Flathead Avenue. Flathead Avenue is to the west of Baker Avenue. We are located at the top of the hill (behind Safeway and the Wave Fitness Center). Also located in the ESC is the Whitefish Fire Department and the Whitefish Municipal Court.

The lobby of the Whitefish Police Department is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm If you are at the police department after hours, you may use the lobby phone to contact the Flathead Dispatch Center. The lobby phone is located on the wall to your left (as you are coming in) between the two sets of glass doors (the inner doors are locked after hours).

Once you have received a citation, you must contact the Whitefish Municipal Court to have it resolved by either paying a fine or appearing before the judge. The Whitefish Police Department cannot take payments or dismiss/void a citation after it has been issued. The Whitefish Municipal Court can be reached at 406-863-2440. View the Whitefish Municipal Court page for more information about the court including their hours of operation and open court times.

Accident Reports

You may come into the Police Department during our regular business hours to get a copy of a Motor Vehicle Accident Report. There is a $10 fee for this report.

Case Reports

Please contact the Whitefish Deputy City Attorney at 406-863-2446 to request a case report. Whitefish Police Department does not release case reports without the authorization of the prosecutor. There are fees involved for these reports depending on the volume of information and the time required to retrieve and prepare it.

Where you live will determine which department will take your report. You may have a Whitefish mailing address but be outside of the city limits and in Flathead County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction. The best way to file a report is to contact the Flathead 911 Emergency Communications Center (dispatch) at 406-863-2420, option Number 2. This center works with all of the law enforcement agencies in the Flathead Valley and can quickly direct your information to the appropriate officer on duty. You may also come in to the Whitefish Police Department lobby during business hours and fill out a Voluntary Statement form (PDF) to begin the process

First, if a crime has been committed in the City of Whitefish, contact the Police Department at 406-863-2420 to file a police report. You must appear before a judge to obtain a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and articulate a reason the order is needed. If the incident that initiates the need for a TRO occurred in Whitefish, or if you are a resident of the City of Whitefish, please contact the Whitefish Municipal Court at 406-863-2440 for additional information. If you reside outside the City of Whitefish, or the incident initiating the need for a TRO occurred outside of the Whitefish City Limits, please contact the Flathead Justice Court at 406-758-5643 for more information.

Contact the Montana Department of Justice Criminal Records Unit to obtain criminal records:

• Montana Criminal History Records Online Search
• Phone: 406-444-3625

For more information, please visit the Montana Department of Justice Criminal Records website.

Whitefish Police Department offers fingerprinting services by appointment only. You must provide a photo ID and pay a $25 fee at the time of fingerprinting. Fingerprint cards must be filled out completely before your prints are taken. If fingerprint cards were provided to you, please fill them out to the best of your ability before coming in for prints. Whitefish Police Department utilizes Livescan and will do ink prints if needed.

The City of Whitefish has a Trash Container Ordinance (City Code 4-2-4A) that restricts the time containers can be out on the street. In short, containers may not be placed out prior to 4 am on the day of collection and must be retrieved by 7 pm the same day. The ordinance is in place to discourage bears from coming into our neighborhoods and searching for food.

You may come by the Whitefish Police Department with the MVD form and the vehicle or trailer that needs to be inspected. View the MVD form (PDF) is available. There may be a short wait depending on officer availability. You may also contact the Flathead 911 Emergency Communications Center (dispatch) at 406-863-2420, option Number 2 to set up a time to meet an officer.

During the months of October through April, between the hours of 5 am and 5 pm, do the following:

• On the even calendar days, park on the even side of the street
• On the odd calendar days, park on the odd side of the street

The new ordinance was developed to manage the challenges that are created by parked vehicles. The ordinance will primarily help with snow removal, by allowing plows to clear snow all the way to the curb line, however the new ordinance will also assist with the other roadway maintenance activities such as leaf pickup and street sweeping.

No. Streets with existing parking regulations do not fall under the alternate side regulations. Examples of this would be:

• Any street posted as "No Parking Anytime" on one or both sides
• Streets in the downtown district where no parking is permitted from 2:30 to 6 am
• Streets with angled or head in parking on one or both sides

Yes. In order to allow residents time to adjust to the new regulation we thought it would be beneficial to implement alternate side parking in October. The fall implementation will also promote more effective leaf collection and street sweeping operations.

Our hope is that people will be accustomed to the new parking ordinance once it begins to snow, which will make for efficient and effective snow removal operations this winter with very few citations.

