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Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger / Charging Station Permit in Tucson, Arizona

The City of Tucson's Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD) FY27 Fee Schedule explicitly names 'EV chargers' by name under its Photovoltaic Electrical Systems section (Section 4-02.9.7, 'Supplementary Equipment for Photovoltaic Electrical Systems (service upgrades, panel relocations, EV chargers, similar)' — $28.09 per additional item), for an EV charger installed alongside a solar PV system. A standalone EV charger installed on its own (not paired with solar) is billed under the City's general Trade Permit fee, the same mechanism documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry ($150.00 for the first item, $50.00 for each additional item). Tucson also has its own EV-Ready parking ordinance (Unified Development Code §§ 7.4.5 and 7.4.11) requiring new one-to-two family dwellings/townhouses to provide EVSE-ready circuits and setting EV-readiness percentages for new multi-family/commercial parking, which is a design-code requirement enforced at building-permit stage rather than a separate EV charger permit fee itself.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Trade Permit Application submitted online through Tucson Development Center (TDC) Online, specifying 'EV charger' or the applicable electrical item category and quantity, per the same process documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry
  • Governed by the 2023 NEC (including NEC Article 625, Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System) as adopted by the City
  • If the EV charger is installed as part of a solar PV/storage system permit application (via SolarApp+ or the standard PV permit path), it is billed as Supplementary Equipment under the City's Photovoltaic Electrical Systems fee category rather than as a standalone Trade Permit item
  • New one-to-two family dwellings, townhouses, and qualifying multi-family/commercial developments must independently comply with the City's EV-Ready parking requirements (UDC §§ 7.4.5, 7.4.11) at the building-permit/plan-review stage, regardless of whether a charger is installed immediately

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Trade Permit — first item (standalone EV charger, not paired with solar)City of Tucson FY27 Fee Schedule (Section 4-02.9.1); includes up to 1/2 hour of staff review and permit processing plus 2 inspections — same general Trade Permit mechanism documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry.
$150.00
Trade Permit — each additional item beyond the firstCity of Tucson FY27 Fee Schedule (Section 4-02.9.2)
$50.00 per additional item
Supplementary Equipment for Photovoltaic Electrical Systems (service upgrades, panel relocations, EV chargers, similar)City of Tucson FY27 Fee Schedule (Section 4-02.9.7) — explicitly names 'EV chargers' as a qualifying item, applicable when an EV charger is added to an existing or concurrent solar PV permit rather than filed as its own standalone Trade Permit.
$28.09 per additional item
Digital Filing FeeCity of Tucson FY27 Fee Schedule (Section 4-01.5.1)
1% of the total fee, minimum $18.54

Review timeline

Plan reviewTucson’s published plan-review target
1–1 business days

How long did your Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger / Charging Station Permit permit actually take in Tucson?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Rough-In

    Wiring, box placement, and circuit connections before walls are closed, per the same framework documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry.

  2. 2

    Final

    Charger installed and connections verified per 2023 NEC; may be completed via Remote Video Inspection for most residential work.

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

Tips

  • Tucson's FY27 Fee Schedule is one of the few jurisdictions in this coverage batch to explicitly name 'EV chargers' as a line item by name — but only within the Photovoltaic Electrical Systems Supplementary Equipment category ($28.09/item), which applies when the charger rides along with a solar permit. A standalone EV charger install (no solar) is billed under the general $150 first-item/$50 additional-item Trade Permit fee instead.
  • If you're building new (or substantially remodeling) a one-to-two family dwelling, townhouse, or qualifying multi-family/commercial project, check the City's separate EV-Ready parking requirements (UDC §§ 7.4.5, 7.4.11) — these are design-code obligations enforced at the building-permit stage, not an EV charger permit fee themselves, but they can affect what circuits/conduit must be roughed in regardless of whether a charger is installed immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Tucson requires an electric vehicle (ev) charger / charging station permit for: Trade Permit Application submitted online through Tucson Development Center (TDC) Online, specifying 'EV charger' or the applicable electrical item category and quantity, per the same process documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry; Governed by the 2023 NEC (including NEC Article 625, Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System) as adopted by the City; If the EV charger is installed as part of a solar PV/storage system permit application (via SolarApp+ or the standard PV permit path), it is billed as Supplementary Equipment under the City's Photovoltaic Electrical Systems fee category rather than as a standalone Trade Permit item; New one-to-two family dwellings, townhouses, and qualifying multi-family/commercial developments must independently comply with the City's EV-Ready parking requirements (UDC §§ 7.4.5, 7.4.11) at the building-permit/plan-review stage, regardless of whether a charger is installed immediately. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Tucson Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD) at (520) 791-5550 before starting work.

