Councilors on Monday added tiny homes to Kalispell's city code in a bid to make it easier to build the simpler, low-cost housing alternatives.  

The move was one of two housing-related ordinances Council unanimously adopted on Oct. 20. Also during the meeting, Mayor Ryan Hunter proposed billing President Donald Trump for his Flathead Valley campaign stop and City Manager Jarod Nygren announced that Kalispell is expected to lose roughly $200,000 in projected revenue because of changes in state tax law.  

Council adopted standards for tiny homes after identifying them as one way to expand housing options under the Montana Land Use Planning Act. The 2023 law required Montana’s largest cities to update land use plans and choose from a list of various zoning changes designed to spur housing development.  

Taken from the state's rulebook, the standards reduce minimum size requirements for living spaces — bedrooms and living rooms, for example — in homes under 400 square feet, according to Building Official Sean McRae.  

While some people assume additional regulations will make tiny homes more expensive and harder to build, they are expected to make construction easier, Hunter said.  

McRae echoed the sentiment, using the tiny home being built at the Linderman Education Center as an example. He said the bedroom is planned for 64 square feet, but International Residential Code requires a minimum of 70 square feet.  

Without the new rules, the tiny home could not be marketed as a residence, McRae said.  

The second ordinance Council adopted put the city’s building, fire and electrical codes in alignment with state rules.  

Though their adoption is routine procedure required by the state every few years, Councilor Wes Walker said the standards are essential to keeping residents safe.  

“I know that we don’t like regulations and rules, but especially when it comes to electrical and things like this, these rules and codes are generally written in blood, so they’re really important to follow,” Walker said.  

The rule also reclassified some code violations as municipal infractions instead of criminal offenses, allowing the city to enforce them more appropriately, according to officials.  

“We have actually a lot more leeway that way to go after something and not put somebody in jail for it, but maybe monetarily get compensated for it,” Councilor Sid Daoud said.  

At the beginning of the meeting, Council authorized the purchase of two new pickup trucks for the Building Department, totaling $100,344.  

HUNTER PROPOSED billing President Donald Trump for his Oct. 14 Flathead Valley visit.  

The campaign rally held at Majestic Valley Arena was part of Trump’s tour aimed at securing GOP wins in the upcoming midterm election. His three-hour visit required an extensive security operation involving a significant amount of local law enforcement and emergency services personnel from across the valley.  

Hunter said other cities have attempted to receive reimbursements from the president with little success.  

“I’m not super hopeful for the outcome of that, but I think it’s just a matter of principle to kind of highlight, ‘Hey, this is taxing on our resources as a city,’ especially when it’s a campaign event,” Hunter said.  

City officials are still determining how much the commander in chief’s event cost Kalispell, according to Daoud.  

“Everybody knows that I’m a budget hawk and I’m looking at this,” Daoud said. 

NYGREN INFORMED councilors that the city’s General Fund revenue for Fiscal Year 2027 is expected to shrink by $200,000.  

The Department of Revenue typically determines the total value of Kalispell’s taxable property base by early August, allowing city and county officials to estimate how much tax revenue they can expect to collect.  

But because the city’s taxable value decreased, Kalispell’s General Fund budget will likely shrink.  

Nygren said Department of Revenue officials attributed the decline to state property tax reforms that shifted more of the tax burden from full-time residents to second-home owners.   

“Regardless of that, it’s never dropped even close to that,” Nygren said. “We’re fine, but it is pretty significant and we’re working with the Department of Revenue on that as to why there’s been such a big adjustment.” 

Nygren anticipated revenues would take a hit from the property tax changes during budget talks in the spring.  

The General Fund was expected to include about $17.2 million in total revenue, according to the final budget Council adopted in August. 

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.