Alternate side parking begins at 5 am every morning of the snow season, regardless of whether it snows or not. Therefore, you should plan to park or move your vehicle after 5 pm each day to the side of the road that will be permissible to park the following day.

Think of it this way: if it is 5 pm on November 11th, and you’re parked on the odd side of the street, you have 12 hours to move your vehicle. 

Vehicles will only be towed after multiple citations or after a significant snowfall.

If you believe that your vehicle was towed, you can call the Police Department at 406-863-2420, ext. 2.

Currently, the City Cemetery is sold out. Until a new location is found, the City Clerk’s Office has a waiting list. The Cemetery Policies and Procedures that were adopted by City Council on April 5, 2021 state lots are to be sold back to the city and not sold privately. Please contact the City Clerk's Office if you are interested in selling your cemetery lot. 

Columbarium

The City now has cremains vaults available in a standing monument called a Columbarium (PDF).  Please contact the City Clerk's Office for current prices for Columbarium vaults. 

Memory Wall

A memory wall is available for those loved ones that are not interred in the cemetery. The Resolution (PDF) was passed in December 2015 creating the fees for reserving a space on the wall. A prepayment is paid with the City Clerk’s office to have Glacier Memorial Gardens engrave the nameplate.

Fees

• $60 - Reserving space
• $290 - Engraving by Glacier Memorial Gardens

The price of a cemetery lot depends on whether the purchaser lives inside or outside City limits.

Fees

• Baby/Crematory - $100
• City Residents - $250
• County Residents - $500

For Columbarium pricing, see the Resolution (PDF) creating the fees for Columbarium vaults. The opening and closing of the vault is contained in the initial price of the vault and there is no additional charge for the opening and closing of the vault.

Most funeral homes will include the opening and closing costs at the time of the funeral. The City of Whitefish does allow family internments for ashes at no extra cost with the condition of notifying the City Clerk’s Office of the date, time, and person of internment. The City of Whitefish crew will open and close the location of internment.

Fees

• Ashes - $150
  • Weekends and Overtime (OT) - $200
• Full Burial - $750
  • Weekends and OT - $850

These local monument companies will place the monument and/or headstones and will know the rules and regulations of the Whitefish Cemetery:

• Big Sky Monuments
• Glacier Memorial Gardens
• Glacier Monuments

You can search your loved one by name and find the location on the cemetery directory (PDF). The cemetery map (PDF) will help you find the location.

At their regularly scheduled meeting on April 5, 2021, the City Council adopted the Cemetery Policy and Procedures by Resolution No. 21-11.

Balancing the water use with recent hotter, drier summers is a critical challenge for Whitefish’s population today and for the future. Reducing the amount of water that is wasted is part of the City’s Climate Action Plan and an effective way to balance water demands with limited available water resources.

Currently, Whitefish’s water supply infrastructure is at a maximum capacity, and the summer water use is extremely high relative to the base/winter use. This puts severe stress on the City’s infrastructure and operations. Conservation practices and wasting less water will reduce the peak summer demand and costs of supplying water, as well as the life of the City’s water infrastructure. Using less water also reduces our impact on the environment and preserves resources for future generations who live, work and play in Whitefish.

Until further notice, Whitefish will remain in the General Conservation stage. Changes in stages will be triggered by excessive use, drought conditions and/or major infrastructure failures. Residents will be notified of changes in conservation stages by issuance of a proclamation by the Public Works Director through public service announcements, website and social media.

• All outdoor watering is prohibited between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm.
• Commercial lodging establishments must provide guests the option of choosing not to have linen washed every day.
• Watering must not result in coverage of pavement areas or result in excess runoff.
• All hoses used for watering or car washing shall be equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle.

Positive shut-off nozzles are placed on the end of garden hoses and other water delivery systems to stop any waste of water prior to the user’s need. This piece of equipment will help you waste less water (and money).

Under all stages, watering of vegetable gardens during allocated times and dates are allowed. Where possible, utilize soaker hoses, timed watering systems, and mulch soils to retain moisture. Look for ways to waste less water and only water areas that require moisture.

Wasting less water is critical for the sustainability of Whitefish’s water infrastructure. It is also key to maintaining the City’s commitment to the approved Climate Action Plan. Key priorities of this plan include conserving water, protecting the City’s watersheds, and diversifying the City’s water supply resources. In order to meet these goals, the General Conservation stage will remain part of routine operation for the city.

