County Building Permits
Pima County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Pima County, Arizona. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated areas of Pima County, excluding municipalities with their own permit authority and tribal lands.
- Department
- Pima County Development Services Department, Building and Site Development Division
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Permit Gateway • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine whether your project requires a permit by reviewing the county's 'Do I Need a Permit?' page and detailed permit-required and permit-exempt lists.
- Prepare all required documents in PDF format according to the county's digital submittal standards.
- Submit application and documents through the Permit Gateway at permits.pima.gov.
- Receive correction notices and invoices by email from the county.
- Pay invoiced fees through the online portal.
- Receive the approved permit and stamped plans by email upon payment and final approval.
Typical processing time: Processing time varies; the county provides tracking through the Permit Gateway portal.
Source: Pima County Development Services Department, Building and Site Development Division
General Requirements
Building permits are required for construction of new buildings and structures, remodeling, and manufactured building placement or relocation unless exempt. Pima County publishes detailed permit-required and permit-exempt lists for building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, grading, and other work.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Site plan
- Construction plans
- Project description
- Permit validity
- Permit validity periods are established by county regulation; confirmation recommended through Permit Gateway.
- Building code
- Effective January 1, 2026: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), and local amendments.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
- Playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
- Replacement of existing electric outlets or fixtures like-for-like
- Resurfacing or maintenance of an existing paved surface
- Some smaller grading activities
Important: A permit may still be required due to floodplain requirements, Native Plant Preservation Ordinance, or Buffer Overlay Zone overlay requirements, even if an activity appears on the exempt list. Contact the county before proceeding with exempt-listed work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Permit Gateway at permits.pima.gov (online)
Typical inspection sequence: Inspection results can be verified through permits.pima.gov. The customer portal provides access to applications, permits, project records, inspections, and payment history.
Additional Resources
- Building code: Effective January 1, 2026: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), and local amendments.
- Verify contractor license: Arizona Registrar of Contractors License Lookup
- Code Enforcement
- 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 Pima County Development Services Department, Building and Site Development Division before applying.
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