You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-07-07.
South Tucson building permits
VerifiedSouth Tucson, Arizona — as published 2026-07-07.
Verified 2026-07-07 · Source
Codes adopted
South Tucson is a separately incorporated city (population roughly 5,000, land area approximately 1 square mile) that is entirely surrounded by, but administratively and legally independent of, the City of Tucson -- it is sometimes called 'The Pueblo within a City.' South Tucson runs its own Planning, Zoning and Development Services Department, which independently reviews building plans and issues its own building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC, sign, demolition, and remodel permits; it does NOT contract building-permit administration to the City of Tucson or to Pima County. Source: City of South Tucson Development Services and Permits page (southtucsonaz.gov/devservices) and City of South Tucson Permits page (southtucsonaz.gov/devservices/page/permits), both confirming an independent Development Services Division that 'reviews and conducts all inspections related to construction and enforcement within the City.'Arizona has no mandatory statewide building code floor -- code adoption is a per-city/county authority under state enabling statutes (A.R.S. Title 9). The City of South Tucson's currently adopted codes (per 'City of South Tucson Adopted Building Codes, Ordinance No. 25-01') are: 2018 International Building Code (IBC); 2018 International Residential Code (IRC); 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) (one edition behind the 2018-cycle ICC set); 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC); 2018 International Fire Code (IFC); the 2012 City of Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code; Arizona Administrative Code Title 18, Chapter 5, Article 2 (Public and Semipublic Swimming Pools and Spas); and ICC A117.1-2009 (Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities). Source: 'CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON ADOPTED BUILDING CODES, ORDINANCE NO: 25-01' (southtucsonaz.gov/media/10481) and southtucsonaz.gov/devservices/page/permits.These 2018-cycle codes (and the 2017 NEC) are meaningfully older than the 2024-cycle codes/2023 NEC already adopted by the neighboring, separately-verified City of Tucson and unincorporated Pima County jurisdictions in this dataset -- South Tucson has not yet moved to the 2024 ICC cycle as of this review. Source: Ordinance No. 25-01 (southtucsonaz.gov/media/10486) and the individual 'ST 2018 [Code] AMENDMENTS' documents published on the Permits page.Each adopted code carries City of South Tucson local amendments published as standalone PDFs per code (e.g., 'ST 2018 International Building Code AMENDMENTS', 'ST 2017 National Electrical Code AMENDMENTS', etc.), all linked from the Permits page. Source: southtucsonaz.gov/devservices/page/permits.New construction, alterations, modifications, or tenant improvements to commercial properties/structures require construction plans drawn by a professional licensed and registered with the Arizona Board of Technical Registration (architect, mechanical engineer, plumbing engineer, or electrical engineer as applicable to the scope); all such registered professionals conducting business within City limits must also hold an active City of South Tucson business license. Source: southtucsonaz.gov/devservices/page/permits.All contractors, whether working on residential or commercial properties, must be licensed through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors in the applicable classification, and must hold an active City of South Tucson business license to conduct business within city limits. Source: southtucsonaz.gov/devservices/page/permits.
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels)
VerifiedRequired for construction of new residential buildings, porches, additions, garages, and remodeling of existing structures in South Tucson. Reviewed against the 2018 IRC and 2018 IBC (for applicable non-residential elements) as adopted and amended by the City of South Tucson under Ordinance No. 25-01. Applications are submitted through the City's Online Permit Portal (live since March 2, 2026), in person, or by mail to City Hall.
