Unincorporated Coconino County building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Unincorporated Coconino County, Arizona.
Last verified 2026-07-07 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 2500 N. Fort Valley Road, Building 1, Flagstaff, AZ 86001-1287
- Phone
- 928-679-8850 (toll-free 800-559-9289); fax 928-679-8851
- Office hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Director: Jay Christelman; Assistant Director: Jess McNeely. All building permit applications and document submittals for unincorporated Coconino County are made online through the Online Permit Applications portal (co-coconino-az.smartgovcommunity.com); only PDF files are accepted for plan review submittals.
- Website
- Official site
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Unincorporated Coconino County — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Arizona has no statewide building code for non-state buildings; codes are adopted locally. According to the International Code Council, codes are adopted locally in Arizona and are predominantly the I-codes, with different cities and counties choosing their own editions and local amendments. The Arizona State Fire Code (adopting the 2018 IFC) applies only to state and county buildings, public and private schools, and non-residential occupancies in areas without a locally adopted fire code — it does not establish a statewide residential or commercial building code floor. Each city and county adopts its own code editions independently, resulting in different I-Code years and amendment sets across jurisdictions. There is no state-mandated minimum edition; enforcement is entirely local. Always confirm the adopted edition and any local amendments with the specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.
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. Show full textShow less
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 11 for counties). Coconino County Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division, is the code enforcement agency and building official for all unincorporated areas of the county (areas outside Flagstaff, Page, Fredonia, Tusayan, and Williams, and outside the Coconino County portion of Sedona).
Coconino County's currently adopted codes, per County Ordinance 2026-03 (approved June 2, 2026; recorded 06/12/2026, Official Records of Coconino County 4041221), adopted pursuant to A.R.S. Show full textShow less
Coconino County's currently adopted codes, per County Ordinance 2026-03 (approved June 2, 2026; recorded 06/12/2026, Official Records of Coconino County 4041221), adopted pursuant to A.R.S. 11-861: 2024 International Building Code; 2024 International Residential Code; 2024 International Mechanical Code; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code; 2024 International Plumbing Code; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code; 2024 International Existing Building Code; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code; 2017 International Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities Code (ICC A117.1); ICC 400-2017 Standard on the Design and Construction of Log Structures; and the 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code. Amendments are listed in Section 10 of the ordinance. Two typographical errors appear in the ordinance itself and are reproduced here rather than silently normalised: it prints "20124 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE" (plainly 2024) and "International Code Counsil". Section 2 of Ordinance 2026-03 reads "Ordinance No. 2019-10 is hereby repealed," superseding the county's prior 2018-suite/2017-NEC adoption. Source: the recorded ordinance (17 pages): https://www.coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/73035/Coconino-County-Ordinance-2026-03
Every six years the Community Development Department, in partnership with the Building Safety Advisory Board (BSAB), leads a process to adopt updated codes. Show full textShow less
Every six years the Community Development Department, in partnership with the Building Safety Advisory Board (BSAB), leads a process to adopt updated codes. As of this record's date, the County has begun a public process toward adopting the 2024 ICC code suite and 2023 NEC — an open house was held March 23, 2026 at 2500 N. Fort Valley Rd. (Thomas Auditorium), and a slide deck covering the 2024 IECC, IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC and 2023 NEC changes was presented — but as of this record's lastVerified date that update had NOT yet been formally adopted. The 2018 ICC / 2017 NEC baseline remains the current, controlling code. Source: Coconino County Building Codes, Ordinances, Design Criteria page, 'Building Code Adoption' section.
- Additional adopted county ordinances/codes beyond the base ICC/NEC suite: Potable Rainwater Collection and Distribution Systems Code (an amendment to the IRC); 2020-11 Earthen Building and Construction Ordinance (regulating quality, type of material, testing, and workmanship for earthen buildings/structures). Source: Coconino County Building Codes, Ordinances, Design Criteria page.
The Innovative Materials and Systems Pilot Program (part of the 2019-10 Ordinance) allows owner-builders to seek an exemption from standard adopted-code provisions when building with alternative methods and materials,… Show full textShow less
The Innovative Materials and Systems Pilot Program (part of the 2019-10 Ordinance) allows owner-builders to seek an exemption from standard adopted-code provisions when building with alternative methods and materials, under conditions evaluated by the Building Official — administered in coordination with the County's broader 'Building with Alternative Methods and Materials' / Alternative Methods and Materials Permit Program (ATAG certification and consultation process) run out of the Community Development Department. Source: Coconino County Building Codes, Ordinances, Design Criteria page; Coconino County Community Development page (coconino.az.gov/136/Community-Development), 'Building with Alternative Methods and Materials' section.
