Flagstaff building permits

Requirements

• Building permit required for new single-family and two-family dwelling construction
• Plans must comply with the 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC as adopted by City of Flagstaff Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16
• Plans must show compliance with City of Flagstaff Building Design Criteria: 60 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind design speed, Seismic Design Category C, 30-inch frost line depth, required ice barrier underlayment
• New one- and two-family dwelling garages must include one dedicated 208/240-volt, 50-amp-minimum EV charging branch circuit
• Solar-Ready Zone (2018 IRC Appendix T) provisions apply to new construction of detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses
• All applications must be administratively complete at time of submittal or resubmittal per Arizona SB 1598; additional/revised documents uploaded mid-review-cycle are treated as a formal resubmittal, resetting the full review timeline
• Application submitted online via the Citizen Access Portal (citizenaccess.flagstaffaz.gov); large residential attachments may be emailed to BuildingPermits@flagstaffaz.gov

Required documents

• RequiredResidential Building Permit Application (PDF)Submitted via the Citizen Access Portal at citizenaccess.flagstaffaz.gov
• RequiredResidential Plan Review Administrative Completeness Checklist (PDF)City of Flagstaff checklist used to determine whether a residential submittal is administratively complete (revised 09/06/2022)
• RequiredConstruction DrawingsSite plan, foundation plan, floor plan, framing, elevations, and structural details consistent with the 2018 IRC and City of Flagstaff Building Design Criteria
• OptionalOwner Authorization Form (PDF)Required when the applicant is not the property owner

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for additions, remodels, and alterations affecting structural, fire, or life-safety elements
• Decks over 30 inches above finished grade, over 200 sq ft, or attached to the main structure require a Building Permit; smaller detached decks use the Minor Improvement Permit (Zoning) instead
• Small Residential Plans category (per City review-timeframe schedule) explicitly includes additions, garages, decks, remodels, repairs, carports, storage sheds greater than 200 sq ft, ramadas, greenhouses, and sun rooms
• Plans must comply with City of Flagstaff Building Design Criteria (60 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind, Seismic Category C, 30-inch frost depth)
• Additions/alterations to existing 1-2 family dwellings are exempt from the new-construction EV charging circuit requirement

Required documents

• RequiredResidential Building Permit Application (PDF)Submitted via the Citizen Access Portal
• RequiredConstruction DrawingsSite plan and framing/structural details showing scope of work and connection to the existing structure

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical permit required for installation, change, or repair of any hard-wired electrical system
• Governed by the 2017 NEC as adopted and amended by City of Flagstaff (copper-only current-carrying conductors; aluminum permitted only for feeders/service-entrance conductors)
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) permit available for service entrances/subpanels up to 400 amps, circuits, and similar minor work; service entrances or subpanels over 400 amps require a full residential or commercial Building Permit application with site plan, 1-line/3-line electrical diagram, load calculation, and panel schedules
• New one- and two-family dwelling garages must include a dedicated 208/240-volt, 50-amp-minimum EV charging branch circuit (new construction only; additions/alterations exempt)
• Apply through the Citizen Access Portal, or use the Over-the-Counter Permit Application for qualifying minor electrical work

Required documents

• RequiredOver-the-Counter Permit Application (PDF, Rev. 06/10/2025)Used for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and roofing work not involving structural changes
• OptionalBuilding Permit Application (for service entrances/subpanels over 400 amps)Requires site plan, electrical plan with 1-line or 3-line diagram, load calculation, and panel schedules

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Plumbing permit required for installation, alteration, or repair of any plumbing system, fixture, water heater, gas piping, or sewer/water service line
• Governed by the 2018 IPC as adopted by City of Flagstaff (Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16), amended locally for maximum flush volumes and vent terminations
• Backflow preventers and grease/oil interceptors must be applied for as a full Building Permit, routed to City of Flagstaff Water Services Industrial Waste Section for review
• Tile shower enclosures must be applied for as a Building Permit, not an Over-the-Counter permit
• Replacement waterline material must be specified on the Over-the-Counter application per EPA 40 CFR 141.84(b)(2) and the ADEQ Lead and Copper Rule
• Apply through the Citizen Access Portal, or use the Over-the-Counter Permit Application for qualifying minor plumbing work

