Avondale building permits

Requirements

• Building permit required for new single-family and two-family (and, where not preempted by Arizona Revised Statutes, triplex/fourplex) dwelling construction within Avondale city limits
• Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC and City of Avondale amendments, including Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (105 mph wind, Exposure B; Seismic Design Category B; 0 ground snow load; moderate-to-heavy termite potential)
• Required heating/cooling capable of maintaining a minimum 68°F and maximum 82°F (AC) or 88°F (evaporative cooling) at 3 ft above floor (IBC 1203.1)
• Complete electronic submittal required per the Residential Submittal Checklist (rev. 12.31.2025): foundation/roof/framing plans, site plan, floor plan, elevations, energy compliance report (2024 IECC), electrical one-line diagram, load calculations, panel schedule, mechanical Manual J/D/S calculations, plumbing fixture/isometric calculations, structural calculations for engineered plans, soils/geotechnical report (new build and ADU)
• Fire sprinkler plan required for residential submittals with 5,000 livable sq ft or greater (may be a deferred submittal); sprinklers are otherwise optional, not mandatory, under Avondale's amended IRC R309
• Submittal via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access)
• All work must be performed by an Arizona ROC-licensed contractor unless the owner qualifies as an owner-builder under A.R.S. § 32-1121

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationCity of Avondale Building Permit Application (rev. 05.06.2026), including Standard Conditions acknowledgment and, where applicable, the A.R.S. § 32-1121 Owner-Builder disclosure and Property Owner's Authorization for Permitting form; submitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal
• RequiredResidential Submittal ChecklistCity of Avondale Residential Submittal Checklist (rev. 12.31.2025) covering General, Structural, Architectural, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Additional Documents submittal requirements
• RequiredResidential Plan Review ChecklistCity of Avondale Residential Plan Review Checklist (2024 edition)
• RequiredSite Plan / Foundation / Roof / Framing PlansLot coverage, setback dimensions, floor plan with labeled rooms, building thermal envelope depiction, and elevations (all sides) showing material/color and grade dimensions
• RequiredSoils/Geotechnical ReportRequired for new-build residential construction and for ADUs, per the Residential Submittal Checklist

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for room additions, interior alterations/remodels, and detached accessory structures over the 200-sq-ft permit-exempt threshold
• ADUs additionally require zoning compliance review under Zoning Ordinance Section 28-33(a), performed as an integral part of the building plan submittal review
• Alterations/Modifications/Remodels (AMR) valuations are calculated using the formula: Project Square Footage × BVD Base Rate × Alteration Multiplier, per the most recent February-published ICC Building Valuation Data Table
• Detached one-story accessory structures (other than storm shelters) up to 200 sq ft, decks up to 200 sq ft under 30 inches above grade not attached to the dwelling, fences up to 7 ft, and retaining walls up to 4 ft do not require a permit (IRC R105.2 amendment)
• Soils/geotechnical report required for ADU submittals per the Residential Submittal Checklist
• Application type 'Accessory Dwelling Unit' is selectable directly on the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) portal building permit application

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal; select Application Type 'Residential' and Purpose of Work 'Addition (Attached)', 'Alteration/Remodel (Interior)', or 'Accessory (Detached)' as applicable
• RequiredResidential Submittal ChecklistCity of Avondale Residential Submittal Checklist (rev. 12.31.2025)
• RequiredSite/Plot PlanShowing existing structure, addition/ADU footprint, lot coverage, and setback dimensions

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical permit required for panel work, service entrance changes, wiring, and other hard-wired electrical work not covered by the code's minor-repair exemptions
• Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted by the City of Avondale, including a temporary (through 9/1/2026) exception to GFCI protection for listed HVAC equipment under Section 210.8(F)
• Exempt work includes: listed cord-and-plug temporary decorative lighting, reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, replacement of branch-circuit overcurrent devices of the required capacity in the same location, low-voltage (<25V, <50W) wiring, and minor repairs/lamp replacement
• Apply via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access), Application Type 'Residential' or 'Commercial', Purpose of Work 'Electric'