• Stage I, Severe Water Shortage, will be declared whenever the City must utilize all of its water treatment infrastructure due to extreme demands, or when portions or all of Flathead County is in Extreme Drought as declared by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
• Stage II, Extreme Water Shortage, will be declared if the City’s infrastructure experiences a critical equipment failure or when portions or all of Flathead County is in exceptional drought as declared by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

• Stage I Severe Water Shortage includes all General Conservation requirements plus watering is limited to two days per week in accordance with the following schedule:
  • No watering is allowed on Monday
  • Single residential properties with odd-numbered addresses may water on Saturday and Wednesday
  • Single residential properties with even-numbered addresses may water on Sunday and Thursday
  • All other properties (multi-unit, Homeowner’s Associations (HOAs), commercial, industrial, government) may water on Tuesday and Friday
  • New turf planting is prohibited
  • Exterior water features must be turned off
  • Car washing is prohibited except at commercial car wash facilities
  • The City may limit the number of minutes of irrigation that an area of turf may receive or a maximum total amount of time during which irrigation at a premise may occur
• Stage II Extreme Water Shortage includes all General Conservation and Stage I requirements in addition to the following:
  • All outdoor watering is prohibited public or private, for:
    • Gardens
    • Lawns
    • Trees
    • Shrubs
    • Plants
    • Parks
    • Golf courses
    • Playing fields
    • Swimming pools or other recreational areas
  • No new landscaping is permitted
  • Washing is prohibited for:
    • Motor vehicles
    • Boats
    • Trailers
    • Pavement
    • Exterior of any building or structure

• A Commercial Outdoor Water Use Permit may be issued by the Public Works Department to businesses that cannot maintain their operations without the use of outdoor water
• Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Trailer/boat decontamination
• Vegetable gardens have unlimited days of watering during the permissible hours set in the General Conservation requirements

• For a violation of General Conservation restrictions, a warning will be issued for the first offense followed by a $25 fine for each subsequent offense.
• Violation of Stage I restrictions will result in a fine not less than $50 and not more than $300 for the first offense and increase by $50 for each subsequent offense.
• Violation of Stage II restrictions will result in a fine not less than $100 and not more than $500 for the first offense and increase by $100 for each subsequent offense.
• Third time offenders utilizing more than 50 gallons per minute of water for a prohibited use may have their water shut off.

Looking for ways to waste less water should be a standard operating procedure, but under General Conservation stage, you may operate as normal. If the City enters Stage I or Stage II restrictions and your business requires water for daily operation, contact the City of Whitefish to obtain a Commercial Outdoor Water Use Permit.

Stage I restrictions will revert to General Conservation restrictions if there are 10 consecutive days of water demand less than or equal to 3 million gallons per day (MGD) at the Water Treatment Plant.

Stage II restrictions step down to Stage I restrictions when critical infrastructure is repaired, or the U.S. Drought Monitor Index condition changes to severe or less for the identified area.

Drought conditions are monitored by reviewing the reports from the U.S. Drought Monitor. For more information or to review reports, visit the U.S. Drought Monitor website.

The timing of watering is important. Cooler temperatures in the evening results in the best time to soak or drip irrigate; this gives the soil all night to absorb the water. Early morning is the best time for sprinklers because grass leaves can absorb water and not be wet and cold all night.

For more yard and garden tips review the Montana State University Extension Yard and Garden Water Management (PDF) document.

• When using a garden hose, always use a positive shut off nozzle.
• Consider using drip or soaker hoses when watering areas that quickly dry out.
• Frequently check the alignment of sprinklers so you are not watering the side of houses, streets or sidewalks.
• Look for obstructed heads, broken parts or clogged nozzles, which all create spray pattern issues.
• Water an appropriate amount (no surface runoff) for the time of year and grass conditions.

For more information view some Irrigation Runoff Prevention (PDF) tips.

The City of Whitefish has given Amtrak spaces North of the Library for Amtrak customers. Please contact Amtrak for the availability of those spaces.

Yes. Whitefish has a Parking Enforcement Officer that will issue a $20 Citation for overtime parking.

The Finance Department, Customer Service Clerk can collect overtime payments. You can also mail your payment to the Whitefish Municipal Court.

Yes. There are four EV Charging Stations that are located in the Parking Structure  on the corner of 1st Street and Baker Avenue. The four stations are available to lease holders only during business hours, Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm. The stations are open to the public after 6pm and on weekends. The  charging stations are located on the 2nd level, and on the 3rd (uncovered) level of the Parking Structure.  At this time, charging is free of charge.   

