Commercial Building Permit (New Construction and Tenant Improvement) in Bullhead City, Arizona

Bullhead City requires a commercial building permit (new construction and tenant improvement) for: Building permit required for new commercial/multi-family construction, additions, and tenant-improvement/build-out work within Bullhead City limits; reviewed against the 2018 IBC as adopted by the City (BHCMC Chapter 15.12, effective 07/01/2024); One completed Permit Application worksheet; two copies of an 8.5"x11" site plan; three complete sets of full-size (minimum 24"x36") plans, per the Commercial and Multi-Family Handout's 'General Requirements for Plan Submittal'; Structural calculations (two copies) required for areas of unconventional construction, or as required by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration — the Handout specifically flags commercial/multi-family buildings over two stories, over 3,000 sq ft, intended for occupancy by more than twenty persons, or with spans over 20 feet not achieved by trusses as requiring an Arizona-licensed registrant's seal; Building plans must show ADA accessibility (parking, signage, accessible route, ramp, entrance, restrooms, etc.) per the Handout's 'Building Plans' section; Planning & Zoning Plan Check List (Commercial and/or Multiple Family Plan Review) applies in parallel: parking calculations/surfacing/dimensions, landscaping calculations and plant list, screening for outside storage/loading/trash enclosures, signage compliance, and — for parcels zoned C1/C2/C3 within 150 ft of a major/minor arterial street — supplemental exterior building-material standards (at least 33% of visible wall area within that zone must be masonry, stucco, or brick); General Contractor must provide an Arizona State Contractor's License Number, Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) Number, and City of Bullhead City Business License Number on the Permit Application; for projects valued at $50,000.00 or more, the contractor must also provide an Arizona Department of Revenue Bond Exemption Certificate or a One-Time Bond Exemption; Owner-Builder applicants must complete a separate 'Declaration of Intent' form; Prior to City permit issuance, the applicant is responsible for obtaining all required non-City agency approvals applicable to the project scope (Bullhead City Fire Department plan review, Mohave County Development Services, Mohave County Environmental Health Department, ADOT, utility providers, etc.), per the Handout's 'Outside Agency Approvals' section and the City's separate 'Outside Agency Approvals' form; A separate Flood Plain Development Permit is required if the lot is in a FEMA-designated flood zone; separate permits are also required for related work such as signs, fences/screening devices, and driveway/right-of-way approaches; Subject to the City's A.R.S. § 9-835 review timeframe: the Handout's 'General Information' section directs applicants to the City's 'Building and Zoning Permits' timeline guide, i.e. the same 15-working-day Administrative Completeness Review followed by a 45-working-day Substantive Review (60 working days combined) applied to all City building permits — no separate or expedited commercial-specific timeline was found; A soil-treatment report from an Arizona-licensed pest control agency, for prevention of termite infestation, is required prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Bullhead City Development Services Department — Building Division at 928-763-0124 before starting work.

The Building Official determines a project valuation using the Building Valuation Rates table (Section A3.40.021.01), which varies by occupancy group (e.g., Business Group B: $114.94-$168.19/sq ft; Mercantile Group M: $81.44-$121.56/sq ft, depending on construction type IA-VB) plus any equipment/miscellaneous valuation add-ons. That valuation is then run through the same graduated Valuation Fee table (Section A3.40.021.02) used for residential permits, plus a Plan Review Fee of 65% of the building permit fee (Section A3.40.021.04).

No commercial-specific timeline distinct from the City's general process was found. The Commercial and Multi-Family Handout refers applicants to the City's 'Building and Zoning Permits Guide,' which documents the A.R.S. § 9-835 combined 60-working-day timeframe (15 working days Administrative Completeness Review, then 45 working days Substantive Review) that governs all City building permits.

