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Residential Addition / Remodel / Accessory Dwelling Unit Permit in Sierra Vista, Arizona

Required for additions, remodels, attached or detached garages, sheds, patios/carports, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on existing homes in Sierra Vista, submitted on the same Building Permit Application used for new construction.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required for additions or remodels, attached/detached garages, sheds, patios/carports, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
  • ADUs require the standard Owner or Contractor Building Permit Application PLUS a Supplemental Application/Acknowledgement for either an Existing Structure or a New Structure, depending on whether the ADU is being created within an existing structure or newly built
  • Plans must comply with City of Sierra Vista Design Criteria (115 mph wind, Exposure C; Seismic Design Category B) and the 2018 IRC as amended
  • A Block Wall Standard Detail and/or Retaining Wall Standard Detail (both optional standard details) are available for fences or walls associated with the project

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Residential Addition/Remodel/Garage/Shed/Patio — Based on ValuationCity of Sierra Vista Residential Permit Fee Matrix; Residential Valuation Rate of $73/sq ft applies to living-area additions
Same valuation-based Residential Building Permit Rate Table as new construction (see Residential Building Permit fee entry), applied to the addition/remodel project value
Accessory Structure — Sheds less than 200 sq ftCity of Sierra Vista Processing Review Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025
$25
Accessory Structure — Sheds exceeding 200 sq ftCity of Sierra Vista Processing Review Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025
Based on valuation
Block Walls / Fences (up to 6 feet)City of Sierra Vista Processing Review Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025, Non-Specific Building Fee Schedule
$75

Review timeline

Plan reviewSierra Vista’s published plan-review target
30–40 business days

How long did your Residential Addition / Remodel / Accessory Dwelling Unit Permit permit actually take in Sierra Vista?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation/Footing

    Required before concrete pour for additions and garages

  2. 2

    Framing

    Structural connections to existing structure

  3. 3

    Final

    Completed work verified against approved plans

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

Tips

  • ADUs are their own line item on the 'Your Home' permit-types list, with two possible supplemental applications depending on whether the ADU converts an existing structure or is newly built — pick the correct one before submittal.
  • As with new construction, this permit type is a Building Permit under the City's A.R.S. § 9-835 Development Review Time Frame Policy, so the same 30/10/40 working-day (administrative/substantive/overall) statutory time frame applies unless the project qualifies for a faster miscellaneous/flat-fee category (e.g., small sheds).
  • Sheds under 200 sq ft are a flat $25 fee; sheds 200 sq ft and over are billed on valuation like a standard addition.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Accessory Dwelling Units require the standard Building Permit Application (Owner or Contractor) plus a Supplemental Application/Acknowledgement specific to whether the ADU is in an existing structure or a new structure, per the City's Permit Types page.

In Sierra Vista, the published Residential Addition/Remodel/Garage/Shed/Patio — Based on Valuation is: Same valuation-based Residential Building Permit Rate Table as new construction (see Residential Building Permit fee entry), applied to the addition/remodel project value. Additional published fees: Accessory Structure — Sheds less than 200 sq ft — $25; Accessory Structure — Sheds exceeding 200 sq ft — Based on valuation; Block Walls / Fences (up to 6 feet) — $75. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Sierra Vista's published plan-review target for a residential addition / remodel / accessory dwelling unit permit is 30–40 business days.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (Owner or Contractor). Depending on your project, Sierra Vista may also ask for: ADU Supplemental Application/Acknowledgement (Existing Structure or New Structure). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Sierra Vista requires 3 inspection(s) for a residential addition / remodel / accessory dwelling unit permit, in order: Foundation/Footing, Framing, Final. Schedule each through City of Sierra Vista Department of Community Development — Building Inspection Division (520-417-4413).