Manufactured homes and factory-built buildings follow a joint state/local structure: the Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety (Office of Manufactured Housing) sets manufacturer/installer/retailer… Show full textShow less
Manufactured homes and factory-built buildings follow a joint state/local structure: the Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety (Office of Manufactured Housing) sets manufacturer/installer/retailer licensing and issues state-level installation permits, while local site/foundation/utility compliance is handled by Coconino County under a dedicated Manufactured Homes and Factory Built Building Permit fee schedule (Part III of the county's Building Permitting Fees) and a 7-business-day review ceiling under the county's own timeframes policy. Source: Coconino County Online Permit Applications page (coconino.az.gov/2390/Online-Permit-Applications), 'Manufactured Homes & Factory Built Projects' section; Coconino County Building Permitting Fees schedule, Part III. [2026-08-16 NOTE: this describes a program established by Ordinance 2019-10, which Ordinance 2026-03 Section 2 expressly repealed effective June 2026. Ordinance 2026-03 was read only as far as its adoption and repeal sections (pages 1-2 of 17); whether the Innovative Materials and Systems Pilot Program is carried forward in its Section 10 amendments was NOT established. Treat the program's current status as unverified rather than assuming either continuation or removal.]
Properties within the Sedona Fire District (including Oak Creek Canyon) are additionally subject to the 2018 Wildland and Urban Interface Codes as adopted by that fire district; fire suppression systems are required in… Show full textShow less
Properties within the Sedona Fire District (including Oak Creek Canyon) are additionally subject to the 2018 Wildland and Urban Interface Codes as adopted by that fire district; fire suppression systems are required in addition to Wildland-Urban-Interface-code compliance, and the Sedona Fire Marshal conducts concurrent plan reviews with Coconino County to ensure compliance. Source: Coconino County Building Codes, Ordinances, Design Criteria page, 'Building Within the Sedona Fire District' section.
TRANSITION, UNRESOLVED: whether Coconino accepts 2018-designed plan sets through 2026-12-31 is unverified. Show full textShow less
TRANSITION, UNRESOLVED: whether Coconino accepts 2018-designed plan sets through 2026-12-31 is unverified. Sections 1 through 10 of Ordinance 2026-03 contain no such transition or delayed-effective-date provision - Section 2 simply repeals Ordinance 2019-10 and Section 1 adopts the 2024 suite. Any such allowance would have to appear in the Section 10 amendments or on a county web page. Treat it as UNVERIFIED: if you have a project designed to the 2018 codes, confirm directly with Coconino County Community Development, 928-679-8850.
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (Single-Family Dwelling, ADU, Model Home, Tiny House)
Required for new stick-built or modular single-family dwellings (SFD), accessory dwelling units (ADUs), lot-specific model homes, and tiny houses built under IRC Appendix Q in unincorporated Coconino County. Manufactured homes, park models, and factory-built buildings use a separate permit track. Reviewed against the 2024 IRC and County Building Code Amendments by the Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division. All applications and plan submittals are made online through the county's SmartGov permit portal.
See fee scheduleResidential Miscellaneous Permit (Additions, Remodels, Decks, Fences, Sheds, Pools, Re-Roofing, and More)
Coconino County's 'RES-MISC' permit category covers a broad range of residential project types in unincorporated areas: additions/remodels, decks and covered patios, fences, garage/carport conversions, ramadas, sheds and barns, swimming pools/hot tubs/spas, re-roofing with structural panel replacement, retaining walls, tanks and cisterns, temporary structures, and solar installations that don't qualify for the self-issue rooftop solar track. Reviewed against the 2024 IRC/IBC and County amendments; applications and plans submitted online through the SmartGov portal.
From$11.00Electrical Permit
Required for electrical wiring, service equipment, fixtures, and outlet installations in unincorporated Coconino County, governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC). Billed under the county's per-unit Table IV Electrical fee schedule; qualifying like-for-like or minor work may use the county's Residential Self-Issue Permit track. Applications submitted online through the SmartGov portal.
From$50.00Plumbing Permit
Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in unincorporated Coconino County, governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC). Billed under the county's per-unit Table IV Plumbing fee schedule. Wastewater-connected work requires coordination with the Environmental Quality Division. Applications submitted online through the SmartGov portal.
