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Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit in Unincorporated Maricopa County, Arizona

Maricopa County Planning and Development prices a flat 'Occupancy Change' permit in the Flat Rate Fees table of its adopted Local Additions and Addenda. A Zoning Clearance is separately required before any change of use under Zoning Ordinance Article 1204.4, and a Certificate of Occupancy is required for all permits under Local Additions and Addenda Section 111. Fire and life-safety review for the new occupancy is performed by the Fire Authority Having Jurisdiction, not by the county.

Reviewed 2026-08-15 · Source

When you need this permit

  • 'It shall be unlawful to construct, alter, repair or improve, remove or demolish, or to commence the creation, construction, alteration, removal or demolition of a building, structure or use without first filing with the Zoning Inspector an application for and obtaining a Zoning Clearance' — the ordinance text expressly reaches a change of use, not only physical construction (Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance Article 1204.4, page 12-6)
  • A Certificate of Occupancy is required for all permits; its stated purpose is 'to ensure that all department, Fire Jurisdiction, plan and safety inspection requirements have been met and the building has been deemed safe for occupancy and use' (Local Additions and Addenda, Section 111)
  • Fire and life-safety review for the new occupancy is performed by the Fire Authority Having Jurisdiction under Chapter 9 of that authority's adopted Fire Code — Maricopa County amended IBC Section 901.1 to delegate it and adopts no fire code of its own (Local Additions and Addenda, Tab F, printed page 11)
  • A Zoning Clearance expires 180 days from its effective date if the use or authorized building construction has not actually commenced, and is void if the Building Permit for which it was a requirement expires (MCZO Article 1204.6.1)
  • A Zoning Clearance will not be issued unless the owner guarantees access to Maricopa County personnel and appropriate emergency service providers for building inspections, zoning enforcement, and the provision of emergency services (MCZO Article 1204.5)
  • Apply online through Permit Center (https://maricopacountyaz-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice) — paper submittals are no longer accepted

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Occupancy Change — flat rateMaricopa County Local Additions and Addenda (TA2022001, 19 September 2022), Section 404 Fees, 'Flat Rate Fees' table — read visually from a 170 dpi render of page 42 of 45 of https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5808. DISCLOSED CONFLICT: the department's Summary of the Fee Schedule (June 2024) reproduces the same row on printed page 29 with a strikethrough, which that document's preamble (printed page 2) defines as 'fees not included in the Permit Center system.' The adopted-ordinance figure is recorded here and the summary's treatment disclosed rather than silently resolved; see localAmendments and confirm with Planning & Development at 602-506-3301.
$75
Zoning Clearance (required before a change of use under MCZO Article 1204.4)Maricopa County Summary of the Fee Schedule, June 2024, Zoning Ordinance Chapter 16 fee table (Article 1602.1), printed page 6 of 33 — read visually from a 170 dpi render of https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/94568. The row is not struck through. Text extraction of this page detached the amounts from their labels entirely, so the render is the authority.
Residential — $100; Commercial — $250
Building permit fee where the change of occupancy involves construction — valuation-based (Table 1-A)Local Additions and Addenda, Section 404 Fees, 'TABLE 1-A — BUILDING CODE/PERMIT FEES', read from a 170 dpi render of pages 40 and 41 of 45. Alterations are valued at 20% of new building value under the same section's 'Additional Value Determinations'. Plan review is 65% of the calculated permit fee.
$1 to $500: $23.50; $501 to $2,000: $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100, or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000; $2,001 to $25,000: $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000; $25,001 to $50,000: $391.75 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000; $50,001 to $100,000: $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000; $100,001 to $500,000: $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000; $500,001 to $1,000,000: $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, and including $1,000,000; $1,000,001 and up: $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit permit actually take in Unincorporated Maricopa County?

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

Inspection process

    See the full Unincorporated Maricopa County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

    Tips

    • The $75 Occupancy Change fee is only part of the cost — a Zoning Clearance ($100 residential / $250 commercial) is separately required before any change of use, and any physical alteration is billed on top at Table 1-A valuation (alterations are valued at 20% of new building value) plus 65% plan review.
    • Maricopa County does not review fire and life safety for your new occupancy. The fire district serving the parcel does, under its own fire code — contact it early, because the county's Certificate of Occupancy is expressly conditioned on 'Fire Jurisdiction' approval.
    • A Zoning Clearance is void 180 days after its effective date if the new use has not actually commenced, and it dies automatically if the associated Building Permit expires. Do not let entitlement work sit.
    • Verify the $75 figure with Planning & Development (602-506-3301) before relying on it: the adopted Local Additions and Addenda prices it, but the department's June 2024 fee summary marks the row as not configured in its Permit Center system.

