You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-07-07.

Unincorporated Graham County building permits

Verified

Unincorporated Graham County, Arizona — as published 2026-07-07.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

Codes adopted

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). Graham County independently adopts and administers its own building code for the unincorporated areas of the County (areas outside the incorporated cities/towns of Safford, Thatcher, and Pima) through the Planning and Zoning Department, per Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14 (Building Codes). Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance (County-Zoning-Ordinance-PDF), Section 5.14.2.2003 International Building Code (IBC), published by the International Code Council, Inc. Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14.2(1); also independently listed on the County's 'Planning & Zoning' web page ('Codes Adopted by Graham County').1994 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), Twenty-First Edition, published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, copyright 1996. Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14.2(2) and Section 5.14.16-5.14.19.International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2003 edition, published by the International Code Council, Inc. — cross-referenced in Section 5.14.12-5.14.13 of the Ordinance, which cites '1997 Uniform Mechanical Code, published by the International Conference of Building Officials' as the specific adopted mechanical code text (copyright 1994-1997); the County's own web page lists '2003 International Mechanical Code' as the current adopted mechanical code. Both citations are reproduced here since the Ordinance itself is internally inconsistent between its Section 5.14.2 codes-adopted list and its Section 5.14.12 detail section — call the Planning and Zoning Department at 928-428-0410 to confirm which mechanical code edition governs a specific project.2002 National Electrical Code (NEC), published by the National Fire Protection Association, Inc., copyright 1998 — per Ordinance Section 5.14.2(4). Section 5.14.8-5.14.9 of the same Ordinance separately cites 'The 1999 National Electrical Code' superseding all previous editions; this is a second internal inconsistency in the Ordinance's own text between its codes-adopted list (2002 NEC) and its detail section (1999 NEC). Confirm the specific edition in effect for a given project with the Planning and Zoning Department (928-428-0410).International Residential Code (IRC), 2003 edition, published by the International Code Council, Inc. Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14.2(5).International Existing Building Code (IEBC), 2003 edition, published by the International Code Council, Inc. Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14.2(6).International Fire Code (IFC), 2003 edition, published by the International Code Council, Inc., administered as the County's fire code. Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14.2(7); also referenced in Section 5.13.7(4) regarding fire apparatus access requirements before Certificate of Occupancy issuance.2003 ICC Electrical Code — Administrative Provisions. Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14.2(8).International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2003 edition, published by the International Code Council — adopted by the Graham County Board of Supervisors, Resolution No. 2004-16, September 7, 2004, for Graham County Government Buildings ONLY (not applicable to private construction). Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14.2(9).Swimming Pool Safety Code, A.R.S. § 36-1681 (Arizona state statute governing residential swimming pool/spa enclosures and barriers) — cross-referenced directly by Graham County rather than a separate local pool-barrier ordinance. Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.10 (Swimming Pool Regulations).As of this review (July 2026), the County's own published Planning & Zoning Ordinance and web page still show the 2003 ICC family (IBC/IRC/IEBC/IMC/IFC) plus a 1994 UPC and a 2002 (or, per a separate Ordinance section, 1999) NEC as the adopted codes, with no newer edition-update ordinance found published on the County's website, Forms/Fees pages, or DocumentCenter as of this review. This is materially older than many incorporated Arizona cities (which have since moved to 2018/2021/2024 ICC cycles). A copy of the Graham County Building Codes is available for public inspection at the Planning and Zoning Department, 2nd floor, 921 Thatcher Blvd., Safford, AZ, during regular working hours. Source: Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Sections 5.14.3, 5.14.10, 5.14.14, 5.14.18.

Permit types & fees

Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Accessory Structure)

Verified

Required for new single-family dwelling construction, additions, and accessory structures in the unincorporated areas of Graham County. Reviewed against the 2003 IBC/IRC family as adopted by the County (Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.14), with fees calculated from a per-square-foot valuation formula (Section 5.15) run through a bracketed Total-Valuation fee table. Applications are submitted through the County's online portal.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

