Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit in Cottonwood, Arizona

Cottonwood requires a commercial tenant improvement permit for: Application must identify the site address/suite number, a written scope of work, and a business description of the tenant's intended use of the space; Valuation must be declared, covering the total value of all work under the permit (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire-protection systems, finish work, elevators, and other permanent equipment); used to compute permit fees; Current contractor registration and a City of Cottonwood business license required; Occupancy classification must be identified per the IBC; any change of use/occupancy group must comply with current applicable code for the new occupancy (e.g., a dwelling unit converted to an office must meet current Group B requirements); Floor plan must show existing conditions and proposed changes, existing walls to remain/be removed, new walls, room uses, stair rise/run and ramp slopes, rated corridors, exit signage/emergency lighting, and door/window/hardware schedules; Barrier-free (ADA) compliance: a change of use is subject to accessibility requirements; no alteration may reduce existing accessibility, and areas of primary function must be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible, including required additional toilet facilities where triggered; Fire sprinklers may be required if not already present, or existing systems may need modification for the new use, with review by the City of Cottonwood Fire Department; Food service tenants: a Type I range hood with fire suppression is required for grease-laden vapors as applicable; grease traps/interceptors sized for usage; plans reviewed by Building, Fire, and the local health department for compliance; State regulations require professional design/construction drawings for structures over 3,000 sq ft or occupant load over 20, and professional engineering for electrical services over 600A single-phase or 225A three-phase 120/208V; the Building Official may require stamped plans on smaller projects as deemed necessary; Sewer Connection Analysis from the Cottonwood Public Works Department (928-634-8033) required, and proof of submission to/approval from Yavapai County Health District (928-337-5285) required for food-service uses; Planning review of zoning designation, use of property, and landscaping changes; scope of exterior work may require Planning & Zoning Commission approval; Tenant Improvement Permits expire 180 days after issuance unless work has commenced and is being diligently pursued to completion; progress inspections must occur at least every 180 days to keep the permit active. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Cottonwood Community Development Department — Building Division at 928-634-5505 before starting work.

In Cottonwood, the published Building Permit Fee — Based on Valuation is: $41.13 (valuation $1-$500); $41.13 + $5.34 per additional $100 to $2,000; $121.19 + $24.50 per additional $1,000 to $25,000; $684.25 + $17.68 per additional $1,000 to $50,000; $1,126.56 + $12.25 per additional $1,000 to $100,000; $1,739.06 + $9.80 per additional $1,000 to $500,000; $4,688.95 + $8.31 per additional $1,000 to $1,000,000; $9,815.31 + $6.39 per additional $1,000 above $1,000,000. Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee (all permits) — 65% of the calculated Building Permit Fee; Additional Plan Review (changes, additions, deferrals, alterations, revisions) — $90.47 per hour; Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) — Commercial — $500.00 non-refundable fee, plus a bond equal to the value of unfinished work. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Per the City's Tenant Improvement Checklist, the permit expires 180 days after issuance unless the permitted work has commenced and is being diligently pursued to completion, and progress inspections must occur at least every 180 days to keep the permit active.

You'll need: Tenant Improvement Submittal Checklist; Floor Plan (existing and proposed); Site Plan/Parking Plan; Contractor Registration and City Business License. Depending on your project, Cottonwood may also ask for: Yavapai County Health District Approval. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Apply through City of Cottonwood Community Development Department — Building Division at 111 North Main Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326 (Building Division counter also referenced at 827 N. Main St., Cottonwood, AZ 86326 in the City's online directory). Phone: 928-634-5505, email: building@cottonwoodaz.gov. Office hours: Community Development Office: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Fridays). Building Inspection Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Certificates of occupancy are not issued on Fridays. Permits are applied for and tracked online via CloudPermit (us.cloudpermit.com/gov/login); inspections may be requested through the online portal ('MY INSPECTION') or by calling (928) 340-2724 — inspection requests submitted before 4:00 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day, and final inspections require 48 hours' notice.. Official information: https://cottonwoodaz.gov/158/Building-Division.

