Occupancy Permit / Zoning Compliance Certificate (Change of Use) in Benson, Arizona

Benson requires an occupancy permit / zoning compliance certificate (change of use) for: It is unlawful to commence excavation for, or the erection, alteration, enlargement, extension, or moving of, any building or structure, or to change/extend the use of any lot, or to change the use or type of occupancy of any building or structure, until a Zoning Compliance Certificate has been issued by the Zoning Administrator (Zoning Regulations, Section Twenty); Application for a Zoning Compliance Certificate must be filed on standard forms, accompanied by duplicate scaled plans showing property dimensions/boundaries, existing building dimensions/uses, street/alley/easement widths and alignment, the size/height/position of buildings proposed to be erected or altered, and the proposed use(s) of buildings/structures/land including dwelling-unit counts; The Zoning Administrator must issue or refuse the Zoning Compliance Certificate within ten (10) days after filing; a refusal must be stated in writing with reasons, and copies of the marked/signed plans are retained by both the applicant and the Building Inspector; It is unlawful to use or occupy, or permit the use or occupancy of, any building or structure, or any changed/extended use of land, for which a Zoning Compliance Certificate has not been issued; Occupancy Permit: within ten (10) days after receiving notice that the building, structure, or premises (or part thereof) is complete and ready for use, the Building Inspector must perform a final inspection and issue the Occupancy Permit if construction conforms to the Zoning Regulations; A Temporary Occupancy Permit may be issued by the Building Inspector for a completed part of a building/structure/use prior to completion of the whole, provided that part is safe and suitable for use; it remains in force until the entire building/structure/use is completed, inspected, and a full Occupancy Permit is issued; An inspection fee must be paid to the City Clerk before a Zoning Compliance Certificate or Occupancy Permit is issued, per a fee schedule established by Council and posted in the office of the Building Inspector. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Benson Building Department (Community Development) at 520-720-6328 before starting work.

In Benson, the published Zoning Compliance Certificate / Occupancy Permit Inspection Fee is: Not published as a specific standalone dollar figure. Additional published fees: Residential Certificate of Occupancy / Housing Code Compliance Inspection — $60.00 per dwelling unit; Commercial Site Plan Review Fee (precedes/accompanies initial zoning compliance review for new commercial projects) — $500 plus $50 per acre. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Ten (10) days in each case, per the City's Zoning Regulations, Section Twenty — the Zoning Administrator must issue or refuse the Zoning Compliance Certificate within 10 days of filing, and the Building Inspector must complete the final inspection and issue (or decline) the Occupancy Permit within 10 days of notice that the premises are ready. This is the only Benson permit category in this file with a published, verified numeric turnaround.

You'll need: Zoning Compliance Certificate Application; A.R.S. Title 32 Form. Depending on your project, Benson may also ask for: Online Building Permit Application (iWorQ Citizen Portal). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Benson requires 1 inspection(s) for an occupancy permit / zoning compliance certificate (change of use), in order: Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Benson Building Department (Community Development) (520-720-6328).

Apply through City of Benson Building Department (Community Development) at 120 W. 6th Street, Benson, AZ 85602 (City Hall / general administration: 101 E. 6th Street, Benson, AZ 85602). Phone: 520-720-6328, email: permits@bensonaz.gov. Office hours: City Hall general office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM MST; Wednesday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM MST (Source: City of Benson Contact Us page). Building permit applications are submitted online via the City's iWorQ citizen portal (bensonbuilding.portal.iworq.net); all plan documents, calculations, drawings, and spec sheets must be uploaded in PDF format (image files such as JPEG/TIFF/GIF are not accepted). Plan reviews are performed on a first-come, first-served basis; emergency repairs such as utility or structural failures may take precedence. To request an inspection, email permits@bensonaz.gov at least 24 hours in advance with name, contact number, requested date, permit number, project address, and inspection type.. Official information: https://web.archive.org/web/20251124160757/https://www.bensonaz.gov/departments/building_department/index.php.

Benson, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has no statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-city/county authority under state enabling statutes (Arizona Revised Statutes Title 9). The City of Benson independently adopts and administers its own construction codes through its Building Department. Source: Ordinance 645 (City of Benson, adopted April 13, 2026), whereas clause citing A.R.S. Title 9.; 2024 International Building Code (IBC), as amended by Exhibit A to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference in Benson City Code Chapter 7, Section 7-1-2 ('Building Codes Adopted'). Per Ordinance 645, all new permit applications received after May 13, 2026 (30 days after the April 13, 2026 adoption date) must comply with this code; plans already in review or approved before that date may remain on the previously adopted 2015 IBC cycle. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson (passed and adopted April 13, 2026).; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), as amended by Exhibit B to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference in Benson City Code Chapter 7, effective for new applications received on/after May 13, 2026. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), as amended by Exhibit D to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), as amended by Exhibit E to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), as amended by Exhibit F to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), as amended by Exhibit G to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), as amended by Exhibit H to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), as amended by Exhibit I to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference as the City's uniform fire code. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), as amended by Exhibit J to Resolution 11-2026, adopted by reference. Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted by reference as amended by Exhibit C to Resolution 11-2026 (one edition behind the 2024 ICC set, consistent with the standard NFPA/ICC release-cycle offset). Source: Ordinance 645, City of Benson.; Immediately prior to Ordinance 645 (i.e., for plans submitted and approved before May 13, 2026), the City had adopted the 2015 editions of the International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Existing Building, Swimming Pool and Spa, and Property Maintenance Codes, plus the 2015 International Fire Code and 2014 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, per the former Benson City Code Chapter 7, Section 7-1-1 (Resolution 36-2017). Source: City of Benson Building Department page (Wayback Machine capture, November 24, 2025) and City Code of the City of Benson, Arizona (posting updated April 2023).; Manufactured homes, mobile homes, and factory-built buildings: the City of Benson has an Inspection Services Agreement with the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH), effective May 3, 2021 for a five-year term, under which the City (as ADOH's local enforcement agency) monitors and enforces ADOH's installation standards (A.R.S. § 41-4004(A)(4); A.A.C. R4-34-102, R4-34-204, R4-34-606, R4-34-801) for manufactured home, mobile home, and factory-built building installations within city limits, including setback and tie-down inspections. Source: Resolution 11-2021 and attached Inspection Services Agreement Between Arizona Department of Housing and City of Benson.; ICC A117.1-2017 Standard and Commentary (Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities) is referenced by the City as its accessibility standard, in addition to the federal ADA framework. Source: City of Benson Building Department page.. Local amendments apply — see the Benson overview page for the full list.

Yes, under different names. The City's Zoning Regulations (Section Twenty) require a Zoning Compliance Certificate before any change in use, occupancy type, or extension of use of a lot or building, and an Occupancy Permit (issued by the Building Inspector after a final inspection) before the space may actually be used or occupied.