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Commercial Tenant Improvement (T.I.) Permit in Buckeye, Arizona

Governs interior build-out or renovation work within an EXISTING commercial tenant space in the City of Buckeye. The City treats this as a genuinely distinct permit product from new ground-up commercial construction: it has its own dedicated Tenant Improvement Checklist (2021), a plan-review fee that is Based on Standard Valuation (Table 1-A) rather than the 65%-of-Building-Permit-Fee formula used for new commercial construction, and its own, slower 'Commercial Tenant Improvements' review-timeline category.

Verified 2026-07-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A completed Permit Application, Landlord approval (or a rental lease agreement), payment of plan review fees, and complete construction drawings are required (Tenant Improvement Checklist, 2021)
  • Plans must be drawn to scale, include dimensions, a description of materials, and a description of the scope of work
  • Elevation views of the exterior faces of the tenant space are required even when no exterior work is proposed, specifically to document that no exterior work will be done
  • Non-Residential Energy Code Compliance (COMcheck) covering lighting, mechanical, and envelope is required
  • Fire Sprinkler Systems and Fire Alarm Systems must be installed or modified under SEPARATE permits — relocating sprinkler heads or alarm devices due to new partitions requires its own permit, or a letter from an Arizona-licensed fire sprinkler/alarm contractor confirming no modification is needed
  • Food service establishments require Maricopa County Department of Public Health approval; installation of grease traps/interceptors additionally requires Water and Sewer District and Health Department approval
  • Health care and licensed care establishments may require Maricopa County Department of Public Health approval and/or an Arizona State license

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Plan Review Fee, Tenant ImprovementsCity of Buckeye Development User Fee Schedule, Section 4 (Resolution 38-26, doc 15613, eff. 5/21/2026): 'Tenant Improvements' = *BOSV, listed under the Commercial Building plan-review category. Confirmed 2026-07-29 by direct visual read of the live PDF (p.25). This is a DIFFERENT formula from new commercial construction's 65%-of-Building-Permit-Fee (*BOCV) plan-review line on the same page — a genuine, found distinction, not an assumption.
Based on Standard Valuation (Table 1-A)
Building Permit Fee — Based on Valuation (Table 1-A)City of Buckeye Development User Fee Schedule, Table 1-A (Resolution 38-26, doc 15613, eff. 5/21/2026) applies to the underlying construction valuation of the tenant improvement scope. Confirmed 2026-07-29.
Same Table 1-A valuation schedule used for new construction (see commercial-building-permit entry for the full tier table)
Subsequent Reviews (3rd and beyond)City of Buckeye Development User Fee Schedule, Section 4 (Resolution 38-26, doc 15613, eff. 5/21/2026), applies to all Building Safety permit types. Confirmed 2026-07-29.
$130 per hour

Review timeline

Plan reviewBuckeye’s published plan-review target
15–25 business days

How long did your Commercial Tenant Improvement (T.I.) Permit permit actually take in Buckeye?

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

Inspection process

    See the full Buckeye inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

    Tips

    • Per the Plan Review Timeframes Guideline (eff. 09/28/2023), 'Commercial Tenant Improvements' averages 25 business days for 1st review, 25 for 2nd review, and 15 for each subsequent review — the 2nd review does NOT drop the way it does for new commercial construction (15-20 days) or Commercial Misc. (10 days), making TI review slower on a 2nd pass than new ground-up commercial building review.
    • Fire sprinkler/alarm work tied to a TI project is billed and permitted SEPARATELY: this file's fire-sprinkler-alarm-permit entry lists 'Sprinklers, Per Facility: Tenant Improvements' = $330 and 'Alarms, Tenant Improvements' = $305, plus a $160 Sprinkler Standard Plan Review fee.
    • Elevation views are required even when a TI project proposes zero exterior changes — the point is to document/confirm that nothing on the building exterior is being altered, not just to show proposed exterior work.

    Frequently asked questions

    Yes. The Tenant Improvement Checklist explicitly requires fire sprinkler and fire alarm system installation or modification to be permitted separately from the TI building permit, unless a licensed contractor's letter confirms no modification to the existing system is needed.

