Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Tenant Improvement, Remodel) in Unincorporated Maricopa County, Arizona
Required for all new commercial, industrial, and multi-family buildings, tenant improvements, remodels, and change-of-use projects in the unincorporated areas of Maricopa County. The Maricopa County Planning and Development Department enforces the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) with local amendments for commercial construction in unincorporated areas. Applications are submitted online through Permit Center.
Verified 2026-06-29 · Source
When you need this permit
- Required for all new commercial, industrial, and multi-family construction, tenant improvements, remodels, and change-of-occupancy projects in unincorporated Maricopa County
- Apply online through Permit Center (https://maricopacountyaz-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice); company account recommended for contractor applicants
- Submit site plan (view a typical commercial site plan at https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/71170/Typical-Site-Plan-Commercial) and complete construction plans as PDFs
- Know the project valuation; commercial shell buildings are valued at 80% of new building value per local amendments
- PDF files must be properly rotated, flattened, and optimized per Document Preparation Tip Sheet
Required documents
- Req
Typical Site Plan — Commercial
Example commercial site plan; available at https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/71170/Typical-Site-Plan-Commercial
- Req
Commercial Site Plan Checklist
Checklist for commercial submittals; available at https://www.maricopa.gov/6723/Commercial-Site-Plan-Checklist
- Req
Document Preparation Tip Sheet
Requirements for PDFs submitted to Permit Center; available at https://www.maricopa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/41876/DOCUMENT-PREPARATION-TIP-SHEET-PDF
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit/inspection fee (Building-Inspection) — valuation-based per Table 1-A | $1–$500: $23.50; $501–$2,000: $23.50 for first $500 + $3.05 per additional $100; $2,001–$25,000: $69.25 for first $2,000 + $14.00 per additional $1,000; $25,001–$50,000: $391.75 for first $25,000 + $10.10 per additional $1,000; $50,001–$100,000: $643.75 for first $50,000 + $7.00 per additional $1,000; $100,001–$500,000: $993.75 for first $100,000 + $5.60 per additional $1,000; $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,233.75 for first $500,000 + $4.75 per additional $1,000; $1,000,001+: $5,608.75 for first $1,000,000 + $3.65 per additional $1,000 | Local Additions and Addenda, Table 1-A (June 2024 Summary of Fee Schedule). Commercial shell buildings valued at 80% of new building value; alterations at 20% of new construction value for the area of alteration. |
| Plan review fee (Building-Plan Review) | 65% of the calculated permit fee | Local Additions and Addenda §Processing. Covers up to three submissions and reviews. |
| After-hours commercial inspection | $250 per inspection | Local Additions and Addenda (Building-Commercial After Hours Inspection) |
| Reinspection/failed inspection | $250 per commercial reinspection | Local Additions and Addenda (Building-Commercial Failed Inspection) |
Review timeline
~10–45 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Unincorporated Maricopa County building department
Inspection process
- 1
Footing/Foundation
Before concrete pour — per 2018 IBC
- 2
Framing / Structural
After structural framing complete, before wall cover
- 3
Final
All work complete per approved plans; Certificate of Occupancy issued
Tips
- Use the Featured Permitting Solutions page (https://www.maricopa.gov/4360/Featured-Permitting-Solutions) to learn about Fast Track, Permit By Inspector, Annual Facilities Permit, and Standard Plans programs — these can significantly reduce review time and costs.
- Annual Facilities Permit (AFP) is available for qualified facilities that regularly employ tradespeople on-site; it avoids the need for individual permits for routine alterations. Registration fee: $1,500; annual renewal: $500/year; inspections billed at $190/hour.
- Commercial shell buildings are valued at 80% of new construction value for fee calculation purposes.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I apply for a commercial building permit in unincorporated Maricopa County?
- Apply online through Permit Center at https://maricopacountyaz-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice. Create a company account, complete the online application, upload required PDFs (site plan, construction plans), and pay any upfront fees. Source: https://www.maricopa.gov/1631/Commercial-Construction
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.
- Maricopa County Planning and Development Department — official building department
- Commercial Construction | Maricopa County Planning & Development
- Local Additions and Addenda (TA2022001, 19 September 2022) — PDF
- Summary of the Fee Schedule, June 2024 — PDF
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.
Other permits in Unincorporated Maricopa County
Get the AI compliance checklist
Upload your project scope, get a jurisdiction-specific checklist of everything you need. Coming soon.
We only use your email to send permit updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.