From$50.00Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for HVAC, furnace, and mechanical system installations in unincorporated Coconino County, governed by the 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC). Billed under the county's per-unit Table IV Mechanical fee schedule. Applications submitted online through the SmartGov portal.
From$50.00Solar PV Permit — Self-Issue Residential Rooftop (Grid-Tied) and Residential Miscellaneous (All Other Solar)
Coconino County offers a streamlined Self-Issue Building Permit for grid-tied, residential, roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) installations (excluding battery storage) performed by a licensed professional installer, bypassing full plan review. All other solar installations — ground-mount, battery storage, non-professional installer, properties in a Historic Preservation district or FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, or panel upgrades/derates — must use the Residential Miscellaneous permit category instead. Subject to the statewide baseline of A.R.S. § 9-468.
From$75.00EV Charger / EVSE Permit
Coconino County has no dedicated EV-charger/EVSE fee line item in its Table IV Electrical fee schedule (the same schedule that itemizes wiring, service equipment, and photovoltaic systems). Installing a Level 2 or DC fast EV charger's dedicated circuit is administered as a standard Electrical Permit, billed under the Table IV base issuance fee plus the applicable per-unit wiring or service-equipment fee, governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted by County Ordinance 2026-03 (approved June 2, 2026), which repealed Ordinance 2019-10. The Building Permitting Fees schedule (effective 09/01/2021), Table IV, published via coconino.az.gov/2390/Online-Permit-Applications, remains the county's current fee mechanism. No EV-specific line item exists, but the $50.00 base electrical permit fee plus the $0.035/sq ft wiring fee (or $45.00 service-equipment fee if a service upgrade is needed) are the genuine, citable, currently-applicable governing figures.
From$50.00Manufactured Home / Factory-Built Building Permit
Required for placement of manufactured homes, mobile homes, and factory-built buildings (residential, commercial, or classroom) in unincorporated Coconino County. Manufacturer/installer/retailer licensing is handled by the Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety (Office of Manufactured Housing) at the state level; Coconino County handles local site/foundation/utility compliance and issues the local installation permit. Billed under a dedicated Part III fee schedule distinct from the general Table II/III/IV fees.
From$450.00Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Tenant Improvement, Remodel)
Required for new commercial, industrial, and multi-family buildings, tenant improvements, remodels, and change-of-use projects in unincorporated Coconino County. Reviewed against the 2024 IBC with county amendments. Applications and plans submitted online through the SmartGov portal, following the county's published Building Permit Procedures and Minimum Plan Requirements for Commercial Projects.
From$300.00Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of an existing building or manufactured home in unincorporated Coconino County. Billed as a unit fee under Table IV. Applications submitted online through the SmartGov portal.
See fee scheduleSign Permit
Required before erecting, constructing, enlarging, modifying, or relocating any sign in unincorporated Coconino County. The Zoning Ordinance requires a Building Permit for each sign, and a separate electrical permit where the sign is electrical or illuminated by electricity. Billed as a Table IV per-unit fee. Applications are submitted online through the SmartGov portal.
From$68.01Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm Permit (Fire Protection System)
Coconino County itself issues the construction permit for fire protection systems in unincorporated areas — this county breaks the common Arizona pattern of relegating the whole subject to an independent fire district. The county's own fee schedule carries a dedicated 'Commercial Fire Safety' permit section and a residential fire suppression system unit fee. IMPORTANT NUANCE: the County adopts NO International Fire Code, so fire-CODE administration (as distinct from this construction permit) rests with the fire district having jurisdiction.
From$50.00Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit
Required when the use of an existing property, building or structure changes in unincorporated Coconino County. The Zoning Ordinance requires a Building Permit prior to any change in use and bars issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy until the Community Development Director has authorized the change; the county's fee schedule prices it as a 'Change in tenant occupancies' item, with any accompanying tenant improvements billed on bid value.
From$120.00
Unincorporated Coconino County's permit history isn't searchable here yet
This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Unincorporated Coconino County yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.
Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Unincorporated Coconino County lands. Privacy.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-07)
- 20units
20 buildings · $8.4M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 419units
12 of 12 months reported · #24 in Arizona coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-07)
- 234units
234 buildings · $92.7M valuation
- Full year 2025
- 634units
442 buildings · $185.7M valuation
County-wide figures: BPS reports county-wide totals; this jurisdiction is the unincorporated remainder outside Flagstaff, Page, Fredonia, Tusayan, Williams, and Sedona (Sedona spans Coconino/Yavapai). County FIPS 04/005, per the U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 Arizona county reference file (st04_az_cou2020.txt: 'AZ|04|005|00025443|Coconino County|H1|A').
