Skip to main content
PermitBase

Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Tenant Improvement, Shell Building) in Unincorporated La Paz County, Arizona

Required for new commercial construction, tenant improvements, and shell buildings in the unincorporated areas of La Paz County. Fees are valuation-based per Table M-1, with tenant improvement and shell-building categories subject to per-square-foot rates published in the county fee schedule.

Verified 2026-08-15 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Required for all new commercial construction, tenant improvements, remodels, and shell buildings in unincorporated La Paz County
  • Apply through the iworq Citizen Portal (https://lapazcountyapplypermit.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/lapazcountyapplypermit) or in person at 1112 Joshua Ave., Ste. 202, Parker, AZ
  • Submit site plan and complete construction plans; commercial cost-per-square-foot valuation follows the ICC Building Valuation Data table (Exhibit C of the fee schedule) by occupancy group and construction type
  • Must use an Arizona-licensed contractor (A.R.S. §32-1151) Contractor

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 1 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our checklist will assemble all of them, free →

Fee schedule

Building permit fee — valuation-based (Table M-1)
Resolution No. 2026-11, Exhibit A (Schedule of Building Permit Fees), implementation date August 6, 2026 — supersedes Resolution No. Show full citationResolution No. 2026-11, Exhibit A (Schedule of Building Permit Fees), implementation date August 6, 2026 — supersedes Resolution No. 2025-05 in its entirety. Valuation for commercial buildings is calculated using ICC Building Valuation Data cost-per-square-foot by occupancy group and construction type (Exhibit C of Resolution No. 2026-11, published by ICC 2/27/2026).
Same schedule as residential: $1–$500: $50.00; scaling up to $6,580.00 for the first $1,000,000 plus $2.70 per additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof) for valuations over $1,000,000, Maximum Permit Fee: $250,000
Tenant improvement — first-time build-outResolution No. 2026-11, Exhibit D 'Tenant Improvements' table, page 9 of 13. The figures are unchanged from Resolution No. 2025-05, which Resolution No. 2026-11 supersedes effective 8/6/2026.
$50.00 per sq. ft. (or actual construction cost estimate as determined by the Building Official)
Tenant improvement — remodel spaceResolution No. 2026-11, Exhibit D 'Tenant Improvements' table, page 9 of 13.
$35.00 per sq. ft. (or actual construction cost estimate as determined by the Building Official)
Shell building — woodResolution No. 2026-11, Exhibit D 'Shell Building' table, page 8 of 13. Shell buildings are defined as buildings with no interior trades installed and no specific use or tenant noted.
$50.00 per sq. ft.
Shell building — concrete/masonryResolution No. 2026-11, Exhibit D 'Shell Building' table, page 8 of 13.
$65.00 per sq. ft.
Plan review feeOrdinance No. 2024-02, Section 104(C); Resolution No. 2026-11, Exhibit D 'Plan Review Fees' table, category A, page 11 of 13.
65% of the calculated building permit fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewUnincorporated La Paz County’s published plan-review target
40–165 business days

How long did your Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Tenant Improvement, Shell Building) permit actually take in Unincorporated La Paz County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing/Foundation

    Before concrete pour, per 2018 IBC

  2. 2

    Framing / Structural

    After structural framing complete, before wall cover

  3. 3

    Final

    All work complete per approved plans; Certificate of Occupancy issued (included in permit fee; Temporary C of O is a separate $500 fee, renewable every 30 days)