You'll need: Permit Application (rev. 09/2022); Commercial and Multi-Family Handout (eff. 07/01/2026); Planning & Zoning Plan Check List — Commercial and/or Multiple Family Plan Review; Outside Agency Approvals Form. Depending on your project, Bullhead City may also ask for: Structural Calculations; Drainage Fixture Unit (REU) Calculation and Water Resources Fee Calculation (WRF) Forms; Declaration of Intent for Owner-Builders; Arizona Department of Revenue Bond Exemption Certificate / One-Time Bond Exemption. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Bullhead City requires 5 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit (new construction and tenant improvement), in order: Foundation/Footing, Framing, Rough Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical, Planning / Engineering / Fire Final Sign-Offs, Final / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Bullhead City Development Services Department — Building Division (928-763-0124).

Apply through City of Bullhead City Development Services Department — Building Division at 2355 Trane Road, Bullhead City, AZ 86442. Phone: 928-763-0124, email: schooniyom@bullheadcityaz.gov. Office hours: City Hall, 2355 Trane Road, Bullhead City, AZ 86442. Building Division main line 928-763-0124 (fax 928-763-0131); Inspection Requests line 928-763-0172. Development Services Director/Building Official: Saritti "Billy" Chooniyom, CBO (schooniyom@bullheadcityaz.gov). Sr. Plan Review/Administrative Manager: Wendy Lewis (wlewis@bullheadcityaz.gov). Manufactured-home permitting contact: dking@bullheadcityaz.gov. Permit Application Packets are submitted in person or by mail to the Building Division/Planning & Zoning Division at City Hall. Source: City of Bullhead City Building and Renovating page and 2025 AZBO Directory.. Official information: https://www.bullheadcityaz.gov/business-development/building-and-renovating/.

Bullhead City, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-city/county authority under state enabling statutes (A.R.S. Title 9, §§ 9-831 through 9-840). The City of Bullhead City runs its own Development Services Department / Building Division and independently adopts and administers its own construction codes; it does not defer permitting to Mohave County. Source: City of Bullhead City 'Adopted Building Codes' notice (effective 07/01/2026) and 'Work Exempt From Permits' handout (effective 07/01/2024).; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), as published by the International Code Council, adopted with local amendments (Bullhead City Municipal Code (BHCMC) Chapter 15.12). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), for one- and two-family dwellings and associated accessory structures, adopted with local amendments (BHCMC Chapter 15.14). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026; City of Bullhead City 2018 IRC Design Criteria sheet, effective 07/01/2024.; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted with local amendments (BHCMC Chapter 15.20) — one edition behind the 2018 ICC code set. Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026. The City Council approved adoption of the 2018-cycle ICC codes and 2017 NEC on 04/16/2024, effective for applications beginning 07/01/2024. Source: Mohave Daily News, 'Bullhead City moves toward updating building codes.'; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted with local amendments (BHCMC Chapter 15.28). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted with local amendments (BHCMC Chapter 15.32). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted with local amendments (BHCMC Chapter 15.34). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted with local amendments (BHCMC Chapter 15.22). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted with local amendments (BHCMC Chapter 15.26). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), adopted with local amendments (BHCMC Chapter 15.30). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) is referenced by the City for demolition/fire-safety provisions, but fire code administration in Bullhead City is handled by the Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety, which has separately adopted the 2024 International Fire Code; contact the Bullhead City Fire Department at (928) 758-3971 / planreview@bullheadfire.org for fire plan review. Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (ADAAG Manual, US Access Board) adopted, no local BHCMC chapter assignment (NA). Source: City of Bullhead City Adopted Building Codes notice, effective 07/01/2026.; Manufactured homes, factory-built buildings, and park model trailers are separately regulated through the City's intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) for installation, reinspection, additional inspections and extensions (fees per the ADOH Fee Schedule, A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 37, Article 3); the City separately issues Zoning Clearance permits for placement/siting. Source: City of Bullhead City Comprehensive Fee Schedule FY2025-2026, Section A3.40.022.07.. Local amendments apply — see the Bullhead City overview page for the full list.

No distinct tenant-improvement permit, handout, or fee line item was found. Tenant build-out work is submitted under the same Commercial and Multi-Family Handout and Permit Application (which has a dedicated 'Tenant' field) as new commercial construction, and is billed through the same graduated Building Permit Valuation Fee table.