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Demolition Permit in Bisbee, Arizona

Required for demolition of any structure in Bisbee. Demolition within the Old Bisbee Historic District is subject to a distinct, stringent Design Review Board review requiring proof that preservation is not physically or economically feasible, and requires 30 calendar days' advance notice rather than the standard 15.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required before demolishing a structure within Bisbee city limits
  • Within the Old Bisbee Historic District (HP Overlay Zone), the Historic District Design Review Board must review and approve all demolition applications and relocation applications for any building or significant part of a building in the District BEFORE the Building Official may issue a demolition permit
  • Historic District demolition/relocation applications require 30 calendar days' advance submittal before the DRB hearing (vs. 15 days for standard applications), due to the greater potential impact on the character of the District
  • For Historic District permit approval, the applicant must show that preserving the building is not physically and/or economically feasible; the DRB determines the extent to which demolition/movement affects the structure or any contributing structure within the district
  • Utilities should be properly terminated as part of standard demolition practice (not separately itemized as a distinct Bisbee ordinance requirement beyond standard code compliance)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Demolition Permit (Based on Valuation)City of Bisbee Fee Schedule and City Code do not list a separate itemized flat-rate demolition fee distinct from the standard valuation table; demolition is billed on the same Building Permit fee schedule.
Same valuation table as new construction, applied per City Code Section 7.1.3

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Demolition Permit permit actually take in Bisbee?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final

    Site condition verified after demolition complete

See the full Bisbee inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Demolition within the Old Bisbee Historic District is the single most stringent review track in the City's permit system: the applicant must affirmatively prove preservation is not physically/economically feasible, submittal must arrive 30 calendar days (not 15) before the DRB hearing, and 300-foot neighbor notice is mandatory.
  • As of July 2026, the City of Bisbee does not appear to publish permit-specific plan review turnaround times for demolition permits on its public website (outside the separately-documented Historic District DRB process, which states 'most decisions are issued within 45 days of application submittal' for DRB-track matters specifically — not for the underlying building demolition permit review itself). There is no verifiable online source for a building-permit-specific demolition review timeline — call the Building Inspector's office directly at 520-432-6000.

Frequently asked questions

Bisbee requires a demolition permit for: Building permit required before demolishing a structure within Bisbee city limits; Within the Old Bisbee Historic District (HP Overlay Zone), the Historic District Design Review Board must review and approve all demolition applications and relocation applications for any building or significant part of a building in the District BEFORE the Building Official may issue a demolition permit; Historic District demolition/relocation applications require 30 calendar days' advance submittal before the DRB hearing (vs. 15 days for standard applications), due to the greater potential impact on the character of the District; For Historic District permit approval, the applicant must show that preserving the building is not physically and/or economically feasible; the DRB determines the extent to which demolition/movement affects the structure or any contributing structure within the district; Utilities should be properly terminated as part of standard demolition practice (not separately itemized as a distinct Bisbee ordinance requirement beyond standard code compliance). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Bisbee Community Development Department — Building Safety / Building Inspector at 520-432-6000 before starting work.

In Bisbee, the published Demolition Permit (Based on Valuation) is: Same valuation table as new construction, applied per City Code Section 7.1.3. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Bisbee does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Bisbee Community Development Department — Building Safety / Building Inspector at 520-432-6000 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (Bisbee, Fillable). Depending on your project, Bisbee may also ask for: Design Review Board Application Packet. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Bisbee requires 1 inspection(s) for a demolition permit, in order: Final. Schedule each through City of Bisbee Community Development Department — Building Safety / Building Inspector (520-432-6000).

Apply through City of Bisbee Community Development Department — Building Safety / Building Inspector at 118 Arizona Street, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Phone: 520-432-6000, email: jward@bisbeeaz.gov. Office hours: Monday - Friday. Applications are submitted using the City's own single-page Building Permit application (covering building, sign, and solar permits alike) either in person at 118 Arizona Street or through the City's CloudPermit online e-permitting portal; permits within the Old Bisbee Historic District (HP Overlay Zone) additionally require Design Review Board approval before a building permit may be issued.. Official information: https://web.archive.org/web/20251028012416/https://www.bisbeeaz.gov/2545/30202/Building-Permits-Code-Enforcement.

Bisbee, 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 (A.R.S. Title 9). The City of Bisbee is a home-rule city that independently codifies and administers its own construction codes through its Community Development Department / Building Inspector (Building Codes page, bisbeeaz.gov/2449/Building-Codes; City of Bisbee City Code, Chapter 7, Updated 05/22/2024).; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), including all tables and appendices (Appendices C, E, F, G adopted; A, B, D, H, I, J, K, L, M not adopted), adopted by reference with City of Bisbee amendments (City Code Article 7.1, Section 7.1.1, Updated 05/22/2024).; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by reference with City amendments; existing buildings undergoing repair, alteration, addition, or change of occupancy are permitted to comply with the IEBC in lieu of full IBC compliance (City Code Article 7.1, Section 7.1.1.B(1) and 7.1.1.C).; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted by reference with City of Bisbee amendments (City Code Article 7.1, Section 7.1.1.D).; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by reference with City amendments, including Appendix B (adopted at a 3 inch/hour rainfall rate) and Appendices C, D, F as informational resources; Appendix A not adopted (City Code Article 7.2).; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), adopted by reference with City of Bisbee amendments (City Code Article 7.3, Section 7.3.1) — one edition behind the 2018 ICC set, consistent with typical AZ municipal practice.; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by reference with City amendments; administered with references to the Bisbee Fire Department (City Code Article 7.4).; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by reference with City amendments; Appendix A adopted, Appendix B not adopted (City Code Article 7.5).; 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), adopted by reference with City amendments, including a fence/barrier height amendment raising all referenced heights from 48 inches to 60 inches (City Code Article 7.6).; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted by reference with City amendments; City of Bisbee is designated Climate Zone 2 or stricter for all IECC purposes (City Code Article 7.7, Sections 7.7.1-7.7.3).; Arizonans with Disabilities Act standards (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 9, Article 8) and implementing rules, including the ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (Resolution R-96-46), adopted as an amendment applying to new construction and alterations of public entities (City Code Article 7.1, Section 7.1.4).; Manufactured home installation is permitted via a dedicated Manufactured Home Installation Permit (flat fee $350.00 per the City Fee Schedule); construction/installation standards for the home itself are regulated by the State of Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety / Office of Manufactured Housing, consistent with statewide practice (A.R.S. Title 41-4001 et seq.).. Local amendments apply — see the Bisbee overview page for the full list.

Only with Design Review Board approval. The Board must find that preserving the building is not physically or economically feasible, and demolition applications require 30 calendar days' advance submittal (versus 15 days for standard DRB applications) plus 300-foot neighbor notice, due to the significant potential impact on the historic district's character.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.

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 Bisbee building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.