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Plumbing Permit (incl. Water/Sewer Line Replacement) in Tempe, Arizona

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.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Plumbing work must comply with the 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) 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 plumbing contractor generally required; owner-builder exemptions may apply under ARS 32-1121 Owner-builderContractor

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Single Family Water/Sewer Line Replacement — flat fee (Table 2-A, effective July 1, 2025)Table 2-A — Building Permit Flat Fees: 'SINGLE FAMILY WATER/SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT — $242 *Includes Plan Review fee.' Effective July 1, 2025. Source: Table 2-A (library.municode.com/az/tempe/codes/city_code?nodeId=APXASCFECH_TA2UIPEFLFE).
$242 (includes plan review)
Other plumbing work — valuation-based (Table 1-A, effective July 1, 2025)For plumbing work not covered by a Table 2-A flat rate, the valuation-based Table 1-A applies. Source: Table 1-A (library.municode.com/az/tempe/codes/city_code?nodeId=APXASCFECH_TA1UIPEFE).
Per Table 1-A tiers. 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 Plumbing Permit (incl. Water/Sewer Line Replacement) 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

    Underground plumbing (before backfill or concrete pour)

    Underground plumbing inspected before backfill or concrete is poured; approved before proceeding.

  2. 2

    Rough plumbing (before covering)

    Rough-in plumbing inspected before walls are closed; approved before proceeding.

  3. 3

    Final plumbing

    Final inspection of all completed plumbing work per approved plans and the 2018 IPC with Tempe amendments.

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

Tips

  • A flat $242 fee (Table 2-A, includes plan review) applies to single-family water/sewer line replacement.
  • A Sewer Installation Certificate is required for sewer work — available on the Tempe Inspections page.
  • All permit applications must be submitted electronically through the Citizen Access Portal.

Frequently asked questions

Tempe requires a plumbing permit (incl. water/sewer line replacement) for: Plumbing work must comply with the 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) 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 plumbing contractor generally required; owner-builder exemptions may apply under ARS 32-1121. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Tempe Community Development Department — Building Safety Division / Permit Center at 480-350-4311 before starting work.

The Table 2-A flat fee for a single-family water/sewer line replacement is $242 (includes plan review), effective July 1, 2025. A Sewer Installation Certificate is also required. Source: Table 2-A — Building Permit Flat Fees (library.municode.com/az/tempe/codes/city_code?nodeId=APXASCFECH_TA2UIPEFLFE).

Plan review for a plumbing permit (incl. water/sewer line replacement) 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. Depending on your project, Tempe may also ask for: Sewer Installation Certificate. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Tempe requires 3 inspection(s) for a plumbing permit (incl. water/sewer line replacement), in order: Underground plumbing (before backfill or concrete pour), Rough plumbing (before covering), Final plumbing. 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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