Skip to main content
PermitBase

Residential Addition / Remodel Permit in Cave Creek, Arizona

Required for room additions, remodels, and other alterations to existing one- and two-family dwellings in Cave Creek. Reviewed against the 2024 IRC as adopted and amended by the Town, using the same Residential Plan Review Check List as new construction where the addition scope triggers structural, plumbing, mechanical, or electrical review.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Building permit required for room additions, remodels, and structural/system alterations to existing one- and two-family dwellings
  • One-story detached accessory structures (tool/storage sheds, playhouses) up to 200 sq ft with no electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems do not require a permit
  • Uncovered decks up to 200 sq ft, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to the dwelling, and not serving a required exit door do not require a permit under the Residential Code
  • Additions functioning as stand-alone buildings attached to an existing structure are valued using the Building Valuation Data (BVD) Square Foot Construction Costs table
  • Garages, covered patios/decks/carports, and sun rooms are valued at separate per-square-foot rates distinct from the general BVD table
  • Plans must comply with Town of Cave Creek Design Criteria (105 mph wind, Seismic Design Category B) and, where applicable, the mandatory 85°F cooling requirement

Required documents

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

Not ready yet — 0 of 3 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

Additions/Remodel — Based on ValuationTown of Cave Creek Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Building Permit Fees; valuation for additions uses the BVD Square Foot Construction Costs table for the relevant occupancy group
Same valuation-based Building Permit Fee schedule as new construction ($47.74 minimum, sliding scale by valuation)
Residential GaragesTown of Cave Creek Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Additional Valuations
$55.50 per square foot
Covered Decks/Patios/CarportsTown of Cave Creek Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Additional Valuations
$21.60 per square foot
Uncovered Decks (where a permit is required)Town of Cave Creek Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Additional Valuations
$16.60 per square foot
Sun Room / Arizona RoomTown of Cave Creek Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Additional Valuations
$100.00 per square foot
Plan Review Fee, StandardTown of Cave Creek Comprehensive Fee Schedule, Plan Review Fees
65% of the permit fee (minimum $50)

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Residential Addition / Remodel Permit permit actually take in Cave Creek?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing/Foundation

    Required before concrete pour for additions

  2. 2

    Framing

    Structural connections to existing structure

  3. 3

    Final

    Completed work verified against approved plans

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

Tips

  • As of July 2026, the Town of Cave Creek does not appear to publish permit-specific plan review turnaround times for residential additions/remodels on its public website. There is no verifiable online source for this — call the Town of Cave Creek Building and Fire Safety Department directly at 480-488-6622.
  • Additions billed as 'stand-alone buildings attached to an existing building' use the BVD Square Foot Construction Costs table by occupancy/construction type, per the BVD's own 'Important Points' guidance — this differs from garages, patios, decks, and sun rooms, which have their own flat per-square-foot valuation rates on the Fee Schedule.
  • Detached one-story accessory structures (sheds, playhouses) 200 sq ft or less with no electrical/plumbing/mechanical systems, and qualifying uncovered decks 200 sq ft or less, do not need a building permit under the Town's 105.2 amendments — but zoning/setback compliance may still apply.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, a building permit is required for room additions and remodels affecting structural, plumbing, mechanical, or electrical systems, reviewed against the 2024 IRC as adopted by the Town of Cave Creek. Use the same Residential Plan Review Check List sections relevant to your project's scope.

In Cave Creek, the published Additions/Remodel — Based on Valuation is: Same valuation-based Building Permit Fee schedule as new construction ($47.74 minimum, sliding scale by valuation). Additional published fees: Residential Garages — $55.50 per square foot; Covered Decks/Patios/Carports — $21.60 per square foot; Uncovered Decks (where a permit is required) — $16.60 per square foot; Sun Room / Arizona Room — $100.00 per square foot; Plan Review Fee, Standard — 65% of the permit fee (minimum $50). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Cave Creek does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Town of Cave Creek Building and Fire Safety Department at 480-488-1400 (Main); 480-488-6637 / 480-488-6622 (Building Official / Building Department); 480-488-6631 (Plans Examiner) for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Residential Plan Review Check List (2021 Residential Code, rev. 6/15/2026); Site/Plot Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Cave Creek requires 3 inspection(s) for a residential addition / remodel permit, in order: Footing/Foundation, Framing, Final. Schedule each through Town of Cave Creek Building and Fire Safety Department (480-488-1400 (Main); 480-488-6637 / 480-488-6622 (Building Official / Building Department); 480-488-6631 (Plans Examiner)).

Apply through Town of Cave Creek Building and Fire Safety Department at 37622 N. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331. Phone: 480-488-1400 (Main); 480-488-6637 / 480-488-6622 (Building Official / Building Department); 480-488-6631 (Plans Examiner), email: ahicks@cavecreekaz.gov (Adam Hicks, Building Official/Fire Marshal); jlombardo@cavecreekaz.gov (Jenifer Lombardo, Plans Examiner/Building Inspector); twilgus@cavecreekaz.gov (Tracie Wilgus, Sr. Permit Tech). Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. All permit applications, plan reviews, inspection requests, and payments must be submitted through the Town's online portal, the SmartGov Community Platform (twn-cavecreek-az.smartgovcommunity.com/Public/Home) — effective as the Town's exclusive permitting channel per the Town's Online Permitting and Inspection Service notice.. Official information: https://www.cavecreekaz.gov/577/Building-Fire-Code-Compliance.

