Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Accessory Buildings) in El Mirage, Arizona

El Mirage requires a residential building permit (new construction, additions, accessory buildings) for: Building permit required for new single-family dwelling construction and for accessory buildings (storage sheds, barns, pool houses, detached garages, workshops) unless the structure is a one-story detached accessory structure of 120 sq ft or less (which is exempt from a permit but must still meet zoning setback requirements); Plans must comply with the 2018 IRC and City of El Mirage amendments, including Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (115 mph wind, Exposure B; Seismic Design Category B; frost line depth 0 in; moderate-to-heavy termite potential; mandatory heating AND cooling per R303.10); Site Plan and construction plans required, detailing the full scope of work including structural, electrical, and plumbing information; If electricity or plumbing will be installed in an accessory structure, additional permit fees apply; Submittal via the ELM Online Permits portal (ci-elmirage-az.smartgovcommunity.com) — all plans must be submitted electronically as of January 2, 2024; A non-refundable $150.00 application fee applies at submittal for accessory buildings and most residential permit types. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of El Mirage Development Services Department — Building Safety / Permit Center at 623-972-8116 before starting work.

In El Mirage, the published Fees Based on Value (BOV) — Valuation $1,000 or less is: $75 flat. Additional published fees: Fees Based on Value (BOV) — Valuation $1,001 to $999,999 — $100 base fee plus $6 per additional $1,000 of valuation; Fees Based on Value (BOV) — Valuation $1,000,000 and above — $100 base fee plus $5 per additional $1,000 of valuation; Permit Application Deposit (Commercial and Residential) — $150, non-refundable, due at submittal; Building Plan Review — 65% of permit fee; Certificate of Occupancy — Residential — $100 per house. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Per the City of El Mirage Plan Review Turnaround Times document, Building Safety review for Residential Permits allots 10 City business days for the first review and 5 City business days for each subsequent review, following a 10-business-day (5-business-day for resubmittals) completeness check that starts the day after all documentation is uploaded and fees are paid.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (ELM Online Permits); Site Plan and Construction Plans. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

El Mirage requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction, additions, accessory buildings), in order: Footings/Foundation, Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Rough, Framing and Structural, Final / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of El Mirage Development Services Department — Building Safety / Permit Center (623-972-8116).

Apply through City of El Mirage Development Services Department — Building Safety / Permit Center at 10000 N El Mirage Road, El Mirage, AZ 85335-3607. Phone: 623-972-8116, email: bgomez@elmirageaz.gov. Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays). As of January 2, 2024, all plans must be submitted electronically through the ELM Online Permits portal (ci-elmirage-az.smartgovcommunity.com); the Development Services main line is 623-876-2977, TDD 623-933-3258, Fax 623-876-4605.. Official information: https://www.elmirageaz.gov/712/Permit-Center.

El Mirage, 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 El Mirage runs its own Development Services / Building Safety Department and independently adopts and administers its own construction codes. Source: City of El Mirage Resolution R23-05-10 (adopted May 16, 2023) and City of El Mirage Permit Center page (elmirageaz.gov/712/Permit-Center).; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10 (A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of El Mirage, Arizona, Adopting the Following 2018 International Codes...), passed and adopted May 16, 2023, effective July 1, 2023. Source: City of El Mirage Resolution R23-05-10 and 'Adopted Codes and Amendments' (PDF), City of El Mirage Building Safety Documents & Quick Links page.; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Local IRC amendments include mandatory heating AND cooling (Section R303.10, capable of maintaining between 68-70°F and 90°F at 3 ft above floor / 2 ft from exterior walls), deletion of R313 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems in its entirety, and Section R301.2 Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria per Table R301.2(1). Source: Resolution R23-05-10, Exhibit — City of El Mirage Amendments to the 2018 International Residential Code.; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments (including Appendix B minimum fire flow amendment, deletion of Appendix M High-Rise retroactive sprinkler requirement, and addition of Appendix O Fire Emergency Access Signage Details), per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023; administered by the El Mirage/Surprise/Youngtown regional Fire Department (El Mirage Fire-Medical Department). Source: Resolution R23-05-10, Exhibit — City of El Mirage Amendments to the 2018 International Fire Code.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023 — regulates energy efficiency in design/construction; the code's Chapter 11 residential energy provisions are folded into the IRC (N1101 et seq.) as adopted. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Green Construction Code (IGCC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), adopted by reference, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023 — violations may be prosecuted as a civil infraction (fine $50-$1,000 per violation) or a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 180 days imprisonment and/or a fine up to $2,500 per violation, up to $20,000 if the violator is an enterprise). Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, adopted by reference, per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023, together with the Arizonans with Disabilities Act (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 9, Article 8) and the federal ADA. Source: Resolution R23-05-10.; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), adopted by reference with City of El Mirage local amendments (e.g., an amendment to NEC Article E3908.8 Option Four — electrical metallic tubing wiring methods, requiring an additional equipment grounding conductor sized per Table E3908.12), per Resolution R23-05-10, effective July 1, 2023 (note: electrical code cycle is one edition behind the 2018 ICC set). Source: Resolution R23-05-10, Exhibit — City of El Mirage Amendments to the 2017 National Electrical Code.; Manufactured housing used as dwellings and private sewage disposal systems are governed directly by the Arizona Department of Housing's Manufactured Housing & Building Division regulations — IRC Appendix E (Manufactured Housing Used as Dwellings) and Appendix I (Private Sewage Disposal) are each deleted in their entirety by City of El Mirage local amendment and replaced with a cross-reference to the state agency's regulations. Source: Resolution R23-05-10, Exhibit — City of El Mirage Amendments to the 2018 International Residential Code, Appendices E and I.. Local amendments apply — see the El Mirage overview page for the full list.

The 2018 IRC and 2018 IBC (for non-residential portions), as adopted and locally amended by the City of El Mirage per Resolution R23-05-10 (effective July 1, 2023), apply to residential construction, along with the 2017 NEC for electrical work.