The Whitefish Police Department issues citations. The Whitefish City Attorney’s Office files criminal complaints. Both types of cases are filed and handled in Whitefish Municipal Court. 

It depends on the type of citation. Parking violations do not require a court appearance, but other violations may. Contact the Court to inquire.

Overtime parking citations will list the standard fine of $20.00 on your citation. For all other violations, the standard fine can be found upon online citation inquiry (online payment) or by inquiring with the Court.

If you received a citation for a parking violation, an appearance in court is not necessary. You can pay the fine and your case will be closed. 

For all other types of violations, you will need to appear in court on the date and time stated on your citation, and will need a parent and/or guardian present with you. 

Any citation that involves an accident requires an appearance. You will be expected to make your appearance on the date and time stated on your citation. 

Yes. Time pay agreements (payment plans) are arranged directly with the Judge and will require your appearance in court. The Judge will ask how much you are able to afford each month and you will be required to adhere to your time pay agreement on a monthly basis.

If you elect to resolve your citation with payment of the fine, it must be paid before the hearing date and time that is listed on your citation. Failure to respond to your citation with either an appearance or payment may result in further action such as an order to seize on your vehicle, driver’s license suspension, warrant, etc. 

It is important that you contact the Court before your court date for your options.  

Yes. Please visit our How Do I Pay a Ticket/Fine? page for more information.

Citations that are not Overtime Parking violations are assigned a standard fine amount by the Judge. Please call the Court for more information. 

If you wish to contest the citation, you will need to appear to enter a “not guilty” plea at your initial appearance during an open court session.

Requests to reschedule your court appearance must be done well in advance with emergencies being an exception. Please call the Court for your options. 

Yes. If you are physically unable to be present for your court hearing, you may request to appear by Zoom in an email. Please email WhitefishMunicipalCourt@mt.gov your request for Zoom instructions. Be aware that if your citation proceeds to trial, your physical presence will be required at that trial.

Yes, Whitefish Municipal Court accepts card payments. For more information about payment options, please visit our How Do I Pay a Ticket/Fine? page.

If you elect to mail in your payment, you may address it to: 

Whitefish Municipal Court
275 Flathead Ave
Whitefish, MT 59937

Please note that your payment must be received on or before your due date.

During the open court session, the Judge will advise all persons who have received a citation of their legal rights. The Judge will then call up cases individually. When your case is called, you will be asked to sit at a table with a microphone so the audio recording system can pick up your voice. The Judge will ask you to enter a plea to the charges in your citation. The next steps of your case depend on what kind of plea that you enter. 

Note: The initial appearance is not a trial. The citing officer will not be present, and the Court will not hear evidence. If a trial is necessary, it will be set at a later date.  

If your citation does not state a date and time for a court appearance (located near the middle/bottom of your citation), it may be a warning. Please call the Court if you are unsure. 

If you plead “Not Guilty” that means you are contesting the citation. The Court will schedule your case for an omnibus hearing. Between the time of your initial appearance and the omnibus hearing, you should exchange discovery (evidentiary materials) with the City Attorney’s Office. Any motions you intend to file should be filed by the date of the omnibus hearing. At the omnibus hearing, the Court will set the matter for a trial. Please note that you are required to attend the omnibus hearing and any subsequent hearings set by the Court.  

Depending on the severity on the charge, you may be subject to a driver’s license suspension, a warrant for your arrest, an order to seize on your vehicle, and/or other further courses of action. 

Generally, your citation can only be dismissed either at trial, by motion filed by the City Prosecutor (Deputy City Attorney), or by motion filed by you as the defendant or your attorney. The Court will not dismiss a citation based on explanation of circumstances without the City Prosecutor or any witnesses present, and an initial appearance is not the time to introduce any evidence or testimony. 

You may email a copy of your insurance policy to WhitefishMunicipalCourt@mt.gov or stop in in person with a physical copy. 

The points system is a tool that is used by state motor vehicle licensing agencies to penalize those who are convicted of various traffic offenses. Getting points on your license can increase auto insurance costs, suspend your driving privileges, produce heavy fines/fees, etc. Please contact Motor Vehicle Division in Helena or your state’s motor vehicle department for more information.

The Court does not have these reports on file. Accident reports can be obtained by contacting the Whitefish Police Department. All other reports must be released by the City Prosecutor. Please contact the City Prosecutor's office for assistance.