Required documents

• RequiredOver-the-Counter Permit Application (PDF, Rev. 06/10/2025)Used for plumbing fixture/appliance work not requiring a full building permit

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Mechanical permit required for installation or relocation of furnaces, AC units, appliance vents, and similar mechanical equipment
• Governed by the 2018 IMC and 2018 IFGC as adopted by City of Flagstaff (Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16)
• Replacement and new rooftop units must be applied for as a full Building Permit and are routed to Current Planning for review if the structure is over 50 years old or in a historic overlay area
• Apply through the Citizen Access Portal, or use the Over-the-Counter Permit Application for qualifying minor mechanical work

Required documents

• RequiredOver-the-Counter Permit Application (PDF, Rev. 06/10/2025)Used for furnace/AC/appliance-vent replacement work not requiring a full building permit

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Permit required for re-roofing a building; City follows IRC Section R905.2.7.1 and IBC Section 1507.2.8.2 and requires an ice barrier or ice dam membrane
• All roofing material must be Class A or B fire-rated per City of Flagstaff amendments
• Wood shakes or shingles are prohibited, including fire-rated shakes and shingles
• Over-the-Counter re-roof permits limit replacement of roof decking to 1 square (100 sq ft); replacing more decking requires a residential or commercial building repair/remodel permit instead, and replacement decking must be inspected before being covered with underlayment
• Apply through the Citizen Access Portal, or use the Over-the-Counter Permit Application (checkbox: Roofing, see footnote *R1)

Required documents

• RequiredOver-the-Counter Permit Application (PDF, Rev. 06/10/2025)Check 'Roofing' box; used for standard re-roofs not exceeding the 1-square decking replacement limit

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Photovoltaic system installation location must be indicated on construction plans, including roof plan and elevation (ARS 9-468)
• Photovoltaic panel mounting details must be included in installation plans (ARS 9-468)
• Electrical diagrams must include one-line or three-line diagrams, unless a qualified online automated permitting platform is used to verify code compliance (ARS 9-468)
• For DC-to-AC conversions, inverter cut sheets and listings must be included in the plans (ARS 9-468)
• The City may not require a professional engineer's stamp for a solar PV system unless deemed necessary, and must provide a written explanation if one is required (ARS 9-468)
• PV mounting-system structural design (roof/rack attachment, load path) must meet the City's Building Design Criteria: 60 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind design speed, Seismic Design Category C — there is no separate solar-only structural standard; the general Design Criteria governs
• The PV installation is permitted and fee-calculated as a standard Building Permit (roof/rack-mounted structure) plus an Electrical Permit for the wiring/interconnection scope, using the City's valuation-based fee methodology (Resolution 2017-21); no dedicated solar permit fee schedule exists
• Accessory Energy Systems (including PV solar) are subject to a building permit and are further limited by Flagstaff zoning ordinances for visual, design, height, and setback requirements
• Solar-Ready Zone provisions (2018 IRC Appendix T / IECC Appendix RA) apply to new construction of detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses
• Any building/permit fee for solar construction must be attributable to and not exceed the actual cost of issuing the permit, with an itemized cost list available on request (ARS 9-468(B))
• Apply through the Citizen Access Portal

Required documents

• RequiredResidential or Commercial Building/Electrical Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Citizen Access Portal; solar PV plan set per ARS 9-468 documentation requirements
• RequiredOne-Line or Three-Line Electrical DiagramRequired unless a qualified online automated permitting platform verifies code compliance
• RequiredInverter Cut Sheets and ListingsRequired for DC-to-AC conversion equipment

