Commercial / Multifamily Building Permit in Phoenix, Arizona
A commercial building permit is required for residential construction involving multi-family projects of three or more units, condominiums, and apartment buildings, as well as non-residential construction including new construction, remodels, additions, tenant improvements, and changes of use. The permit is issued when structures are designed in accordance with the building codes and all other applicable codes and ordinances. Commercial plan review, permitting, and inspections are handled through the SHAPE PHX portal (commercial functions available in SHAPE PHX effective April 27, 2026) and the Electronic Plan Review (EPR) program.
Verified 2026-06-29 · Source
When you need this permit
- Required for multi-family projects of three or more units, condominiums, and apartment buildings, plus all non-residential new construction, remodels, additions, tenant improvements, and changes of use
- Structures must be designed in accordance with the 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code and all other applicable codes and ordinances
- Submit through the SHAPE PHX portal / Electronic Plan Review (EPR); see Commercial Applications and Checklists for required forms
- A change-in-use Certificate of Occupancy without construction requires both a plan review and a field inspection step
Required documents
- Req
Commercial Applications and Checklists
Commercial plan review and permit application forms and checklists, available on the PDD Commercial and Multifamily Building page
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit — valuation-based (Table A) | Same Table A as residential: $50,001–$200,000 = $703 on first $50,000 plus $9 per additional $1,000; $200,001–$1,000,000 = $2,053 on first $200,000 plus $9 per additional $1,000; $1,000,001–$10,000,000 = $9,253 on first $1,000,000 plus $5 per additional $1,000. | PDD Fee Schedule, Table A (Ordinance G-7465, effective 1/20/2026, Appendix A.2). Project valuation = building square footage times the per-occupancy square-foot construction cost from the ICC Building Valuation Data (August 2025) national table. |
| Plan review — General Plan Review (commercial) | Commercial with project valuations of $50K or less: 100% of the permit fee, minimum $195 (1-hour). Commercial over $50K: 80% of the permit fee, minimum $195 (1-hour). | PDD Fee Schedule — Building Safety Plan Review Fees (Ordinance G-7465). Fire Life Safety Plan Review is $195/hour, minimum $1,170 (6-hours) where applicable. |
| Temporary / Partial Certificate of Occupancy | $780 per request (Temporary CofO valid up to 180 days, not to exceed permit expiration; Partial CofO $780 per request) | PDD Fee Schedule — Building Safety Inspection Fees, Certificate of Occupancy (Ordinance G-7465). A CofO issued at the conclusion of all code-required construction has no additional charge. |
| Expedited Plan Review | Initial review: 3 times the basic plan review fee; 2nd review only: 1 time the basic plan review fee (subject to Director's approval; availability limited) | PDD Fee Schedule — Optional Plan Review Services (Ordinance G-7465) |
Review timeline
~15–40 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Phoenix building department
Inspection process
- 1
Foundation / Structural
Foundation, structural, and rough-trade inspections during construction per the approved plans and the 2024 PBCC
- 2
Final / Certificate of Occupancy
Final inspection of all code-required construction; Certificate of Occupancy issued at conclusion (Temporary or Partial CofO available for a fee)
Tips
- Multi-family of three or more units (condos, apartments) is permitted as commercial, not residential, in Phoenix.
- Commercial plan review, permitting, and inspections moved into the SHAPE PHX portal effective April 27, 2026; the Electronic Plan Review (EPR) program supports digital submittal.
- Phased, partial, and deferred submittal permits are charged at 200% of the permit fee based on the valuation of the permitted work.
- Self-Certification is available to qualified firms (Self-Certification Class is $1,950, valid 3 years) with a 10% program administration surcharge (minimum $195).
Frequently asked questions
- When does a Phoenix project need a commercial building permit?
- A commercial building permit is required for multi-family residential of three or more units (condos, apartments) and all non-residential construction — new construction, remodels, additions, tenant improvements, and changes of use. Submit through the SHAPE PHX portal / Electronic Plan Review. Source: City of Phoenix Commercial and Multifamily Building page, phoenix.gov.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.
- City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department — official building department
- Commercial and Multifamily Building | City of Phoenix PDD
- SHAPE PHX (PDD customer portal) | City of Phoenix
- PDD Fee Schedule (Ordinance G-7465, effective 1/20/2026) — PDF
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 Phoenix building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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