Lake Havasu City building permits

Requirements

• Building permit required for new single-family dwelling and duplex construction within Lake Havasu City limits
• Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC and City amendments, including the replaced Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (99 mph ultimate wind design speed / 78 mph ASD, no topographic effects; negligible weathering/frost/termite; 39°F winter design temperature) and Seismic Design Category D per ASCE 7-22 as identified in the City's 2024 Code Letter to Contractors
• Site plan required showing house location, setbacks, accessory structures, septic tank/leach line locations (if applicable), retaining/block walls, driveway location and dimensions, finish floor elevations, and utility easements
• Full plan set required per the Residential Single Family Dwelling Unit checklist: foundation plan, floor plan, typical wall cross-section, electrical plan, roof framing plan (with Arizona-registrant-sealed truss calculations, seal dated within 1 year of submittal), and a minimum of 4 exterior elevation views
• Completeness review (verifying the submittal is complete before plan review begins) takes 7-10 business days; the formal plan-review clock does not start until the submittal is verified complete
• Submittal via the MaintStar Customer Self Service online portal (h2.maintstar.co/lakehavasu/Portal) or at the Development Services Department front counter, 2330 McCulloch Blvd N

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Driveway/Grading/Fire/Water Meter Permit ApplicationLake Havasu City combined permit application form, submitted via the MaintStar portal or in person
• RequiredResidential Single Family Dwelling Unit Plan Requirements Checklist (rev. 01-14-2021)City of Lake Havasu City submittal checklist covering site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, wall cross-section, electrical plan, roof framing plan, and exterior elevations
• RequiredSite/Plot PlanLot dimensions, easements, setbacks, septic (if applicable), and structure locations
• RequiredTruss CalculationsStamped by an Arizona-registered design professional and licensed truss manufacturer, seal dated within 1 year of submittal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for room additions, remodels, garages/sheds, and patio covers/carports
• One-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft do not require a permit (IRC R105.2(1) amendment), but zoning/setback rules still apply
• Residential Additions, Room Additions and Detached Structures Checklist applies; separate handouts exist for Garage/Additions, Garage/RV, Ledger Design, Outdoor Seasonal Room, and Patio (Attached Covered Patio / Patio Conversion to Living Area)
• Plans must comply with City Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (99 mph ultimate wind design, Seismic Design Category D) and the City's Brace Wall Policy for wall bracing

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the MaintStar Customer Self Service portal or in person at the Development Services Department front counter
• RequiredResidential Additions, Room Additions and Detached Structures ChecklistCity of Lake Havasu City submittal checklist for additions, room additions, and detached structures
• RequiredSite/Plot PlanShowing existing structure, addition/accessory-structure footprint, and setbacks

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical permit required for panel work, service changes, new circuits, and other hard-wired electrical work in buildings classified Residential (one- and two-family dwellings, and multi-family Types III/IV/V construction) or Commercial (all other buildings, including hotels/motels/inns) per NEC Article 90.10/100 amendment
• Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted by Lake Havasu City; service disconnecting means must be installed outside the building at a readily accessible location nearest the point of entrance of service conductors, with specific exceptions for electrical equipment rooms in commercial/industrial buildings (2-hour fire barrier, dedicated exterior access door, lock box) per NEC 225.31/230.70(A)(1) amendments
• All services supplying one- and two-family dwellings require a surge-protection device (SPD) per NEC Section E3606.5
• GFCI protection required up to 250 volts (extended from 125 volts) and tamper-resistant receptacle requirements apply broadly across residential and specified commercial/institutional occupancies
• Apply via the MaintStar Customer Self Service online portal or Development Services Department front counter

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Electrical Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the MaintStar CSS portal or in person

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Plumbing permit required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing systems, fixtures, water heaters, and building sewers
• Governed by the 2024 IPC as adopted by Lake Havasu City; building sewers must be tested by plugging the sewer at its connection points and filling with water to a minimum 10-foot head (IPC 312.7 amendment)
• Replacement of an existing water heater that does not change location, increase ampacity, or convert to fuel gas is exempt from a permit (IRC R105.2 Plumbing(3) amendment) — any water heater replacement that does change these factors requires a permit
• Backwater valves must be flapper type complying with ASME A112.14.1, CSA B181.1, or CSA B181.2 (IPC 714.2 amendment)
• Apply via the MaintStar Customer Self Service online portal or Development Services Department front counter

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Plumbing Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the MaintStar CSS portal or in person

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Mechanical permit required for installation, replacement, or relocation of HVAC equipment and ventilation systems
• Governed by the 2024 IMC as adopted by Lake Havasu City
• Replacement of an existing HVAC unit that does not increase unit size, capacity, location, or ampacity is exempt from a permit (IRC R105.2 Mechanical(9) amendment) — any replacement that increases these factors requires a permit
• Equipment/appliances on roofs or elevated structures require a roof-hatch ladder with a compliant top landing (IMC 306.5 amendment, new in the 2024 cycle)
• Apply via the MaintStar Customer Self Service online portal or Development Services Department front counter

