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EV Charger / EVSE Permit in Surprise, Arizona

The City of Surprise has no dedicated electric-vehicle-charging-station permit type or fee line. An EV charger installation is electrical work requiring a permit under the City's adopted 2023 NEC (with local amendments, Ordinance 2025-14), submitted through the same Permits & Applications Portal (Clariti/Oncamino) as any other electrical work, and billed under the standard valuation-based Electrical Permit fee documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry — no distinct EV/EVSE dollar figure was found on the Citywide Fee Schedule (Resolution #2026-16). The City's local code amendments (reviewed directly) list specific permit-exempt electrical work (receptacle/fixture replacement, code-compliant ceiling fans, solar attic fans, landscape timer circuits) but do not name EV chargers among the exemptions, confirming a permit is required.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Submit permit through Permits & Applications Portal at app.oncamino.com/surprise-az with plans uploaded via ProjectDox
  • All work must comply with the 2023 NEC and Surprise local amendments (Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026)
  • EV chargers are not among the permit-exempt electrical work categories listed in Surprise's local IRC R105.2 amendment (receptacle/fixture replacement, ceiling fans, solar attic fans, landscape timer circuits) — a permit is required
  • No dedicated EV/EVSE line-item, application, or checklist was found on the City's Citywide Fee Schedule or Currently Adopted Building Codes page

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Electrical permit — valuation-based (EV charger circuit, no dedicated EV/EVSE line)Citywide Fee Schedule, Resolution #2026-16, effective 5/19/2026 — same valuation-based mechanism documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry; no separate EV/EVSE fee line is published
Base: $100 per permit. Valuation $1.00-$999,999.99: $6.00 per each $1,000 of valuation. Plus 0.50% administrative processing fee on valuation.
Plan Review FeeCitywide Fee Schedule, Resolution #2026-16, effective 5/19/2026
65% of the permit fee (where plan review is required)

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Surprise building department
~4–8 business days

How long did your EV Charger / EVSE Permit permit actually take in Surprise?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Rough Electrical

    Charging circuit wiring and conduit inspected before walls are closed

  2. 2

    Final Electrical

    Charging equipment installed per approved plans; outlets, panel, and service inspected at final

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

Tips

  • Surprise's local amendment to IRC R105.2 lists specific permit-exempt electrical work (simple receptacle/fixture replacement, code-compliant ceiling fans, solar attic fans, landscape timer circuits) — EV chargers are not on that list, so a permit is required even for a straightforward Level 2 charger install.
  • Budget the permit fee off your project's stated valuation (charger equipment plus any panel upgrade and labor cost) using the same $100 base + $6/$1,000 valuation + 0.5% administrative fee formula used for any other electrical work — there is no flat EV-specific fee.

Frequently asked questions

Surprise requires an ev charger / evse permit for: Submit permit through Permits & Applications Portal at app.oncamino.com/surprise-az with plans uploaded via ProjectDox; All work must comply with the 2023 NEC and Surprise local amendments (Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026); EV chargers are not among the permit-exempt electrical work categories listed in Surprise's local IRC R105.2 amendment (receptacle/fixture replacement, ceiling fans, solar attic fans, landscape timer circuits) — a permit is required; No dedicated EV/EVSE line-item, application, or checklist was found on the City's Citywide Fee Schedule or Currently Adopted Building Codes page. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Surprise Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 623-222-3000 before starting work.

No. The City's Citywide Fee Schedule has no EV/EVSE-specific line-item. An EV charger installation requires a standard Electrical Permit, billed under the same valuation-based formula ($100 base + $6.00 per $1,000 of valuation + 0.5% administrative fee) used for any other electrical work.

Plan review for an ev charger / evse permit in Surprise typically runs 4–8 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Surprise Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 623-222-3000.

You'll need: Permits & Applications Portal submission (Clariti/Oncamino). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Surprise requires 2 inspection(s) for an ev charger / evse permit, in order: Rough Electrical, Final Electrical. Schedule each through City of Surprise Community Development Department — Building Safety Division (623-222-3000).

Apply through City of Surprise Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 16000 N. Civic Center Plz., Surprise, AZ 85374. Phone: 623-222-3000, email: Community.Development@surpriseaz.gov. Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding City-observed holidays. Official information: https://surpriseaz.gov/community-development.

Surprise, Arizona has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) with Appendices C, H, and O, and City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) with Appendices AC, BA, BB, BF, BG, BI, BJ, BL, BM, BO, CA, CB, CD, CE, CF, and CH, and City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026. Local amendments apply — see the Surprise overview page for the full list.

No. Surprise's local amendment to IRC R105.2 lists specific permit-exempt electrical work (receptacle/fixture replacement, ceiling fans, solar attic fans, landscape timer circuits), and EV chargers are not among them, confirming a permit is required.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.

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

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EV Charger / EVSE Permit in other cities

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