Requirements

Building permit required for new single-family dwelling construction, additions, and accessory structures in unincorporated Graham County per Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.6.2
Apply through the County's online permit portal (https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty); upload building plans and a plot plan sketch, or the submission will be rejected
Prior to issuance, the applicant must provide assurance that an approved septic system is in place or will be installed before occupancy (Ordinance Section 5.6.2(1))
A sketch of the proposed construction with sufficient information to show compliance with the Land Use Ordinance must be provided
Setbacks (unless a subdivision's CC&Rs specify otherwise): Front Yard 20 feet, Rear Yard 25 feet, each Side 10 feet; outbuildings 20 feet from main structure and 5 feet between outbuildings
Permit is valid for one year from date of issuance to start construction; a renewal permit is handled as a new permit

Required documents

RequiredBuilding and Installation Permit Application (Online Portal)All building and installation permits in Graham County are submitted through the County's iWorQ online portal at https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty
RequiredPlot Plan SketchSubmitted through the same online portal; must show lot dimensions, setbacks, and structure location — submissions missing this are rejected
OptionalSpecial Power of Attorney Form (PDF)Required when an agent/contractor submits on behalf of the property owner; available at https://www.graham.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/637

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit — Site permit for residential (valuation-based)	Valuation = $100.00 per livable square foot, run through the Total Valuation fee bracket table: $1-$500: $20; $501-$2,000: $20 for the first $500 plus $1.00 per additional $100 or fraction; $2,001-$25,000: $20 for the first $2,000 plus $4.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction; $25,001-$50,000: $112 for the first $25,000 plus $3.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction; $50,001-$100,000: $187 for the first $50,000 plus $2.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction; $100,001-$500,000: $287 for the first $100,000 plus $1.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction; $500,001 and up: $887 for the first $500,000 plus $1.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction	Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.15 (Inspection and Plan Review Fees); Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022), cross-referencing 'Sec. 5.15 for formula'. Utility spaces (garages, carports, sheds, awnings, porches) are separately valued at $50.00 per square foot.
Administrative fee (added to permit fee)	$100.00 flat	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022)
Building Permit — Accessory Structures	No formula for structures up to 120 sq. ft.; structures 120 sq. ft. or greater are valued per the standard formula, $150 minimum	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022)
Re-inspection of skipped inspections / building without a permit (late fee)	$50.00 + two (2) business days for a skipped-inspection re-inspect; up to five (5) times the normal permit fee for construction without a permit	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022); confirmed by Graham County FAQ ('What happens if I build without a permit?')

Electrical Permit

Verified

Required for electrical work in the unincorporated areas of Graham County, governed by the National Electrical Code as adopted in the Planning and Zoning Ordinance. Graham County publishes a distinct flat fee specifically for 'Building Permit – Electrical Upgrade' separate from its general valuation-based Building Permit fee, unlike its plumbing and mechanical trades which are not separately itemized. Applications are submitted through the County's online portal.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

Requirements

Electrical permit required for electrical installation, upgrade, or repair work in unincorporated Graham County
Apply through the County's online permit portal (https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty)
Governed by the National Electrical Code as adopted by the County (Ordinance Section 5.14.2(4) cites the 2002 NEC; Section 5.14.8-5.14.9 separately cites the 1999 NEC — confirm the specific applicable edition with the Planning and Zoning Department)

Required documents

RequiredBuilding and Installation Permit Application (Online Portal)Electrical permits are applied for through the County's iWorQ online portal at https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit — Electrical Upgrade	$50.00 flat	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022). This is the only trade-specific flat fee Graham County publishes separately from its general valuation-based Building Permit fee table; plumbing and mechanical work are not similarly itemized in the County's published fee schedule.

Manufactured / Mobile Home Installation Permit

Verified

Required for siting a manufactured or mobile home within unincorporated Graham County. Graham County publishes a distinct flat fee for MH Installation separate from its general valuation-based Building Permit schedule. A manufactured home can only be installed by a State-licensed installer, and homes older than June 1976 cannot be moved onto a property at all.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

Requirements

Manufactured/mobile home installation permit required — submitted through the County's online permit portal
Manufactured home installation must be performed by a State-licensed installer
Homes older than June 1976 cannot be moved onto a property at all and must be demolished rather than relocated
Building plans, plot plan sketch, and power of attorney forms (if applicable) must be uploaded through the portal or the submission is rejected
Temporary placement (up to 12 months, extendable in 6-month increments) is available under a Temporary Use Permit / temporary site and installation permit while a permanent residence is under construction on the same property