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Electrical Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal
• OptionalLoad Calculations / Panel Schedule / One-Line DiagramRequired per the Residential Submittal Checklist's Electrical section for service upgrades and new electrical service

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Plumbing permit required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing systems, fixtures, water heaters, and gas piping not covered by the code's minor-repair exemptions
• Governed by the 2024 IPC as adopted by the City of Avondale
• Gas piping minimum burial depth: 12 inches for metal piping, 18 inches for plastic piping (Avondale-amended G2415.12/IFGC 404.12)
• Push-to-connect plastic valves are prohibited for use as shutoff, stub-out, or fixture supply valves (P2605.1.2, Added); non-metallic water distribution piping penetrating a wall/floor must use a rigid metal stub-out (P2605.1.1, Added)
• Apply via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access), Application Type 'Residential' or 'Commercial', Purpose of Work 'Plumbing'

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Plumbing Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal
• RequiredFixture calculations, isometric (waste/vent, water, gas), water supply system planPer the Residential Submittal Checklist's Plumbing section

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Mechanical permit required for installation, replacement, or relocation of HVAC equipment, furnaces, and ventilation systems not covered by the code's portable-appliance exemptions
• Governed by the 2024 IMC as adopted by the City of Avondale
• Interior occupied spaces must be capable of maintaining minimum 68°F and maximum 82°F (AC) or 88°F (evaporative cooling) at 3 ft above the floor (IBC 1203.1, Amended)
• Manual J, D, and S calculations and duct layout (size, insulation R-value, register sizes, CFM) required per the Residential Submittal Checklist's Mechanical section
• Apply via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access), Application Type 'Residential' or 'Commercial', Purpose of Work 'Mechanical'

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Mechanical Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal
• RequiredManual J/D/S Calculations and Duct LayoutPer the Residential Submittal Checklist's Mechanical section, referencing IRC Chapters 11 and 15

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for re-roofing/roof replacement; Avondale's IRC R105.2/IBC 105.2 permit-exempt work lists do not include a re-roofing carve-out (the only roofing-related exception found in the adopted code amendments is an IECC energy-code compliance exception for 'roof recover' and certain roof replacements, which affects ENERGY compliance obligations only, not whether a building permit is required)
• Governed by the 2024 IRC/IBC roofing provisions as adopted and amended by the City of Avondale
• Roof plan showing existing framing, proposed material, and roof slope classification required as part of the standard Residential or Commercial Submittal Checklist
• Valuation-based Building Permit Fee (Tiers A-H) applies, as with any other building-permit-requiring scope of work

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal, Application Type 'Residential' or 'Commercial'
• RequiredResidential Submittal Checklist / Commercial Submittal ChecklistCity of Avondale submittal checklists; Roof Plan is a required Structural submittal item

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Plans must list the current adopted codes in force (2024 IRC/IBC/IFC and 2023 NEC) and indicate scale/north direction on the site plan
• Photovoltaic installation location must be shown on construction plans, including the roof plan and elevations, with skylight locations and access indicated, per A.R.S. § 9-468
• Mounting/racking details, structural calculations, and manufacturer cut sheets must accompany plans; a structural engineer's design may still be required
• Electrical diagrams must include one-line or three-line diagrams; inverter cut sheets/listings required for DC-to-AC conversions
• A 3-foot wide clear pathway must be maintained around the array for residential installations (6 feet for commercial)
• A licensed structural engineer's approval is required when the building is more than 30 years old, or when the combined additional roof weight exceeds 5 lbs per square foot
• Fences and retaining walls associated with a solar installation require a separate permit — not covered under the solar permit

Required documents

• RequiredSolar Plan Review ChecklistCity of Avondale Solar Plan Review Checklist (rev. 12/23/25), listing IRC/IBC section citations and A.R.S. § 9-468 references for structural calcs, PV mounting details, one-line/three-line diagrams, and inverter cut sheets
• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal, Application Type 'Solar'; Solar Derate and Solar Battery checkboxes indicate scope