Cave Creek, 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. § 9-802 authorizes municipalities to adopt codes or public records by reference without setting forth their provisions in full, provided the adopting ordinance is published in full). The Town of Cave Creek independently adopts and administers its own construction codes through its Building and Fire Safety Department; it does not defer permitting to Maricopa County. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08 (adopted November 18, 2025, effective January 1, 2026).; 2024 International Building Code (IBC), as published by the International Code Council, adopted by reference (Town Code Title XV, Chapter 151, § 151.01), with Town of Cave Creek amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Exhibit A.1 and A.2, Section 1.; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), as published by the International Code Council, adopted by reference (§ 151.02), with Town of Cave Creek amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Chapter 11 (Energy Efficiency) of the 2024 IRC is deleted in its entirety and replaced with Chapter 11 of the 2018 IRC. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 2.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by reference (§ 151.03), with Town of Cave Creek amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 3.; 2025 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by reference (§ 151.04), with Town of Cave Creek amendments, effective January 1, 2026 (the Town's Building & Fire Code Compliance summary page separately lists this as the '2024 International Plumbing Code' — the governing Ordinance No. 2025-08 text itself specifies the 2025 edition; treat the Ordinance as authoritative). Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 4.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70), adopted by reference (§ 151.05), with Town of Cave Creek amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 5.; 2025 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by reference (§ 151.06) as the Town's uniform fire code, with Town of Cave Creek amendments; administered by the Building and Fire Safety Department under the Chief Building and Fire Code Official. Appendix B (Fire Flow Requirements for Buildings) and Appendix D (Fire Apparatus Access Roads) are adopted, with Appendix D.102.1 amended to require an approved fire apparatus access road capable of supporting an imposed load of fire apparatus weighing up to 50,000 pounds. Annual fire and life safety inspections are required for all occupancies and buildings except one- and two-family dwellings. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 6.; Town of Cave Creek Sprinkler Code (§ 151.07), originally adopted from Chapter 9 of the 2003 International Fire Code in July 2004 and unchanged since; automatic fire sprinkler systems in new and existing buildings are governed by this Town-specific sprinkler code rather than the IFC's own Section 903 (which is deleted and replaced by reference to § 151.07). Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 6(2)-(3) and Section 7.; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by reference (§ 151.08), with Town of Cave Creek amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 8.; 2025 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by reference (§ 151.09), with Town of Cave Creek amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 9.; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted by reference (§ 151.10), effective January 1, 2026, EXCEPT that Chapters R1 through R5 of the IECC's residential section are deleted in their entirety and replaced with Chapters R1 through R5 of the 2018 IECC — so residential energy compliance in Cave Creek runs on the 2018 IECC residential provisions even though the commercial IECC baseline is 2024. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 10.; 2024 International Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), adopted by reference (§ 151.11 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code), effective January 1, 2026; all swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs must comply with this code, and pool/spa/hot-tub enclosures must comply with A.R.S. § 36-1681 (Arizona's pool barrier statute). Swimming pools and spas are issued under a separate permit from the building permit. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Section 11; Town of Cave Creek Residential Plan Review Check List (rev. 6/15/2026).; ICC A117.1-2017 (Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities), adopted as part of the Town's code suite alongside the 2024 IBC. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08 (preamble); Town of Cave Creek Commercial Plan Submittal Guidelines.; All prior versions of Chapter 151 (Building Code § 151.01, Residential Code § 151.02, Mechanical Code § 151.03, Plumbing Code § 151.04, Electrical Code § 151.05, Fire Code § 151.06, Fuel Gas Code § 151.08, Existing Building Code § 151.09, and Energy Conservation Code § 151.10) were repealed in their entirety and replaced by Ordinance No. 2025-08, effective January 1, 2026; all former conflicting ordinances were repealed as of that date. Source: Town of Cave Creek Ordinance No. 2025-08, Sections 1-2 (Repeal, Effective Date).. Local amendments apply — see the Cave Creek overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.

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

Other permits in Cave Creek

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Electrical PermitPlumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRe-Roofing PermitResidential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitDemolition PermitFence and Wall PermitSwimming Pool / Spa PermitEV Charger / EVSE PermitCommercial Sign PermitFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm PermitCertificate of Occupancy for Change of Use Group

Residential Addition / Remodel Permit in other cities

Apache Junction, ArizonaAvondale, ArizonaBenson, ArizonaBisbee, ArizonaBuckeye, ArizonaBullhead City, ArizonaCamp Verde, ArizonaCarefree, Arizona

Compare residential addition / remodel permit fees across Arizona →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Cave Creek project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Cave Creek — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →