Whitefish · Resources
Short-term rentals in Whitefish.
Whitefish permits short-term rentals in five zoning districts. Everywhere else inside the city limits, they’re prohibited. Check the map, then read the covenants — in that order.
Information current as of August 19, 2026 · verify before you act
The Short Version
Five districts. That’s the whole answer.
- WB-3General Business
- WRR-1Low Density Resort Residential
- WRR-2Medium Density Resort Residential
- WRB-1Limited Resort Business
- WRB-2General Resort Business
Roughly: downtown, Grouse Mountain, Iron Horse, select stretches along Whitefish Lake, and a few blocks off Wisconsin Avenue. There is no cap and no moratorium — a parcel is either in an eligible district or it isn’t. And even inside one, a subdivision’s covenants or an HOA can still say no; that is the second thing we check.
Whitefish Mountain Resort is not in the city
Big Mountain sits in the county “doughnut,” governed by Flathead County since 2014. The City’s five-district scheme, the $400 registration, the Fire Marshal inspection, and the 3% resort tax don’t apply there. County rules are more permissive — but they cap occupancy by sewage capacity and require a contact person available 24/7 who can arrive within one hour.
Official City Map
Check a specific address.
The City of Whitefish publishes an interactive zoning map showing exactly which parcels permit short-term rentals. Search an address, or zoom to a neighborhood. The map opens with a terms notice — accept it to view the layers. Areas shaded pink are eligible.
Interactive map published by the City of Whitefish. Zoning shown is for reference only — confirm the district for any specific parcel with Planning & Building at (406) 863-2410. Open the map full screen ↗
No Obligation
We’ll check it for you.
Send us the address. We’ll confirm the zoning district, tell you whether it’s city or county, flag the likely covenant issue, and give you the real compliance cost — not a projection.
Official Sources
Forms and documents.
Links go directly to the City, County, and State. We don’t host copies — these are revised without notice.
City of Whitefish
- OverviewShort-Term Rental — City of Whitefish
- ApplyShort-Term Rental Registration Application (PDF)
- ReferenceShort-Term / Vacation Rental Information (PDF)
- RenewShort-Term Rental Renewal Form
- TaxResort Tax Transmittal Form
- TaxResort Tax — program overview
- RegisterBusiness Registration
- InspectionFire Department Rental Property Inspection Checklist (PDF)
- CodeCity Code § 11-3-35 — Short-Term Rental Standards
Flathead County
- OverviewFlathead County Short-Term Rentals
- StandardsCounty STR performance standards (PDF)
State of Montana
- Property taxHomestead & Long-Term Rental enrollment portal
- Property taxDOR — Homesteads and Long-Term Rentals
- Property taxDOR — 2026 Property Tax Information
- Lodging taxDOR — Lodging Facility Sales & Use Tax
- RegisterDOR TransAction Portal — lodging tax registration
Who to call
- CityShort-Term Rental Specialist — (406) 863-1246
- CityPlanning & Building / Code Compliance — (406) 863-2410
- CityFire Marshal, inspections — (406) 863-2483
If You Operate One
Compliance calendar.
| When | What | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly, by the 20th | Whitefish resort tax return and remittance — per unit, even at $0 | City STR owners |
| Quarterly Apr 30 · Jul 31 · Oct 31 · Jan 31 | Montana lodging tax return (8%) | All MT STR owners |
| Annually | City STR registration renewal — $400 | City STR owners |
| Annually | Fire Marshal inspection | City STR owners |
| Annually | DPHHS tourist home license renewal — $100+ | Whole-home STRs under 28 days |
| By March 1, 2027 | Property tax homestead / long-term rental enrollment at homestead.mt.gov | Any owner claiming a reduced rate |
| Within 30 days | Notify DOR of an ownership change or change of principal residence | All owners |
The deadline most owners miss
Montana taxes property that isn’t a principal residence or a qualifying long-term rental at a flat 1.90%. Enrollment for tax year 2027 closes March 1, 2027. Homeowners who miss it have a refund path opening January 2027 — long-term rental owners don’t.
A legal challenge to the underlying law is pending in Gallatin County District Court. The tax is fully in effect in the meantime.
Read This Part
This is information, not advice.
Montana Luxury Group is a real estate brokerage. This page is general information current as of August 19, 2026 and is not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Ordinances, tax rates, and administrative rules change. Verify current requirements with the City of Whitefish Planning & Building Department, Flathead County Planning & Zoning, and the Montana Department of Revenue, and consult your own attorney and CPA before making a decision.