Gilbert building permit requirements

Town of Gilbert Development Services Department — Plan Review and Inspection Division

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

11 permit types(480) 503-6700Mon–Fri (Town of Gilbert business hours); contact (480) 503-6700 for current hours

Department information

Address: 90 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert, AZ 85296
Phone: (480) 503-6700
Email: email.gilbertaz.gov
Office hours: Mon–Fri (Town of Gilbert business hours); contact (480) 503-6700 for current hours
Website: Official site

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

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.

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.

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.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.

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

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