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

Tips

  • Commercial and technically complex projects can have their Substantive Review extended from 105 to up to 165 working days by written/electronic agreement per A.R.S. §11-1605(I) — factor this into project timelines.
  • Temporary Certificate of Occupancy costs $500 (residential or commercial) and must be renewed every 30 days at the same $500 fee until the permanent C of O is issued.
  • Shell buildings (no interior trades, no designated tenant) are billed at a flat per-square-foot rate ($50/sq ft wood, $65/sq ft concrete/masonry) rather than full ICC valuation.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated La Paz County requires a commercial building permit (new construction, tenant improvement, shell building) for: Required for all new commercial construction, tenant improvements, remodels, and shell buildings in unincorporated La Paz County; Apply through the iworq Citizen Portal (https://lapazcountyapplypermit.portal.iworq.net/portalhome/lapazcountyapplypermit) or in person at 1112 Joshua Ave., Ste. 202, Parker, AZ; Submit site plan and complete construction plans; commercial cost-per-square-foot valuation follows the ICC Building Valuation Data table (Exhibit C of the fee schedule) by occupancy group and construction type; Must use an Arizona-licensed contractor (A.R.S. §32-1151). If your project isn't listed, confirm with La Paz County Community Development Department — Building and Safety Division at 928-669-6138 before starting work.

Valuation is determined from the ICC Building Valuation Data cost-per-square-foot table (by occupancy group and construction type, published in the county's fee schedule Exhibit C), then the resulting valuation is run through Table M-1 to compute the permit fee. Plan review is billed separately at 65% of the permit fee. Source: Resolution No. 2026-11, Exhibits A–C (https://www.lapaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9777), which supersedes Resolution No. 2025-05 effective 8/6/2026.

Unincorporated La Paz County's published plan-review target for a commercial building permit (new construction, tenant improvement, shell building) is 40–165 business days.

You'll need: Site Plan and Construction Plans. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated La Paz County requires 3 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit (new construction, tenant improvement, shell building), in order: Footing/Foundation, Framing / Structural, Final. Schedule each through La Paz County Community Development Department — Building and Safety Division (928-669-6138).

Apply through La Paz County Community Development Department — Building and Safety Division at 1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 202, Parker, AZ 85344. Phone: 928-669-6138, email: Comdev@lapaz.gov. Office hours: Permit paper applications normally accepted Monday–Thursday (excluding holidays), 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, at La Paz County Community Development, 1112 Joshua Ave., Ste. 202, Parker, AZ 85344. Source: La Paz County Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 103.A. General county line: 928-669-6115.. Official information: https://www.lapaz.gov/589/BUILDING-SAFETY-PERMITS.

Unincorporated La Paz County, Arizona has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendix C, H, I, and J — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(1), effective October 17, 2024; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendix A, B, G, H, P, and Q — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(9); 2018 International Existing Buildings Code (IEBC) — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(3); 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), including Appendix A — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(4); 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), including Appendix C and E — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(5); 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), including Appendix A, B, and C — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(6); 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), including Appendix A — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(7); 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(8); 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), including Appendix B, C, D, E, F, and I — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(10); 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted by reference, Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02, Section 101.1(A)(2). Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated La Paz County overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-15.

Fee schedules

Codes & ordinances

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

This one’s complicated · Get an expediter

Tell us about your project and we’ll connect you with a permit expediter who works in Unincorporated La Paz County.

PermitBase may receive a referral fee from the expediter. This is a service introduction, not verified permit data or legal advice.

Unincorporated La Paz County's permit history isn't searchable here yet

This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Unincorporated La Paz 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 La Paz County lands. Privacy.

Other permits in Unincorporated La Paz County

Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Accessory Structure)Manufactured Home / Park Model / Factory-Built Building Placement PermitMechanical / Plumbing / Electrical PermitSwimming Pool / Spa / Jacuzzi PermitGrading PermitDemolition PermitSolar Installation PermitEV Charger / EVSE PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit

Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Tenant Improvement, Shell Building) in other cities

Ak-Chin Indian Community, ArizonaApache Junction, ArizonaAvondale, ArizonaBenson, ArizonaBisbee, ArizonaBuckeye, ArizonaBullhead City, ArizonaCamp Verde, Arizona

Compare commercial building permit (new construction, tenant improvement, shell building) fees across Arizona →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Unincorporated La Paz County project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Unincorporated La Paz County — in one checklist. Free, for any city and any number of projects.

Get started →