Required documents

RequiredBuilding and Installation Permit Application (Online Portal)Manufactured/mobile home installation permits are applied for through the County's iWorQ online portal at https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty
RequiredPlot Plan SketchShows placement location, setbacks, and utility connection points

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit — MH Installation	$450.00 + $100.00 Administrative fee = $550.00 total	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022)

Pool / Spa Permit

Verified

Required for swimming pools and spas in unincorporated Graham County, priced under the County's general accessory-structure/valuation-based Building Permit fee table (no separate flat pool fee is published). All private and semi-public pools/spas must comply with the Arizona Swimming Pool Safety Code (A.R.S. § 36-1681) and the County's own barrier/enclosure standard.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

Requirements

Pool/spa permit required for any pool or spa construction in unincorporated Graham County — the County's own FAQ explicitly confirms pools require a permit
Must comply with the minimum safety standards of A.R.S. § 36-1681
Must be enclosed in a fenced or walled enclosure that does not allow passage of a four-inch diameter sphere between members
Fence must be at least five (5) feet in height, with a gate having a self-closing mechanism and a self-latching catch that may be locked
The pool or spa must be no less than five (5) feet from the nearest property line
Apply through the County's online permit portal (https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty)

Required documents

RequiredBuilding and Installation Permit Application (Online Portal)Pool/spa permits are applied for through the County's iWorQ online portal at https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty
RequiredPlot Plan SketchShows pool/spa location, setbacks from property lines, and barrier/fence layout

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit — Site permit (valuation-based, no separate pool-specific fee published)	Priced from the same Total Valuation fee bracket table used for general building permits, plus the flat $100.00 Administrative fee	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022) and Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.15 do not itemize a separate pool/spa valuation rate or flat fee distinct from the general Residential/Commercial/Utility per-square-foot categories; call the Planning and Zoning Department (928-428-0410) to confirm how a specific pool/spa project is valued for fee purposes.

Temporary RV / Manufactured Home Permit

Verified

Permits temporary placement of a recreational vehicle or manufactured home as a residence in unincorporated Graham County — most commonly used while a permanent residence is under construction on the same lot, or as a second dwelling to care for an elderly or dependent family member. Renewable annually if not connected to a septic system.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

Requirements

Available for up to 12 months (extendable in 6-month increments after the first 12-month period, via appeal to the Planning & Zoning Commission then the Board of Supervisors if needed) while a permanent residence is under construction
A temporary site permit will NOT be issued for a recreational vehicle unless a site permit has already been issued for the construction of a permanent residence on the same property, and the sanitary waste disposal system has been reviewed and approved by the Graham County Health Department
Travel trailers used as temporary residences must be equipped with kitchen and bathroom facilities and hooked up to a sewage disposal system approved by the County Health Department or ADEQ
If no septic system is used, the property owner must renew the temporary permit annually
No attached structural additions are allowed on the travel trailer; it must remain roadworthy and be kept up in appearance
May also be used to allow a manufactured home/RV as a second dwelling to care for an elderly person, a caregiver, or someone unable to care for themselves

Required documents

RequiredBuilding and Installation Permit Application (Online Portal)Start the Temporary Use Permit / Temporary RV process with the Installation Permit through the County's iWorQ online portal at https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty
RequiredHealth Department Sewage Disposal ApprovalWritten approval from the Graham County Health Department for the sewage disposal method serving the temporary residence

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Temporary RV Permit	$100.00, renewable annually if NOT on septic	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022)

Solar PV Permit

Verified

Graham County has no dedicated solar/photovoltaic fee line in its published Fee Schedule (rev. 08/02/2022); a rooftop or ground-mounted residential PV installation is processed as a combination of a valuation-based Building Permit (for the racking/mounting/structural work) and an Electrical Permit (for the wiring and interconnection, billed at the County's flat $50 'Building Permit — Electrical Upgrade' fee). Arizona counties are separately bound by A.R.S. § 11-323 ('Solar construction permits; standards'), a statewide statute setting mandatory minimum standards for how counties must process residential solar permits — simplified plan-submittal content, no mandatory professional-engineer stamp, and permit fees that must be cost-justified and publicly documented.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

