Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy in Tombstone, Arizona

Tombstone requires a change of use / certificate of occupancy permit for: No land or building may be occupied or used, and no building may be changed in use, until a temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued by the City building inspector (Tombstone City Code Section 10-17-3(A)); The certificate must state that the building or premises, or the part of it in question, and the proposed use are in conformity with the provisions of Title 10 (Zoning Regulations) (Section 10-17-3(A)); The building inspector issues a final certificate of occupancy after the change in use has been completed, provided the building or premises and the proposed use conform with all requirements of the chapter (Section 10-17-3(A)); The building inspector may issue a temporary certificate of occupancy for a part of a building under rules and regulations established by the inspector (Section 10-17-3(B)); For an existing building, the owner or tenant may request a certificate of occupancy in writing; the inspector issues it after inspection, certifying the extent and kind of use and whether that use conforms to the chapter (Section 10-17-3(C)); The building inspector may not issue a permit for excavations for foundation or construction of any sort before the applicable certificate of occupancy has been issued (Section 10-17-3(A)); Where the proposed new use is not permitted by right in the zoning district, a Conditional Use Permit application must be filed (City of Tombstone Application for Conditional Use Permit); where the use cannot meet a zoning standard, a Variance application applies; Construction work associated with the change of use is permitted separately under Tombstone City Code Title 3, Chapter 1, which adopts the 2006 International Residential Code and 2006 International Building Code (Section 3-1-1); If the property is inside the Schieffelin Historic Preservation District, exterior work associated with the change of use additionally requires a Historic Preservation Commission Certificate of Appropriateness before the building permit is approved. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Tombstone Building Department at 520-457-3415 before starting work.

The City of Tombstone Fee Schedule effective November 14, 2025 publishes no certificate of occupancy or change-of-use fee — all three pages were read and no such line exists. What it does publish for the zoning side of a use change is $500.00 for a Conditional Use Permit, $400.00 for a Variance, $250.00 for a Temporary Use Permit and $500.00 for a Miscellaneous Administrative Review. If construction accompanies the change, the building permit is charged from the valuation table (for example $52.00 for the first $500.00 plus $4.40 per additional $100.00 in the $501.00 to $2,000.99 band) plus a General Plan review at 65% of the permit fee. Source: City of Tombstone Fee Schedule, effective 11/14/2025.

Tombstone does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Tombstone Building Department at 520-457-3415 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application. Depending on your project, Tombstone may also ask for: Written Request for Certificate of Occupancy (existing building); Application for Conditional Use Permit; Variance Application; Historic Preservation Commission Certificate of Appropriateness Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Tombstone requires 3 inspection(s) for a change of use / certificate of occupancy permit, in order: Certificate of Occupancy Inspection, Construction Inspections (if work is performed), Final Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Tombstone Building Department (520-457-3415).

Apply through City of Tombstone Building Department at 611 E. Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ 85638 (City Hall: 613 E. Allen Street, Tombstone, AZ 85638). Phone: 520-457-3415, email: buildingofficial@cityoftombstoneaz.gov. Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (City of Tombstone Building Inspector page and Building Permit Application, Rev. 1/2024). Building Official/Inspector: Robert Hendrickson. Applications are submitted in person or by mail to the Building Department (P.O. Box 339, Tombstone, AZ 85638); the City does not appear to offer an online e-permitting portal as of this review — all forms found are static PDFs requiring paper/email submittal. Inspections are scheduled by calling 520-457-3415. Projects within the Schieffelin Historic District require Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) approval BEFORE building permit submission/approval, per the Building Permit Application's own header notice.. Official information: https://cityoftombstoneaz.gov/building-inspector/.

Yes, through its certificate of occupancy. Tombstone City Code Section 10-17-3(A) provides that no land or building may be occupied or used, and no building may be constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, used, located or changed in use, until a temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building inspector, and that the certificate must state that the premises and the proposed use conform to the zoning title. The building inspector issues a final certificate after the change in use is complete. Source: Tombstone City Code Section 10-17-3.

Not on the City's published rule. Section 10-17-3(A) attaches the certificate requirement to occupying or using land or a building and to any change in use, not only to construction. Section 10-17-3(C) gives an owner or tenant a route for an existing building: a written request to the building inspector, who after inspection certifies the extent and kind of use of the building or premises and whether that use conforms to the chapter. Source: Tombstone City Code Section 10-17-3.