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Demolition must use the Residential Building Permit Application or the Commercial Building Permit Application and include a completed Demolition Questionnaire
• Residential and Commercial Demolition Asbestos/NESHAP Questionnaire must be completed and submitted with the building permit application for any demolition work
• A 'YES' response to specified Part B questions (e.g., disturbance/removal of 260+ linear feet of pipe, 160+ sq ft of other facility components, or 35+ cubic feet of facility components, or removal of load-supporting structural members) requires submission of an asbestos survey by a certified AHERA building inspector
• A 'YES' response may also require submission of a NESHAP Notification Form to ADEQ at least 10 working (business) days before renovation/demolition begins

Required documents

• RequiredResidential Building Permit Application or Commercial Building Permit ApplicationUsed for demolition; select the applicable residential or commercial form
• RequiredResidential/Commercial Demolition Requirements — Asbestos/NESHAP Questionnaire (PDF)Must be completed and submitted with the building permit application for any demolition work

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Fences and walls (non-retaining) up to 7 feet high: Minor Improvement Permit (Zoning), $80 flat fee; fences over 7 feet require a full Building Permit; fences over 6 feet require a zoning variance
• Fences in the front setback area are capped at 3 feet (solid wall/fence) or 4 feet (vinyl-coated chain link)
• Corner lots require an intersection sight triangle per Engineering Standards Section 10-06-020 (Intersection Sight Triangles, Clear View Zones)
• Retaining walls 4 feet or less (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall): Minor Improvement Permit (Zoning), $80 flat fee
• Retaining walls over 4 feet high, or any wall supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I/II/IIIA liquids regardless of height, require a full Building Permit
• Site plan required showing north arrow, property lines/dimensions, existing structures, easements, and adjacent street names

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Minor Improvement Permit (PDF, updated April 16, 2020)City of Flagstaff Community Development Division form for fences, walls, retaining walls, decks, accessory structures, landscape modifications, and exterior/facade modifications
• RequiredSite PlanShowing height/location of existing and proposed fence or wall, setback from front property line, and materials

Fee schedule

Requirements

• New one- and two-family dwelling construction: at least one required garage receptacle must be a dedicated 208/240-volt, 50-amp-minimum branch circuit for EV charging (2019 Amendments to the Adopted Codes, Chapter 4-03, amending 2018 IRC E3901.9); additions/alterations to existing 1-2 family dwellings are EXEMPT from this new-construction mandate
• Retrofitting an EV charger circuit into an existing home: apply for an Over-the-Counter (OTC) electrical permit for the circuit (and, if needed, a service entrance or subpanel upgrade) — no EV-specific line item exists, so the applicable OTC category is 'Circuits (each)' plus any panel/service upgrade required to support the load
• Governed by the 2017 NEC as adopted and locally amended by the City of Flagstaff (copper-only current-carrying conductors; aluminum only for feeders/service-entrance conductors)
• If the service entrance or subpanel must be upgraded above 400 amps to support the charger, a full residential or commercial Building Permit application (site plan, load calculation, panel schedule) is required instead of the OTC pathway
• Apply through the Citizen Access Portal, or use the Over-the-Counter Permit Application for qualifying minor electrical work