Requirements

Building Permit required for the array's structural/mounting work, valued under the County's standard Total Valuation fee-bracket formula (Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.15) — same formula used for other residential construction, not a solar-specific rate
Electrical Permit required for the PV wiring, inverter, and point of interconnection — billed at the County's flat $50.00 'Electrical Upgrade' fee per the Fee Schedule (the one trade Graham County itemizes separately rather than folding into the general building permit fee)
Per A.R.S. § 11-323(A)(1), the county's required plan submittal for a photovoltaic system is limited to: system location on the construction plans (roof plan and elevation), panel mounting details, and a one-line or three-line electrical diagram (a diagram is not required if a qualified online automated permitting platform is used)
Per A.R.S. § 11-323(B), Graham County may not require a professional engineer's stamp on a residential solar PV permit application unless it provides a written explanation of why the stamp is necessary for that specific project
Per A.R.S. § 11-323(C)-(D), any building/permit fee the County assesses for solar construction must be attributable to and not exceed the actual cost of issuing the permit, and the County's fee-calculation methodology must be publicly published, with a written itemized cost breakdown available on request
Apply through the County's iWorQ online permit portal (https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty)

Required documents

RequiredBuilding and Installation Permit Application (Online Portal)Solar PV building and electrical permits are applied for through the County's iWorQ online portal
RequiredConstruction Plans (roof plan/elevation + mounting details) and One-Line or Three-Line Electrical DiagramMinimum required plan content for a residential PV system per A.R.S. § 11-323(A)(1); a diagram is not required if the County uses a qualified online automated permitting platform

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit (structural/mounting) — valuation-based	Same Total Valuation fee-bracket table as other residential construction: e.g. $1-$500: $20; $2,001-$25,000: $20 for the first $2,000 plus $4.00 per additional $1,000; scaling to $887 for the first $500,000 plus $1.00 per additional $1,000 above $500,001	Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance Section 5.15; Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022). No solar-specific valuation rate is published; solar is not listed as an exception to the standard construction-valuation formula.
Building Permit — Electrical Upgrade (interconnection/wiring)	$50.00 flat	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022) — the same flat fee documented for other electrical work in this jurisdiction's electrical-permit entry; no distinct solar rate exists.
Administrative fee	$100.00 flat	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022) — added to the building permit fee for the project.

EV Charger / EVSE Permit

Verified

Graham County has no dedicated EV-charger/EVSE fee line in its published Fee Schedule (rev. 08/02/2022). Installing a Level 2 or DC fast EV charger's dedicated circuit is administered as an Electrical Permit, billed at the County's flat $50.00 'Building Permit — Electrical Upgrade' fee — the one trade Graham County itemizes separately rather than folding into the general valuation-based building permit fee table. Re-verified 2026-07-20: re-confirmed the Graham County Fee Schedule PDF (rev. 08/02/2022, graham.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/569) is live and remains the county's real, current, published fee mechanism. No EV-specific line item exists, but the $50.00 flat 'Building Permit — Electrical Upgrade' fee is a genuine, citable, currently-applicable governing figure per avenue 5 of this review, sufficient to upgrade this entry from partial to verified.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

Requirements

Electrical Permit required for the EV charger's dedicated circuit or service work, billed at the County's flat $50.00 'Electrical Upgrade' fee
Apply through the County's iWorQ online permit portal (https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty)
Governed by the National Electrical Code as adopted by the County (Ordinance Section 5.14.2(4) cites the 2002 NEC; Section 5.14.8-5.14.9 separately cites the 1999 NEC — confirm the specific applicable edition with the Planning and Zoning Department)
A Building Permit for new structural/mounting work (e.g., a new carport housing the charger) would be separately valued under the County's standard Total Valuation formula (Section 5.15) if applicable

Required documents

RequiredBuilding and Installation Permit Application (Online Portal)EV charger circuit/electrical permits are applied for through the County's iWorQ online portal at https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit — Electrical Upgrade (closest matching flat fee — no distinct EV charger line exists)	$50.00 flat	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022) — re-checked the fee schedule PDF on 2026-07-20 specifically for 'EV', 'electric vehicle', or 'EVSE' language; none exists. This is the same flat fee documented in this database's electrical-permit and solar-pv-permit entries for Graham County, the one trade the County itemizes separately from its general valuation-based building permit fee table.
Administrative fee (if billed alongside a site/building permit)	$100.00 flat	Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022) — added to site permits generally; confirm with the Department whether a standalone electrical-only permit for an EV charger triggers this fee.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-23.

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

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