Verified 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Building permit required for construction of all new residential buildings, porches, additions, garages, and remodeling of existing structures
- It is the responsibility of the homeowner or property owner to submit plans and secure permits for this work (per the City's Permit Application & Submittal Checklist)
- Permit applications require 2 digital copies of a site plan and a floor plan
- Detached accessory structures larger than 200 square feet (e.g., storage sheds) require a permit; walls/fences over 7 feet tall require a building permit and a structural engineered design
- Plans reviewed against the 2018 IRC/IBC as adopted and amended by the City of South Tucson (Ordinance No. 25-01); all submitted plans must be neat, legible, and well organized -- Planning and Development Services reviews plans but does not offer design services
- Rental properties are treated as commercial and require a licensed contractor; all contractors must hold both an Arizona Registrar of Contractors license in the applicable classification and an active City of South Tucson business license
- New construction or alterations/expansions/modifications to structures on flood-prone properties additionally require submission of a FEMA Elevation Certificate
- Work started or completed without a permit may still be permitted after the fact, but full standard requirements apply and work must stop immediately until approvals are obtained
Required documents
- RequiredCity of South Tucson Permit Application (Online Permit Portal)Submitted online via the Permit Management Portal (live since March 2, 2026), in person, or by mail/shipment to City Hall, 1601 S. 6th Ave., South Tucson, AZ 85713
- RequiredSite Plan (2 digital copies)Per the City's Site Plan Example template; shows lot lines, setbacks, and location of proposed/existing structures
- RequiredFloor Plan (2 digital copies)Per the City's Floorplan Example template
- RequiredConstruction DrawingsPer the City's Construction Drawing Examples; for commercial properties/structures, must be drawn by an Arizona Board of Technical Registration-licensed professional in the applicable discipline
- OptionalFEMA Elevation CertificateRequired for new construction or alterations/expansions/modifications to structures on flood-prone properties
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (valuation-based) | Not published -- fee is calculated based on the valuation of the proposed permit activity (cost of labor and materials); paid online through the Permit Portal after plan approval | CONFIRMED GAP after exhaustive chase: the City of South Tucson's own adopted-code amendment explicitly deletes the ICC model valuation-fee table (IBC Section 109.3 'Building permit valuations' is deleted in its entirety by the City's amendment) and defers to 'the fee schedules adopted by the jurisdiction by separate ordinance' (per the Section 105 Appeals fee clause). No numeric fee schedule for building/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permits could be located: (1) the live Permits and Submittal Checklist pages state only that cost 'is dependent on the valuation of proposed permit activity' with no linked table; (2) the City Code Chapter 4 (Buildings and Building Regulations) is hosted on Municode as a JavaScript-rendered SPA that returns an empty shell to both a plain fetch and a full-browser-header curl request; (3) the underlying adoption ordinance PDF (Ordinance 15-01, 31MB, and the 72-page packet at media/6516) is a scanned image with no extractable text layer (pdftotext returned 0 characters), and Ordinance 25-01 itself (media/10486) is likewise a scanned, non-text PDF; (4) the City's Finance 'City Taxes & Fees' page and its linked PDFs cover only property tax, business license ($40/year), and occupational fees -- no construction-permit fee table; (5) Wayback Machine CDX search of southtucsonaz.gov for fee-related URLs surfaced only the tax/business-license fee documents, no building-permit fee schedule at any historical snapshot. Applicants should confirm the current valuation-based fee directly with Development Services at 520-792-2424 or via the Online Permit Portal, which calculates cost at the time of application. |
Electrical Permit (including Reconnect)
VerifiedRequired for electrical service reconnections, service upgrades, panel replacements/repairs, and new circuit/fixture work in South Tucson, governed by the 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted and amended by the City of South Tucson under Ordinance No. 25-01.
Verified 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Electrical permit required for service reconnections, service upgrades, and panel replacements or repairs -- responsibility of the homeowner/property owner to submit plans and secure the permit
- Governed by the 2017 NEC as adopted and amended by the City of South Tucson
- Electrical Reconnect permits: PDSD inspectors will not clear power to a residence with active electrical or life-safety issues (improper grounding/bonding, hazardous/deteriorated wiring, unpermitted recent wiring, improperly installed 3-prong receptacles on an underground 2-wire system, missing smoke detectors in bedrooms/hallways, or dangerous structural conditions) -- a failed inspection denies release of power until corrections and re-inspection
- PDSD inspectors may still clear power despite noted non-life-safety housing violations (e.g., non-GFCI kitchen/bath receptacles, blocked windows/doors, missing plumbing fixtures) if the electrical system itself is safe, but the dwelling may not be legally occupied until corrections are made
- Apply via the City's Online Permit Portal
Required documents
- RequiredCity of South Tucson Permit Application (Online Permit Portal)Submitted online, in person, or by mail to City Hall
- OptionalElectrical Reconnect Guidelines acknowledgmentApplicant should pre-inspect the dwelling per the City's published Electrical Reconnect Guidelines before requesting a reconnect inspection to avoid a failed inspection
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permit Fee (valuation-based) | Not published -- see the residential-building-permit type's fee entry for the full chase-trail documentation of this confirmed gap | No numeric fee schedule for electrical permits (including reconnects) is published on the City of South Tucson website; cost is stated only as valuation-dependent |
Plumbing Permit
VerifiedRequired for gas line pressure tests and water heater installation/replacement in South Tucson, governed by the 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) and 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as adopted and amended by the City of South Tucson under Ordinance No. 25-01.