Required documents

• RequiredOver-the-Counter Permit Application (PDF, Rev. 06/10/2025)Used for the EV charger circuit itself when it qualifies as minor electrical work (not involving a >400A service/subpanel upgrade)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Sign permit required before erecting, placing, displaying, altering, repairing, or relocating any permanent sign structure (Zoning Code Section 10-20.40.120(B))
• No sign permit is required for a sign on property used exclusively for a single-family residence or duplex (Section 10-50.100.030(B))
• No sign permit is required for: changes to the face/copy of changeable signs; changing the face/copy of an existing nonilluminated sign from one business to another with no structural or lighting modification; or normal repair/maintenance of a conforming or legal nonconforming sign (Section 10-50.100.030(C))
• Governed by Zoning Code Division 10-50.100 (Sign Standards): sign area, height, number, and type limits vary by use and zone per Table 10-50.100.060.A
• Illuminated signs require a separate electrical permit and an electrical inspection prior to placement; electrical service to freestanding or landscape wall signs must be underground and concealed (Section 10-20.40.120(F)(1)(b); Section 10-50.100.080)
• Freestanding signs require a footing inspection (including additions of sign area to existing signs), plus inspection of braces, anchors, supports, and connections, and a final inspection (Section 10-20.40.120(F))
• Flashing, rotating, blinking, or strobe-illuminated signs, animation, motion-picture, or laser-projection signs are prohibited citywide (Division 10-50.100)
• Signs may not be placed within/over a City right-of-way, on public property, obstructing traffic control devices, blocking required means of egress, off-premises from the business referenced, on fuel tanks/waste receptacles, affixed to trees/poles/fences, covering architectural features, or on a roof (except a permitted Roof Mounted Sign) (Section 10-50.100.040)
• A sign at a corner lot must comply with Engineering Standards Section 13-10-006-0002, Intersection Sight Triangles, Clear View Zones
• A sign permit expires and becomes void if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or if work is suspended/abandoned for 90 or more days after commencing (Section 10-20.40.120(D)(4))
• Work commenced without a sign permit, or beyond the authorized scope of one, is assessed double the required permit fee (Section 10-20.40.120(G)(2))
• A Comprehensive Sign Program (a master/custom sign plan, typically for a multi-tenant development) is available as an alternate compliance path with its own fee
• Application and supporting documentation submitted per Zoning Code Section 10-20.30.020, Application Process (Planning Section / Citizen Access Portal)

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit ApplicationSubmitted per Zoning Code Section 10-20.30.020, Application Process, to the Planning Section (Community Development Division)
• RequiredSign Construction Drawings/PlansStructural details for freestanding/building-mounted signs; electrical plans for illuminated signs
• OptionalComprehensive Sign Program ApplicationAlternate master sign plan process for multi-tenant developments, in lieu of individual permanent sign permits

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Fire sprinkler and fire alarm system work (new install, tenant improvement/modification) requires a Fire Prevention Permit application submitted directly to the Flagstaff Fire Department, 211 W. Aspen Avenue — separate from, and in addition to, any Building Safety Building Permit required for the underlying construction
• Flagstaff Fire Department regulations are governed by the International Fire Code as locally amended by the City of Flagstaff and by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards
• Flagstaff Fire Department performs its own plan review and inspections for fire-protection systems directly (not delegated to Coconino County or a separate fire district)
• Plan review and inspection fees are tiered by system size: fire alarm systems by square footage (1-10,000 sq ft; 10,001-50,000 sq ft; each additional 50,000 sq ft or fraction); fire sprinkler tenant-improvement (TI) systems by sprinkler head count (21-50; 51-100; 101-500 heads); commercial fire sprinkler systems by square footage; residential fire sprinkler systems at a flat plan-review rate
• Fire pump installations/modifications and standpipe installations/modifications are separately tiered fire-protection-system fee categories
• An Underground Fire Line test/flush inspection is billed per 100 linear feet of line
• All Fire Prevention Permit fees must be paid before the application can be processed; payable at the City Hall cashier (credit/debit, check, or cash)
• The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code is in effect citywide under Flagstaff City Code Section 13-13-001-0001 (part of the locally amended Fire Code); the Fire Chief holds sole jurisdiction over fire-safety requirements and the authority to prohibit any outdoor fire to mitigate wildland fire exposure — a written Fire Department permit is required for any outdoor fire citywide, a related but administratively distinct permit track from indoor fire-sprinkler/alarm system permitting

