Gilbert building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Gilbert, Arizona.
Last verified 2026-07-16 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 90 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, AZ 85296
- Phone
- (480) 503-6700
- Office hours
- Monday–Thursday: 7:00 AM–6:00 PM; Friday: Closed (Town Hall operates a 4-day/10-hour week; confirmed live on the Development Services department page 2026-07-16)
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at Gilbert's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Gilbert — 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.
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC), with Appendices C, I, and K, and Town of Gilbert amendments — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739, Town of Gilbert Technical Codes 2020 Edition)
- 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), with Appendices H, P, and Q, and Town of Gilbert amendments — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), with Town of Gilbert amendments — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), with Town of Gilbert amendments — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), with Town of Gilbert amendments — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), with Town of Gilbert amendments — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), with Town of Gilbert amendments — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) — voluntary adoption only — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), with Town of Gilbert amendments — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design — effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739)
- Town of Gilbert Technical Codes 2020 Edition — local amendment overlay (Code of Gilbert Chapter 10, Sections 10-31 and 10-32) incorporating December 2023 amendments per gilbertaz.gov Document 35111
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Dwelling)
Required for new single-family residential construction in the Town of Gilbert. Applications are submitted through the OneStopShop portal at onestopshop.gilbertaz.gov. The Plan Review and Inspection Division reviews plans against the 2018 IBC, 2018 IRC, and Town of Gilbert Technical Codes 2020 Edition. Custom single-family homes have a 12-working-day first review target and 8-working-day subsequent review target; standardized plans have a 3-working-day target.
Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Tenant Improvement)
Required for new commercial construction and tenant improvements in the Town of Gilbert. Includes new commercial buildings, tenant improvements (TI), and shell buildings. Multiple expedited review programs are available including Express (3-day, +60% fee), Expedited (half review time, double fee for large new commercial and TIs >25,000 sf), One & Done Self-Certification (8-day for B/M/S TIs), and Permit by Appointment (PBA, +20% fee + $93/hour). Applications submitted through OneStopShop at onestopshop.gilbertaz.gov.
Electrical Permit
Required for new electrical installations, alterations, repairs, replacements, and additions to electrical systems in the Town of Gilbert. Governed by the 2017 NEC with Town of Gilbert amendments (Code Chapter 10-32). Like-for-like replacements of equipment by Arizona licensed contractors may qualify as Over the Counter (OTC) review. Electrical permits for commercial projects have a 3/3 working-day review goal. An individual electrical permit (flat fee) is available for certain residential and commercial work.
Plumbing Permit
Required for installation, alteration, repair, and replacement of plumbing systems in the Town of Gilbert. Governed by the 2018 IPC with Town of Gilbert amendments (Code Chapter 10-31). Like-for-like replacements by AZ licensed contractors may qualify for OTC review. Like-for-like water heater replacements (storage-tank type, not tankless conversions) by Arizona licensed contractors are exempt from permit per IBC §105.2 item 16.
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for installation, alteration, repair, and replacement of mechanical and HVAC systems in the Town of Gilbert. Governed by the 2018 IMC with Town of Gilbert amendments. Like-for-like HVAC equipment replacements by Arizona licensed contractors are exempt from permit per IBC §105.2 item 16 (cross-referenced in Mechanical item 8). New HVAC installations, significant alterations, and ductwork changes require a permit.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System — Permit Exemption
Solar photovoltaic systems installed by an Arizona licensed contractor are EXEMPT from permit in the Town of Gilbert per local amendment IBC §105.2 Building item 16 (cross-referenced in IBC Appendix K §K103.2 Exception 7 for electrical). This exemption is explicitly stated in the Town of Gilbert Technical Codes 2020 Edition. If a permit IS required (e.g., for work performed without a licensed contractor or for battery storage systems that may require separate review), the permit fee is calculated from the standard valuation-based Building Permit Fee table; verify with Development Services.
