Queen Creek building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Queen Creek, Arizona.
Last verified 2026-07-06 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- Municipal Services Building, 22358 S. Ellsworth Road, Queen Creek, AZ 85142
- Phone
- 480-358-3003
- Office hours
- Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.; closed Fridays (Town offices closed Friday-Sunday). Applications are submitted electronically through the Development Nexus / Accela Citizen Access online portal (aca-prod.accela.com/QC). Building inspections are scheduled through Development Nexus or by phone/text; the cutoff for next-business-day inspection requests is 6:00 p.m. Inspection hours are 6 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Mon-Thu and 6-10 a.m. Fri (September-May), and 5:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Mon-Thu and 5:30-10 a.m. Fri (June-August). Building Official: Michael Williams, CBO, Building Safety Manager, Michael.Williams@QueenCreekAZ.gov, 480-358-3009.
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at Queen Creek's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Queen Creek — 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.
Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-jurisdiction authority under state enabling statutes (A.R.S. Show full textShow less
Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-jurisdiction authority under state enabling statutes (A.R.S. Title 9 for municipalities). The Town of Queen Creek is an independently incorporated town (not administered by Maricopa or Pinal County for permitting purposes) that adopts and administers its own construction codes through its Development Services Department / Building Safety Division. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Safety page (queencreekaz.gov/government/development-services/building-safety) and Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Building Code (IBC), as published by the International Code Council, adopted by the Town of Queen Creek with an effective date of January 1, 2023; applications submitted on or after April 1, 2023 must be designed to the 2021 edition. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page (queencreekaz.gov/government/development-services/building-safety/building-codes).
- 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023 (mandatory for submittals from April 1, 2023). Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted by the Town of Queen Creek — one edition behind the 2021 ICC family (the Town has not moved to the 2023 NEC as of the last verification). Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023, governing energy-efficiency requirements. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Urban-Wildland Interface Code, adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
- 2021 International Pool and Spa Code, adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023, governing swimming pool and spa construction and barrier requirements. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page.
2021 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023 as the Town's uniform fire code, administered by Fire Prevention within Development Services (see the Fire Prevention… Show full textShow less
2021 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by the Town of Queen Creek effective January 1, 2023 as the Town's uniform fire code, administered by Fire Prevention within Development Services (see the Fire Prevention section of the Development Services Fee Schedule for operational/construction permit fees). Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page; Town of Queen Creek Development Services Fee Schedule (Valuation Data, effective 4/1/2026), Fire Prevention section.
- 2021 code adoption included Town-specific amendments; the Town's official '2021 Amendments' document and the original 2012 adopting Ordinance 539-13 / Resolution 969-13 / Exhibit A are both published on the Building Codes page for reference. Source: Town of Queen Creek Building Codes page (2021 Amendments PDF, and 2012 Ordinance/Resolution/Exhibit A PDFs).
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Construction)
Required for new single-family dwelling construction Town-wide (both the Maricopa County and Pinal County portions of Queen Creek), reviewed against the 2021 IRC and 2021 IBC (for any non-residential portions) as adopted by the Town of Queen Creek, effective for all submittals since April 1, 2023. Applications are submitted electronically through the Development Nexus / Accela Citizen Access online portal; production homebuilders use a Standard (Master) Plan Permit process that clones a pre-approved Standard Plan Review record.
From$175.92valuation-basedResidential Addition / Remodel Permit
Required for room additions, guest houses, garage additions, garage-to-living-area conversions, and remodels of existing one- and two-family dwellings in Queen Creek, reviewed against the 2021 IRC as adopted by the Town.
See fee scheduleElectrical Permit
Required for additions or modifications to electrical systems (excluding simple fixture swaps) in Queen Creek, governed by the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the Town. May be issued as a stand-alone trade permit or as part of a Combination Permit.
From$20valuation-basedPlumbing Permit
Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Queen Creek, including water heater installations, governed by the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted by the Town.
From$20valuation-basedMechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for additions or modifications to air (HVAC) systems (excluding filters) in Queen Creek, governed by the 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) as adopted by the Town.
From$20valuation-basedRe-Roofing Permit
Required for roofing work on structures in Queen Creek, priced as a flat fee that includes two inspections, distinct from the general valuation-based miscellaneous permit fee track.
$150Single Family Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Permit
Required for installation of rooftop residential solar photovoltaic systems in Queen Creek, priced as a flat fee inclusive of one plan review and two inspections. The majority of systems can be permitted without a structural engineer's report.
From$375Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of any structure in Queen Creek, priced by structure category (residential accessory, one/two-family dwelling, or other structures).
From$100Fence and Wall Permit
Required for fences and walls in Queen Creek, with fees differentiated by fence style (open vs. solid) for single-family lots and a discounted percentage-of-Fee-Table rate for subdivision perimeter fencing.
