How long does commercial plan review take in Tempe?

Tempe publishes target commercial plan review times. Tenant Improvements under $500,000 target 5–10 working days for the initial review; Tenant Improvements over $500,000 target 10–15 working days; New Buildings under $10 million target 15–20 working days; New Buildings over $10 million target 20–30 working days. These are targets. Source: Tempe Target Turn-Around Times, revised August 26, 2025 (tempe.gov/home/showdocument?id=114647).

Commercial / Multifamily Building Permit (Tenant Improvement, New Commercial, Mixed-Use) in Tempe, Arizona

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.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

Submit plans electronically through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal per the Electronic Plan (E-Plan) Review Submittal Guidelines
Plans must comply with Tempe's adopted 2018 I-Codes (IBC, IFC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC) and 2017 NEC, all with Tempe amendments
Commercial Tenant Improvement projects must include a Commercial Building Tenant Improvement (T.I.) Project Checklist
Contractor Affidavit (State of AZ requirement per AZ Department of Revenue) required
Email building code and private development engineering questions to permitcenter@tempe.gov

Required documents

Req
Electronic Plan (E-Plan) Review Submittal Guidelines
Required for all electronic plan submittals; sets format and content requirements
Req
Commercial Building Tenant Improvement (T.I.) Project Checklist
Required for commercial tenant improvement permits; referenced on the Commercial Plan Review page
Req
Contractor Affidavit
State of Arizona legal requirement per AZ Department of Revenue; available on the Applications + Forms page

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (Table 1-A, effective July 1, 2025)	$100,001–$500,000: $2,218.67 for the first $100,000 plus $12.23 per additional $1,000; $500,001–$1,000,000: $7,115.86 for the first $500,000 plus $10.41 per additional $1,000; $1,000,001 and up: $12,308.85 for the first $1,000,000 plus $8.00 per additional $1,000. Smaller valuations: $1–$500: $97; $501–$2,000: $97.86 + $6.67 per additional $100; $2,001–$25,000: $197.78 + $30.61 per additional $1,000; $25,001–$50,000: $901.36 + $22.06 per additional $1,000; $50,001–$100,000: $1,453.41 + $15.31 per additional $1,000.	Tempe Table 1-A — Building Permit Fees (effective July 1, 2025; annual CPI adjustment). Source: library.municode.com/az/tempe/codes/city_code?nodeId=APXASCFECH_TA1UIPEFE.
Plan Review Fee	65% of the Building Permit Fee, collected at application submission	Covers initial review and two subsequent re-submittals. Additional reviews (4th and beyond) are charged at $190 per hour (minimum 1 hour). Source: Community Development Service Fees (showpublisheddocument/108212).

Review timeline

5–40 business days

Tempe’s published plan-review target

Inspection process

1
Structural / foundation (during construction)
Foundation, structural, and rough-trade inspections per approved plans and 2018 IBC with Tempe amendments; must be approved before covering or proceeding.
2
Final / Certificate of Occupancy
Final inspection of all completed work; Certificate of Occupancy issued after a successful final inspection. Tenant Improvement Final Inspection Requirements are published on the Inspections page.

Tips

Tempe publishes target commercial turn-around times: Tenant Improvements under $500,000: 5–10 working days initial; Tenant Improvements $500,001+: 10–15 working days; New Buildings under $10 million: 15–20 working days. Source: Target Turn-Around Times (revised August 26, 2025).
Commercial plan submittals must be electronic through the Citizen Access Portal; all commercial projects require the Electronic Plan (E-Plan) Review Submittal Guidelines.
Tenant Improvement projects require the Commercial T.I. Project Checklist — incomplete applications may cause delays.

Frequently asked questions

How long does commercial plan review take in Tempe?: Tempe publishes target commercial plan review times. Tenant Improvements under $500,000 target 5–10 working days for the initial review; Tenant Improvements over $500,000 target 10–15 working days; New Buildings under $10 million target 15–20 working days; New Buildings over $10 million target 20–30 working days. These are targets. Source: Tempe Target Turn-Around Times, revised August 26, 2025 (tempe.gov/home/showdocument?id=114647).

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.

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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