    Frequently asked questions

    Unincorporated Maricopa County requires a change of use / change of occupancy permit for: 'It shall be unlawful to construct, alter, repair or improve, remove or demolish, or to commence the creation, construction, alteration, removal or demolition of a building, structure or use without first filing with the Zoning Inspector an application for and obtaining a Zoning Clearance' — the ordinance text expressly reaches a change of use, not only physical construction (Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance Article 1204.4, page 12-6); A Certificate of Occupancy is required for all permits; its stated purpose is 'to ensure that all department, Fire Jurisdiction, plan and safety inspection requirements have been met and the building has been deemed safe for occupancy and use' (Local Additions and Addenda, Section 111); Fire and life-safety review for the new occupancy is performed by the Fire Authority Having Jurisdiction under Chapter 9 of that authority's adopted Fire Code — Maricopa County amended IBC Section 901.1 to delegate it and adopts no fire code of its own (Local Additions and Addenda, Tab F, printed page 11); A Zoning Clearance expires 180 days from its effective date if the use or authorized building construction has not actually commenced, and is void if the Building Permit for which it was a requirement expires (MCZO Article 1204.6.1); A Zoning Clearance will not be issued unless the owner guarantees access to Maricopa County personnel and appropriate emergency service providers for building inspections, zoning enforcement, and the provision of emergency services (MCZO Article 1204.5); Apply online through Permit Center (https://maricopacountyaz-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice) — paper submittals are no longer accepted. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Maricopa County Planning and Development Department at 602-506-3301 before starting work.

    The county's adopted Local Additions and Addenda prices 'Occupancy Change' as a flat rate fee of $75. A Zoning Clearance is separately required before a change of use and costs $100 residential or $250 commercial. Any physical construction is billed additionally on the Table 1-A valuation schedule plus a plan review fee of 65 percent of the permit fee. Note that the department's Summary of the Fee Schedule, June 2024 shows the Occupancy Change row struck through, which that document defines as a fee not configured in its Permit Center system — confirm the current charge at 602-506-3301. Sources: https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5808 and https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/94568

    Unincorporated Maricopa County does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Maricopa County Planning and Development Department at 602-506-3301 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Permit Center Application; Site Plan (per the Department's Site Plan Checklist). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through Maricopa County Planning and Development Department at 301 W. Jefferson, Suite 170, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Phone: 602-506-3301. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://www.maricopa.gov/797/Planning-Development.

    Unincorporated Maricopa County, Arizona has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted by Maricopa County Board of Supervisors 17 August 2022 (with AZBO/MAG amendments); Local Additions and Addenda TA2022001 dated 19 September 2022; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — adopted 17 August 2022 (BOS vote, with AZBO/MAG amendments and Local Additions and Addenda); 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — adopted 17 August 2022 (BOS vote, with AZBO/MAG amendments); 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — adopted 17 August 2022 (BOS vote, with AZBO/MAG amendments); 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — adopted 17 August 2022 (BOS vote, with AZBO/MAG amendments); 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — adopted 17 August 2022 (BOS vote, with AZBO/MAG amendments); 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) — adopted 17 August 2022, optional use; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — adopted 17 August 2022, optional use; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) — adopted 17 August 2022 (BOS vote, with AZBO/MAG amendments). Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Maricopa County overview page for the full list.

    No. Maricopa County adopts no fire code and amended International Building Code Section 901.1 so that fire protection and life safety systems 'be determined by the Fire Authority Having Jurisdiction and Chapter 9 of their adopted Fire Code.' The fire district serving your parcel performs that review and issues any fire permits. The county's Certificate of Occupancy is expressly conditioned on Fire Jurisdiction approval. Source: Local Additions and Addenda, https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5808

    Sources & verification

    Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-15.

    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 Unincorporated Maricopa County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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    Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit in other cities

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