Development Services

The City of Kalispell is located in the beautiful Flathead Valley, within easy access to Glacier National Park, two major ski resorts, Bob Marshall Wilderness, and Flathead Lake. As the fastest growing micropolitan area in the United States maintain our natural beauty, historic character, and high quality of life while providing for diverse employment, health, and housing opportunities. Development Services is tasked with guiding the city’s growth through the creation and implementation of long-range planning documents. Additionally, on a day-to-day basis Development Services coordinates development projects through a timely review process that results in a safe and functional city.

Development Services is primarily responsible for:

Planning – Provides professional planning assistance to the city and serves the public interest by providing a forum for open dialogue, identification of issues and goals, creative problem solving, plan development, and implementation. Planning works to educate, coordinate, and facilitate strategies that protect and maintain property values, public investment, built and natural environment, and quality of life.

Community Development – Works with non-profit and for-profit developers and financial institutions to create affordable housing, economic development and job creation within the city. Some of the financial development tools staff oversees include the following:

  • Economic Development Grants for creation of well-paid jobs
  • Federal and State funding sources for affordable housing projects              
  • Tax Increment Financing
  • Brownfields Resources
  • Revolving Loan Fund for small business

Building – Ensures the city’s-built environment complies with codes designed to safeguard public health, safety, and general welfare. Staff reviews plans and conducts inspections on all commercial and residential projects within city limits. In addition, the department is responsible for conducting Fire Life Safety inspections and fire/alarms plan review of commercial properties within the city.

We have many online resources and quick links for easy website navigation, and we have staff ready to serve you. Let us know how we can help!