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A City of Avondale Electrical Permit is required to install a new dedicated circuit, receptacle, or hardwired connection for an EV charging station (Level 2/240V or commercial Level 3 equipment); this is the same permit type used for any new electrical circuit, not a distinct 'EV charger permit'
• Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted by the City of Avondale (no EVSE-specific local amendment was found in the City's Building Code Adoption ordinance document)
• Per neighboring Maricopa County jurisdictions' common practice (e.g., Pima County), a permit is generally NOT required only where an existing 120V receptacle is used with a UL-listed cord-and-plug charger; new circuits or 240V hardwired installations require a permit — Avondale's own code adoption document does not publish an EVSE-specific exemption, so this should be confirmed with Avondale Building Services Division on a per-project basis
• Apply via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access), Application Type 'Residential' or 'Commercial', Purpose of Work 'Electric'
• Load calculations may be required by the Building Services Division for service-panel capacity review where the added EV circuit affects total service load

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Electrical Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal; no separate EV-specific application form is published by the City

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required before demolishing a residential or commercial structure within Avondale city limits
• An asbestos NESHAP notification must be submitted through the MCAQD AQD Online Portal at least 10 business days prior to the start of any regulated renovation or demolition project (per the Building Permit Application Standard Conditions, citing maricopa.gov/1701/Asbestos)
• Required safeguards during demolition (means of egress, fire protection, sanitary facilities) must be maintained at all times per IBC Chapter 33
• Major Demolition (whole-structure) is billed as a percentage of total valuation using the Building Permit Tiers A-H; Minor Demolition (partial/accessory) is a flat fee
• Project is not legally complete until an approved final inspection has occurred

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal, Purpose of Work 'Demo'
• RequiredMCAQD Asbestos NESHAP NotificationFiled through the Maricopa County Air Quality Department's AQD Online Portal at least 10 business days before demolition/regulated renovation begins

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Site plan required showing pool and equipment placement, water depths, and distances to property lines/buildings from all sides of the pool; provide engineering plans or pool standards if not already on file
• Waterline to rear/side property line minimum 3 feet; waterline to pool equipment minimum 5 feet; pool walls/bond beam may not be located within a recorded easement without written, recorded approval of the easement holder
• Front-yard pools are not allowed; side-yard pools are allowed; decking and equipment are allowed within easements
• Grounding required for any metal within 5 feet of the waterline
• Gas pool heaters must be at least 5 feet from any window (0 feet from the property line is permitted)
• Pool walls must be engineered to resist all imposed loads, including adjacent foundations
• Barrier (fence) minimum height 5 feet (60 inches, per the City's ISPSC Section 305.2.1 amendment); single gates must be self-closing/self-latching and swing outward from the yard/pool area; double gates must be padlocked; additional requirements per A.R.S. § 36-1681
• Prefabricated above-ground pools under 18 inches deep and 5,000 gallons or less are exempt from a permit (IRC/IBC 105.2 amendment); all other pools require a permit

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal, Application Type 'Pool/Spa'; 'Pool Standard Plan: Yes/No' checkbox on the application
• RequiredSite Plan / Engineering Plans or Pool StandardsPer the City's Swimming Pool Requirements handout (rev. 10.26.2023): showing pool/equipment placement, water depths, and distances to property lines

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A Sign Permit is required before installing any permanent freestanding sign, permanent wall-mounted sign, or temporary sign/banner; signage installed prior to approval and permit issuance will be cited
• Application narrative must describe the proposed signage (type, location, dimensions, materials, illumination method) and explain how it complies with the Avondale Zoning Ordinance sign regulations
• A copy of a current, valid City of Avondale business license is required for both the contractor and the business on a permanent sign application
• Freestanding signs within 100 ft of a street or driveway intersection must show a sight-distance triangle per City of Avondale Detail No. A1020; a landscape plan complying with Zoning Ordinance Section 907.B.3 is required for permanent freestanding signs
• Temporary sign walkers are limited to a maximum of 5 per application and may be located on private property only with the property owner's permission
• Properties within an approved Comprehensive Sign Plan (a separate, higher-level Planning Commission/City Council application) must conform to that plan's written sign standards rather than the general Zoning Ordinance sign regulations
• Unauthorized/unpermitted sign installation is billed at double the otherwise-applicable fee
• All inquiries receive a response within five business days per A.R.S. § 9-495

