Tempe building permits

Building department

Address

City of Tempe City Hall, 31 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone

480-350-4311

Email

permitcenter@tempe.gov

Office hours

Contact the Permit Center at 480-350-4311 or permitcenter@tempe.gov for current hours; inspections are conducted Monday–Friday 6:30 AM–3:30 PM (inspection requests received before midnight are inspected the following business day)

Website

Official site

Permit portal

Apply online at Tempe's portal

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Tempe — 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.

• 2018 Tempe Building Safety Administrative Code (local administrative provisions) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPEMC2018P2)
• 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPEBC2018P1)
• 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPERC2018P11)
• 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPEMC2018P11)
• 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPEFGC2018P11)
• 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPEECC2018P1)
• 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPEEBC2018P22)
• 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPEPC2018P11)
• 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPESPSC2018P1)
• 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (codes.iccsafe.org/content/AZTEMPEFC2018P1)
• 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published on the ICC Safe platform (library.municode.com/az/tempe/codes/city_code?nodeId=CH8BUBURE_ARTXIINGRCOCO)
• 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted with Tempe amendments; published in the Tempe City Code (library.municode.com/az/tempe/codes/city_code?nodeId=CH8BUBURE_ARTVIII2017NAELCO)

Permit types & fees

• Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family / Duplex / Townhome)

  Required for new construction of single-family residences, duplexes, and townhomes in Tempe. Residential plan review applies to all new construction, additions, and renovations meeting the adopted codes and Tempe amendments. All plan submittals must be made electronically through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal in accordance with the Electronic Plan Review Submittal Guidelines. A registered account is required. Once a permit is issued, building inspections must be requested before proceeding to the next construction phase.

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• Commercial / Multifamily Building Permit (Tenant Improvement, New Commercial, Mixed-Use)

  Required for new commercial buildings, multifamily residential, tenant improvements, additions, alterations, and change of occupancy in Tempe. Commercial Plan Review ensures compliance with Tempe's adopted building codes, safety regulations, and zoning requirements before permits are issued. Plans for offices, retail, restaurants, and other commercial projects are reviewed for structural integrity, fire safety, accessibility (2010 ADA and ICC A117.1), and energy efficiency. All plan submittals must be electronic through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal.

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• Electrical Permit

  Electrical work in Tempe is governed by the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) with Tempe amendments, adopted in Tempe City Code Chapter 8, Article VIII. Electrical permits are applied for through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal. A flat-rate fee applies for residential electrical service replacements or upgrades under 300 amps (Table 2-A); all other electrical work uses the valuation-based Table 1-A building permit fee, plus a 65% plan review fee where plan review is required.

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• Plumbing Permit (incl. Water/Sewer Line Replacement)

  Plumbing work in Tempe is governed by the 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Tempe amendments. Plumbing permits are applied for through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal. A flat-rate fee applies for residential water/sewer line replacement (Table 2-A); all other plumbing work uses the valuation-based Table 1-A building permit fee, plus a 65% plan review fee where required.

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• Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Mechanical and HVAC work in Tempe is governed by the 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), both with Tempe amendments. Mechanical permits are applied for through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal. Permit fees follow the valuation-based Table 1-A; no separate mechanical flat-rate table is published in Table 2-A.

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• Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit — SolarAPP+ eligible

  Tempe's Building Safety Division accepts SolarAPP+ approved designs for single-family residential photovoltaic (PV) permitting. SolarAPP+ is a third-party software program that verifies code compliance for eligible residential PV systems, enabling same-day permit approvals for qualifying projects. Tempe has been awarded SolSmart Silver designation recognizing its solar-friendly permitting process. All permit applications are made through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal. The flat fee is $538 per Table 2-A (effective July 1, 2025), which includes the plan review fee.

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• Residential Swimming Pool / Spa Permit

  A permit is required for new residential swimming pools and spas in Tempe under the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) with Tempe amendments. The flat fee for a new residential swimming pool is $489 (Table 2-A, effective July 1, 2025), which includes the plan review fee. All applications are submitted through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal.

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• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit

  Tempe City Council adopted ADU regulations in compliance with Arizona House Bill 2720, which requires municipalities with populations of 75,000 or more to permit ADUs on all lots where single-family dwellings are allowed. On all lots with a single-family dwelling, one attached and one detached ADU are allowed. Lots of one acre (43,560 sq ft) or more may have one additional ADU if at least one is income-restricted affordable housing (80% AMI). ADUs must comply with Tempe's adopted 2018 I-Codes and the adopted ADU ordinance. ADU permits are applied for through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal. Tempe publishes approved standard ADU plan designs and an ADU Development Guide.

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• Patio Cover Permit (Single-Family Residence Addition)

  A building permit is required for the addition of a patio cover to a single-family residence in Tempe. A flat fee of $294 per patio cover applies (Table 2-A, effective July 1, 2025), which includes the plan review fee. A handout on Residential Patio Cover Addition requirements is available on the Tempe Applications + Forms page. Convert-to-livable-space projects (converting a patio cover to habitable room) carry a higher flat fee.

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• Demolition Permit

  A demolition permit is required in Tempe for the demolition of any structure. A flat fee of $97 per structure (per Table 2-A, effective July 1, 2025, includes plan review) applies for full demolition. Non-structural interior demolition carries a separate flat fee of $97. All applications are submitted through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal.

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• Sign Permit (Building / Wall-Mounted, Monument, Banner)

  Sign permits in Tempe are required for building/wall-mounted signs, monument signs, and banners. Sign permit applications (SGN) are submitted through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal under 'Planning/Signs' > 'Planning' > 'Sign Permit [SGN]'. A Sign Development Plan Review (DPR) is required for all developments in mixed-use (MU-X) zoning districts, commercial centers with more than one tenant, and for single-tenant buildings altering space for additional tenants. Banner permits (Sign Type 'K') are approved administratively by the Permit Center within 24–48 business hours. A Planning Plan Review Fee of $143 applies (Table 2-A flat fee).

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• Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Permit

  Tempe does not publish a distinct EV charger / EVSE line item in its Table 2-A Building Permit Flat Fees schedule (the table lists flat fees for items such as residential electrical service upgrades and temporary power poles, but no separate EV charging station category). An EV charging station installation — new circuit, subpanel, or dedicated branch circuit for a Level 2 charger — is permitted as standard Electrical work under Tempe City Code Chapter 8, Article VIII (2017 NEC with Tempe amendments), applied for through the Citizen Access Portal, and billed under the valuation-based Table 1-A fee schedule (the same mechanism documented in this dataset's electrical-permit entry for 'other electrical work' not covered by a Table 2-A flat rate), plus a 65% plan review fee where plan review is required. SolarAPP+ (gosolarapp.org) is used by Tempe for eligible residential solar PV, but SolarAPP+ does not process EV charger permits.

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