Bullhead City building permits

Requirements

• Building permit required for new single-family dwelling construction within Bullhead City limits
• Plans must comply with the 2018 IRC and City design criteria: 115 mph ultimate design wind speed (90 mph basic, Exposure C), Seismic Design Category B, 39°F winter design temperature, moderate-to-heavy termite potential, 0 ground snow load, 2 in/hr 100-year 1-hour rainfall
• Construction documents prepared per the City's Single Family Dwelling Handout submittal checklist
• Owner-Builder applicants must complete a separate 'Declaration of Intent' form; otherwise a licensed Arizona contractor with a valid AZ Contractors License Number, AZ Transaction Privilege Number, and City of Bullhead City Business License Number must be listed on the Permit Application
• Permit Application Packet submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division at City Hall, 2355 Trane Road, Bullhead City, AZ 86442
• Subject to the City's A.R.S. § 9-835 review timeframe: 15 working days Administrative Completeness Review, then 45 working days Substantive Review (60 working days combined)

Required documents

• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)City of Bullhead City general Permit Application, including ARS §9-834 licensing-decision disclosure and ARS §9-495 communication-response disclosure printed on the form itself
• RequiredSingle Family Dwelling HandoutCity of Bullhead City submittal checklist for new single-family dwelling construction
• RequiredSite/Plot PlanLot dimensions, easements, setbacks, and structure locations, per Mohave County APN and legal description fields on the Permit Application
• RequiredConstruction DrawingsFull construction document set complying with 2018 IRC and City Design Criteria; Manual J design optional per City criteria sheet
• OptionalDeclaration of Intent for Owner-BuildersRequired only if the applicant is proceeding as an owner-builder rather than through a licensed contractor

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for room additions, garage construction, remodels, and similar alterations
• Room Addition Handout and Garage Handout submittal checklists apply depending on scope
• One-story detached accessory structures (sheds/gazebos/playhouses) up to 120 sq ft, at least 6 ft from other structures, with no electrical/mechanical/plumbing systems, are exempt from a building permit (but must still meet zoning setbacks and cannot sit in a recorded easement or FEMA flood zone other than X/shaded-X)
• Decks not more than 30 inches above grade (measured 36 in horizontal from the deck edge), self-supporting, and not supporting a roof are exempt from a permit
• Plans must comply with City of Bullhead City Design Criteria (115 mph ultimate wind speed, Exposure C; Seismic Design Category B)

Required documents

• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)Submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division at City Hall
• RequiredRoom Addition HandoutCity of Bullhead City submittal checklist for room additions and remodels
• OptionalGarage HandoutCity of Bullhead City submittal checklist for detached or attached garage construction
• RequiredSite/Plot PlanShowing existing structure, addition footprint, and setbacks

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical permit required for services, panels, receptacle/lighting outlets, power apparatus (motors/generators/transformers), signs, and other hard-wired electrical work
• Governed by the 2017 NEC as adopted by the City (BHCMC Chapter 15.20)
• Minor repairs, lamp replacement, and plugging into approved permanently-installed receptacles are exempt from a permit
• No charge for a permit to install a commercially manufactured electric pet containment fence
• Apply via Permit Application submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division at City Hall

Required documents

• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)Submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division
• RequiredResidential Electrical / UniSource Residential Electrical Handout (2018)City of Bullhead City submittal handout for residential electrical scope
• OptionalElectrical Load Calculation (with or without Manufactured Home variant, 2018)Required for service upgrades and new electrical service

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Plumbing permit required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing fixtures, water heaters, and gas piping systems
• Governed by the 2018 IPC as adopted by the City (BHCMC Chapter 15.32)
• Stopping leaks that do not require replacing concealed pipe, and clearing stoppages/leaks not requiring valve/pipe/fixture replacement (including water closet removal/reinstallation), are exempt from a permit
• Apply via Permit Application submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division at City Hall

Required documents

• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)Submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division
• OptionalDrainage Fixture Unit (REU) Calculation ManualCity of Bullhead City manual-fill worksheet for calculating residential equivalency units (REU) for sewer capacity charge purposes