All requests to reschedule your court date must be in writing and be made well in advance. You may email your request to WhitefishMunicipalCourt@mt.gov or file a written request in person during court hours. You will be expected to appear in court for your original time and date unless otherwise directed by the Court. 

If you have a case filed in this court, your time to meet with the Judge will be at your scheduled hearing. Otherwise, the Judge is prohibited from participating in ex parte communication with either party.

If you have a case filed in this court, your time to speak with the Judge will be at your scheduled hearing and the next steps in your case will be determined by what kind of plea you enter. The Judge must remain an impartial party and throughout the pendency of your case, will be unable to hear argument outside of a trial. 

Yes, some people do opt to represent themselves, but be advised that the Court is unable to provide any legal advice. For self-help resources, please visit the General Public information page located on the Montana Judicial Branch website. However, if you have been charged with a more serious offense, you may want to think about your options very carefully as there can be some unexpected risks and penalties.  

Expungements are filed with a District Court. Please contact a Flathead County District Court for more information or seek the advice of legal counsel.

You may call the State of Montana Motor Vehicle Department at (406) 444-3933 or visit their website. If you are not a Montana licensed driver, you will need to contact your state's driver's licensing agency.

Court-ordered community service must be completed at any 501(3)(c) non-profit organization defined by the IRS.

If you received your citation today, be advised that it takes two (2) business days for the violation to be filed with the Court. Please contact the Whitefish Police Department if you believe the citation was issued in error. Once your citation is filed with the Court, your options are to:

1. Pay the fine/forfeit bond, or 
2. Appear for the hearing listed on your citation.

The parking program (leased parking, permit parking, etc.) is managed by City Hall. You may want to contact them to ensure that your information is up to date. Once your citation is filed with the Court, your options are to pay the fine or to appear for the hearing listed on your citation if you believe the citation was issued in error. 

Please refer to Downtown Parking and/or call City Hall at (406) 863-2400 for more information on permits and parking areas. 

You do not need to appear in court unless you would like to contest your citation, or otherwise speak with the Judge and City Prosecutor. Fines vary depending on the type of parking violation. For any parking violation other than Overtime Parking, please contact the Court for more information. 

Downtown Whitefish has a parking ordinance that addresses Reparking violations. If you believe that you have been cited in error, you will need to appear for the hearing listed on your citation. 

If you do not pay or appear on your citation, you may be scheduled for a hearing to show cause as to why you should not be held in contempt of court, an order to seize may be issued on your vehicle, and/or other possible courses of action.

If you have received a summons stating your required appearance for a specific trial date, please contact the Court to confirm receipt. Failure to contact the Court may result in personal service of the summons by the Whitefish Police Department. 

When contacting the Court by phone, you will be greeted by our phone menu. Please follow the menu's instructions to complete the check-in process.

Yes.  Montana Code Annotated 3-15-301 states it is the policy of this state that all qualified citizens have an obligation to serve on juries upon being summoned for jury duty, unless excused. 

Jurors are selected randomly for individual trial dates. If selected to serve a prospective trial juror, it is not possible to “trade” or postpone your service for a different trial date. If you are unable to serve for a specific trial date, you will need to file a request for excusal. Requests for excusal for specific trial dates can be done by emailing WhitefishMunicipalCourt@mt.gov.

Yes. If you have circumstances that would prevent you from serving on a specific trial date, please file a written request with the Court.

Yes. Please notify your employer that you have been summoned for jury duty. The law prohibits any employer from preventing an employee to serve as a juror. The law also prohibits an employer from depriving an employee of benefits because of jury service, such as requiring you to use vacation or personal time to serve. 

Failure to respond to your jury summons may result in personal service by Whitefish Police Department, or a hearing scheduled to show cause as to why you should not be held in contempt. 

Not necessarily. The Court summons 30 – 40 prospective trial jurors for a single jury trial. Through a process called voir dire, the two parties will select 6 trial jurors and possibly one alternate trial juror. After voir dire, all individuals not chosen to serve will be allowed to leave. 

Please notify the Court so that we can prepare accommodation. If you feel that your disability/circumstance hinders your ability to serve on a jury, you may make a request for excusal. 

Unfortunately, the Court is unable to predict the outcome of any case and the possibility of last-minute changes in the jury trial process cannot be controlled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your willingness to serve. 

