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Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Occupancy in Glendale, Arizona

Glendale's real local equivalent of a 'change of use' permit is its Certificate of Occupancy (CO) process, issued by the Building Safety Division. All new businesses, and any change of ownership, change of FEIN, or change of business name, require a Certificate of Occupancy in the new business's name. If construction work (fire, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or structural) is involved, a Tenant Improvement permit application and plans must be submitted; if no construction work is anticipated, a 'No Work Certificate of Occupancy' (NWCO) application is submitted instead. A separate Change of Occupancy or Use fee applies when the classification of use changes, per the City's fee schedule (charged hourly, 2-hour minimum, for plan review and inspection). Existing buildings vacant for one year or longer require a new Certificate of Occupancy before occupancy resumes.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Determine whether construction work is involved: if yes, submit a Tenant Improvement Permit Application and plans; if no, submit a 'No Work Certificate of Occupancy' (NWCO) application with the business name
  • For a standard (post-final-inspection) Certificate of Occupancy request, email the project name, project address, building permit number, and contact information to COORequest@glendaleaz.com after passing all final inspections
  • For a No Work Certificate of Occupancy, submit the completed application to permits@glendaleaz.com; Development Services staff will follow up by email for payment ($114.35 total fee)
  • Schedule and pass the Building Safety inspection (NWCO inspection code 162), which reviews items such as visible address/suite numbers, illuminated and visible exit signs, tested emergency lighting, unobstructed exits, current fire extinguisher service tags, no exposed wiring, annual fire alarm panel and AFES testing logs on-site, and ADA-compliant exit door hardware
  • A new Certificate of Occupancy is required before resuming occupancy of any building or structure that has been vacant for one year or longer
  • When a Change of Occupancy or Use is involved (a change in the classification of use rather than simply a new tenant in the same occupancy), the hourly Change of Occupancy or Use plan review and inspection fees apply in addition to any Certificate of Occupancy fee

Required documents

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Fee schedule

No Work Certificate of Occupancy (NWCO)NO WORK CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY GUIDE, City of Glendale (revised per form date 03/12/2024).
$114.35 total
Certificate of Occupancy (standard, post-final-inspection)City of Glendale Fee Schedule — Certificate of Occupancy (effective May 10, 2019); confirmed via the Certificate of Occupancy page, which describes emailing COORequest@glendaleaz.com with no additional fee mentioned for a standard CO request following a permitted project's final inspections.
Included in original building permit fee
Change of Occupancy or UseCity of Glendale Fee Schedule — Change of Occupancy or Use (effective May 10, 2019); same fee also documented on the commercial-building-permit entry in this file.
$122.88 per hour (2-hour minimum) plan review + $114.35 per hour (2-hour minimum) inspection

Review timeline

Plan reviewGlendale’s published plan-review target
5–5 business days

How long did your Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Occupancy permit actually take in Glendale?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    No Work Certificate of Occupancy Inspection

    Building Safety inspection (code 162) confirming address/suite signage, exit signage and lighting, unobstructed exits, fire extinguisher service tags, no exposed wiring, annual fire alarm/AFES testing logs, and ADA-compliant exit hardware

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

Tips

  • If no construction work is being done, use the No Work Certificate of Occupancy (NWCO) path — it is faster and cheaper ($114.35 flat) than a Tenant Improvement permit.
  • A standard Certificate of Occupancy request after passing final inspections on a permitted project is emailed to COORequest@glendaleaz.com and takes about 5 business days to process.
  • Buildings vacant for one year or more need a brand-new Certificate of Occupancy before reoccupying, even without construction work.
  • A genuine change in occupancy classification (not just a new tenant in the same use) triggers the hourly Change of Occupancy or Use fee — this is distinct from, and can be charged in addition to, the Certificate of Occupancy fee itself.

Frequently asked questions

Glendale requires a certificate of occupancy / change of occupancy permit for: Determine whether construction work is involved: if yes, submit a Tenant Improvement Permit Application and plans; if no, submit a 'No Work Certificate of Occupancy' (NWCO) application with the business name; For a standard (post-final-inspection) Certificate of Occupancy request, email the project name, project address, building permit number, and contact information to COORequest@glendaleaz.com after passing all final inspections; For a No Work Certificate of Occupancy, submit the completed application to permits@glendaleaz.com; Development Services staff will follow up by email for payment ($114.35 total fee); Schedule and pass the Building Safety inspection (NWCO inspection code 162), which reviews items such as visible address/suite numbers, illuminated and visible exit signs, tested emergency lighting, unobstructed exits, current fire extinguisher service tags, no exposed wiring, annual fire alarm panel and AFES testing logs on-site, and ADA-compliant exit door hardware; A new Certificate of Occupancy is required before resuming occupancy of any building or structure that has been vacant for one year or longer; When a Change of Occupancy or Use is involved (a change in the classification of use rather than simply a new tenant in the same occupancy), the hourly Change of Occupancy or Use plan review and inspection fees apply in addition to any Certificate of Occupancy fee. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Glendale Development Services at 623-930-2800 before starting work.

In Glendale, the published No Work Certificate of Occupancy (NWCO) is: $114.35 total. Additional published fees: Certificate of Occupancy (standard, post-final-inspection) — Included in original building permit fee; Change of Occupancy or Use — $122.88 per hour (2-hour minimum) plan review + $114.35 per hour (2-hour minimum) inspection. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

The city's Certificate of Occupancy page states to allow 5 business days for processing after all final inspections for a permit have passed; the certificate is emailed unless otherwise specified.

Depending on your project, Glendale may also ask for: No Work Certificate of Occupancy (NWCO) application; Certificate of Occupancy request email; Tenant Improvement Permit Application and plans. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Glendale requires 1 inspection(s) for a certificate of occupancy / change of occupancy permit, in order: No Work Certificate of Occupancy Inspection. Schedule each through City of Glendale Development Services (623-930-2800).

Apply through City of Glendale Development Services at 5850 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85301. Phone: 623-930-2800, email: permits@glendaleaz.com. Office hours: Counter assistance hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Development Services Center, per the Building Safety Contact Information page; verified 2026-07-16). Official information: https://www.glendaleaz.gov/Business/Building-Safety-Codes-Services.

Glendale, Arizona has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and I, with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendices BB, BC, BF, BO and CF, with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), including Appendices C and E, with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), including Appendices A and B, with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-52, effective January 9, 2026; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), with Glendale amendments — adopted by Ordinance O25-51, effective January 9, 2026; 2024 International Green Construction Code (IgCC), as published by ICC — adopted by Ordinance O25-51 (voluntary compliance), effective January 9, 2026; 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines; Arizonans with Disabilities Act (A.R.S. §§ 41-1492.03); ICC A117.1-2009 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; City of Glendale Revised Sound Attenuation Standards; Maricopa Association of Governments Fireplace Standard; Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, March 6, 1991). Local amendments apply — see the Glendale overview page for the full list.

No — Glendale's process is called Certificate of Occupancy / No Work Certificate of Occupancy (NWCO) for new businesses, ownership/FEIN/name changes, and reoccupying long-vacant buildings; a distinct 'Change of Occupancy or Use' hourly fee applies specifically when the classification of use itself changes.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-23.

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

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