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Mechanical Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the MaintStar CSS portal or in person

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for re-roofing except the narrow exemption: in-kind reroofing where the roof sheathing removed and replaced does not exceed 25% of the total roof area (IRC R105.2(11) amendment) — a percentage-of-sheathing-area test, not a material-match test
• Roof sheathing fastening must comply with the amended Table 602.3(1), which the City's 2024 Code Letter to Contractors flags as a new requirement: roof sheathing must be fastened 6 inches on-center at intermediate supports
• Re-roofs exceeding the 25% in-kind threshold, or involving a material/system change, require a full building permit and plan submittal

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Re-Roofing)Submitted via the MaintStar CSS portal or in person
• RequiredRoof plan/material listingExisting framing, square footage, existing/proposed material and weight, sheathing fastening schedule, flashing, underlayment, and roof slope classification

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Photovoltaic disconnecting means must be installed at a readily accessible location outside the building or structure, nearest the point of entrance of the system conductors (NEC 690.13(A)(1) amendment)
• Roof plan showing panel locations and existing roof height required (most zoning classifications cap roof-mounted additions at 15 ft max height)
• Structural calculations and drawings sealed by an Arizona-licensed engineer required, showing connection of pre-manufactured module frames to the existing roof structure
• Manufacturer specifications required for modules (short-circuit current Isc, open-circuit voltage Voc, maximum power Pmax) and inverter (maximum AC power output, disconnect info, ground-fault protection device)
• Complete wiring diagram required: number of modules/strings, conductor/conduit sizing at each stage (string to combiner, combiner to inverter, inverter to back-feed breaker), DC system grounding per NEC 250.166 and 690.47(c), and location of main service/inverter/PV output meter
• A Unisource Electric Letter of Approval is required at time of permit submittal
• Electrical load calculations for the dwelling are required when de-rating the main service panel

Required documents

• RequiredPV Utility-Interactive Systems Plan Submittal Checklist (rev. 05-04-2022)City of Lake Havasu City checklist covering mounting, module/inverter specifications, wiring diagram, and general sizing requirements
• RequiredPV System (Solar) Plan Submittal RequirementsAdditional City reference document for PV plan submittals
• RequiredUnisource Electric Letter of ApprovalRequired at time of permit submittal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required before demolishing a residential or commercial structure within Lake Havasu City limits
• Owner authorization and site information required identifying the structure(s) to be demolished
• All utilities must be terminated/capped before demolition
• Asbestos survey/ADEQ notification (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Asbestos Form) required prior to demolition where applicable — Lake Havasu City's Building Division publishes an 'ADEQ Asbestos Form' as part of its standard forms library
• Project is not legally complete until an approved final inspection has occurred

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Demolition)Submitted via the MaintStar CSS portal or in person
• RequiredADEQ Asbestos FormArizona Department of Environmental Quality asbestos notification form, published in the City's Building Division forms library

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical permit required for EVSE/EV charger circuit installation, alteration, or repair, per the 2023 NEC as adopted and amended by the City
• Governed by NEC Article 625 (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System) as incorporated through the City's 2023 NEC adoption; buildings are classified Residential or Commercial per the City's NEC Article 90.10/100 amendment for code-application purposes
• No dedicated EVSE plan-submittal checklist is published by the City (unlike the dedicated PV Utility-Interactive Systems checklist for solar) — submit via the standard Building/Electrical Permit Application
• A licensed Arizona electrical contractor is required unless the work qualifies for an owner-builder exemption on a personal owner-occupied residence

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding/Electrical Permit ApplicationStandard City application used for electrical work, including EVSE circuit installation; no EVSE-specific form is published

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A swimming pool, spa, or other contained body of water 18 inches or greater in depth requires a building permit; those under 18 inches are exempt (IRC R105.2(7) / IBC 105.2(9) amendment)
• Site plan required showing lot shape, property lines, easements, pool/spa location, width and depth, and estimated project value; Mohave County Health Department approval required if applicable
• Setback rules: pool/spa must be set back from a building footing a distance equal to the pool's depth (or engineered for footing surcharge if closer); minimum 10 ft horizontal separation from overhead electrical service, 5 ft from underground service; minimum 10 ft from the outside face of a retaining wall supporting fill (or engineered self-supporting design if closer); pools within 7 ft of the top of a slope must be engineered self-supporting
• Structural reinforcing steel bonding required for pool/spa/hot tub shells per NEC 680.26(B)(2) amendment (24 in. o.c. each way, connected at four equal points along the perimeter for conductive shells)
• If a gas heater is installed, plans must specify heater BTU rating and gas line size/length from meter to heater (propane gas lines permitted by the Fire Marshal's office)

