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Plumbing Permit (Trade Permit) in Tucson, Arizona

Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Tucson, governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted by the City of Tucson (effective 1/1/2026). Issued as a Trade Permit, priced per item rather than by valuation.

Verified 2026-07-03 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Plumbing permit (Trade Permit) required for new fixtures, new piping, water heater installation/fuel-type change, sewer/building drain repair-replacement, and water service line repair-replacement
  • Governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted by the City of Tucson — not the Uniform Plumbing Code
  • Toilet REPLACEMENT in the same location does NOT require a permit; a NEW toilet location (new plumbing/increased wastewater flow) DOES require a permit
  • Fixing a leak or clearing a clog in accessible piping does NOT require a permit; repairs requiring pipe/valve replacement or rerouting (especially concealed piping) DO require a permit
  • Installing or replacing a water softener requires a plumbing permit
  • Septic system installation and sewer connections may require both a City permit (Development Package) and Pima County Wastewater approval
  • Falls under the Express Lane (Residential Trade: 24-hour performance goal) for standard trade-scope plumbing work

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Trade Permit — first item (e.g., water heater installation, sewer line/building drain repair-replace, water service line repair-replace)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
$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
Residential electric/gas reconnect (includes plumbing/gas piping review if applicable)City of Tucson PDSD Residential Permits page; covers administrative and inspection costs for reconnecting service after 6+ months shutoff
$135.59
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 Plumbing Permit (Trade 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

    Underground/Slab

    Before concrete pour — verify pipe slope, materials, and cleanouts

  2. 2

    Rough-In

    After pipes installed, before walls closed

  3. 3

    Final

    All fixtures connected, no leaks; may be completed via Remote Video Inspection for most residential work

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

Tips

  • Tucson/Pima County use the International Plumbing Code (IPC), not the Uniform Plumbing Code used by many other Mountain West jurisdictions.
  • A like-for-like toilet swap in the same location needs no permit, but relocating a toilet or adding a new fixture location does.
  • Water heater installation (tank, tankless, or solar; new install or fuel-type change) always requires a Trade Permit and inspection, even a straight replacement.
  • Include the Gas Piping Template with any application involving new or replacement gas piping.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Installing a new tank water heater, switching fuel type, or replacing a tank-style water heater all require a Trade Permit and inspection ($150 first item + $50 per additional item). Tankless/on-demand water heaters also require a permit and detailed plans due to higher fuel/power demands. Source: City of Tucson PDSD Building Permit Exemptions page and FY27 Fee Schedule.

In Tucson, the published Trade Permit — first item (e.g., water heater installation, sewer line/building drain repair-replace, water service line repair-replace) is: $150.00. Additional published fees: Trade Permit — each additional item beyond the first — $50.00 per additional item; Residential electric/gas reconnect (includes plumbing/gas piping review if applicable) — $135.59; Digital Filing Fee — 1% of the total fee, minimum $18.54. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Tucson's published plan-review target for a plumbing permit (trade permit) is 1–1 business days.

You'll need: Trade Permit Application. Depending on your project, Tucson may also ask for: Gas Piping Template. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Tucson requires 3 inspection(s) for a plumbing permit (trade permit), in order: Underground/Slab, 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 2026-07-03.

Fee schedules

Department & other records

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.

Property Access

Tucson's permit history is searchable by address

384,109 permits in our copy of Tucson's register — searchable by street address, with permit type, status, issued date and valuation where the city publishes them. This is what we hold, not a statement of everything Tucson has issued.

354,165 of these 384,109 permits — 92.2% — carry an issued date, and those run from 1992 to 2027. The remaining 29,944 have no date at all.

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Plumbing Permit (Trade Permit) in other cities

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