Tempe building permit requirements
City of Tempe Community Development Department — Building Safety Division / Permit Center
Verified 2026-06-29 · Source
Department information
- Address
- City of Tempe City Hall, 31 E. 5th St., Tempe, AZ 85281
- Phone
- 480-350-4311
- 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
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.
Permit types
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Tips & gotchas
- ALL permit applications in Tempe must be submitted electronically through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal (epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess/Default.aspx) — walk-in submissions are not accepted. A registered account is required before applying.
- Tempe uses the 2018 I-Codes with Tempe amendments and the 2017 NEC (not the 2020 or 2023 NEC) as of June 2026. Verify before designing whether a new code cycle adoption has been announced.
- The Plan Review Fee (65% of the building permit fee) is collected at application submission; the Building Permit Fee is collected at permit issuance. Budget for both before submitting.
- Construction valuation is the greater of your declared estimate or the City's Building Valuation Data table. Under-declaring valuation triggers a supplemental plan review fee at permit issuance.
- Tempe publishes actual Target Turn-Around Times (tempe.gov/home/showdocument?id=114647, revised August 26, 2025): residential under $500K targets 5–10 working days; commercial tenant improvements under $500K target 5–10 working days; new commercial buildings under $10M target 15–20 working days.
- Building inspections are conducted Monday–Friday, 6:30 AM–3:30 PM. Requests received before midnight are inspected the following business day. For an estimated arrival time, call 480-350-8341 between 6:00–6:30 AM the morning of your inspection.
- Several common residential projects have flat fees in Table 2-A (swimming pool $489, solar PV $538, patio cover $294, demolition per structure $97, carport-to-garage conversion $391, electrical service upgrade <300A $195) — these include plan review and avoid the 65% surcharge.
- Two-story ADU designs require a Use Permit (Board of Adjustment decision, December 17, 2025) — factor in additional review time when building two-story ADUs.
- Tempe has SolSmart Silver designation for solar-friendly permitting; SolarAPP+ enables same-day residential PV permit approvals for eligible projects.
- Email permitcenter@tempe.gov or call 480-350-4311 for assistance in English; Spanish-language assistance is also available via permitcenter@tempe.gov.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.
- City of Tempe Community Development Department — Building Safety Division / Permit Center — official building department
- Community Development — Building Safety | City of Tempe
- Permit Center | City of Tempe Building Safety
- Building Codes and Amendments (2018 I-Codes + 2017 NEC) | City of Tempe
- Fees — Building Permit, Table 1-A, Table 2-A (effective July 1, 2025) | City of Tempe
- Table 1-A Building Permit Fees (Municode, effective July 1, 2025)
- Table 2-A Building Permit Flat Fees (Municode, effective July 1, 2025)
- Community Development Service Fees — Plan Review & Building Permit Fees (cover sheet, revised July 1, 2023) | Tempe
- Table 1-A Building Permit Fees PDF (2025–2026 and proposed 2026–2027) | Tempe
- Table 2-A Building Permit Flat Fees PDF (proposed 2026–2027) | Tempe
- Target Turn-Around Times (revised August 26, 2025) | Tempe Building Safety
- Residential Plan Review (SolarAPP+, ADU, E-Plan guidelines) | City of Tempe Building Safety
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — regulations, FAQ, standard plans | City of Tempe Planning
- Inspections — Building Safety | City of Tempe
- Applications + Forms | City of Tempe Building Safety
- Signs — Sign Permit, DPR, Banner | City of Tempe Building Safety
- 2017 NEC Tempe Amendments | Tempe City Code Ch. 8, Art. VIII (Municode)
- Tempe Citizen Access Portal (permit applications, inspections, tracking, payment)
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 Tempe building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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