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Mechanical permit required for installation/relocation of furnaces, boilers, compressors, air-handling units, and ventilation systems
• Governed by the 2018 IMC as adopted by the City (BHCMC Chapter 15.28)
• Portable heating/ventilation/cooling appliances and evaporative coolers, and self-contained refrigeration systems of 10 lbs or less refrigerant (or ≤1 HP motor), are exempt from a permit
• Apply via Permit Application submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division at City Hall

Required documents

• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)Submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for re-roofing work under the 2018 IBC/IRC as adopted by the City
• Governed by BHCMC Chapters 15.12 (IBC) and 15.14 (IRC)
• Owner-Builder applicants must complete a separate Declaration of Intent form; otherwise a licensed Arizona contractor must be listed on the Permit Application
• Permit Application Packet submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division at City Hall

Required documents

• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)Submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division
• RequiredSite/Plot PlanExisting property lines, house footprint, and address information consistent with the Permit Application's legal-description fields

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical permit required for residential PV and wind-driven system installation, reviewed against the 2017 NEC as adopted by the City
• Submittal follows the PV and Wind Driven Systems Handout checklist (construction plans: site plan, roof/mounting layout, racking/attachment details, electrical one-line diagram; cut sheets for panels/inverters/racking)
• Owner-Builder applicants must complete a separate Declaration of Intent form; otherwise a licensed Arizona contractor must be listed on the Permit Application
• Apply via Permit Application submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division at City Hall

Required documents

• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)Submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division
• RequiredPV and Wind Driven Systems HandoutCity of Bullhead City submittal checklist and required document package for residential photovoltaic and wind-driven energy systems

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required before demolishing a residential or commercial structure within Bullhead City limits
• Commercial demolition must follow Arizona Asbestos NESHAP Regulations for Demolition and Renovations — contact ADEQ Air Quality Compliance Section, Asbestos NESHAP Program (1110 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007, 602-771-2333)
• Must comply with 2018 IBC Section 3303 (Demolition): pedestrian protection per Section 3306 where work is adjacent to a public way; vacant lots filled and maintained to existing grade; provisions to prevent water accumulation/foundation damage; utility connections discontinued and capped per code; fire safety per IFC Chapter 33
• Permit Application Packet submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division at City Hall

Required documents

• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)Submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division
• RequiredCommercial Demolition HandoutCity of Bullhead City requirements sheet for commercial demolition, including ADEQ NESHAP and 2018 IBC Section 3303 compliance items

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Fences not over 6 feet in height located outside of zoning setback areas do NOT require a building permit (City 'Work Exempt From Permits' list)
• Retaining walls outside zoning setback areas, not over 4 feet high (measured bottom of footing to top of wall) and not supporting a surcharge, do NOT require a building permit
• Retaining walls in a recorded Public Utility Easement (PUE) require a City Encroachment permit regardless of height
• Retaining walls that require a permit may use the City's standard detail unless they retain a surcharge, in which case they must be designed by an Arizona-licensed design professional per 2018 IBC Section 1806
• Fences acting as a pool barrier must meet the ICC Swimming Pool and Spa Code requirements as amended by the City regardless of the general fence exemption

Required documents

• RequiredFence and Block Wall HandoutCity of Bullhead City submittal handout for fences and block walls
• RequiredRetaining Wall HandoutCity of Bullhead City submittal handout for retaining walls, including engineering requirements for surcharge-bearing walls
• RequiredPermit Application (rev. 09/2022)Submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division (for permit-required fences/walls) or Planning & Zoning Division (for the Planning Permits for Fences process)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for swimming pools and spas, except prefabricated pools holding less than 18 inches of water and less than 8 feet wide at any point (exempt from a permit)
• Governed by the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) as adopted by the City (BHCMC Chapter 15.30)
• Pool Barrier Checklist Agreement must be completed and a pool safety handout reviewed per the City's Swimming Pool Handout and Pool Safety Handout
• Pool Heater Worksheet required if a pool/spa heater is included in scope

Required documents

• RequiredSwimming Pool HandoutCity of Bullhead City submittal checklist for swimming pool and spa permits
• RequiredPool Barrier Checklist AgreementCity of Bullhead City pool barrier compliance checklist and signed agreement
• RequiredPool Safety HandoutCity of Bullhead City pool safety information handout
• OptionalPool Heater WorksheetRequired if a pool or spa heater is part of the project scope
• OptionalStorable Pool HandoutApplies specifically to storable/portable pool installations

Fee schedule