Chandler building permits

Building department

Address

215 E. Buffalo St., Chandler, AZ 85225

Phone

480-782-3000

Email

prod@chandleraz.gov

Office hours

Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, except holidays; Walk-in plan review: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Website

Official site

Permit portal

Apply online at Chandler's portal

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Chandler — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.

Codes adopted

Arizona has no statewide building code for non-state buildings; codes are adopted locally. According to the International Code Council, codes are adopted locally in Arizona and are predominantly the I-codes, with different cities and counties choosing their own editions and local amendments. The Arizona State Fire Code (adopting the 2018 IFC) applies only to state and county buildings, public and private schools, and non-residential occupancies in areas without a locally adopted fire code — it does not establish a statewide residential or commercial building code floor. Each city and county adopts its own code editions independently, resulting in different I-Code years and amendment sets across jurisdictions. There is no state-mandated minimum edition; enforcement is entirely local. Always confirm the adopted edition and any local amendments with the specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.

• 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by Chandler City Council, Ordinance No. 5108; effective for plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025; Chandler amendments published in City Code Chapter 29, Article II (Ordinance No. 5108)
• 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 29, Article VI); effective July 1, 2025
• 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 29, Article III); effective July 1, 2025; Chandler's 2024 code set retains the 2023 NEC edition (not the 2024 NEC)
• 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 29, Article IV); effective July 1, 2025
• 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 29, Article V); effective July 1, 2025
• 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 29, Article VII); effective July 1, 2025
• 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 29, Article VIII); effective July 1, 2025
• 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 29, Article IX); effective July 1, 2025
• 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 29, Article X); effective July 1, 2025
• 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) — adopted by Ordinance No. 5108 (City Code Chapter 28); effective July 1, 2025

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit (New Home / Addition / Remodel)

  A building permit is required for new single-family residential construction, room additions, remodels, and most structural work in Chandler. Permit applications and plan submittals are submitted electronically through the Citizen Access portal (aca-prod.accela.com/CHANDLER/) or in person at 215 E. Buffalo St. Walk-in plan review is available Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM for residential additions and renovations. Building permit fees are valuation-based (ICC Building Valuation Data); plan review is 65% of the permit fee. Plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025 must comply with the 2024 I-Codes and 2023 NEC (Ordinance No. 5108).

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• Electrical Permit

  Electrical work in Chandler is governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with Chandler amendments (Ordinance No. 5108, City Code Chapter 29 Article III). Electrical permits are required for most electrical work including panel upgrades, new circuits, service changes, and rewiring. A flat fee of $100.00 applies for residential electrical service upgrades of 400 amps or less. Minor residential work (1–2 branch electrical circuits along with minor gas or plumbing work) may qualify for a flat $100.00 miscellaneous fee. Like-for-like replacement of circuit breakers is exempt from permit per the Homeowner's Building Permit Manual.

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• Plumbing Permit

  Plumbing work in Chandler is governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Chandler amendments (Ordinance No. 5108, City Code Chapter 29, Article IV). Plumbing permits are required for new plumbing installations, additions to, or modifications of existing plumbing systems. Like-for-like replacement of water heaters and water softeners is explicitly exempt from permit per the Homeowner's Building Permit Manual. Minor residential work combining 1–6 plumbing openings with minor gas or electrical work qualifies for a flat $100.00 miscellaneous fee.

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• Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Mechanical and HVAC work in Chandler is governed by the 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) with Chandler amendments (Ordinance No. 5108). Permits are required for new mechanical systems, additions to, or modifications of existing mechanical systems. Like-for-like replacement of furnaces and evaporative coolers is exempt from permit. Gas permits require a riser schematic showing all gas line runs, BTU ratings of all appliances, pipe sizes and types, and burial depth for underground lines.

