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Commercial / Multi-Family Building Permit in Unincorporated Apache County, Arizona

Required for all new commercial and multi-family building construction in unincorporated Apache County. Administered by the Building Safety Division under the 2015 International Building Code. Plans not exempt under A.R.S. §32-144 must be designed and scaled by an Arizona-licensed Architect or Engineer.

Verified 2026-07-07 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit issuance is contingent on a permit from the Apache County Health Department or a letter from an applicable sanitary district
  • Provide TWO complete sets of plans, minimum 18"x24" paper, minimum 1/8" per foot scale
  • Plans not exempt under A.R.S. §32-144 must be designed and scaled by an Arizona-licensed Architect/Engineer, including all calculations and drawings
  • Specify location by parcel number, subdivision and lot number, or physical location, plus a detailed driving-directions map
  • If the property was acquired within 120 days of application, provide a copy of the recorded deed or sales transaction
  • Submit site/grading plan, architectural plans (egress, occupancy load, fire separations), structural plans (including engineered truss packages with calculations), electrical plan (with load calcs, panel schedules, one-line diagram, fault current calcs), mechanical plan, and plumbing plan (fixture counts, isometric waste/vent/gas)
  • Accessibility must be addressed on architectural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and site plans as applicable

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation-basedBuilding Safety Schedule of Fees and Valuations, Resolution 2019-1. See residential permit type's fee entry for the county's superseded July 2015 Table No. 1-A valuation table, which remains published alongside the 2019 resolution.
Based on the August 2016 ICC Building Valuation Data Table
Plan ReviewBuilding Safety Schedule of Fees and Valuations, Resolution 2019-1
$50 per hour, minimum 1 hour
Commercial Remodel InspectionsBuilding Safety Schedule of Fees and Valuations, Resolution 2019-1
$250, includes 3 inspections
After-Hours Inspection FeeBuilding Safety Schedule of Fees and Valuations, Resolution 2019-1
$100 per hour, minimum 1 hour
Reinspection FeeBuilding Safety Schedule of Fees and Valuations, Resolution 2019-1
$50 per hour

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Apache County building department
~15–21 business days

How long did your Commercial / Multi-Family Building Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Apache County?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation / Footing

    Approved before ordering concrete

  2. 2

    Stem Wall

    Approved before grouting

  3. 3

    Framing, Electrical, Plumbing Rough-In

    Combined rough-in inspection

  4. 4

    Final

    All work complete; Certificate of Occupancy issued on approval

See the full Unincorporated Apache County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Commercial and multi-family plans must be on 18"x24" paper at minimum 1/8" per foot scale, distinct from the residential 11"x17" standard.
  • Engineered truss packages must include evidence that the structural engineer/architect of record has reviewed and approved the truss package before initial submittal.
  • Two (2) working days' notice is specified for inspections in the county's Requirements for Commercial/Multi Family sheet, referencing IBC Section 114 — confirm current lead-time expectations directly with Building Safety (928-337-7527), since the county's separate general Requirements for Building Permits sheet (also July 2015) states only one (1) working day.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Apache County requires a commercial / multi-family building permit for: Building permit issuance is contingent on a permit from the Apache County Health Department or a letter from an applicable sanitary district; Provide TWO complete sets of plans, minimum 18"x24" paper, minimum 1/8" per foot scale; Plans not exempt under A.R.S. §32-144 must be designed and scaled by an Arizona-licensed Architect/Engineer, including all calculations and drawings; Specify location by parcel number, subdivision and lot number, or physical location, plus a detailed driving-directions map; If the property was acquired within 120 days of application, provide a copy of the recorded deed or sales transaction; Submit site/grading plan, architectural plans (egress, occupancy load, fire separations), structural plans (including engineered truss packages with calculations), electrical plan (with load calcs, panel schedules, one-line diagram, fault current calcs), mechanical plan, and plumbing plan (fixture counts, isometric waste/vent/gas); Accessibility must be addressed on architectural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and site plans as applicable. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Apache County Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 928-337-7527 before starting work.

In Unincorporated Apache County, the published Building Permit Fee — valuation-based is: Based on the August 2016 ICC Building Valuation Data Table. Additional published fees: Plan Review — $50 per hour, minimum 1 hour; Commercial Remodel Inspections — $250, includes 3 inspections; After-Hours Inspection Fee — $100 per hour, minimum 1 hour; Reinspection Fee — $50 per hour. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a commercial / multi-family building permit in Unincorporated Apache County typically runs 15–21 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Apache County Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 928-337-7527.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Requirements for Commercial and Multi Family. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Apache County requires 4 inspection(s) for a commercial / multi-family building permit, in order: Foundation / Footing, Stem Wall, Framing, Electrical, Plumbing Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through Apache County Community Development Department — Building Safety Division (928-337-7527).

Apply through Apache County Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 75 West Cleveland Street, PO Box 238, St. Johns, AZ 85936. Phone: 928-337-7527. Office hours: Mon–Fri (hours not published on county site; call 928-337-7527 to confirm). Official information: https://www.apachecountyaz.gov/building-safety.

Unincorporated Apache County, Arizona has adopted: 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted by Apache County; governs all residential (one- and two-family dwelling) construction per the county's Building Safety Ordinances page and Requirements for One- and Two-Family Dwellings sheet; 2015 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by Apache County; governs commercial, multi-family, and non-residential construction; 2015 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — adopted by Apache County for all plumbing work; 2015 International Fire Code (IFC) — adopted by Apache County; 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted by Apache County; National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted by Apache County; the county's published Building Safety Ordinances list names it '2014 International Electric Code' but the county's own Building Safety FAQ (question 11) states the applicable edition is the 2011 NEC for all non-residential/general construction electrical work. Both sources are county-published; this discrepancy is disclosed rather than resolved by guessing — treat 2011 NEC as the FAQ's more specific statement pending direct confirmation from the Building Safety Division at 928-337-7527.. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Apache County overview page for the full list.

Only if they don't qualify for the exemption in A.R.S. §32-144. Plans that don't meet that exemption must be designed and scaled by an Arizona-licensed Architect or Engineer, including all calculations and drawings. Source: Requirements for Commercial/Multi Family Plan (https://www.apachecountyaz.gov/building-safety)

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-07.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Unincorporated Apache County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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