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Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Accessory Structure) — Unincorporated Graham County, Arizona · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-23 · Source: https://www.graham.az.gov/277/Planning-Zoning
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Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Accessory Structure) in Unincorporated Graham County, Arizona
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
When you need this permit
- 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
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Fee schedule
Building Permit — Site permit for residential (valuation-based)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.
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
Administrative fee (added to permit fee)Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022)
$100.00 flat
Building Permit — Accessory StructuresGraham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022)
No formula for structures up to 120 sq. ft.; structures 120 sq. ft. or greater are valued per the standard formula, $150 minimum
Re-inspection of skipped inspections / building without a permit (late fee)Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022); confirmed by Graham County FAQ ('What happens if I build without a permit?')
$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
Review timeline
Plan review
Not published — contact the department
Inspection process
- 1
Set Back Inspection
When the building pad is done and concrete forms are set — BEFORE any plumbing goes in
- 2
Footings / Stem Wall / Underground Plumbing
BEFORE concrete is poured; all rebar must be visible
- 3
Sheathing & Framing
BEFORE any paper goes on the roof
- 4
Rough Electrical / Mechanical / Top-Out Plumbing / Gas Test
AFTER wiring is run and plumbing is in
- 5
Drywall Nailing
AFTER drywall is up and BEFORE any tape goes on
- 6
Final
Everything complete including outlet covers, carpet, and paint. A failed final costs a $50 re-inspection fee.
See the full Unincorporated Graham County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- All permit applications and required documents (building plans, plot plan sketch, power of attorney) go through the County's iWorQ online portal — incomplete uploads are rejected outright, so assemble the full document set before starting the online submission.
- The County's own FAQ bluntly confirms 'dirt work' does not require a permit, but 'everything else does' — sheds, fences, walls, conex boxes, pools, and shops all need permits.
- Building without a permit is expensive: the County can charge up to 5X the normal permit fee for after-the-fact construction, on top of utility companies, insurance adjusters, and lenders all requiring proof of permit for their own processes.
- No inspections will be scheduled without a permit number in hand — contact the County's building inspectors directly by phone to schedule (per the County's published FAQ contact list) once your permit is issued.
- As of this review, the County's Planning and Zoning Ordinance contains two internal inconsistencies on adopted code editions: the codes-adopted list at Section 5.14.2 cites the 2002 NEC and (indirectly) the 2003 IMC, while later detail sections (5.14.8-5.14.9 and 5.14.12-5.14.13) cite the 1999 NEC and the 1997 Uniform Mechanical Code respectively. Confirm the exact edition governing your project with the Planning and Zoning Department before finalizing plans.
Frequently asked questions
Yes for nearly everything. Per the County's own FAQ: "dirt work" does not require a permit, but everything else does — sheds, fences, walls, conex boxes, pools, shops, etc. ALL need permits. Source: https://www.graham.az.gov/FAQ.aspx?QID=167 (question 168)
The fee is based on the value of livable and utility space by the square foot: $100/sq. ft. for residential (livable), $125/sq. ft. for commercial (usable), $50/sq. ft. for utility space (garages, carports, sheds, awnings, porches). That valuation is then run through the County's Total Valuation fee bracket table in Ordinance Section 5.15, plus a flat $100 administrative fee. Source: Graham County Fee Schedule (PDF, rev. 08/02/2022), https://www.graham.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/569/Fee-Schedule-PDF
Unincorporated Graham County does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Graham County Planning and Zoning Department at 928-428-0410 for current turnaround.
You'll need: Building and Installation Permit Application (Online Portal); Plot Plan Sketch. Depending on your project, Unincorporated Graham County may also ask for: Special Power of Attorney Form (PDF). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.
Unincorporated Graham County requires 6 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction, addition, accessory structure), in order: Set Back Inspection, Footings / Stem Wall / Underground Plumbing, Sheathing & Framing, Rough Electrical / Mechanical / Top-Out Plumbing / Gas Test, Drywall Nailing, Final. Schedule each through Graham County Planning and Zoning Department (928-428-0410).
All building and installation permits are submitted through the County's online portal at https://grahamcounty.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/grahamcounty. Upload your building plans, plot plan sketch, and power of attorney forms (if applicable) — submissions missing these are rejected. Source: https://www.graham.az.gov/277/Planning-Zoning
Unincorporated Graham County, Arizona has 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.. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Graham County overview page for the full list.
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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