Required documents

• RequiredRequirements for Residential Pool and Spa Submittal (rev. 01-14-2021)City of Lake Havasu City checklist for site plan and design requirements
• RequiredPool Enclosure PamphletCity reference document on pool barrier/enclosure requirements

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permit required for new commercial structures and new multi-family residential projects within Lake Havasu City limits, processed through the City's Development Review / Permit Process for 'New Commercial Structures, Tenant Improvements, and Multi-Family Projects'
• Step 1 - Pre-Application Meeting: applicant submits a Pre-Application - Commercial & Multi-Family form plus a conceptual site plan; City staff schedule a meeting where the project owner, architect, and contractor meet with the Development Review Committee (one representative each from Planning, Building, Engineering, Fire Prevention, and Stormwater Management) to discuss design review requirements, Building Division requirements, off-site improvements, utility connections, and Fire Department requirements; staff issue the discipline-specific submittal checklists at this meeting
• Step 2 - Completeness Verification: plan review does not begin until City staff verify the submittal package is complete against the checklists issued at the pre-application meeting; incomplete packages are returned to the applicant; once complete, the applicant pays the planning and building review fees and plan review begins
• Step 3 - Plan Review: construction plans are reviewed concurrently by Planning, Building, Engineering, Fire Prevention, and Stormwater Management for code compliance; all review comments are provided to the applicant together with the redlined plans
• Step 4 - Corrections: the applicant is responsible for responding to all comments and required corrections; the review process may repeat as many times as necessary for the applicant to address code requirements
• Step 5 - Permit Issuance: requires payment of all permit and plan-check fees, any off-site improvement guarantees, and Mohave County Health Department approval when required (food establishments; public/semi-public pools or spas, including those in an apartment/condominium/townhouse/motel/hotel and any residential housing unit with 4 or more units; pet shops/kennels/grooming establishments except veterinary clinics; public accommodations such as hotels/motels/inns; RV parks, mobile home parks, campgrounds; and school buildings). No permit is issued until the general contractor's City business license number and State contractor's license number are on file, and, for projects with an estimated value over $50,000, an Arizona Department of Revenue bond exemption certificate has been provided
• Registrant requirement: every plan sheet must be stamped by an Arizona registrant, except projects exempt under A.R.S. § 32-144
• Current commercial code suite: 2024 IBC, 2024 IMC, 2023 NEC, 2024 IPC, 2024 IFGC, 2024 IFC, ANSI A117.1-2017, and the 2010 ADA Standards, plus Lake Havasu City local amendments; automatic fire sprinklers are required on ALL multi-family and commercial occupancies -- a stricter rule than the City's residential track, where the base IRC automatic-sprinkler section (R309) is deleted by City amendment
• Design parameters per the Building Division's Plan Acceptance Criteria: wind design by IBC Table 1604.5 Risk Category -- 93 mph (Risk Category I), 99 mph (Risk Category II), 106 mph (Risk Category III), 110 mph (Risk Category IV); wind exposure B or C as determined by the project engineer; design rainfall 1.5 inches/hour; seismic zone calculated by the project engineer (no single fixed seismic design category is pre-published for commercial, unlike the City's residential Seismic Design Category D)

