Alternative Energy System Permit (Solar / Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind) in Nogales, Arizona

Nogales requires an alternative energy system permit (solar / photovoltaic, geothermal, wind) for: Alternative energy systems (solar space/water heating, geothermal, wind power, photovoltaic) are evaluated as a permitted accessory use on a case-by-case basis in applicable zoning districts (Development Code Sec. 3.104.p.2); Application for construction, installation, and use of alternative energy systems follows the City's normal/standard building permit process — there is no separate expedited track (Sec. 3.104.p.3); Must comply with the Uniform Solar Energy Code and other building codes adopted by the City, in addition to the standard building permit process; The City's stated intent is to preserve direct access to sunlight and air, protecting installations from occlusion or obstruction; restrictive covenants for light/air easements are encouraged in subdivisions and PUDs. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Nogales Community Development Department (Planning & Building Department; permit intake via the Nogales Information and Development Center / "One Stop", Public Works Department) at 520-287-6571 (Community Development main line); 520-287-7245 (Nogales Information and Development Center / One Stop intake, Public Works Department) before starting work.

In Nogales, the published Building Permit Fee (Alternative Energy System) is: Based on Valuation (2012 IRC Appendix L 'Permit Fees', adopted by City Code Sec. 5-26 and Ordinance No. 2015-11-005) — billed under the same standard building permit fee mechanism as other building permit work; no separate solar-specific fee line was found.. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Nogales's published plan-review target for an alternative energy system permit (solar / photovoltaic, geothermal, wind) is 10–10 business days.

You'll need: Project Submittal Application; Construction Plans and Equipment Specifications. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Nogales requires 2 inspection(s) for an alternative energy system permit (solar / photovoltaic, geothermal, wind), in order: Rough Electrical / Mounting, Final. Schedule each through City of Nogales Community Development Department (Planning & Building Department; permit intake via the Nogales Information and Development Center / "One Stop", Public Works Department) (520-287-6571 (Community Development main line); 520-287-7245 (Nogales Information and Development Center / One Stop intake, Public Works Department)).

Apply through City of Nogales Community Development Department (Planning & Building Department; permit intake via the Nogales Information and Development Center / "One Stop", Public Works Department) at Community Development Department: 777 North Grand Avenue, Nogales, AZ 85621. Project/permit submittal intake (Nogales Information and Development Center, "One Stop"): 1450 N. Hohokam Drive, Nogales, AZ 85621. Phone: 520-287-6571 (Community Development main line); 520-287-7245 (Nogales Information and Development Center / One Stop intake, Public Works Department). Office hours: Not published on the City's Community Development or Planning Division pages as of this review. Permit tracking and status checks are available 24/7 online via the City's Accela Citizen Access Portal (aca-prod.accela.com/NOGALES).. Official information: https://www.nogalesaz.gov/180/Community-Development.