Apply through City of Sierra Vista Department of Community Development — Building Inspection Division at 1011 N. Coronado Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. Phone: 520-417-4413, email: planning@sierravistaaz.gov. Office hours: General Community Development inquiries: (520) 417-4413. Inspections only: (520) 452-7019. Fax: (520) 452-7023. Plans must be submitted as a complete, unlocked, unflattened single PDF file; large-format plan sets may be emailed to planning@sierravistaaz.gov for a cloud-folder upload link. Building permit applications are the standard statewide-style form, filed as either 'Owner Performing the Work' or with a licensed contractor listed, per Building Permit Application (Owner) and (Contractor) forms published on the Permit Types page.. Official information: https://www.sierravistaaz.gov/our-city/departments/community-development/building-permits.

Sierra Vista, 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 (e.g., A.R.S. Title 9 for municipalities). The City of Sierra Vista independently adopts and administers its own construction codes through its Department of Community Development, Building Inspection Division. Source: City of Sierra Vista Building Permits page (sierravistaaz.gov/our-city/departments/community-development/building-permits) and City of Sierra Vista 'IBC Design Criteria' / Local Amendments document (Resolution 2023-43), published via the City's Building Code and Amendments page.; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), adopted by reference (City Code § 150.01(a)), with City of Sierra Vista local amendments per Resolution 2023-43 (which repealed and replaced the prior 2015-code amendments originally adopted by Resolution 2015-48 and further amended by Resolution 2017-89). Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit), published document ID 10721 on the City's Building Code and Amendments page.; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted by reference (§ 150.01(a)), with City of Sierra Vista amendments per Resolution 2023-43 — EXCEPT Chapter 11 (Energy Efficiency), which is deleted and replaced by Chapter 4 of the 2006 IECC per § 150.01(c). Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit).; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by reference (§ 150.01(a)), with City of Sierra Vista amendments. Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit).; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by reference (§ 150.01(a)), with City of Sierra Vista amendments. Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit).; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by reference (§ 150.01(a)), with City of Sierra Vista amendments. Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit).; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by reference (§ 150.01(a)), with City of Sierra Vista amendments. Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit).; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, adopted by reference (§ 150.01(a)). Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit); City of Sierra Vista IBC Design Criteria document.; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by reference (§ 152.01) as the City's uniform fire code, with City of Sierra Vista amendments. Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit).; Energy code is edition-split by occupancy: the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) governs commercial construction (§ 150.01(b)), while Chapter 4 of the 2006 IECC together with Chapter 11 of the 2006 IRC governs residential construction, substituted in place of Chapter 11 of the 2018 IRC (§ 150.01(c)). Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit).; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), adopted by reference (§ 150.01(d)), with City of Sierra Vista amendments. Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit).; ICC/ANSI A117.1-2009, Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, adopted by reference (§ 150.01(e)) as the City's accessibility standard. Source: City of Sierra Vista Local Amendments to International Codes (Resolution 2023-43 exhibit); City of Sierra Vista IBC Design Criteria document.; IMPORTANT CURRENCY NOTE: As of this review (July 2026), the City Council moved forward on June 8 (per City Council action reported on the City's Engage Sierra Vista platform) amendments to Chapters 150 and 152 of the City Code of Ordinances that would adopt a newer edition of the International Codes (including a provision addressing residential battery/energy-storage systems), with the public-comment/30-day public-record period running through Monday, July 10. Because this proposal had NOT yet been passed by ordinance as of the last verification date below, the 2018-edition code set adopted by Resolution 2023-43 (described above) remains the currently governing, legally adopted baseline; this dataset reflects that currently-adopted baseline rather than the not-yet-final proposal. The exact new edition years were not stated in the publicly available summary and could not be independently confirmed from an adopted ordinance text at the time of this review — see confidence notes.; Manufactured homes are addressed via a dedicated flat permit fee (Manufactured Home Installation) on the City's Processing Review Fee Schedule rather than the standard valuation-based building permit fee. Source: City of Sierra Vista Processing Review Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025.. Local amendments apply — see the Sierra Vista overview page for the full list.

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