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Mechanical / HVAC Permit in Tempe, Arizona

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.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Mechanical/HVAC work must comply with the 2018 IMC and 2018 IFGC with Tempe amendments
  • Apply electronically through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal (epermits.tempe.gov/CitizenAccess/Default.aspx)
  • Contractor Affidavit required (State of AZ requirement per AZ Department of Revenue)
  • Arizona ROC-licensed mechanical contractor generally required; owner-builder exemptions may apply under ARS 32-1121 Owner-builderContractor

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Mechanical / HVAC permit — valuation-based (Table 1-A, effective July 1, 2025)Tempe does not publish a separate mechanical flat-rate table in Table 2-A. All mechanical work uses the valuation-based Table 1-A. Source: Table 1-A and Table 2-A (library.municode.com/az/tempe/codes/city_code?nodeId=APXASCFECH_TA1UIPEFE and _TA2UIPEFLFE).
Per Table 1-A tiers. For example: $2,001–$25,000: $197.78 for the first $2,000 plus $30.61 per additional $1,000. Plan Review Fee is 65% of the building permit fee, collected separately at application.

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Tempe building department
~1–10 business days

How long did your Mechanical / HVAC Permit permit actually take in Tempe?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Rough mechanical (before covering)

    Rough-in mechanical ductwork, gas piping, and HVAC equipment rough-in inspected before walls are closed; approved before proceeding.

  2. 2

    Final mechanical

    Final inspection of all completed mechanical/HVAC work per approved plans and the 2018 IMC/IFGC with Tempe amendments.

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

Tips

  • Tempe uses the 2018 IMC and 2018 IFGC (not the 2021 or 2024 editions) — verify designs are to the 2018 editions.
  • No mechanical flat-rate fee is published in Table 2-A; all mechanical work is valued and permitted under Table 1-A.
  • All permit applications must be submitted electronically through the Citizen Access Portal.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. HVAC replacements require a building permit in Tempe. Work must comply with the 2018 International Mechanical Code with Tempe amendments. Permit fees follow the valuation-based Table 1-A; a plan review fee (65% of permit fee) is collected at application. Apply through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal. Source: Building Codes and Amendments page (tempe.gov/businesses/building-code) and Table 1-A (Municode).

In Tempe, the published Mechanical / HVAC permit — valuation-based (Table 1-A, effective July 1, 2025) is: Per Table 1-A tiers. For example: $2,001–$25,000: $197.78 for the first $2,000 plus $30.61 per additional $1,000. Plan Review Fee is 65% of the building permit fee, collected separately at application.. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a mechanical / hvac permit in Tempe typically runs 1–10 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Tempe Community Development Department — Building Safety Division / Permit Center at 480-350-4311.

You'll need: Contractor Affidavit. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Tempe requires 2 inspection(s) for a mechanical / hvac permit, in order: Rough mechanical (before covering), Final mechanical. Schedule each through City of Tempe Community Development Department — Building Safety Division / Permit Center (480-350-4311).

Apply through City of Tempe Community Development Department — Building Safety Division / Permit Center at 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). Official information: https://www.tempe.gov/government/community-development/building-safety/permit-center.

Tempe, Arizona has adopted: 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). Local amendments apply — see the Tempe overview page for the full list.

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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