Verified 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Permit required for gas line pressure tests (new or replacement lines) and installation or replacement of water heaters -- responsibility of the homeowner/property owner to submit plans and secure the permit
- Governed by the 2018 IPC and 2018 IFGC as adopted and amended by the City of South Tucson
- If new work is involved (e.g., replacing gas piping), a detailed plan may be required to obtain the permit
- Apply via the City's Online Permit Portal
Required documents
- RequiredCity of South Tucson Permit Application (Online Permit Portal)Submitted online, in person, or by mail to City Hall
- OptionalGas Piping PlanDetailed plan required if new gas piping work is involved (e.g., new or replacement gas lines requiring pressure testing)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Permit Fee (valuation-based) | Not published -- see the residential-building-permit type's fee entry for the full chase-trail documentation of this confirmed gap | No numeric fee schedule for plumbing/gas permits is published on the City of South Tucson website; cost is stated only as valuation-dependent |
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
VerifiedRequired for furnace, heat pump, air conditioner (new or replacement), and new evaporative cooler installations in South Tucson, governed by the 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) as adopted and amended by the City of South Tucson under Ordinance No. 25-01.
Verified 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Permit required for furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners (new or replacement), and evaporative coolers (new installations only) -- responsibility of the homeowner/property owner to submit plans and secure the permit
- Load and sizing calculations are required for BOTH new AND replacement HVAC equipment
- Replacement of an evaporative cooler with a like cooler is exempt from permitting (City of South Tucson amendment to IBC/IMC Section 105.2, Mechanical, item 8)
- Apply via the City's Online Permit Portal
Required documents
- RequiredCity of South Tucson Permit Application (Online Permit Portal)Submitted online, in person, or by mail to City Hall
- RequiredLoad and Sizing CalculationsRequired for both new and replacement HVAC equipment
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical/HVAC Permit Fee (valuation-based) | Not published -- see the residential-building-permit type's fee entry for the full chase-trail documentation of this confirmed gap | No numeric fee schedule for mechanical/HVAC permits is published on the City of South Tucson website; cost is stated only as valuation-dependent |
Demolition Permit
VerifiedRequired for demolition of any commercial or residential structure regulated by the Building Code in South Tucson. Requires 15-day advance notice to adjacent property owners (City of South Tucson IBC amendment, Section 3303.1.1) and coordination with Pima County Department of Environmental Quality for asbestos (NESHAP) and, if applicable, septic closure.
Verified 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Building permit required before demolishing a commercial or residential structure within South Tucson city limits
- IBC Amendment Section 3303.1.1: at least fifteen (15) days prior to the start of demolition, the applicant must provide notice to adjacent property owners of the proposed demolition; confirmation of the notice may be submitted with the application
- Reviews required: Zoning, Engineering (as needed), Building Safety; possible concurrent Fire, Electrical, Mechanical, and/or Plumbing review
- Completed Contractor Form required, providing the contractor's/subcontractor's license number and South Tucson business license number
- 2 copies of a site plan required, showing the existing structure to be removed, existing utilities to be capped, and noting the square footage of the structure to be removed
- All utilities must be terminated/capped at the property line before demolition; an inspection is required to verify utilities have been capped off
- Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) Air Quality/asbestos (NESHAP) permit may be required (contact PDEQ at 740-3340 or per the demolition/renovation asbestos NESHAP exemption form)
- For closure of septic systems, PDEQ must be contacted separately
- Demolition permits are reported to the Pima County Assessor's office and may affect property taxes
Required documents
- RequiredCity of South Tucson Permit Application (Demolition)Submitted via the Online Permit Portal, in person, or by mail; property owner's email address required, application must be signed and dated
- RequiredSite Plan (2 copies)Shows existing structure to be removed, existing utilities to be capped, and square footage of structure removed
- RequiredCompleted Contractor FormContractor's/subcontractor's Arizona Registrar of Contractors license number and South Tucson business license number
- OptionalConfirmation of Notice of DemolitionConfirms the required 15-day advance notice to adjacent property owners was provided
- OptionalPDEQ Demolition/Renovation Asbestos NESHAP Exemption formDocuments the treatment/exemption status of asbestos as submitted to Pima County Department of Environmental Quality
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition Permit Fee (valuation-based) | Not published -- calculated based on the valuation of the work (cost of labor and materials); see the residential-building-permit type's fee entry for the full chase-trail documentation of this confirmed gap | City of South Tucson Demolitions page states the permit fee is calculated off valuation, with no linked numeric table; a City of South Tucson business license ($40.00/year plus quarterly occupational fees) is also required for any contractor doing work in the City |
