Maricopa County building department

Maricopa County Planning and Development issues building permits, does plan review and inspections, and handles zoning and code compliance for unincorporated Maricopa County only. Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, and the county’s other cities and towns run their own building departments. The department’s counter is in Suite 170 at 301 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Public parking is in the surface lot at 5th Avenue and Jefferson.

What needs a permit

The county requires a building permit for every structure except one that is under 200 sq ft with no electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work.

Fences

Any fence over 1 ft tall needs a permit. The county sorts fences into two types:

Type	When it applies	Clearances needed
B-fence	On vacant property, used as a pool barrier, over 8 ft tall, on hillside property, or retaining soil	Building and zoning
D-fence	All other fences	Drainage only

Hillside means a slope of 15% or more within any 5-ft elevation change. The county’s PlanNet map gives a first look, but a land surveyor can confirm it for a given lot. Sun City and Sun City West have their own block-wall fence details.

Minor permits

Tier	Examples	Review
Web-issued	A/C, evaporative cooler, or HVAC replacement; like-for-like mechanical or plumbing repair; water, sewer, or gas line repair; irrigation systems	Issued automatically online
Non-technical	Electrical upgrade or panel up to 200 A; like-for-like electrical repair; new ground-mounted mechanical unit; gas line for a BBQ, fireplace, or pool heater; propane tank under 250 gal	1–2 business days, by email
Technical/standard	Electrical service over 200 A; electrical service to a shared well; fountains; propane tanks of 250 gal or more; roof-mounted HVAC	Site plan required, standard review times

Replacing an existing water heater no longer needs a permit if it’s installed to the manufacturer’s specifications. You can still apply for one if you want a county inspection. Eligible residential rooftop solar can be permitted through SolarAPP+.

Applying in Permit Center

All applications, plan uploads, invoices, and payments go through Permit Center, the county’s Tyler EnerGov portal. You’ll need a personal or company account. The portal walks you through questions to choose the permit type, then takes your PDF documents and any upfront fees. The county says it never asks for payment by wire transfer.

Before you apply, have these ready:

• A site plan (the county posts a typical site plan with a checklist)
• Your parcel number from the Assessor
• Your lot coverage calculation
• PDFs that meet the county’s document preparation guidelines

The Fee Schedule and Estimators page gives approximate permit costs. Programs that can speed up review include Fast Track, Permit by Inspector, the Annual Facilities Permit, and Standard Plans.

Zoning clearance

The Zoning Ordinance requires a Zoning Clearance before a building permit is approved for new construction, alterations, or additions. Under Department Directive DD-2011-04, the zoning review covers only the work in your application. You certify that your site plan and documents are accurate and meet the Site Plan Checklist. If you don’t certify, staff check your plans against historical aerial photos.

A zoning clearance doesn’t approve any other structure on the parcel. Checking whether existing buildings were permitted is the owner’s job. Any inactive permits with fees due must be resolved before the county will issue new ones.

Unpermitted structures

To permit a structure that was built without a permit, file a normal application along with as-built documentation. What you need depends on the building type:

Structure	Documentation
Uninhabited accessory	Photos
Habitable residential	Floor plans
Occupied commercial	Full sealed plans

You may have to open up finishes for inspection, or provide reports from a registered engineer. Under the county’s Local Additions and Addenda, starting work before a permit is issued brings a fee equal to the building permit fee, which doubles the cost. The county charges this double fee only when there is an open code violation case on the property. Extra drainage fees also apply to work done without a permit.

Adopted codes

On August 17, 2022, the Board of Supervisors adopted these codes with AZBO/MAG amendments and the county’s Local Additions and Addenda:

• 2018 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Codes
• 2017 National Electrical Code
• 2018 IECC and 2018 International Green Construction Code (optional)

Applications filed on or after January 9, 2026, are reviewed under the updated Zoning Ordinance. Drainage rules are in Chapter 12 of that ordinance. Separate county ordinances set construction hours (P-22) and noise limits (P-23), and the Sheriff enforces the noise ordinance.

Inspections

Once your permit is issued or reissued, you can book building or drainage inspections in Permit Center or through the call center at (602) 506-3301. Virtual inspections are available for these jobs:

• Electrical service replacement or upgrade to 400 A
• Main breaker derate for PV prep
• Minor electrical or plumbing repairs
• Gas line repair or replacement
• Gas/electric clearances
• Sewer and septic lines

Contact the inspector shown in Permit Center only on the day of your scheduled inspection. The county’s Inspection Services Guide lists inspection types. Compliance inspections and special inspection certification are handled under Additional Permit Information.

Other notes

• A county permit doesn’t override HOA CC&Rs, and owners are responsible for checking them.
• New homes aren’t allowed in the high-noise or accident-potential zones around Luke Air Force Base and its auxiliary fields. Check your parcel in PlanNet.
• Permit documents that went missing in the move to Permit Center can be found in the county’s EDMS search under “Historical Plan Document.”
• Weekly permit activity reports are archived on the county site.