    No. New commercial construction plan review is 65% of the calculated Building Permit Fee (Based on Calculated Valuation). Tenant Improvement plan review is instead Based on Standard Valuation (Table 1-A) — a different formula, per the City of Buckeye Development User Fee Schedule (Resolution 38-26, effective 5/21/2026).

    Buckeye's published plan-review target for a commercial tenant improvement (t.i.) permit is 15–25 business days.

    You'll need: Building Permit Application; Landlord Approval Letter or Lease Agreement; Site Plan; Elevation Views; Floor Plan; Non-Residential Energy Code Compliance (COMcheck). Depending on your project, Buckeye may also ask for: Framing Plan; Structural Calculations. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Buckeye Development Services Department — Permit Center at The Landing, 945 N. 215th Ave. Suite 137, Buckeye, AZ 85326 (City Hall: 530 E. Monroe Ave., Buckeye, AZ 85326). Phone: 623-349-6200, email: permitcenter@buckeyeaz.gov. Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Applications submitted by emailing permitcenter@buckeyeaz.gov or via the EnerGov CSS (Customer Self Service) online portal at egselfservice.buckeyeaz.gov; select residential permit types (Gas Lines, Pools, Spas, Fences, Electric Meters, Water Heaters, Temporary Signs, Single Service Dry Utility) are issued same day if a complete submittal is received by 2 p.m.. Official information: https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/business/development-services/permit-center.

    Buckeye, 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 (e.g., A.R.S. Title 9 for municipalities). The City of Buckeye runs its own Development Services Department / Permit Center and independently adopts and administers its own construction codes; it does not defer permitting to Maricopa County. Source: City of Buckeye Permit Center page (buckeyeaz.gov/business/development-services/permit-center) and City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update ordinance text.; 2024 International Building Code (IBC), as published by the International Code Council, adopted by reference as the City's uniform building code (City of Buckeye Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Article 15-2, Section 15-2-1), with City of Buckeye amendments. Effective for all permit applications and plans submitted for the first time on or after January 1, 2025 (standard plans previously approved under the 2018 codes had until December 31, 2025 to update). Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), as published by the International Code Council, adopted by reference (Section 15-2-2), with City of Buckeye amendments, effective for submittals on or after January 1, 2025. Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by reference (Section 15-2-3), with City of Buckeye amendments. Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by reference (Section 15-2-4), with City of Buckeye amendments, including adoption of Appendix E (Sizing of Water Piping System). Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted by reference (Section 15-2-5), with City of Buckeye amendments (note: electrical code cycle is one edition behind the 2024 ICC set). Residential photovoltaic systems are specifically required to be installed per the 2023 NEC as adopted by the City of Buckeye. Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by reference (Section 15-2-6), with City of Buckeye amendments. Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by reference (Section 15-2-9), with City of Buckeye amendments. Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by reference (Section 15-2-10) as the City's uniform fire code, with City of Buckeye amendments; administered by the City of Buckeye Fire Marshal/Fire Department. Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; International Energy Conservation Code, as adopted and amended from time to time by the City of Buckeye, governs energy-efficiency requirements (IRC Chapter 11 is deleted and replaced with a reference to the adopted IECC). Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update.; ICC A117.1 Accessibility code, as adopted and amended by the governing authority, plus the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and the Arizonans with Disabilities Act (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 9, Article 8) and its Implementing Rules (A.A.C. Title 10, Chapter 3, Article 4). Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update (IBC Chapter 11 amendment).; Manufactured homes, mobile homes, and factory-built buildings are regulated directly by the State of Arizona (A.R.S. § 41-4001 et seq., Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety / Office of Manufactured Housing) for construction/installation standards; the City of Buckeye issues a separate on-site permit for placement, foundation/tie-down, zoning compliance, and site improvements. Source: City of Buckeye October 2024 Building and Life Safety Codes Update (IBC Section 3113).. Local amendments apply — see the Buckeye overview page for the full list.

    Sources & verification

    Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-29.

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

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    Commercial Tenant Improvement (T.I.) Permit in other cities

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