Nogales, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-city/county authority under state enabling statutes (e.g., A.R.S. Title 9 for municipalities). The City of Nogales independently adopts and administers its own construction codes through its Community Development Department (Planning & Building) and does not defer building permitting to Santa Cruz County. Source: City of Nogales Project Submittal Application (Public Works Department / Nogales Information and Development Center, Rev. 07/31/2023).; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), as adopted and administered by the City of Nogales. Source: City of Nogales Project Submittal Application (Rev. 07/31/2023), which lists the currently-cited adopted code set on every building/planning/engineering/fire permit application accepted by the City.; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), as adopted and administered by the City of Nogales. Source: City of Nogales Project Submittal Application (Rev. 07/31/2023).; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), as adopted and administered by the City of Nogales, administered in coordination with the City Fire Department/Fire Marshal (the Project Submittal Application has a dedicated Fire tracking-number field distinct from Building). Source: City of Nogales Project Submittal Application (Rev. 07/31/2023).; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), as adopted by the City of Nogales (one edition behind the 2018 ICC set, consistent with typical NEC adoption lag). Source: City of Nogales Project Submittal Application (Rev. 07/31/2023).; 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, as referenced by the City of Nogales for accessibility compliance on all building permit work. Source: City of Nogales Project Submittal Application (Rev. 07/31/2023).; 1997 UCADB (Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings), as adopted by the City of Nogales for enforcement against unsafe/dangerous existing structures. Source: City of Nogales Project Submittal Application (Rev. 07/31/2023).; City of Nogales Development Standards Code (zoning and development regulations, distinct from the building-safety codes above) — repealed and replaced in its entirety by the Nogales Zoning Code (Ordinance No. 2024-11-005, adopted by Common Council November 6, 2024, effective December 6, 2024), covering Article 1 (General Provisions, Zoning Regulations, Non-Conforming Uses, Parking, Signs, Supplemental Regulations, Landscaping/Walls/Screening, Outdoor Lighting) and Article 3 (Development Standards Code: administration/enforcement, site plan, performance standards, public facilities, floodplain, grading/drainage, access, subdivision platting, fee schedule). Source: City of Nogales Ordinance No. 2024-11-005 and City of Nogales Development Code (DocumentCenter Document ID 114), City of Nogales website, Development Standards Code Update – 2024 page.; Building permits are required by City ordinance (Nogales Zoning Code / Development Standards Code, Article 3, Sec. 3.103.d.1) for all owners of property before commencing any improvement or repair, unless specifically excluded. A narrow no-permit exemption applies where total added square footage is 120 sq ft or less AND the work involves no electric, plumbing, or gas installation/movement/extension/curtailment and does not otherwise violate the Code (Sec. 3.103.d.2). Source: City of Nogales Development Code, Article 3, Sec. 3.103.d (Ordinance No. 2024-11-005, adopted 11/06/2024).; A Zoning Compliance Certificate from the Planning and Zoning Director is a legal prerequisite to building permit issuance — the Building Official may not issue a building permit for foundation excavation or any construction until a Zoning Compliance Certificate has been issued (Sec. 3.103.c.1). Source: City of Nogales Development Code, Article 3, Sec. 3.103.c.; Alternative/solar energy systems (solar space heating, solar water heating, geothermal, wind power, photovoltaic conversion) are permitted as an accessory use in applicable zoning districts and are processed through the City's normal/standard building permit process — Nogales does not operate a separate expedited or dedicated solar/PV permit track; systems must also comply with the Uniform Solar Energy Code and other adopted building codes. Source: City of Nogales Development Code, Article 3, Sec. 3.104.p (Alternative Energy Systems).; Building permit fees are valuation-based: City Code Sec. 5-26 adopts the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC), including IRC Appendix L ('Permit Fees'), as the City's building-fee mechanism (confirmed current on Municode; also confirmed via Ordinance No. 2015-11-005, adopted 11/4/2015, which adopts the 2012 I-Codes + IRC Appendix L + City amendments — full signed PDF recovered via Wayback Machine). The Development Code's own Fee Schedule section (Article 3, Sec. 3.113) separately states fees are adopted 'by reference under separate City document,' consistent with the Sec. 5-26 mechanism rather than contradicting it. Plan review fee is 25% of the Building Permit Fee where project valuation is $100,000 or less, and 65% where valuation is $100,001 or more; valuation of garages, porches, canopies, and storage rooms is calculated at $14 per square foot — both figures confirmed via the City's own 'Building Permit Application Requirements' page (Wayback-archived 2016-12-15; the live current page no longer republishes these figures, so they are flagged for reconfirmation, not treated as stale-and-wrong). The exact dollar-bracket IRC Appendix L valuation table itself could not be independently reproduced against ICC's source as of this review (codes.iccsafe.org is a JS-rendered application that blocks automated/scripted access) — a genuine access gap, not an unpublished-fee gap. Source: City of Nogales City Code Sec. 5-26 (Municode); Ordinance No. 2015-11-005; City of Nogales 'Building Permit Application Requirements' page (archived 2016-12-15).. Local amendments apply — see the Nogales overview page for the full list.

No. The City of Nogales Development Code (Sec. 3.104.p.3) directs that alternative energy systems, including photovoltaic (solar) systems, follow the normal building permit process — there is no separate streamlined or same-day track published by the City.