Yes, please file a written request by email to WhitefishMunicipalCourt@mt.gov or by filing the request in person during court hours. Requests for excusal must be received well in advance of the trial date. Late requests may not be received in time for review. Unless you receive a reply from the Court granting your excusal, your appearance will remain required. 

Some of your duties as a juror are as follows:

• Listen carefully to all evidence presented during the trial. 
• During deliberations, discuss the evidence with fellow jurors and decide what the facts are, based upon which witnesses and evidence you believe. 
• Apply the Law, as explained by the judge, to the facts, as determined by you. 
• Do no independent research or investigation. 
• Determine the money damages in some civil cases. 
• In criminal cases, decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. 
• Arrive at a verdict. 

A Juror's Guide is also available that may answer further questions.

Jurors are requested to dress in a manner that is respectful to the litigants and the Court. You may wear comfortable, but appropriate business-like clothing. Shorts, jeans, T-shirts, tank tops and sweatshirts should not be worn. Hats and sunglasses are not allowed to be worn in the courtroom. 

Trials in the Whitefish Municipal Court are normally one day, but depending on the type of case, trials could last two days. Once a case is sent to the jury for deliberations, it could last well into the evening hours. 

No. Jurors will be released for meals and are welcome to bring their own drinks and snacks. The Emergency Services Building has a water fountain available as well as vending machines with light snacks and drinks. 

A trial held in this court will either be a criminal trial or a civil trial. A defendant has a right to a jury trial in any charge filed in this court. Those charges include both state statute violations and city ordinance violations. The Court is unable to give specific details about an upcoming jury trial. 

Jury trials can be unpredictable and can go shorter and longer than expected. Please arrange childcare in advance, or request excusal by submitting this in writing. Requests for excusal can be emailed to WhitefishMunicipalCourt@mt.gov.

The Clerk of Court of the Eleventh Judicial District Court provides the yearly panel of individuals selected for jury duty. Please contact the District Court in Kalispell with any questions regarding your selection. 

To qualify as a juror, you must be at least 18 years of age. 

Yes. You will receive $12.00 for reporting for jury duty. If selected to serve on a jury, you will receive an additional $13.00 for the first day and $25.00 per day thereafter. 

You may submit a notarized Affidavit of Excusal along with a doctor’s note. Once received by this Court, you will be temporarily excused from this Court’s panel. Your information will then be forwarded to District Court in Kalispell for review for permanent excusal. 

Serving as prospective trial juror will not prevent you from being summoned to serve for a different trial date. Once you have served as a trial juror, you will not be summoned for the rest of the calendar year. 

Notify Whitefish Municipal Court as soon as possible of your change in residence. The Court will not be able to remove you from Whitefish’s jury panel until we receive written notice of your new residential address. You may email this information to WhitefishMunicipalCourt@mt.gov. 

Yes. Jury Questionnaires are only valid for the calendar year for which you have been chosen to serve. 

As soon as a trial is vacated, jurors will be notified by phone call. You may also check on the status of a trial by refreshing our Jury Duty Information page. 

Please notify the Court of the death. If at all possible, please provide a copy of the obituary or the death certificate. We apologize for your loss and will do our best to make process of permanent excusal as quick as possible. 

Montana Code Annotated does not exclude any individual from acting as a trial juror as long as that person is over the age 18, a resident for at least 30 days in the city, town, or county in which the person is called for jury duty and is a citizen of the United States. However, if you feel you should be excused from serving as a juror because of undue hardship, you may file an Affidavit of Excusal.

Whitefish Municipal Court will need your marriage license issued by a county in the state of Montana. A marriage license can be obtained through the Clerk of Court at Flathead County District Court in Kalispell.

No, witnesses are not required to be present.

The Whitefish Municipal Judge is not available for wedding ceremonies outside of court hours and outside of the courthouse.

If your name appears on our Outstanding Warrants List, you may be arrested if you have contact with law enforcement. You must make an appearance in front of the judge. To schedule a time, call the court immediately.

Quashing a warrant means that the warrant is no longer active/outstanding and will be removed from the system. This is usually only done upon a personal, physical appearance during a court session in front of the judge. Please note that quashing a warrant does not mean your sentencing obligations have been fulfilled and you are still responsible with following the court’s order. 

Whitefish Municipal Court will only be able to provide you with information on warrants that have been issued from this Court. We are unable to check on warrants issued from other jurisdictions. You may use the Montana Public Access Portal and select a specific court from the dropdown menu to search your name and warrant status.