Required documents

• RequiredSign - Permanent/Temporary Permit ApplicationCity of Avondale Sign - Permanent/Temporary Permit Application (rev. 09.02.2025), submitted to the Development Services Department; includes quantity, sign type, square footage, height (freestanding only), and fee calculation fields
• RequiredSign Submittal Checklist itemsVaries by sign type: a detailed Narrative statement; Site Plan (curb/driveway distances, utility easements, sight-distance triangle, existing freestanding signs on the parcel); Sign Elevations or photograph (height, dimensions, illumination method, colors/materials); installation/footing detail (freestanding only); Landscape Plan per Zoning Ordinance Section 907.B.3 (permanent freestanding only)
• RequiredCity of Avondale Business License (copy)Required for both the contractor and the business on permanent sign applications

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A separate Fire construction permit and plan review is required for new automatic fire sprinkler system installations and for modifications to existing systems, issued by Avondale Fire & Medical's Fire Prevention Division
• NFPA Standard 13 automatic sprinkler systems are required throughout buildings containing a Group A, B, E, F, I, M, or S occupancy per the adopted IFC Section 903.2 and its Avondale amendments
• Group R (multifamily) fire areas require an NFPA 13 system; Group R-3 (one-/two-family) and Group R-4 Condition 1 occupancies may use NFPA 13-D; Group R-4 Condition 2 occupancies use NFPA 13-R; care facilities with 5 or fewer individuals in a single-family dwelling may use NFPA 13-D; Developmental Disability Residential Facilities are governed by A.R.S. § 36-582
• IRC-scope residential structures exceeding 5,000 sq ft under roof require an automatic fire sprinkler system meeting NFPA 13-D (IFC Section 903.2.8.6), consistent with this record's existing residential-building-permit entry
• Limited exceptions to the sprinkler requirement include: detached gazebos/temporary tents/ramadas; independent buildings (other than Group E or H) of 1,000 sq ft or less; detached non-combustible carports/canopies; certain telecommunications equipment spaces with separate smoke detection and fire-rated separation; and special-use non-combustible structures approved by the Fire Marshal
• Fire protection system shop drawings/construction documents must be reviewed and stamped by a design professional holding a minimum NICET Level III certification (or equivalent), per the City's amended IFC Section 106.2.2
• Sprinkler riser and fire pump rooms must provide direct exterior access and Knox key box access, per amended IFC Section 901.4.6.1
• The potable water supply to automatic sprinkler and standpipe systems must be protected against backflow per City of Avondale Engineering Division requirements (amended IFC Section 912.6)
• Apply via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access) Construction Permits pathway, coordinated with the building permit for the same project

Required documents

• RequiredFire Construction Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access), per the Avondale Fire & Medical Fire Prevention 'Construction Permits' pathway
• RequiredFire Protection System Shop DrawingsReviewed and stamped by a design professional with a minimum NICET Level III certification (or equivalent), per amended IFC Section 106.2.2; must show compliance with the referenced NFPA installation standard for the system type