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
Required for installation of a residential or commercial electric vehicle charging station (EVSE) in the Town of Gilbert. Governed by the 2017 NEC with Town of Gilbert amendments (Code Chapter 10-32). Gilbert's Fee Schedule has no distinct EV-charger/EVSE line item — a standalone EVSE circuit is billed under the same flat 'Individual Electrical Permit' fee used for other standalone electrical work ($150 residential / $300 commercial), or the valuation-based Building Permit fee table if plan review is required. Note the Town separately publishes usage fees and a $175 parking fine for its own Town-owned public EV charging stations (Hearne Way Parking Garage and Town Hall employee lot) — these are unrelated to permitting a private EVSE installation.
Swimming Pool / Spa Permit
Required for installation of permanent/in-ground swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs in the Town of Gilbert. Note: IBC §3109 (Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs) is deleted in its entirety by Gilbert's local amendments — pool permitting is governed under Gilbert's own land development code and relevant sections of the 2018 IBC. Above-ground portable spas and pools have a separate fee. Applications through OneStopShop at onestopshop.gilbertaz.gov. Swimming pools (major misc.) have a 12/8 working-day review goal.
Fence / Wall Permit
Fences not over 3 feet (914 mm) high are EXEMPT from permit in the Town of Gilbert per local amendment to IBC §105.2 item 2. Fences over 3 feet high require a permit. This is a significant local departure from the base IBC which exempts fences not over 7 feet. Subdivision perimeter walls and non-single-family fences have separate fee categories. Applications through OneStopShop at onestopshop.gilbertaz.gov. Fence permits have a 3/3 working-day review goal.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit
Accessory Dwelling Units in the Town of Gilbert are regulated under Land Development Code Section 5.2.3. Each lot may have one (1) detached ADU and one (1) attached ADU; parcels over one acre may have an additional detached ADU if it is a restricted-affordable unit. ADU must be less than 75% of the primary dwelling's gross square footage. ADUs 1,000 SF and under go directly through Building Permits (OneStopShop); ADUs over 1,000 SF require an Administrative Use Permit through Planning first, then a Building Permit. Applications at onestopshop.gilbertaz.gov.
Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of structures in the Town of Gilbert. Applications submitted through OneStopShop at onestopshop.gilbertaz.gov. Gas lines, demolition, and spas may qualify for OTC (Over the Counter) review per the Plan Review Programs document. The demolition permit fee is a flat fee per the Town's adopted fee schedule.
Sign Permit
Required for installation and modification of permanent and temporary signs in the Town of Gilbert. Sign permit fees are set by type in the Town's adopted fee schedule. Applications submitted through OneStopShop at onestopshop.gilbertaz.gov. Sign plans are reviewed by Development Services.
Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Occupancy
The Town of Gilbert does not offer a standalone 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy' application distinct from its Building Permit process. A standard Certificate of Occupancy is issued automatically upon passing final inspection under an active, paid Building Permit (per IBC §111 as adopted). For situations without new construction, Gilbert's adopted fee schedule separately lists a 'Courtesy Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)' product (two price tiers, Option A and Option B) and a 'Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) or Partial Certificate of Completion (PCC)' product used to grant occupancy of part of a building before the entire project is complete. Critically, Gilbert's local Fire Code amendment (2018 IFC §903.2.2, Town of Gilbert Technical Codes 2020 Edition) requires an automatic fire sprinkler system to be installed whenever a building within Fire Hazard Level 1 undergoes a change of occupancy, regardless of building area — this is the primary code trigger tied to a change of occupancy in Gilbert.
Fire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm System Permit
Gilbert has its own municipal fire department (Gilbert Fire & Rescue), and its Fire Prevention Division reviews fire sprinkler, standpipe, and fire alarm/monitoring system plans — but not as a separate department application or fee system. Per the Town's own 'Fire Plan Review' page, Development Services (not a standalone Fire Department permit desk) reviews and approves Fire Alarm Systems, Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems, and Standpipes as a Deferred Submittal tied to the project's Master Building/Construction Permit, submitted through OneStopShop and accompanied by the Town's Fire Protection Checklist. Despite being processed through the same Building Permit workflow, fire protection systems are billed under a genuinely distinct, flat (non-valuation-based) 'Fire Permit & Plan Review Fees' table in the Town's fee schedule, and have their own published review-timeline goals separate from standard commercial plan review.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- 12units
12 buildings · $8M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 891units
12 of 12 months reported · #18 in Arizona coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-05)
- 124units
124 buildings · $73.2M valuation
5 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 1,043units
395 buildings · $142.2M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Arizona building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Gilbert is a TOWN (not a city) — the governing body is the 'Town of Gilbert' and the department is 'Development Services Department — Plan Review and Inspection Division.' Official documents and ordinances use 'Town of Gilbert.'