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• Roofing Permit

  A roofing permit is required in Chandler when re-roofing with a different material type (e.g., replacing asphalt shingles with concrete tile) or when replacing like material that already has two or more layers. Like-for-like replacement of roof coverings that does not increase the load on the structural frame is exempt from permit per the Homeowner's Building Permit Manual. Engineering analysis is required for changes to heavier roofing materials to confirm the existing roof assembly can withstand additional loads.

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• Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Permit

  A residential solar photovoltaic system permit is required in Chandler for rooftop solar PV installations. The flat permit fee is $150.00 (Res. 4703, Fee Schedule §4.6.4(k)). A separate solar water heating system permit fee of $150.00 also applies to solar thermal installations. Apply through the Citizen Access portal or walk-in at 215 E. Buffalo St. All plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025 must comply with the 2023 NEC with Chandler amendments and the 2024 IBC/IRC.

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• Residential Pool / Spa Permit

  All swimming pools and spas in Chandler require a permit except prefabricated pools less than 18 inches deep. The flat permit fees are $110.00 for a pool and $55.00 for a spa (Fee Schedule §4.6.4(d) and (e)). Engineering plans stamped and sealed by an engineer are required for all custom in-ground pools and spas; plans are required for pre-manufactured above-ground pools and spas. Pools must not occupy the front yard and cannot be built across a property line. The 2024 ISPSC with Chandler amendments governs pool construction. Chandler pool barrier requirements mandate a 6-foot exterior barrier; interior barriers may be 4 feet.

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• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit

  Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in Chandler are permitted on any single-family lot where a single-family dwelling is the principal use, subject to Chandler City Code Section 35-2202.2. A maximum of one attached and one detached ADU is allowed per lot. An ADU may not exceed 75% of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less. ADUs must use the same utility meters as the primary residence, have a separate and independent entrance, comply with front yard setbacks, and maintain minimum 5-foot rear and side yard setbacks. Exterior design must use stucco or EIFS wall cladding and a concrete tile roof with 4:12 slope (or match the primary dwelling's design). A building permit is required.

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• Fence / Wall / Retaining Wall Permit

  In Chandler, fences not over 7 feet high do not require a building permit but all fences and walls require zoning clearance regardless of height. A building permit is required for fences over 7 feet high (prior Planning approval also required), retaining walls over 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing to top) unless supporting surcharge, and fences placed on top of retaining walls. Front yard maximum fence height is 3 feet; rear and side yard maximum is 7 feet. All fences must be maintained at least 3 feet from fire hydrants or utilities. 4-inch-thick masonry walls are not an approved system for retaining walls.

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• Demolition Permit

  A demolition permit is required in Chandler for demolition of commercial or residential structures. The flat permit fee is $100.00 (Fee Schedule §4.6.4(a)). Apply through the Citizen Access portal or walk-in at 215 E. Buffalo St.

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• EV Charger / EVSE Permit

  Chandler has no standalone EV-charger/EVSE permit type or fee line item. Installing electric vehicle charging equipment is electrical work governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with Chandler amendments (Ordinance No. 5108, City Code Chapter 29 Article III), and per this file's own electrical-permit entry, is billed under the City's existing flat-fee electrical categories -- most commonly the 'Miscellaneous minor residential work (1-2 branch electrical circuits...)' flat fee ($100.00, Fee Schedule Section 4.6.4(q)) for a simple added EV charger circuit, or the 'Electrical service 400 amps or less' flat fee ($100.00, Section 4.6.4(b)) if the installation involves a service/panel upgrade to support the charger. The City's Fee Schedule and Homeowner's Building Permit Manual were checked directly and contain no EV-charger, EVSE, or electric-vehicle-specific line item as of this review.

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• Sign Permit (Commercial / Business Signage)

  A sign permit is required in Chandler for new commercial/business signage, including illuminated and non-illuminated wall signs and freestanding monument signs. Sign permits are administered by the Development Services Department's Planning Division (not Building Safety) and must be submitted through the Citizen Access portal under the Planning tab. The base sign permit fee is 2.5% of the listed job valuation plus $0.25 per square foot of sign area; illuminated signs add a flat $60.00 electrical inspection fee. No up-front fees are collected at time of application submittal. Per the Planning Division's published time frames, overall review takes up to 90 working days (30 working days for completeness review plus 60 working days for substantive review).

