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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Unincorporated Cochise County, Arizona

Required for construction of an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on a parcel with an existing single-family home in unincorporated Cochise County. Requires written Planning Division review and approval BEFORE a residential building permit may be applied for. ADUs are limited to 75% of the principal dwelling's gross square footage or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less.

Reviewed 2026-07-23 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Property must have an existing single-family home; the property owner must occupy either the primary dwelling or the ADU as their primary residence
  • ADU must be equal to or lesser in height than the principal dwelling, and limited to 75% of the principal dwelling's gross (heated/cooled) square footage or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less
  • ADUs permitted as an accessory use on any parcel where a single-family dwelling is allowed — at least one attached and one detached ADU per parcel; on lots one acre or larger, one additional detached ADU is permitted (except near airport high-noise/accident-potential zones)
  • ADU cannot be subdivided or segregated in ownership from the principal dwelling
  • Recreational vehicles, railroad cars, and camper shells are NOT permitted as an ADU in any zoning district; park model trailers ARE permitted per A.R.S. §11-820.03 on parcels zoned one dwelling unit per 3+ acres, on a semi-permanent/permanent foundation
  • Manufactured homes/rehabilitated mobile homes permitted as an ADU only in zoning districts where they are otherwise a permitted use
  • Special Use Authorization required for commercial use of an ADU; a Variance is required for any deviation from ADU development standards
  • Complete the ADU application and submit online through the Cochise County permitting portal under 'Apply for a P&Z project' before applying for the residential building permit

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Accessory Living Quarters (ADU) planning review/processing fee
Cochise County Code §14.23 (Planning, 'Other Fees'), part of the codified Development Services Fee Schedule (effective 2022-07-01),… Show full citationCochise County Code §14.23 (Planning, 'Other Fees'), part of the codified Development Services Fee Schedule (effective 2022-07-01), https://cochisecounty.municipalcodeonline.com/book?type=ordinances#name=14_DEVELOPMENT_SERVICES_FEE_SCHEDULE, lists 'Accessory Living Quarters: $100'. The county's own ADU page (cochise.az.gov/237/Accessory-Dwelling-Units) uses 'accessory living quarter' interchangeably with ADU in describing its own application process ('Once approved for an accessory living quarter by the Planning Division...'), and the county's separate Accessory Living Quarter Application PDF (https://www.cochise.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/186/Accessory-Living-Quarter-Application-PDF) confirms ALQ is the county's governing application name for this same permit — this $100 fee is the correct, current, citable figure.
$100

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Cochise County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final (under subsequently issued residential building permit)

    Once the ADU is approved by Planning and a residential building permit is issued for construction, standard residential inspections and final apply

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

Tips

  • ADU approval by the Planning Division is a prerequisite step separate from, and prior to, the residential building permit — budget time for both stages sequentially, not concurrently.
  • Park model trailers used as an ADU must sit on a semi-permanent or permanent foundation (concrete pads/piers with Minuteman anchors, or concrete pads/piers with block skirting), be 320–400 sq ft, have axles/wheels removed, and meet door-landing (36"x36") and handrail requirements for 4+ risers.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Cochise County requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: Property must have an existing single-family home; the property owner must occupy either the primary dwelling or the ADU as their primary residence; ADU must be equal to or lesser in height than the principal dwelling, and limited to 75% of the principal dwelling's gross (heated/cooled) square footage or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less; ADUs permitted as an accessory use on any parcel where a single-family dwelling is allowed — at least one attached and one detached ADU per parcel; on lots one acre or larger, one additional detached ADU is permitted (except near airport high-noise/accident-potential zones); ADU cannot be subdivided or segregated in ownership from the principal dwelling; Recreational vehicles, railroad cars, and camper shells are NOT permitted as an ADU in any zoning district; park model trailers ARE permitted per A.R.S. §11-820.03 on parcels zoned one dwelling unit per 3+ acres, on a semi-permanent/permanent foundation; Manufactured homes/rehabilitated mobile homes permitted as an ADU only in zoning districts where they are otherwise a permitted use; Special Use Authorization required for commercial use of an ADU; a Variance is required for any deviation from ADU development standards; Complete the ADU application and submit online through the Cochise County permitting portal under 'Apply for a P&Z project' before applying for the residential building permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Cochise County Development Services Department — Building Safety Division at 520-432-9300 before starting work.

In Unincorporated Cochise County, the published Accessory Living Quarters (ADU) planning review/processing fee is: $100. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Unincorporated Cochise County does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Cochise County Development Services Department — Building Safety Division at 520-432-9300 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Accessory Dwelling Unit Application (PDF); Site Plan showing ADU development-standard compliance. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Cochise County requires 1 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Final (under subsequently issued residential building permit). Schedule each through Cochise County Development Services Department — Building Safety Division (520-432-9300).

Apply through Cochise County Development Services Department — Building Safety Division at 1415 Melody Lane, Building F, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Phone: 520-432-9300, email: developmentservices@cochise.az.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://www.cochise.az.gov/202/Development-Services.

Unincorporated Cochise County, Arizona has adopted: 2015 International Building Code (IBC), with Cochise County local amendments — current as of building-safety and FAQ pages accessed 2026-07-07; 2015 International Residential Code (IRC), with Cochise County local amendments, plus Appendix Q (Tiny Houses) of the 2018 IRC adopted separately; 2015 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2015 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2015 International Fire Code (IFC); 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2015 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — inserted in place of IBC Section 3109 per local amendment; NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC), 2014 Edition; Sound Attenuation Ordinance, as mandated by A.R.S. §§28-8481 and 28-8482; NOTE: Cochise County is actively developing a Building Code update (CP2045 implementation) as of mid-2026, with a Builder's Roundtable held May 28, 2026 and a Building Code Advisory and Appeals Board reviewing proposed amendments; the 2015-edition code set above remains the adopted/in-force code as of the lastVerified date — no new edition has been adopted yet.. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Cochise County overview page for the full list.

Yes, in zoning districts where a single-family dwelling is permitted, subject to owner-occupancy, height, and size limits (75% of the principal dwelling's gross square footage or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less). Written Planning Division approval is required before you can apply for the residential building permit. Source: https://www.cochise.az.gov/237/Accessory-Dwelling-Units

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-23.

Fee schedules

Applications & forms

Department & other records

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

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Other permits in Unincorporated Cochise County

Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Accessory Structure)Commercial / Non-Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Multi-Family, Tenant Improvement)Rural Residential Owner-Builder PermitTrade Permit (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire — Residential & Commercial)Manufactured / Mobile Home Installation PermitSolar Energy System PermitEV Charger / EVSE Permit

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in other cities

Oro Valley, ArizonaThatcher, ArizonaUnincorporated Pima County, ArizonaBroomfield, ColoradoCentennial, ColoradoHamilton, MontanaHayden, IdahoLivingston, Montana

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