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Grading Permit in Unincorporated La Paz County, Arizona

Required for grading work in unincorporated La Paz County per 2018 International Building Code Appendix J, except as exempted. Fees scale with cubic yardage of cut or fill; larger projects and those in mapped FEMA flood zones require an engineered grading and drainage plan.

Verified 2026-07-07 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Required per 2018 IBC J103.1 except as exempted in Section J103.2 — no grading shall be performed without first obtaining a permit from the Building Official
  • A grading permit does NOT include construction of retaining walls or other structures — those require separate permits
  • Grading projects under 100 cu. yds. of cut/fill that may adversely affect drainage may be required to submit an engineered grading and drainage plan
  • Grading projects exceeding 100 cu. yds. of cut or fill SHALL have an engineered grading and drainage plan
  • Grading or fill projects located in a mapped FEMA flood zone shall have an engineered grading and drainage plan suitable for submittal to ADWR and FEMA

Required documents

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Fee schedule

0 to 50 cu. yds.Fee Schedule (2025), Exhibit D 'Grading' table.
$50.00 flat fee
51 to 100 cu. yds.Fee Schedule (2025), Exhibit D 'Grading' table.
$75.00 flat fee
101 to 1,000 cu. yds.Fee Schedule (2025), Exhibit D 'Grading' table.
$100.00 for the first 100 cu. yds. plus $20.00 for each additional 100 cu. yds. or fraction thereof
1,001 to 10,000 cu. yds.Fee Schedule (2025), Exhibit D 'Grading' table (as published; note the base amount is lower than the prior tier due to the county's published table structure).
$75.00 for the first 1,000 cu. yds. plus $20.00 for each additional 1,000 cu. yds. or fraction thereof
10,001 to 100,000 cu. yds.Fee Schedule (2025), Exhibit D 'Grading' table.
$350.00 for the first 10,000 cu. yds. plus $25.00 for each additional 10,000 cu. yds. or fraction thereof
100,001 cu. yds. and aboveFee Schedule (2025), Exhibit D 'Grading' table.
$700.00 for the first 100,000 cu. yds. plus $30.00 for each additional 100,000 cu. yds. or fraction thereof
Grading plan review above 10,000 cu. yds.Fee Schedule (2025), Exhibit D 'Grading' table, note 4.
Actual cost of County Engineer (consultant) review fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewUnincorporated La Paz County’s published plan-review target
40–105 business days

How long did your Grading Permit 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

    Final Grading

    Site graded per approved plan; drainage verified where applicable

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

Tips

  • If cut/fill exceeds 100 cubic yards, budget for an engineered grading and drainage plan — this is mandatory, not discretionary.
  • Property in a mapped FEMA flood zone requires an engineered plan suitable for ADWR and FEMA submittal regardless of cubic yardage.
  • Grading plan review fees above 10,000 cubic yards are billed at the actual cost of the County's engineering consultant, not a flat table rate.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, per 2018 IBC Appendix J103.1, unless exempted under J103.2. Fees scale with cubic yardage of cut/fill, starting at $50 flat for up to 50 cu. yds. Source: La Paz County Fee Schedule (2025), Exhibit D (https://www.lapaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9292); Applications & Checklists page (https://www.lapaz.gov/596/APPLICATIONS-CHECKLISTS).

In Unincorporated La Paz County, the published 0 to 50 cu. yds. is: $50.00 flat fee. Additional published fees: 51 to 100 cu. yds. — $75.00 flat fee; 101 to 1,000 cu. yds. — $100.00 for the first 100 cu. yds. plus $20.00 for each additional 100 cu. yds. or fraction thereof; 1,001 to 10,000 cu. yds. — $75.00 for the first 1,000 cu. yds. plus $20.00 for each additional 1,000 cu. yds. or fraction thereof; 10,001 to 100,000 cu. yds. — $350.00 for the first 10,000 cu. yds. plus $25.00 for each additional 10,000 cu. yds. or fraction thereof; 100,001 cu. yds. and above — $700.00 for the first 100,000 cu. yds. plus $30.00 for each additional 100,000 cu. yds. or fraction thereof; Grading plan review above 10,000 cu. yds. — Actual cost of County Engineer (consultant) review fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Unincorporated La Paz County's published plan-review target for a grading permit is 40–105 business days.

Depending on your project, Unincorporated La Paz County may also ask for: Engineered Grading and Drainage Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated La Paz County requires 1 inspection(s) for a grading permit, in order: Final Grading. 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 2026-07-07.

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.

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