From$98Swimming Pool and Spa Permit
Required for in-ground and above-ground swimming pools and spas in Queen Creek, governed by the 2021 International Pool and Spa Code as adopted by the Town, with mandatory pool barrier compliance.
From$225EV Charging Station Permit (Electrical Permit)
Required for installation of a Level 2 (or higher) electric vehicle charging station/EVSE in Queen Creek. The Town publishes no dedicated EV charger/EVSE permit type, application, or fee line (unlike its dedicated Solar Energy Systems flat-fee program) — an EV charger circuit is billed as a stand-alone Electrical Permit under the 2020 National Electrical Code as adopted by the Town, using the same tiered stand-alone pricing the electrical-permit entry documents.
From$20valuation-basedCommercial Building Permit (New Construction)
Required for new commercial and industrial building construction in Queen Creek, reviewed against the 2021 IBC as adopted by the Town of Queen Creek. Tenant improvement work to an existing commercial building is NOT covered by this permit type: the Town publishes a separate, distinctly named 'Commercial Tenant Improvements' submittal-requirements page and checklist (see the commercial-tenant-improvement-permit entry), even though both scopes are ultimately submitted on the same generic Permit Application form with a 'RESIDENTIAL / NON-RESIDENTIAL' checkbox rather than a project-type-specific form.
From$69.00valuation-basedCommercial Tenant Improvement Permit
Required for improvements, alterations, or build-outs of an existing commercial tenant space in Queen Creek, reviewed against the 2021 IBC as adopted by the Town of Queen Creek. The Town publishes a distinct 'Commercial Tenant Improvements' submittal-requirements page and checklist, separate from its 'Commercial/Industrial Project Submittal Requirements' page for new construction (both are listed as separate items under 'Submittal Requirements' on the Town's Building Applications page) — though both scopes are filed on the same generic Permit Application form (checked 'NON-RESIDENTIAL') and billed under the same underlying Town-wide valuation-based Fee Table.
See fee scheduleSign Permit
Required for permanent business signage in Queen Creek. The Town's Zoning Ordinance Section 3.2.J states that 'Permits are required for all new signs except as provided in Article 7 of this Ordinance,' and that 'The alteration of sign faces by painting or overlay shall be considered as construction of a new sign and require a permit,' while 'Touching up or repainting existing letters or symbols shall be considered maintenance and repair and shall not require a permit.' Article 7 Section 7.4.A frames the authorization as a building permit — 'A building permit is required for all signs, unless specifically exempted, which are intended to be erected, painted, or otherwise installed in the Town of Queen Creek' — while the Town's adopted fee schedule prices it under 'Planning and Zoning Review Fees' as a 'Sign Permit Application' at $125 per individual sign. That naming split between the ordinance ('building permit') and the fee schedule ('Sign Permit Application') is reproduced here as found rather than silently resolved. The Town publishes a dedicated 'Permanent Sign Permit Application' form combined with a 'Sign Permit Submittal Checklist'.
From$125Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm Permit
Separate Fire permit required for automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, and related fire protection systems in Queen Creek — distinct from, and not included in, the Building Permit. The Town's fee schedule makes the separation explicit: the combination building permit line reads 'Building permit - Combination (not including Fire Systems)'. The Town's 'When is a Permit Required?' page lists 'Fire sprinklers, alarms and alarm panels' among the activities requiring a permit, and Fire Prevention publishes its own permit, plan review, and inspection fee tables in the adopted Development Services Fee Schedule. Submittal requirements are published by Building Safety on a dedicated 'Sprinkler & Alarm Submittals' page covering both Fire Sprinkler Submittal Requirements and Fire Alarm Submittal Requirements. Queen Creek has adopted the International Fire Code, 2021 edition.
From$250valuation-basedChange of Use (Zoning Clearance and Certificate of Occupancy)
Queen Creek regulates change of use, but does NOT publish a standalone permit product called a 'Change of Use Permit' — there is no change-of-use application form on the Town's Building Requirements/Checklists/Applications page and no change-of-use line item in the adopted Development Services Fee Schedule. Instead the Zoning Ordinance routes a change of use through two existing authorizations. Section 3.2.C.1 (Zoning Clearance and Building Permit) states: 'No person shall construct any structure, use any land, or change the use of any structure or land until a zoning clearance has been obtained from the Development Services Department and a building permit had been obtained from the Building Department.' Section 3.2.L.1 (Certificate of Occupancy) states: 'No vacant land or building shall be occupied or used (including change of use) or hereafter erected or structurally altered until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Building Official.' The Ordinance defines CHANGE IN USE as 'A change from one (1) principal use of a building or land to another principal use of the building or land whether or not there is an increase in the size of the existing building or extent of the use of the land.' A third, narrower reference exists at Section 2.7.C.1, which uses the phrase 'change of use permit' only in the non-conforming-use context: 'A change of use permit may be granted for non-conformity only if the change in use is to principal use permitted in the district. Once the change from non-conformity to a principal permitted use is completed, no conversion to the previous non-conforming use shall be permitted.'