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• Commercial Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit

  Chandler treats new installation of, or alterations to, commercial fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems as a single 'Commercial Sprinkler or Fire Alarm System Building Permit' product. Plan review and permit issuance are handled directly by the Development Services Department's Building Safety Division — the same division that reviews other building permits — rather than by a separate Chandler Fire, Health & Medical Department plan-review process; this was independently verified against the Development Services Division's own time-frames table and against the Chandler Fire Department's Fire Prevention page, whose 'Permits and Plan Reviews' link routes to the Building Safety page rather than to a distinct fire-department plan review page. Chandler Fire's Fire Prevention Division separately administers an annual Fire Protection Contractor registration ($85/year) required of any company performing fire protection system service, repair, or installation work in the city, and issues its own operational permits (hazardous materials, fireworks, tents, food/beverage open-flame vendors) that are distinct from this system-installation building permit. Because there is no separate line-item fee for fire sprinkler/alarm permits in the City's fee schedule, fees follow the standard valuation-based Building Permit fee table. Overall review time is 20 working days per the Development Services Division's published time frames.

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• Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Occupancy

  Chandler's local equivalent of a 'change of use' process is its Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), issued under Section 111 of the 2024 International Building Code with Chandler amendments (Ordinance No. 5108). A C of O is issued upon completion of permitted new construction, and can also be issued on its own, without an accompanying Building Permit, for a change of occupancy or use in an existing space where no construction is involved (flat fee $100.00). A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy is available for phased occupancy. Chandler's local amendment (§29-2.15, adding Subsection 111.5) also created a distinct 'Certificate of Completion,' which may be issued for permitted work that does not change the scope of an existing C of O or does not result in a building ready for occupancy — a Certificate of Completion alone does NOT authorize occupancy of a building. Per the Development Services Division's published time frames, review is exempt from separate completeness/substantive review stages, with a 10-working-day overall review time.

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• Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions & Amenities)

  Chandler processes new commercial building construction (including additions and amenities) as a distinct license type from residential permits and from tenant improvements, per the Development Services Division's published Application Supplement (Time Frames/Point of Contact/Application Info/Appeal Rights). The overall review time frame is 60 working days (20 working days completeness review plus 40 working days substantive review, consisting of two 20-working-day review cycles). Building permit fees are valuation-based using ICC Building Valuation Data (City of Chandler Fee Schedule §4.6.1, Res. 4703) — the same fee table used for residential construction; plan review is 65% of the permit fee. A Wastewater Discharge Questionnaire (WWDQ) characterizing the wastewater flows generated by the new connection must be submitted with non-residential building permit applications. Plans submitted on or after July 1, 2025 must comply with the 2024 I-Codes and 2023 NEC with Chandler amendments (Ordinance No. 5108).

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• Commercial Tenant Improvement Building Permit

  Chandler's Development Services Division treats the Commercial Tenant Improvement Building Permit as a distinct license type from the New Commercial Building Permit: it has its own dedicated point of contact (LeeRay Hanly) and its own checklist form (UDM-071), separate from new commercial construction (UDM-059, contacts Kim Clark/Karen Betancourt/Daryl Racz), per the Development Services Division's published Application Supplement. The overall review time frame is the same as new commercial construction — 60 working days (20 working days completeness review plus 40 working days substantive review across two 20-working-day cycles). There is no separate tenant-improvement fee table; TI fees follow the same valuation-based table used for other building permits, with valuation for alterations based on all construction costs involved, as approved by the Building Official (City of Chandler Fee Schedule §4.6, Res. 4703). Where a tenant improvement changes the occupancy classification of a space, the 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) with Chandler amendments governs, and a full Building Permit (rather than the standalone Certificate of Occupancy fee) is required.

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