A standalone EV charger (not paired with solar) is billed under the City's general Trade Permit fee: $150.00 for the first item plus $50.00 for each additional item, per the FY27 Fee Schedule. If the EV charger is added alongside a solar PV system permit, it instead falls under the Photovoltaic Electrical Systems 'Supplementary Equipment' category at $28.09 per item, which explicitly names EV chargers.

Tucson's published plan-review target for an electric vehicle (ev) charger / charging station permit is 1–1 business days.

You'll need: Trade Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Tucson requires 2 inspection(s) for an electric vehicle (ev) charger / charging station permit, in order: Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through City of Tucson Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD) ((520) 791-5550).

Apply through City of Tucson Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD) at Tucson Development Center, 201 N. Stone Avenue, 1st Floor, Tucson, AZ 85701. Phone: (520) 791-5550, email: PDSDinquiries@tucsonaz.gov. Office hours: Tucson Development Center, 201 N. Stone Avenue, 1st Floor: Mon.-Thur. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (closed Fridays). Staff available by email/phone Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. Official information: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Planning-Development-Services.

Tucson, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has no mandatory statewide building code — code adoption is entirely a local (city/county) decision. The City of Tucson adopts its own model building codes, published by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), on a six-year cycle, with local amendments authorized by Ordinance #12171. Source: City of Tucson Planning & Development Services, Building Codes page (tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Planning-Development-Services/Codes/Building-Codes).; 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — effective January 1, 2026, as adopted by the City of Tucson with local amendments; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) — effective January 1, 2026, as adopted by the City of Tucson with local amendments; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — effective January 1, 2026 (Tucson/Pima County use the International Plumbing Code, not the Uniform Plumbing Code); 2024 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC) — effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — effective July 1, 2026 (the energy code follows the other 2024 model codes on a delayed effective date); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) — current adopted edition per City of Tucson Building Codes page; All permit applications and related submittals received on or after July 1, 2026 must comply with the 2024 International Codes and amendments as adopted by the City of Tucson and in effect as of that date, including the 2023 NEC where applicable. Applications submitted before July 1, 2026 continue to be reviewed under the code editions in effect at the time of submittal, unless approved by the Building Official. Source: City of Tucson Building Codes page.; Other adopted building regulations (updated less frequently than the six-year model code cycle): Arizona Administrative Code Title 18, Chapter 5 (Public and Semi-Public Swimming Pools); 2012 City of Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code; ICC A117.1-2017 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (effective 1/1/26); Inclusive Home Design Ordinance. Source: City of Tucson Building Codes page.; Previously adopted (superseded) editions include the 2018 International Building/Residential/Mechanical/Plumbing/Fuel Gas/Existing Building/Swimming Pool & Spa Codes, 2017 NEC, and 2012-cycle International Codes with 2011 NEC. Source: City of Tucson Building Codes page.; Sustainability and related codes: City of Tucson Riparian Vegetation Preservation; Commercial Rainwater Harvesting (Engineering Code); EV Charging - Commercial and Multifamily (Zoning Code); Landfill Development Ordinance (Engineering Code); Native Plant Preservation Ordinance (Landscaping Code); Prohibition on Ornamental Turf (Zoning Code, UDC 7.6.4.D); WaterSense Plumbing Fixtures (Building Code). Source: City of Tucson Building Codes page.. Local amendments apply — see the Tucson overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.

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 Tucson building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Alteration PermitElectrical Permit (Trade Permit)Plumbing Permit (Trade Permit)Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Trade Permit)Roofing Permit (Structural Roof Work)Residential Solar Photovoltaic (PV) PermitDemolition PermitFence and Wall PermitAccessory Dwelling Unit (Casita) Permit

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger / Charging Station Permit in other cities

Ak-Chin Indian Community, ArizonaApache Junction, ArizonaAvondale, ArizonaBenson, ArizonaBisbee, ArizonaBuckeye, ArizonaBullhead City, ArizonaCamp Verde, Arizona

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