Required documents

• RequiredFire Prevention Permit ApplicationSubmitted to Flagstaff Fire Department (mail or in person, 211 W. Aspen Ave); fees must be paid before the application is processed
• RequiredFire Sprinkler/Alarm System PlansSized per system type — sprinkler head count for TI sprinkler work, square footage for alarm and commercial sprinkler work

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A Building Permit is required whenever a building's occupancy classification changes, regardless of whether alterations are made to the building for the new use, to assess IEBC compliance for the new occupancy, per IBC and IEBC Section 105.1
• To confirm whether a given project is considered a Change of Occupancy, and whether a building permit / new Certificate of Occupancy is required, the applicant must contact a Building Plan Reviewer via the Plan Reviewer of the Day schedule
• No building or structure may be occupied or used until the Building Official has issued a Certificate of Occupancy and determined the building has been constructed, and all on- and off-site improvements developed, in compliance with the Zoning Code and other applicable City codes
• The standard Residential Building Permit Application or Commercial Building Permit Application is used (there is no distinct Change-of-Occupancy application form); even the Over-the-Counter Permit Application screens for this by asking 'Does the proposed work constitute a change to the occupancy classification or use of the building?' — a 'Yes' answer routes the project out of the OTC pathway into full plan review
• Temporary Certificates of Occupancy are NOT authorized for residential construction (detached single-family dwellings and duplexes), per the City's 2019 amendment to 2018 IBC 111.3 / IRC R110.1, EXCEPT: (1) when a driveway approach cannot be poured due to weather and the applicant posts a bond with the City, or (2) when the structure meets all requirements for habitable space and sanitation, in which case any unfinished items (bonus rooms, basement finishing, etc.) are annotated 'not inspected' in the inspection record at the time of Temporary CO issuance
• Applicants who move into a dwelling before receiving a Certificate of Occupancy may be evicted, as the property is posted 'NO OCCUPANCY' by the building inspector or Building Official
• Billed under the same valuation-based Building Permit Fee methodology as other Building Permits (City Council Resolution 2017-21); no separate Change-of-Occupancy or Certificate-of-Occupancy issuance fee schedule was found

Required documents

• RequiredResidential Building Permit Application or Commercial Building Permit ApplicationNo separate Change-of-Occupancy form exists; use the standard residential or commercial Building Permit Application based on building type
• RequiredPlans/Documentation for IEBC Compliance ReviewSufficient for the Building Plan Reviewer to assess compliance with the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) for the new occupancy classification

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building Permit required for new commercial construction, additions, and structural alterations, reviewed under the 2018 Suite of Codes as adopted by City of Flagstaff Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16
• Application for Commercial Building/Grading Permit must be filled out completely, and construction drawings must include a Standard Code Summary Block on the cover sheet (occupancy type, type of construction, occupant loads, fire sprinklers, square footage figures)
• Construction plans must be sealed by an Arizona registrant per A.R.S. 32-143 if the project is over 3,000 sq ft, has 20 or more occupants, or has structural members greater than 20 feet
• If the project is located in a City of Flagstaff Historic District, approval from the Historic Preservation Committee/Commission must be obtained before submitting building plans
• The Grading Questionnaire on the application (cut/fill inside the building footprint excluded) must be completed; a 'Yes' answer to triggers such as fill greater than 50 cubic yards, engineered fill supporting a structure, or an unsupported cut slope over 5 feet requires the combined Building/Grading Permit process
• Restaurants, medical marijuana facilities, pools, and similar uses require separate approval documentation from the Coconino County Health Department submitted with the plan set
• Fire sprinkler and fire alarm system work requires a separate Fire Prevention Permit submitted directly to the Flagstaff Fire Department — administratively distinct from, and in addition to, this Building Permit
• A Building Permit application is deemed abandoned 180 days after filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit issued (IBC 105.3.2); the Building Official may grant one or more 180-day extensions in writing for justifiable cause
• Commercial Building Permits are valid for a maximum of 730 days, with one 365-day extension available on written request with justifiable cause; a second extension requires paying one-half the original building permit fee (excluding plan review fee); permits not passing final inspection within 1,095 days expire outright
• Apply through the Citizen Access Portal, or submit directly to the Building Safety & Code Compliance Section (211 W Aspen Avenue); large commercial attachments may be emailed to Commercial.BuildingPermits@flagstaffaz.gov