- All permit applications go through OneStopShop at onestopshop.gilbertaz.gov — not a counter walk-in process for most permits.
- Gilbert's CURRENT adopted code set (as of 2026-06-29) is the 2018 IBC/IRC/IMC/IPC/IECC/IFGC/IFC + 2017 NEC, effective January 1, 2020 (Ordinance 2739). This is three code cycles behind the 2024 I-Codes that many larger AZ cities have adopted.
- Fence permit threshold is 3 FEET (not 7 feet). Gilbert's IBC §105.2 item 2 amendment exempts fences not over 3 feet (914 mm) — any fence over 3 feet requires a permit.
- Re-roofing not requiring a structural change is EXEMPT from permit per Gilbert's IBC §105.2 item 14 amendment.
- Solar PV systems and like-for-like replacements of HVAC equipment, solar water heaters, and electric/gas water heaters by Arizona licensed contractors are EXEMPT from permit per IBC §105.2 item 16.
- Permit expiration: 180 days from issuance to commence substantial work AND get inspections approved. Also 180 days between inspection approvals. Extensions (180 days each) require written request.
- TCO (Temporary Certificate of Occupancy) is limited to 60-day periods per Gilbert's local amendments.
- Work started before permit issuance incurs a penalty equal to the full permit fee (doubled total cost) per Gilbert's IBC §109.4 amendment.
- The current adopted fee schedule is Town of Gilbert Development Services Fee Schedules (doc 5883), effective July 1, 2025, adopted by Town Council May 20, 2025 by Resolution 4563.
- Plan Review and Inspection Division is located at 90 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, AZ 85296. (Development Services customer-facing offices may also operate from 50 E. Civic Center Drive — call ahead.)
- Plan review programs: OTC (over the counter), Express (+60%, 3-day), Expedited (double fee, half time for large commercial), At-Risk (for DR projects, save 4–6 weeks), One & Done Self-Certification (8-day, B/M/S TIs), and Permit by Appointment (PBA, +20% + $93/hour per staff member).
- A.R.S. § 9-835 max time frames apply: Administrative review 8 days; Substantive review varies by project type (25–30 days maximum per review). Gilbert publishes specific first/subsequent review goals that are stricter than the statute maxima.
- IBC §3109 (Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs) is deleted in its entirety by Gilbert's local amendments — contact Development Services for pool-specific code requirements.
- 2026-07-16 re-verification: checked specifically for a FY2027 (July 1, 2026) fee-schedule rollover, since this file's prior verification (2026-06-29) landed two days before the fiscal year boundary. Found that doc 5883 was republished 2026-06-30 with a 'Revised 7/1/2026' footer, but every figure on the Building Permit/Plan Review valuation table, Applied Miscellaneous Building Fees table, Sign Permit Fees table, and System Development Fees table was compared page-by-page (rendered to PNG and read visually, not just pdftotext) against this file's cited values and matched exactly — the governing authority is still Resolution 4563 (adopted May 20, 2025, effective July 1, 2025); no new fee resolution has been adopted as of this date. All other cited source documents (Technical Codes 2020 Edition doc 35111, Building Code Adoption Dates doc 1372, Plan Review Programs doc 26224, Review Time Frames doc 41852, ADU Guide doc 50846) were reconfirmed live with last-modified dates unchanged since this file's prior verification, and Ordinance 2739 (2018 I-Codes/2017 NEC) remains the current adopted code set with no evidence of a newer code-cycle ordinance. Department address and phone reconfirmed unchanged; email and officeHours fields corrected (see department object).