Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Tucson, Arizona

Tucson requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: Building permit required for any new dwelling unit (a dwelling unit is defined as having a place to sleep, a bathroom, and a kitchen, regardless of whether it is rented or used by family); Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC and 2024 IECC (effective 7/1/2026) as adopted by the City of Tucson, plus applicable zoning and utility review; All plans must use a minimum of 3/32 inch type (per commercial plan standard) and be neat, legible, and well organized; PDSD reviews plans but does not design them; Rental units are treated as commercial property and require a licensed contractor (A.R.S. Section 32-1121); Homeowners may self-perform work under the Owner/Builder exemption (A.R.S. Section 32-1121.A) by being listed as owner on the permit and submitting a notarized Owner/Builder Affidavit, except where the Handyman Exemption is barred (permit-required work or cost over $1,000); Application submitted online via Tucson Development Center (TDC) Online; the TDC Online Navigator decision-tree tool helps applicants select the correct permit type before applying; Falls under the Standard Lane permit review track (20-business-day performance goal). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Tucson Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD) at (520) 791-5550 before starting work.

In Tucson, the published Building Permit Fee, New Construction — valuation $1 to $2,000 is: $89.45 base fee. Additional published fees: Building Permit Fee, New Construction — valuation $2,000.01 to $25,000 — $89.45 base fee + $22.95 per additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee, New Construction — valuation $25,000.01 to $50,000 — $617.30 base fee + $16.83 per additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee, New Construction — valuation $50,000.01 to $100,000 — $1,038.05 base fee + $9.64 per additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee, New Construction — valuation $100,000.01 to $500,000 — $1,520.05 base fee + $8.25 per additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee, New Construction — valuation $500,000.01 to $1,000,000 — $4,800.05 base fee + $7.45 per additional $1,000; Building Permit Fee, New Construction — valuation $1,000,000.01 and above — $8,525.05 base fee + $5.45 per additional $1,000; Building Staff Review and Deferred Submittal, per IBC as amended — Residential — 50% of building permit fee; 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.

New residential dwelling permits fall in PDSD's Standard Lane, with a 20-business-day review performance goal. The clock starts once staff initializes the submittal (which may itself take up to 3 business days). Source: City of Tucson PDSD Permit Review Lanes page.

You'll need: Residential Building Permit Application (New Dwelling); Residential Building Permit Application Checklist - New Dwelling; Construction Drawings. Depending on your project, Tucson may also ask for: Owner/Builder Affidavit. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Tucson requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Foundation/Footing, Framing, Rough Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing, Final. Schedule each through City of Tucson Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD) ((520) 791-5550).

Applications are submitted online via Tucson Development Center (TDC) Online, PDSD's self-service permitting portal. PDSD is located at the Tucson Development Center, 201 N. Stone Avenue, 1st Floor.

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.