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Commercial Building/Grading Permit (PDF)City of Flagstaff Community Development Division form; includes site/owner/contractor information, the Grading Questionnaire, and an Owner Authorization Form (multi-page document) checklisting project categories including 'New Build', 'Addition (attached)', and 'Tenant Improvements' as distinct commercial project types
• OptionalOwner Authorization Form (PDF)Required when the applicant/agent is not the property owner; part of the same Application for Commercial Building/Grading Permit document
• RequiredCommercial Construction Drawings and Plan Review ChecklistPer the Commercial Plan Review checklist: site plan to engineering scale with parcel boundaries/dimensions/contours, building footprint, driveways/parking/ADA/pedestrian facilities, utility services, landscape plans, floor plans with rooms labeled, elevation drawings, structural plans with 2 sets of engineering calculations, floor/roof framing plans, and 3 sets of the soils report when applicable
• RequiredPlumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical PlansPlumbing isometrics/calcs and fixture specifications; mechanical HVAC/ventilation calcs and equipment specs with mechanical energy compliance certificate; electrical single-line diagram, fault current calcs, panel schedule, and Interior Lighting Compliance Certificate, each with signature

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit is required for interior build-out, remodel, or alteration of an existing commercial tenant space, reviewed under the 2018 Suite of Codes as adopted by City of Flagstaff Resolution 2019-26 / Ordinance 2019-16
• Application for Commercial Building/Grading Permit is used, with 'Tenant Improvements' checked as the project category on the accompanying Owner Authorization Form (distinct from 'New Build')
• Tenant Improvement Plans checklist requires: Standard Code Summary Block on the cover sheet, a vicinity map at minimum, and BOTH the existing floor plan and the proposed floor plan with each room labeled for its intended use
• Construction plans must be sealed by an Arizona registrant per A.R.S. 32-143 if the project is over 3,000 sq ft, has 20 or more occupants, or has structural members greater than 20 feet
• Floor/wall/roof framing plans and structural calculations are required only if the TI scope adds a mezzanine/second floor, changes wall framing (with approved fire-rated assemblies when required), or makes structural changes/additions/repairs; a foundation plan is required only if adding structural support
• Elevation drawings are required only if the TI project includes exterior work
• Restaurants, medical marijuana facilities, pools, and similar uses require separate approval documentation from the Coconino County Health Department
• Plan re-submittals (changes to already-approved TI plans) require a description of proposed changes, a field copy of the 'Approved Plans,' and — if adding new work — a new application and permit rather than a resubmittal
• Fire sprinkler and fire alarm system TI work (e.g., adding/relocating sprinkler heads or alarm devices) requires a separate Fire Prevention Permit from the Flagstaff Fire Department, billed by sprinkler-head-count or device-count tiers distinct from this Building Permit
• Apply through the Citizen Access Portal, or submit directly to the Building Safety & Code Compliance Section (211 W Aspen Avenue)

Required documents

• RequiredApplication for Commercial Building/Grading Permit (PDF)Same base application used for all commercial permit categories; 'Tenant Improvements' is checked as the project type on the accompanying Owner Authorization Form
• RequiredTenant Improvement Plans (Existing + Proposed Floor Plans)Existing floor plan and proposed floor plan with each room labeled for its intended use, plus a vicinity map at minimum; construction drawings to a minimum architectural scale of 1/8" = 1'
• OptionalPlan Resubmittal Form (PDF)Used for review resubmittals, deferred submittals, and submittal of revisions to already-Approved Plans

Fee schedule