Skip to main content
PermitBase

Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use in Colorado City, Arizona

Colorado City has no separately named 'change of use permit' or 'certificate of occupancy permit' product, application, checklist, or fee distinct from its general Building Permit (CITY INSPECT) process. However, the Town has genuinely adopted a Certificate of Occupancy requirement: the 2006 International Building Code as adopted by the Town (Town Code § 150.01) includes IBC § 110 (Certificate of Occupancy), and the Town specifically amended IBC § 110.1 (Use and Occupancy) to add 'Exception: R-3 and U Occupancies' (Town Code § 150.01(C)) -- meaning the Town's own ordinance text confirms that occupancy classifications OTHER than R-3 (residential) and U (utility/miscellaneous) require the Building Official to issue a Certificate of Occupancy before use, occupancy, or a change in occupancy classification. Where a proposed change of use involves no construction, the Town's general Land Use Application offers a 'Land Use Verification/Other' category (paired with a published $50 Zoning Verification Letter Fee) that appears to be the applicable zoning-compliance route.

Reviewed 2026-07-23 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Under the 2006 IBC as adopted by the Town (Town Code § 150.01), a building or structure may not be used or occupied, and its occupancy classification may not be changed, until the Building Official issues a Certificate of Occupancy (IBC § 110, § 110.1 Use and Occupancy)
  • The Town's own amendment to IBC § 110.1 adds 'Exception: R-3 and U Occupancies' (Town Code § 150.01(C)) -- confirming that R-3 (residential) and U (utility/miscellaneous) occupancies are exempt from the Certificate of Occupancy requirement, while all other occupancy classifications (commercial, business, mercantile, assembly, educational, institutional, storage, factory/industrial, etc.) require one
  • No standalone 'Change of Use Permit' or 'Certificate of Occupancy Permit' application, checklist, or fee distinct from the general CITY INSPECT Building Permit process was found published by the Town as of this review
  • Where a proposed change of use involves construction or alteration, it is processed as a Building Permit through the CITY INSPECT portal, culminating in the Building Official's Certificate of Occupancy determination
  • Where no construction is involved, the Town's general Land Use Application (tocc.us/applications) includes a 'Land Use Verification/Other' category with 'Existing Use' and 'Proposed Use' fields -- paired with a published $50.00 Zoning Verification Letter Fee (Resolution 2026-08 Exhibit A) -- which appears to be the applicable route for confirming zoning compliance of a use change without a building permit
  • Any new business operating in Colorado City must separately obtain an annual Town business license regardless of whether the space's occupancy classification is changing (Town Code § 110.02; flat $28.00/year fee under § 110.05), administered by the Town Clerk rather than the Building Department or Zoning Administrator

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Fee schedule

Certificate of Occupancy / Building Permit Fee (if construction involved)No fee schedule dollar figures were discoverable for a change of occupancy classification distinct from the general building permit fee gap already documented throughout this file.
Confirmed gap -- no distinct fee found; if construction/alteration is involved, the Town's standard Building Permit fee mechanism applies (set by Town Council resolution, no published dollar figure -- see residential-building-permit entry in this file)
Zoning Verification Letter FeeConfirmed via direct visual review of Resolution 2026-08 Exhibit A (Planning & Zoning Code Fees, page 1 of 2, 'Other' section) -- corresponds to the 'Land Use Verification/Other' category on the Town's general Land Use Application, the likely route for a change-of-use request that does not involve construction.
$50.00
Business License Fee (if a new business, separate from any zoning/building fee)Town Code § 110.05(B): 'A flat rate of $28 per business is hereby established as the business license annual fee'; new licenses are prorated quarterly. This is an annual business-operation fee administered by the Town Clerk, not a zoning or building change-of-use fee.
$28.00 per year (flat rate)

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use permit actually take in Colorado City?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Inspection (Certificate of Occupancy)

    Required before the Building Official may issue a Certificate of Occupancy for any occupancy classification other than R-3/U, confirming compliance with approved plans and applicable code (IBC § 110, Town Code § 150.01(C))

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

Tips

  • The Town's own IBC amendment (Town Code § 150.01(C), adding 'Exception: R-3 and U Occupancies' to IBC § 110.1) is the clearest direct evidence that Colorado City DOES require Certificates of Occupancy for non-residential/non-utility uses -- despite having no separately named 'change of use' or 'CO' permit product, checklist, or fee.
  • If a change of use involves no physical construction, the more likely applicable Town process is the general Land Use Application's 'Land Use Verification/Other' category ($50 Zoning Verification Letter Fee) rather than a Building Permit -- confirm directly with Community Development, since no dedicated 'change of use' checklist was found.
  • Don't conflate the Town's business license requirement ($28/year flat fee, Town Clerk's office, Town Code Chapter 110) with a zoning/building change-of-use requirement -- they are administered by different offices and are not substitutes for each other.

