County Building Permits
Graham County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Graham County, Arizona. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Graham County areas subject to county land-use jurisdiction. Does not apply to parcels within Safford, Thatcher, or Pima, or to tribal land.
- Department
- Graham County Planning and Zoning / Community Development
- Address
- 921 Thatcher Blvd., 2nd Floor, Safford, AZ 85546
- Phone
- (928) 428-0410
Online Permit Portal
Platform: County Online Portal • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine if your property is in unincorporated Graham County (not within Safford, Thatcher, or Pima city/town limits).
- Verify that the parcel is not on San Carlos Apache Indian Tribe land.
- Prepare a sketch of the proposed construction showing compliance with Graham County land-use ordinance.
- Submit the permit application and all required documents through the county's online portal.
- County staff reviews the application and routes for Planning and Zoning approval.
- Pay the permit fee.
- Receive building permit and schedule required inspections.
- Comply with inspection requirements and obtain a certificate of occupancy after final inspection.
Typical processing time: 5-10 business days, depending on application completeness and county review workload.
Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning / Community Development
General Requirements
A building permit is required to erect, construct, reconstruct, alter, place, or use any building within Graham County land-use jurisdiction without first obtaining a building permit, per County Zoning Ordinance Section 5.6.2.
Required Documents
- Completed building permit application
- Sketch showing proposed construction and compliance with land-use ordinance
- Proof of approved septic system (for residential permits) or assurance it will be installed before occupancy
- Proof of property ownership or authorization to apply
- Any applicable state or federal agency approvals
- Permit validity
- A building permit is valid for one year from issuance to start construction. Renewals are handled as new permits.
- Building code
- Graham County zoning ordinance references 2003 International Building Code, 2003 International Residential Code, 2003 International Existing Building Code, 2003 International Mechanical Code, 2003 International Fire Code, 2003 ICC Electrical Code, 2002 National Electrical Code, 1994 Uniform Plumbing Code, and 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (for county buildings only). However, ordinance also requires adherence to most recent editions of IBC, UPC, UMC, and NEC. Applicants should confirm current enforcement edition with County Planning and Zoning.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors must hold a valid Arizona Contractor License.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Graham County Planning and Zoning / Community Development to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- (928) 428-0410 (phone)
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence includes rough plumbing, framing/roof, MEP, drywall, and final inspections. A certificate of occupancy is issued after final inspection confirms ordinance compliance and required health and safety conditions.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Graham County zoning ordinance references 2003 International Building Code, 2003 International Residential Code, 2003 International Existing Building Code, 2003 International Mechanical Code, 2003 International Fire Code, 2003 ICC Electrical Code, 2002 National Electrical Code, 1994 Uniform Plumbing Code, and 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (for county buildings only). However, ordinance also requires adherence to most recent editions of IBC, UPC, UMC, and NEC. Applicants should confirm current enforcement edition with County Planning and Zoning.
- Verify contractor license: Arizona Contractor License Search
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Tribal Land Note
- License lookup guide: Arizona Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Arizona Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Arizona hub: Arizona Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Graham County Planning and Zoning / Community Development before applying.
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