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A separate Fire construction permit is required for new fire alarm/detection/notification system installations and for system modifications, distinct from (but often submitted alongside) a fire sprinkler permit for the same project
• Fire alarm control panels must be addressable unless otherwise approved by the Fire Marshal, per amended IFC Section 907.1.3.1
• Group R-4 occupancies (residential care) require a manual fire alarm system activating the building's occupant notification system, subject to City-adopted exceptions for fully-sprinklered buildings (with notification tied to sprinkler water flow and at least one manual pull station retained) and for certain 2-story, fire-partitioned residential layouts (IFC Section 907.2.9.5)
• Group R-4 occupancies also require an automatic smoke detection system in corridors, corridor-facing waiting areas, and habitable spaces (other than sleeping units and kitchens), subject to exceptions for fully-sprinklered buildings and buildings without interior corridors serving sleeping units (IFC Section 907.2.9.6)
• Fire protection system shop drawings/construction documents must be reviewed and stamped by a design professional holding a minimum NICET Level III certification (or equivalent), per the City's amended IFC Section 106.2.2
• Apply via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access) Construction Permits pathway

Required documents

• RequiredFire Construction Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal (Accela Citizen Access), per the Avondale Fire & Medical Fire Prevention 'Construction Permits' pathway
• RequiredFire Alarm Shop Drawings / System Riser DiagramReviewed and stamped by a design professional with a minimum NICET Level III certification (or equivalent), per amended IFC Section 106.2.2

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A building or tenant space shall not be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the Chief Building Official (CBO), per amended 2024 IBC Section 111 / IRC Section R110 and all applicable City codes, ordinances, and approved plans
• Issuance is at the sole discretion of the CBO; a Certificate of Occupancy indicates the building is safe, complete, and code-compliant but does not constitute final approval/acceptance of the work and does not create a vested right or guarantee against future code enforcement — the CBO may suspend or revoke it at any time, with or without notice, for noncompliance
• Required sign-offs before a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued: Planning, Engineering (on-site/off-site), and Fire & Medical (final for site and occupiable area, (623) 333-6020) approvals, followed last by Building Services Division's final inspection sign-off
• For a straight change of tenant, business, or use with no physical construction work proposed (a 'no-work' Certificate of Occupancy request), Avondale still requires a permit application; the permit valuation is calculated under the City's amended AMR (Alterations/Modifications/Remodels) formula — Project Square Footage x BVD Base Rate x Alteration Multiplier — using the Minor-alteration multiplier of 0.20 that the ordinance specifically extends to 'no-work' Certificate of Occupancy requests, per amended IBC/IRC Section 109.3.1
• That AMR valuation is then billed using the same Building Permit Fee Tiers A-H used for any other building permit, plus the standard 65% Building Plan Review Fee and $102.00 Application Processing Fee
• If the change of use/tenant involves reconfiguring space, adding or removing a door or window, or extending/adding building systems, the City may instead apply the Moderate (0.50) or Major (0.70) alteration multiplier rather than the Minor (0.20) 'no-work' rate, per the same Section 109.3.1 table
• Existing-building scope of work, including a change of occupancy classification, must be evaluated against 2024 IEBC Chapter 6 per the City's Commercial Submittal Checklist
• The standard Building Permit Application captures the change directly: a 'BUILDING USE/OCCUPANCY (COMMERCIAL)' field set requires stating both the EXISTING and NEW use/occupancy and the occupant load
• A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) may be issued for substantially-but-not-fully-complete work, with escalating fees the longer it remains open before a final C of O issues

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Avondale Citizen Portal; Application Type 'Commercial', completing the 'BUILDING USE/OCCUPANCY (COMMERCIAL) — EXISTING / NEW / OCCUPANT LOAD' fields for a change-of-use scenario, with 'Tenant Improvement' as the closest published Purpose-of-Work category where any construction is involved
• RequiredCertificate of Occupancy Sign-Off SheetCity of Avondale Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) Sign-Off Sheet (rev. 4.1.26); tracks required Planning, Engineering, and Fire & Medical approvals, with Building Services Division signing off last
• OptionalTemporary Certificate of Occupancy Sign-Off SheetCity of Avondale Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) Sign-Off Sheet (rev. 4.1.26); parallel tracking form used when a TCO rather than a final C of O is requested
• RequiredCommercial Submittal ChecklistCity of Avondale Commercial Submittal Checklist (rev. 01.14.2026); Scope of Work for existing-building projects must reference 2024 IEBC Chapter 6

Fee schedule