Frequently asked questions

Colorado City requires a certificate of occupancy / change of use permit for: Under the 2006 IBC as adopted by the Town (Town Code § 150.01), a building or structure may not be used or occupied, and its occupancy classification may not be changed, until the Building Official issues a Certificate of Occupancy (IBC § 110, § 110.1 Use and Occupancy); The Town's own amendment to IBC § 110.1 adds 'Exception: R-3 and U Occupancies' (Town Code § 150.01(C)) -- confirming that R-3 (residential) and U (utility/miscellaneous) occupancies are exempt from the Certificate of Occupancy requirement, while all other occupancy classifications (commercial, business, mercantile, assembly, educational, institutional, storage, factory/industrial, etc.) require one; No standalone 'Change of Use Permit' or 'Certificate of Occupancy Permit' application, checklist, or fee distinct from the general CITY INSPECT Building Permit process was found published by the Town as of this review; Where a proposed change of use involves construction or alteration, it is processed as a Building Permit through the CITY INSPECT portal, culminating in the Building Official's Certificate of Occupancy determination; Where no construction is involved, the Town's general Land Use Application (tocc.us/applications) includes a 'Land Use Verification/Other' category with 'Existing Use' and 'Proposed Use' fields -- paired with a published $50.00 Zoning Verification Letter Fee (Resolution 2026-08 Exhibit A) -- which appears to be the applicable route for confirming zoning compliance of a use change without a building permit; Any new business operating in Colorado City must separately obtain an annual Town business license regardless of whether the space's occupancy classification is changing (Town Code § 110.02; flat $28.00/year fee under § 110.05), administered by the Town Clerk rather than the Building Department or Zoning Administrator. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Town of Colorado City Building Department at 928-875-9165 before starting work.

In Colorado City, the published Certificate of Occupancy / Building Permit Fee (if construction involved) is: Confirmed gap -- no distinct fee found; if construction/alteration is involved, the Town's standard Building Permit fee mechanism applies (set by Town Council resolution, no published dollar figure -- see residential-building-permit entry in this file). Additional published fees: Zoning Verification Letter Fee — $50.00; Business License Fee (if a new business, separate from any zoning/building fee) — $28.00 per year (flat rate). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Colorado City does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Town of Colorado City Building Department at 928-875-9165 for current turnaround.

Depending on your project, Colorado City may also ask for: CITY INSPECT Application; Land Use Application (Land Use Verification/Other); Business License Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Colorado City requires 1 inspection(s) for a certificate of occupancy / change of use permit, in order: Final Inspection (Certificate of Occupancy). Schedule each through Town of Colorado City Building Department (928-875-9165).

Apply through Town of Colorado City Building Department at 25 S Central Street, Colorado City, AZ 86021. Phone: 928-875-9165, email: building@tocc.us. Office hours: Building Official: Andrew J. Barlow (928-875-9165, fax 928-875-2778, building@tocc.us). General Town phone (928) 875-9160, clerk@tocc.us. ALL building permit applications and building inspections are processed through the CITY INSPECT online portal (tocc.cityinspect.com) — the Town's Building Department page directs applicants to log in or register there rather than submit paper applications in person, though the physical Building Department office is at 25 S Central Street. Addressing/address-verification requests go to Lucille Barlow at addressing@tocc.us. The Building Department works closely with Planning & Zoning (planning@tocc.us) on development review. Source: Town of Colorado City Building Department page (tocc.us/building).. Official information: https://www.tocc.us/building.

Yes, for any occupancy other than R-3 (residential) or U (utility/miscellaneous) -- the Town's own amendment to IBC § 110.1 (Town Code § 150.01(C)) exempts only those two occupancy classifications from the Certificate of Occupancy requirement in the adopted 2006 IBC. No separately named 'change of use permit' product exists; a change in occupancy classification is processed through the same Building Official/CITY INSPECT authority that issues the Certificate of Occupancy.

The Town's general Land Use Application includes a 'Land Use Verification/Other' category ($50 Zoning Verification Letter Fee per Resolution 2026-08 Exhibit A) that appears to be the applicable route for confirming zoning compliance of a use change without triggering a full building permit -- confirm directly with the Community Development Department, since no dedicated 'change of use' checklist was found. A separate annual business license ($28/year, Town Clerk) is also required for the new business regardless.

Other permits in Colorado City

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Remodel / Accessory Structure PermitElectrical PermitPlumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitSolar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitFence PermitElectric Vehicle (EV) Charger / EVSE PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler & Fire Alarm Permit

Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Use in other cities

Avondale, ArizonaBenson, ArizonaBisbee, ArizonaBullhead City, ArizonaCarefree, ArizonaCasa Grande, ArizonaCave Creek, ArizonaChandler, Arizona

Compare certificate of occupancy / change of use fees across Arizona →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Colorado City project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Colorado City — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →