This is PermitBase’s published record for Unincorporated Santa Cruz County as of 2026-07-07. It has since been superseded — see the current record. A historical record reflects what PermitBase had verified at that time; it may not capture a real-world change the jurisdiction had made but PermitBase had not yet verified, and it includes any errors we later corrected. Snapshots are never edited retroactively.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County building permits
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County, Arizona — as published 2026-07-07.
Reviewed 2026-07-07 · Source
Codes adopted
Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-city/county authority. Santa Cruz County independently adopts and administers its own construction codes for unincorporated areas through its Building Department (a division of Community Development). Source: Santa Cruz County Building Department page.2012 International Building Code (IBC), effective for all construction in the unincorporated areas of the County on September 1, 2013, per Ordinance No. 2013-03 (including all amendments). Source: Santa Cruz County Building Department page (live) and 'Guidelines for Builders' (Rev. 03/2014), https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/973/Guidelines-for-Builders.2012 International Building Code Standards, adopted alongside the 2012 IBC per Ordinance No. 2013-03. Source: Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014).2012 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted per Ordinance No. 2013-03. Source: Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014).2012 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted per Ordinance No. 2013-03. Source: Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014).2012 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted per Ordinance No. 2013-03. Source: Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014).2012 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted per Ordinance No. 2013-03. Source: Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014).2011 National Electrical Code (NEC) — one edition behind the 2012 I-Codes, consistent with typical NEC adoption lag; adopted per Ordinance No. 2013-03. Source: Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014). Independently corroborated by the 2018 Arizona Building Officials (AZBO) Directory, which lists Santa Cruz County as having adopted the 2012 IBC/IRC/IMC/IPC/IFC and 2011 NEC (https://www.azbo.us/documents/documents/2018_AZBO_Directory.pdf).Santa Cruz County has also adopted a Zoning and Development Code (separate from the building-safety codes above) regulating zoning matters, setbacks, landscaping requirements, and swimming pools, administered by the Community Development Department's Planning & Zoning division. Source: Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014); Santa Cruz County Zoning and Development Code, https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9059/Santa-Cruz-County-Zoning-and-Development-Code.A subsequent Building Safety Code Ordinance and an Excavation and Grading Ordinance are both currently published and linked directly from the Building Department page (Building Safety Code Ordinance: https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/970/Building-Safety-Code-Ordinance; Excavation and Grading Ordinance: https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/972/Excavation-and-Grading-Ordinance), confirming the Building Department's code set is still active and in force as of this review. The Building Safety Code Ordinance PDF (970) is a large scanned image file that could not be machine-OCR'd during this review — a genuine access limitation, not an unpublished-code gap, since its existence, title, and the underlying 2012 I-Code adoption are independently confirmed by the live department page and the Guidelines for Builders document.Grading permits are required in unincorporated Santa Cruz County for any grading exceeding 50 cubic yards, per Santa Cruz County Ordinance Nos. 2001-06 & 2007-05. A grading permit is issued only in conjunction with a building permit (with narrow exceptions for grading under Planning & Zoning jurisdiction or special cases approved by the Building Official). Source: Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014).
Permit types & fees
Residential Building/Grading Permit (New Construction, Additions, Accessory Structures)
VerifiedRequired for new single-family/two-family residential construction, additions, and accessory structures in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County. Reviewed against the 2012 IBC/IRC and 2011 NEC as adopted by the County. Grading (where cut/fill exceeds 50 cubic yards) is bundled into the same permit rather than issued standalone. Applications are submitted to the Building Department (Community Development) using the County's Building/Grading Permit Application, accompanied by the Plan Submittal Check List items.
Verified 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Building/Grading Permit Application, including the Applicant's Certification and Acknowledgement page, fully signed
- Two complete hard-copy sets of plans (including 2 site plans), plus an electronic PDF copy emailed to permitting@santacruzcountyaz.gov
- Site plan drawn to scale (1:20, 1:30, 1:40, 1:50, or 1:60) showing property line distances/bearings, north arrow, physical address, APN, owner of record, front/rear/side setbacks, all existing and proposed structures with location/size/height, street name, driveway, utility easements, entire parcel, and area to be graded
- Landscape Acknowledgement Form (Article 19, Section 1906(A) of the County Zoning & Development Code)
- Right of Way Application for driveway access
- Approved Flood Hazard Information Sheet or issued Flood Plain Use Permit (required if parcel is in the FEMA floodplain)
- Copy of the approved septic Construction Authorization Permit (from Santa Cruz County Health/ADEQ) including the approved site plan and floor plan, OR a water/sewer letter confirming service
- Proof of ownership (Assessor's Office parcel print-out); if owner name does not match, a recorded deed copy is required
- Owner Builder Form, if applicable (owner and immediate family performing the work; any hired labor must be Arizona ROC-licensed)
- Exterior Lighting Schedule with cut sheets (lumens/watts) for all exterior lights, per County Outdoor Lighting Regulations
- Homes 3,600 sq ft or larger (living space + garage) require Fire Department approval, but only in the Rio Rico and Tubac Fire Districts
- Contractor's Transaction Privilege Tax License Number required for projects over $50,000
- Bond exemption certificate from the Arizona Department of Revenue required for contractors when construction value exceeds $50,000
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding/Grading Permit ApplicationSanta Cruz County Community Development Department form (Rev. 8/4/2023), including the Applicant's Certification and Acknowledgement page that incorporates the A.R.S. §11-1605 review-timeframe rights/obligations; available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17402/BUILDING-GRADING-PERMIT-APPLICATION
- RequiredPlan Submittal Check ListCounty checklist of required plan/document elements for a complete submittal (Revised 2/18/2026); available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15965/Plan-Submittal-Check-List
- RequiredSite Plan RequirementsCounty one-page specification for the required scaled site plan; available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21268/Site-Plan-Requirements
- RequiredLandscape Acknowledgement FormRequired under Article 19, Section 1906(A) of the Zoning & Development Code (Rev. 3/9/2020); available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12182/Landscape-Acknowledgement-Form
- OptionalOwner Builder FormRequired only if the owner is acting as their own general contractor (Rev. 3/9/2020); available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12183/Owner-Builder-Form
- OptionalExample DrawingsCounty reference drawings illustrating expected floor plan, foundation plan, and elevation content; available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11766/Example-Drawings
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — valuation-based per Table 1-A | $1–$500: $60.00 minimum fee; $501–$2,000: $23.50 for the first $500 + $3.00 per additional $100 (or fraction), $60 minimum; $2,001–$25,000: $69.00 for the first $2,000 + $14.00 per additional $1,000 (or fraction); $25,001–$50,000: $391.50 for the first $25,000 + $10.00 per additional $1,000; $50,001–$100,000: $643.50 for the first $50,000 + $7.00 per additional $1,000; $100,001–$500,000: $993.50 for the first $100,000 + $5.50 per additional $1,000; $500,001–$1,000,000: $3,233.50 for the first $500,000 + $4.50 per additional $1,000; $1,000,001+: $5,608.50 for the first $1,000,000 + $3.50 per additional $1,000 | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Section 6 and Exhibit A (Table 1-A). Based on the ICC Building Valuation Data Table (BVD-0213) with a County-added $15/sq ft construction cost for carports and porches. This is the most recent building-fee table this review could locate published by the County; no superseding fee-schedule document was found linked from the current Building Department or Forms & Resources pages as of this review (only a 2025 Health Services fee schedule is currently linked under 'Fees' on the Forms & Resources page, which does not cover Building Department permits) — confirm current amounts directly with the Building Department (520-375-7880) before relying on these 2014 figures for a live project. |
| Plan Review Fee | 35% of the Building Permit Fee for one- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures; 50% of the Building Permit Fee for all other project types | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Section 4. Due at time of application submittal; non-refundable; separate from the permit fee itself. |
| Zoning Clearance Fee | $50.00 flat | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Section 5 and Exhibit A. Applies to all permits containing a site plan (residential, commercial, grading, pool, etc.); due at time of plan submittal. Electric and gas utility permits are exempt. |
| Grading Permit Fee (bundled with Building Permit where applicable) | Twice the amount calculated from Table A-33-B (e.g., 50 cu yd or less: $23.50 base → $47.00 doubled; 1,001–10,000 cu yd: $194.50 + $14.50/additional 1,000 cu yd, base amount, then doubled) | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Section 7 and Table A-33-B. Required for any grading exceeding 50 cubic yards; issued only in conjunction with the building permit. |
| After-hours inspection / re-inspection / unspecified inspection / additional plan review | $47.00 per hour (or the jurisdiction's actual hourly cost, whichever is greater); after-hours inspections have a 2-hour minimum charge; unspecified-fee inspections have a half-hour minimum | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Exhibit A, 'Other Inspections and Fees.' |
Commercial/Multi-Family Building Permit (New Construction, Tenant Improvement)
Required for all new commercial, industrial, and multi-family construction, and any structure other than a single-family residence, in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County. These projects require separate plan approval from the Santa Cruz County Planning and Zoning Department in addition to Building Department review, and carry a higher (50%) plan review fee rate than residential.