Required documents

• RequiredPre-Application - Commercial & Multi-FamilyCity of Lake Havasu City form (Rev. 01/07/2021) submitted with a conceptual 8.5x11 site plan (property dimensions, building location(s), parking, driveways, landscape/screen walls) to initiate the mandatory pre-application conference at City Hall, 2330 McCulloch Blvd N
• RequiredPermit and Zoning Clearance ApplicationCity of Lake Havasu City Development Services Department / Building Division combined Building Permit / Utility Service / Off-Site Improvement / Fire Permit application (Rev. 08/05/2025); captures owner/applicant/architect/general contractor contacts, license numbers, and estimated valuation used to calculate the plan-check and building fees
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Building (New Construction)City checklist (Rev. 02-09-2026) that must be attached to the Building submittal: title sheet, site plan, site accessible route plan (IBC 1104 / ADA 206), civil drawings, survey, grading plans, means of egress plan (IBC 107.2.3 / Ch. 10), floor/foundation/roof-framing plans, architectural elevations, cross-sections, structural details, plumbing and mechanical plans, full-size manufacturer stock sheets for Type 1/2 kitchen exhaust systems, electrical plan, ADA specifications sheet, two sealed sets of truss calculations, two sealed sets of structural calculations, an addressing plan, and a soils report or design to 1,500 psf
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Planning (New Construction)City checklist (Rev. 03-15-2023) covering formal design review determination and required site/landscape/elevation/addressing/grading plan sets for Planning Division review
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Engineering (New Construction)City checklist covering right-of-way improvement plans, sealed engineer cost estimates, water/sewer/fire-line site plans, plumbing fixture-unit plans, and an industrial waste questionnaire, plus conditional items (water/sewer capacity study, traffic impact study, offsite improvement agreement, grease interceptor, drainage study) when checked as applicable
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Fire (New Construction)City checklist (Rev. 02-09-2026) covering building plans, fire line/underground supply plans, fire sprinkler plans with hydraulic calculations, fire alarm/monitor plans, and fire suppression/hood/SPL system plans; sprinkler plans require a minimum NICET III or Fire Protection Engineer stamp (13D systems may be designed by a non-registrant); hazardous-materials disclosure and MSDS sheets required when applicable
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Stormwater (New Development)City checklist requiring civil engineered drainage design and calculations retaining 100% of the 100-year, 2-hour storm event onsite (Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure required), a drainage study, percolation test, ADEQ Notice of Intent/SWPPP where disturbance is one acre or more, sediment erosion control plan, building drainage plans, a facilities maintenance agreement, and post-construction BMP O&M/SOPs
• OptionalMohave County Health Department Notification FormCity form requiring the applicant to certify whether the project WILL or WILL NOT require Mohave County Department of Health, Environmental Health Division approval (food establishments, public/semi-public pools/spas, pet shops/kennels/grooming except vet clinics, public accommodations, RV/mobile home parks, school buildings); building permits cannot be issued until Health Department approval is obtained where required
• OptionalArizona Department of Revenue Bond Exemption CertificateRequired prior to permit issuance only for projects with an estimated project value over $50,000, per the Building Division's Plan Acceptance Criteria checklist

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Same 5-step Development Review / Permit Process as new commercial construction (Pre-Application Meeting, Completeness Verification, concurrent Plan Review by Planning/Building/Engineering/Fire/Stormwater, Corrections, Permit Issuance) -- there is no separate, stand-alone TI process or TI-specific application form; the applicant checks 'Tenant Improvement' rather than 'New Construction' on each discipline's Plan Acceptance Criteria checklist
• The Pre-Application - Commercial & Multi-Family form's Site Specifics section captures 'Tenant Space Sq. Ft.' as a distinct field from 'Total Building Sq. Ft.', 'Proposed use', and 'Prior use'
• Where the TI scope involves NO land disturbance, the Stormwater Plan Acceptance Criteria substitutes a dedicated, lighter requirements set in place of the full New Development stormwater package: a Solid Waste Management Plan (trash/debris/construction material management/storage), Storm Drain Inlet Protection (streets, alleys, parking lots, drainage grates, washes), a Spill Response Plan & Emergency Contact Information (oils, grease, fuels, chemicals), and a Slurry Containment plan (cement, tile/stone cutting, stucco, plaster, paint washout containment)
• Automatic fire sprinklers are required on all commercial occupancies, including TI scope; sprinkler and fire-alarm plans require a minimum NICET III (or Fire Protection Engineer) stamp, except a 13D system, which may be designed by a non-registrant
• Mohave County Health Department approval is required if the tenant's proposed use trips a Health-regulated category (food establishment; public/semi-public pool or spa; pet shop/kennel/grooming except veterinary clinics; public accommodation; RV/mobile home park; school building)
• Registrant requirement: every plan sheet must be stamped by an Arizona registrant, except projects exempt under A.R.S. § 32-144
• No permit is issued until the general contractor's City business license number and State contractor's license number are on file

Required documents

• RequiredPre-Application - Commercial & Multi-FamilySame City form (Rev. 01/07/2021) used for new commercial construction; captures Tenant Space Sq. Ft. as a distinct field for TI projects
• RequiredPermit and Zoning Clearance ApplicationSame combined Building Permit / Utility Service / Off-Site Improvement / Fire Permit application (Rev. 08/05/2025) used for new commercial construction
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Building (Tenant Improvement)Same Building checklist as new construction (Rev. 02-09-2026), with the 'Tenant Improvement' box checked; items not applicable to the tenant scope (e.g., grading plans, survey) are marked not required by the reviewer
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Planning (Tenant Improvement)Same Planning checklist as new construction, with the 'Tenant Improvement' box checked
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Fire (Tenant Improvement)Same Fire checklist as new construction, with the 'Tenant Improvement' box checked; covers fire sprinkler/alarm modification plans where the TI scope relocates or adds devices
• RequiredPlan Acceptance Criteria - Stormwater (Tenant Improvements with No Land Disturbance)Distinct, lighter Stormwater requirements set specifically for TI projects with no land disturbance: Solid Waste Management Plan, Storm Drain Inlet Protection, Spill Response Plan & Emergency Contact Information, and Slurry Containment plan (cement, tile/stone cutting, stucco, plaster, paint washout)

Fee schedule