Permits available for city’s parking program

Permits are on sale now for Whitefish’s downtown parking permit pilot program.

The program first launched last summer for a trial run, but City Council last month decided to extend the program, which allows permit holders to park all day in certain designated lots downtown. Permits are now on sale through Dec. 31, 2022.

The cost of the program is $20 per month, per license plate, per permit. A limited number of permits will be made available in downtown surface lots and on the third level of the Whitefish downtown parking structure.

Permits are valid Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can be used in any of the four lots, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Permits are valid in the public parking south of the Whitefish Community Library in the west side of the lot, at the Third Street and Central Avenue lot, at the lot at East First Street and Spokane, and on the uncovered level of the City Hall parking garage.

Public time-limited parking will also continue to be available in the surface lots.

Permit holders are encouraged to utilize spaces available in all designated locations prior to utilizing unlimited daytime parking.

The permit program has a goal of encouraging employees to park in the lots rather than in on-street parking, keeping that open for customers who visit downtown businesses.

Permits are on sale now through an online portal on the City of Whitefish website, https://www.cityofwhitefish.org/478/Online-Payments. Enforcement of the permit program is through the city’s License Plate Recognition System mounted on the city’s parking enforcement vehicle.

For more information, contact Michelle Howke at mhowke@cityofwhitefish.org or call (406) 863-2402.