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Residential Building Permit (New Construction, One- and Two-Family Dwelling) in Unincorporated Apache County, Arizona

Required for new single-family and two-family dwelling construction in unincorporated Apache County. The Apache County Community Development Department's Building Safety Division administers this permit under the 2015 International Residential Code. Two complete sets of plans are required, along with proof of an approved sanitary/wastewater solution and site/parcel identification.

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 — every residence must be connected to a sanitary district or have an approved on-site wastewater disposal system
  • Provide TWO complete sets of plans, minimum 11"x17", drawn to scale
  • Specify location by parcel number (format 000-00-000), subdivision and lot number, or physical location, plus a detailed driving-directions map to the property
  • If the property was acquired within 120 days of application, provide a copy of the recorded deed or sales transaction
  • Plans not within the scope of the 2015 IRC (e.g. log homes, cobb, cordwood, earthbag, or other alternate/unconventional construction) must be prepared by an Arizona-licensed Architect or Engineer
  • Submit site/plot plan, foundation plan, floor plan, electrical plan (with load calculations if service exceeds 400 amps), roof framing plan (engineered truss drawings if applicable), floor framing plan, elevations, and framing cross-section
  • Obtain a 911 address from Apache County Engineering (928-337-7528) before or during application
  • Show proof of septic system or obtain a Septic Construction Authorization from the Apache County Health Department

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation-basedBuilding Safety Schedule of Fees and Valuations, Resolution 2019-1 (Apache County Building Safety Department). This 2019 resolution appears to supersede the county's earlier Table No. 1-A fee table (dated July 1, 2015: $1–$500 = $15.00; $501–$2,000 = $15 + $2/additional $100; $2,001–$25,000 = $45 + $9/additional $1,000; $25,001–$50,000 = $252 + $6.50/additional $1,000; $50,001–$100,000 = $414.50 + $4.50/additional $1,000; $100,001–$500,000 = $639.50 + $3.50/additional $1,000; $500,001–$1,000,000 = $2,039.50 + $3/additional $1,000; over $1,000,000 = $3,539.50 + $2/additional $1,000). Both documents are currently live on the county's own PDF library; the 2019 resolution is dated later and is treated as controlling, but the specific current per-valuation dollar breakpoints are not republished in text form by the 2019 resolution itself (it references the August 2016 ICC Building Valuation Data Table rather than reprinting a local table). Confirm current fee amount directly with Building Safety at 928-337-7527 before budgeting a project.
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
Plan Review Revision FeeBuilding Safety Schedule of Fees and Valuations, Resolution 2019-1
$50 per hour
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
Expired Permit Renewal FeeBuilding Safety Schedule of Fees and Valuations, Resolution 2019-1
10% of the original permit fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Apache County building department
~10–15 business days

How long did your Residential Building Permit (New Construction, One- and Two-Family Dwelling) 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; verify setbacks, trench depth, reinforcement, and Ufer ground per county Schedule of Inspections

  2. 2

    Stem Wall / Foundation Wall

    Approved before grouting — block/poured wall completion, reinforcement, anchors and straps

  3. 3

    Under-Slab or Floor Framing

    Under-slab piping/compaction approved before concrete pour; OR floor framing (sill plate, joists, girders) approved before floor sheathing

  4. 4

    Roof Sheathing, Shear Walls and Anchorage

    Approved before building wrap, window flashing, air barrier, and roof covering installation

  5. 5

    Building Wrap / Window Flashing

    Approved before pre-drywall/rough trades begin

  6. 6

    Rough Combo (Framing, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical)

    Approved before insulation installation and before drywall covering

  7. 7

    Insulation

    Approved before drywall covering — roof/ceiling R-38, floor R-30, walls R-15 minimum per county schedule

  8. 8

    Drywall Nailing

    Approved before tape and texture

  9. 9

    Final

    All trades complete (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, exterior site); Certificate of Occupancy issued on approval — no occupancy permitted prior to approved completion

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

Tips

  • Provide at least one (1) working day's notice before a requested inspection per the county's current (July 2015) Requirements for Building Permits sheet; the county's separate residential/commercial requirement sheets — also July 2015 — specify two (2) working days under IBC Section 114. Call ahead and confirm which lead time your inspector expects: 928-337-7527.
  • The approved set of plans must be on the job site at all times or the inspection will not be performed.
  • The county's Building Safety FAQ states most permits are completed in under a week, with smaller projects turned around in under two business days, against a stated maximum of 15 business days once all required submittals are in — but the county's July 2015 residential/commercial requirement sheets separately state approval 'shall normally be received within three (3) weeks or more.' Both are current county-published documents; budget toward the more conservative (longer) published figure for planning purposes.
  • Every residence must have either sanitary-district connection or an approved on-site wastewater (septic) system — get your septic Construction Authorization from the Apache County Health Department (928-337-7607) early, since the building permit cannot issue without it.
  • A pre-built shed under 200 sq ft with no utility connections and no habitation does not need a permit; anything larger, connected to utilities, or lived in does.
  • Alternate/unconventional construction methods (cordwood, rammed earth, cobb, earthbag, log homes) are welcomed but plans must be engineered and submitted by an Arizona-licensed Architect/Engineer.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Any living quarters, solar electric systems, and outbuildings over 200 square feet require a building permit in Apache County regardless of grid connection. Source: Apache County Building Safety FAQ, Question 5 (https://www.apachecountyaz.gov/building-safety)

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; Plan Review Revision Fee — $50 per hour; After-Hours Inspection Fee — $100 per hour, minimum 1 hour; Reinspection Fee — $50 per hour; Expired Permit Renewal Fee — 10% of the original permit fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

The county's Building Safety FAQ states that once all required submittals are in, the county has 15 business days to complete plan review and issue the permit, though it is typically completed in under a week (under two business days for smaller projects). Separately, the county's July 2015 Requirements for One- and Two-Family Dwellings sheet states approval 'shall normally be received within three (3) weeks or more after submission.' Both documents are live on the county website; call 928-337-7527 to confirm current turnaround. Source: https://www.apachecountyaz.gov/building-safety (FAQ-Building-Safety.pdf) and Requirements-for-One-and-Two-Family-Dwellings.pdf

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Requirements for One- and Two-Family Dwellings; Sample Plot Plan. Depending on your project, Unincorporated Apache County may also ask for: Affidavit of Agricultural Use. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Apache County requires 9 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction, one- and two-family dwelling), in order: Foundation / Footing, Stem Wall / Foundation Wall, Under-Slab or Floor Framing, Roof Sheathing, Shear Walls and Anchorage, Building Wrap / Window Flashing, Rough Combo (Framing, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical), Insulation, Drywall Nailing, 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.

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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Residential Building Permit (New Construction, One- and Two-Family Dwelling) in other cities

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