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-07 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Arizona building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Unincorporated Coconino County is administered directly by the county's own in-house building department — the Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division — unlike the small incorporated town of Tusayan, which contracts its plan-review/inspection function BACK to this same county division via an intergovernmental agreement. In other words: Tusayan's entire permitting experience (portal, fee schedule, code suite, review-timeframes framework) IS this county's own program, applied to a different final permit-issuance authority. This entry documents the county's program directly, for property outside any incorporated city or town.
- As of July 2026, the county's current adopted codes are the 2018 ICC suite (IRC, IBC, IMC, IFGC, IPC, IECC, IEBC) plus the 2017 NEC, under County Ordinance 2019-10. A public process toward adopting the 2024 ICC suite and 2023 NEC began with a March 23, 2026 open house, but had NOT been formally adopted as of this record's lastVerified date.
- IMPORTANT TIMELINE NUANCE: Community Development Substantive Policy 2025-01 (effective 4/28/25, updated 5/29/26) sets the formal governing target at 36 days total for Residential Building/Engineering permits and 105 days for Commercial — SUPERSEDING the county's older June 2020 'Permit Review Timeframes' document (which had stated 63 days for Residential). However, the department's own current public notice (as of this record's date) states actual review is running 6-8 weeks (42-56 days) for Building and Engineering permits generally, due to staffing levels and permit volume — treat the 36-56 day range as the realistic governing window, and the 105-day Commercial figure as unchanged and current.
- All permit applications and plan submittals are online-only through the SmartGov portal (co-coconino-az.smartgovcommunity.com) — only PDF files are accepted, and they must be properly scaled, unlocked, and correctly rotated before upload.
- A geotechnical (soils) report is recommended before submitting plans for any new structure; if not provided upfront, the county may require one during the inspection process.
- HOA CC&Rs are entirely outside the county's plan review process — the applicant is solely responsible for HOA notification, compliance, and approval; a county permit does not substitute for or override HOA requirements.
- New (2025-2026) self-issue and expedited options worth checking before starting a project: Self-Issue Residential Rooftop Grid-Tied Solar Permit (eligibility-gated, no full plan review); At-Risk Grading self-issue permit; Third-Party Engineering self-issue permit (use a private engineer instead of County Engineering); and the Model ADU Plans Library (partnering with the City of Flagstaff) offering fixed-rate plan review ($1,000-$3,000) and faster permitting for a pre-approved ADU design.
- Properties within the Sedona Fire District (including Oak Creek Canyon) face an ADDITIONAL layer of requirements: the 2018 Wildland and Urban Interface Codes, mandatory fire suppression systems, and concurrent plan review by the Sedona Fire Marshal alongside the county's own building review.
- Wastewater/septic coordination is a common gating item: properties in community-sewer areas (Pinewood, Kachina Village, and similar) must show proof of available sewer connection; properties needing an onsite wastewater system require a coordinated Environmental Quality Division review alongside the building permit.
- INCOMPLETE APPLICATION denial after 10 days, non-refundable deposits, a 3-redline-round cap before a cancel/refile-or-pay-hourly conversation, 180-day RFAI cancellation, and 180-day permit expiration/renewal tiers (per IRC § R105.3.2 and Substantive Policy 2025-01) all apply county-wide — plan submittals carefully to avoid restarting the clock.
- Manufactured homes and factory-built buildings use an entirely separate Part III fee schedule and a much faster 7-business-day review ceiling (per the county's June 2020 timeframes document) — do not apply for a standard SFD/ADU residential building permit for a manufactured home.
- The county's Building Permitting Fees schedule (effective 09/01/2021, based on the department's 2021 fee study) is a dense, multi-column PDF. The FEE STRUCTURE (base $50 issue fee + per-unit/per-sq-ft/per-tier add-ons; 65% plan review fee; ICC-valuation-based Table II/III bands) is confirmed and cited; any exact per-line-item dollar figure should be confirmed against the live PDF or by phone (928-679-8850) before being quoted to an applicant as precise. (The same document also serves as the town of Tusayan's primary fee source via the Town-County intergovernmental agreement.)
- 2026 Office Closures (no permit processing or inspections performed): New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (observed), Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving + day after, and Christmas Day.