See fee schedule
Queen Creek's permit history isn't searchable here yet
This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Queen Creek yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.
Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Queen Creek lands. Privacy.
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 (2026-07)
- 60units
60 buildings · $35.3M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 1,582units
12 of 12 months reported · #8 in Arizona coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-07)
- 696units
696 buildings · $348.2M valuation
7 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 1,571units
1,517 buildings · $759.1M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-07 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Arizona building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Arizona has no statewide mandatory building code — the Town of Queen Creek independently adopts and amends its own construction codes and runs its own Development Services/Building Safety program; it does not defer to Maricopa or Pinal County for permitting within Town limits, even though the Town itself straddles both counties.
- Queen Creek is a dual-county incorporated place (Maricopa County~~~Pinal County per the Census Bureau's 2020 place file) after annexing the Ironwood Crossing neighborhood into Pinal County in 2018; however, all Town permitting — for both the Maricopa and Pinal County portions — is handled by the single Development Services/Building Safety office at the Municipal Services Building (Maricopa County side).
- The Town adopted the 2021 ICC code suite (IBC, IRC, IMC, IPC, IFGC, IEBC, IECC, Property Maintenance, Urban-Wildland Interface, Pool and Spa, IFC) effective January 1, 2023, mandatory for all submittals on/after April 1, 2023; the National Electrical Code is one edition behind at 2020 NEC (not yet moved to 2023 NEC as of the last verification).
- Permit fees are computed from the Town's own Fee Table applied against whichever is GREATER: the Town's ICC-derived per-square-foot Valuation Table (Building Safety Journal data, updated periodically) or the applicant's declared project valuation.
- Stand-alone single-trade permits are priced as a percentage of the full Combination Permit Fee Table amount, plus a flat $20 admin fee: Building 60%, Plumbing 25%, Electrical 10%, Mechanical 5% — each trade's plan review is billed separately at 65% of its applicable permit fee.
- Solar PV is one of the Town's most streamlined permit types: a flat $375 fee bundles the permit, one plan review, and two inspections, and the majority of systems qualify for permitting WITHOUT a structural engineer's report (only required if >5 lbs/sq ft distributed weight, >40 lb point load, or the home is over 35 years old).
- Re-roofing is a flat $150 fee inclusive of two inspections — one of the few permit types priced as a simple flat rate rather than by valuation.
- Fences and walls have differentiated single-family pricing: $98 for open-style (rail/wire) vs. $198 for solid-style (anything that can divert water flow), with subdivision perimeter walls discounted to 40% of the Fee Table.
- Swimming pool/spa permits ($225 in-ground / $150 above-ground) explicitly EXCLUDE the required pool barrier enclosure, which is billed as a separate valuation-based permit.
- As of July 2026, the Town of Queen Creek does not appear to publish permit-specific plan review turnaround times for most building permit categories on its public website. The Town publishes permit requirements and process information, but not category-specific review timelines, despite A.R.S. § 9-835 requiring municipalities to publish administrative-completeness and substantive-review time frames for every permit type. This gap was checked from multiple angles: the Town's Building Safety, Building Applications, Required Permits, Fee Schedule, Building Codes, Development Nexus, Document Central, Directory of Regulatory Documents, and Building Inspections pages (live site plus Wayback Machine captures); a full Wayback CDX sweep of both queencreekaz.gov and the legacy queencreek.org domain; the Town Code's own full-text search index (zero results for "9-835"); and a direct read of A.R.S. § 9-835 itself, which requires municipalities to establish and publish their own time frames but does not itself specify a default number of days. The Town DOES publish real A.R.S. § 9-835 time-frame tables for planning applications (5-day administrative completeness + 30-day substantive review, per every planning packet) and business licenses (14 business days total) — the gap is specific to building-permit categories. Fence/Wall is the one building-permit exception, with a real published 10-working-day first-review goal. For every other permit type in this record, there is no verifiable online source for the review timeline — call Development Services (480-358-3003) or Building Safety Manager Michael Williams (480-358-3009) directly for the Town's current internal timeframe.
- No dedicated accessory dwelling unit (ADU)-specific permit type, application, or fee line was found published by the Town's Building Safety Division as of the last verification — guest houses ARE explicitly listed as requiring a permit on the 'When is a Permit Required?' page, and are treated here under the Residential Addition/Remodel permit type using the general valuation-based fee table, but no separate ADU-specific checklist or flat-fee schedule item was located.