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
VerifiedRequired for installing a rooftop or ground-mount photovoltaic system within City of South Tucson limits. No dedicated solar/photovoltaic permit, application, or fee line is published by the City — a solar installation is permitted as TWO components of the City's existing general process: a Building Permit (structural/roof-mount, 2018 IBC/IRC as adopted under Ordinance No. 25-01) and an Electrical Permit (PV electrical connection, 2017 NEC as adopted under the same ordinance), both valuation-based with no numeric fee schedule published by the City.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Building Permit required for the structural/roof-mount or ground-mount component, submitted through the City's Online Permit Portal, in person, or by mail to City Hall
- Electrical Permit required separately for the PV system's electrical connection, governed by the 2017 NEC as adopted and amended under Ordinance No. 25-01
- 2 digital copies of a site plan and a floor plan required for application submittal
- No dedicated solar/photovoltaic application form, checklist, or valuation-fee table was found published by the City as of this research pass
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Online Permit Portal, in person, or by mail)
- RequiredElectrical Permit Application
- RequiredSite Plan and Floor Plan (2 digital copies)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (valuation-based; no solar-specific line) | Not published — fee is calculated based on the valuation of the proposed permit activity (cost of labor and materials); paid online through the Permit Portal after plan approval | CONFIRMED GAP, consistent with this jurisdiction's residential-building-permit and mechanical-hvac-permit entries: the City's own adopted-code amendment deletes the ICC model valuation-fee table (IBC Section 109.3) and defers to a separately-adopted fee ordinance not independently locatable online (Ordinance 15-01 and Ordinance 25-01 are both scanned, non-text-extractable PDFs; the City Code's Building Regulations chapter on Municode returns an empty JS-rendered shell). Applicants should confirm the current valuation-based fee directly with Development Services at 520-792-2424 or via the Online Permit Portal. |
| Electrical Permit Fee (valuation-based; no solar-specific line) | Not published — same confirmed gap as the Building Permit fee | No numeric fee schedule for electrical permits (including PV connections) is published on the City of South Tucson website; cost is stated only as valuation-dependent |
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
No dedicated electric-vehicle-charging-station permit, application, or fee line is published by the City of South Tucson. An EV charger installation is permitted as an Electrical Permit under the City's existing general process (2017 NEC as adopted and amended under Ordinance No. 25-01) — the same valuation-based, no-published-fee-schedule mechanism documented in this file's Electrical Permit and Solar PV Permit entries. If the installation also involves structural/mounting work, a separate Building Permit (2018 IBC/IRC as adopted) would apply. Re-chased for this review (2026-07-20): re-checked the City's Development Services/Permits pages, the City Code library (amlegal.com), Ordinance No. 25-01 itself, and the City's newly-launched (effective 3/2/2026) Online Permit and Code Complaint Portal announcement — none of these publish a numeric electrical/building fee schedule or valuation table. No Wayback-archived version of a South Tucson fee schedule PDF was located either. Cost is genuinely valuation-dependent and quoted only at application time by Development Services (520-792-2424).
Reviewed 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- Electrical Permit required for the EV charging circuit, governed by the 2017 NEC as adopted and amended under Ordinance No. 25-01 — same process as this file's Electrical Permit entry
- Building Permit additionally required only if structural/mounting work is involved beyond the electrical circuit itself
- Apply via the City's Online Permit Portal, in person, or by mail to City Hall
- No dedicated EV/EVSE application form, checklist, or valuation-fee table was found published by the City as of this research pass
Required documents
- RequiredCity of South Tucson Permit Application (Online Permit Portal)Submitted online, in person, or by mail to City Hall; no dedicated EV/EVSE checkbox exists
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permit Fee (valuation-based; no EV/EVSE-specific line) | Not published — same confirmed gap documented in this file's Electrical Permit and Solar PV Permit entries | No numeric fee schedule for electrical permits (including EV charger circuits) is published on the City of South Tucson website, in the City Code library, or in Ordinance No. 25-01 as of a 2026-07-20 re-chase (including the City's newly-launched online permit portal, which does not publish a fee estimator/schedule either). Cost is stated only as valuation-dependent. Confirm directly with Development Services at 520-792-2424 or via the Online Permit Portal. |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-07.
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 South Tucson building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.