Reviewed 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Required for all new commercial, industrial, and multi-family construction and any non-single-family structure in unincorporated Santa Cruz County
- Separate plan approval required from Santa Cruz County Planning and Zoning Department (contact: 520-375-7683) in addition to Building Department plan review
- Two complete hard-copy sets of plans (including 2 site plans), plus an electronic PDF copy emailed to permitting@santacruzcountyaz.gov
- Contractor's Transaction Privilege Tax License Number required for projects over $50,000
- Bond exemption certificate from the Arizona Department of Revenue required for contractors when construction value exceeds $50,000
- TAC (Technical Advisory Committee) approval and Fire Department approval required for commercial projects per the County's Plan Submittal Check List
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding/Grading Permit ApplicationSame County-wide application form used for residential and commercial permits (Rev. 8/4/2023); available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17402/BUILDING-GRADING-PERMIT-APPLICATION
- RequiredPlan Submittal Check ListNotes TAC Approval and Fire Department Approval as required specifically for commercial projects (Revised 2/18/2026); available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15965/Plan-Submittal-Check-List
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — valuation-based per Table 1-A | Same Table 1-A valuation brackets as the residential permit (see Residential Building/Grading Permit fee entry for full table) | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Exhibit A. No separate commercial-only valuation table was found; Table 1-A applies county-wide regardless of occupancy type. |
| Plan Review Fee | 50% of the Building Permit Fee (commercial/multi-family/other, vs. 35% for one- and two-family residential) | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Section 4. |
| Zoning Clearance Fee | $50.00 flat | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Section 5. Applies to all permits containing a site plan. |
Minor Electrical, Solar, and Gas Permit
Flat-fee permit track for minor electrical work, solar installations, and gas work in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County. Solar permits require stamped engineering for gravity and uplift loads. Exempt from the Zoning Clearance Fee that applies to site-plan-bearing permits.
Reviewed 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Applies to minor electrical, solar, and gas permit work
- Solar permits require stamped engineering for gravity and uplift loads
- Exempt from the $50.00 Zoning Clearance Fee (unlike residential/commercial/grading/pool permits)
- Submit Building/Grading Permit Application with project scope and contractor licensing information
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding/Grading Permit ApplicationSame County-wide application form (Rev. 8/4/2023); available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17402/BUILDING-GRADING-PERMIT-APPLICATION
- OptionalStamped Engineering (Solar only)Required for solar installations to certify gravity and uplift load compliance
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Electrical, Solar, or Gas Permit — flat fee | $60.00 flat | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Section 6. |
Grading Permit (Standalone / Excavation and Grading)
Required in unincorporated Santa Cruz County for any grading exceeding 50 cubic yards, per Ordinance Nos. 2001-06 & 2007-05 and the County's Excavation and Grading Ordinance. Normally bundled with a building permit, but is administered under its own fee table (Table A-33-B, doubled) and its own dedicated ordinance.
Reviewed 2026-07-07 · Source
Requirements
- Required for any grading exceeding 50 cubic yards of cut/fill in unincorporated Santa Cruz County
- Issued only in conjunction with a building permit, except where grading falls under Planning and Zoning Department jurisdiction or in special cases approved by the Building Official
- Submit two complete sets of grading plans showing areas to be graded and depths/amounts (in cubic yards) of cuts and/or fills
- If cuts/fills exceed 5 feet, an area cross-section plan is required
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding/Grading Permit ApplicationSame combined County-wide application form used for building and grading (Rev. 8/4/2023); available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17402/BUILDING-GRADING-PERMIT-APPLICATION
- OptionalExcavation and Grading OrdinanceGoverning ordinance (Ordinance Nos. 2001-06 & 2007-05); available at https://www.santacruzcountyaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/972/Excavation-and-Grading-Ordinance
- RequiredGrading Plans (2 complete sets)Showing graded areas and cut/fill depths in cubic yards; cross-section required if cuts/fills exceed 5 feet
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grading Permit Fee — per Table A-33-B, doubled | 50 cu yd or less: $23.50 base ($47.00 doubled); 51–100 cu yd: $37.00 base; 101–1,000 cu yd: $37.00 for first 100 cu yd + $17.50 per additional 100 cu yd; 1,001–10,000 cu yd: $194.50 for first 1,000 cu yd + $14.50 per additional 1,000 cu yd; 10,001–100,000 cu yd: $325.00 for first 10,000 cu yd + $66.00 per additional 10,000 cu yd; 100,001+ cu yd: $919.00 for first 100,000 cu yd + $36.50 per additional 10,000 cu yd — ALL base amounts then doubled per Section 7 | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Section 7 and attached Table A-33-B. |
| After-hours inspection / re-inspection (grading-specific) | $50.50 per hour (2-hour minimum for after-hours; $47.00 minimum for unspecified-fee inspections) | Guidelines for Builders (Rev. 03/2014), Table A-33-B, 'Other Inspections and Fees.' |
Sources & verification
Key facts 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 Unincorporated Santa Cruz County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.