Cottonwood, 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 Cottonwood's Community Development Department (Planning Division, Building Division, and Ordinance Enforcement Division) independently adopts and administers its own construction codes under Title 15 (Buildings and Construction) of the Cottonwood City Code. Source: City of Cottonwood Building Division page (cottonwoodaz.gov/158/Building-Division).; 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C, G, H, I, and J, adopted by reference as the City's building code (Cottonwood City Code § 15.08.020), with City of Cottonwood amendments (§ 15.08.021), effective July 1, 2025. Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761, '2025 Technical Code Update,' adopted by City Council and approved by the Mayor May 20, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendices A, B, C, G, H, J, O, P and Q (with Appendices BB, BD, BF, BH, BO, CA, CB, CD, CE, and CF also adopted), adopted by reference as the one- and two-family dwelling code (§ 15.08.060), with City of Cottonwood amendments (§ 15.08.061), effective July 1, 2025. Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update).; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), including Appendices A and B, adopted by reference (§ 15.08.070), with City of Cottonwood amendments (§ 15.08.071), effective July 1, 2025. Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update).; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), including Appendices A, B, C, and E, adopted by reference (§ 15.08.080), effective July 1, 2025. Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update).; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — NOTE: unlike the other ICC codes, the City's energy code was NOT advanced to the 2024 edition in the 2025 Technical Code Update; it remains the 2018 IECC (Cottonwood City Code § 15.10.010), with City amendments at § 15.10.011 (including a residential building-thermal-envelope air-leakage-test field-verification exception). The IRC's own Chapter 11 (Energy Efficiency) is separately deleted and replaced with Chapter 11 of the 2018 IRC per the Ordinance's IRC amendments. Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update); City of Cottonwood Building Division page (confirms '2024 International Codes' adopted effective 7/1/2025 without listing IECC among the upgraded editions).; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), including Appendices B, C, D, and E, adopted by reference (§ 15.12.010), with City of Cottonwood amendments (§ 15.12.011), effective July 1, 2025. Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update).; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted by reference (§ 15.16.010), effective July 1, 2025 (electrical code cycle is one edition behind the 2024 ICC set, consistent with typical Arizona NEC adoption lag). Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update); City of Cottonwood Building Division page.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), including Appendix A, adopted by reference (§ 15.20.010), with City of Cottonwood amendments (§ 15.20.011, including a mandatory third-party test-and-balance report requirement for altered ventilation/exhaust systems where required to verify code compliance), effective July 1, 2025. Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update).; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), including Appendices B through O, adopted by reference (§ 15.24.010) as the City's uniform fire code, with City of Cottonwood amendments (open-flame/aerial-fireworks restrictions in high fire-risk areas; automatic fire sprinkler requirements per NFPA 13/13-R/13-D expanded beyond the base IFC thresholds; fire-permit surety-bond amounts), effective July 1, 2025. Administered by the City of Cottonwood Fire Prevention Division. Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update).; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), adopted effective July 1, 2025. Source: City of Cottonwood Building Division page (cottonwoodaz.gov/158/Building-Division).; ICC A117.1-2017 Accessibility Standard, plus the Arizonans with Disabilities Act (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 9, Article 8) and its implementing rules ('Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities,' declared a public record by Resolution No. 1610), adopted as an amendment to the IBC (Cottonwood City Code § 15.08.050) applying to public entities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities; also incorporated into IBC Chapter 11 (§ 1102.1) alongside the 2010 ADA Standards (Title II and Title III regulations, 28 CFR 35.15 / 36 subpart D, and the 2004 ADAAG). Source: City of Cottonwood Ordinance No. 761 (2025 Technical Code Update).; Effective July 1, 2025 the City also adopted its 2025 Community Development and Fire Department Fee Schedule, which governs all building/fire permit, plan review, and inspection fees; the base valuation-per-square-foot cost tables in that schedule are labeled 'August 2018' (carried forward unchanged from the prior fee-schedule cycle) while the general Schedule of Building Permit Fees (dollar-valuation brackets) and all mechanical/plumbing/electrical/miscellaneous fee line items were updated for 2025. Source: City of Cottonwood 2025 Community Development Fee Schedule (cottonwoodaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8316).. Local amendments apply — see the Cottonwood overview page for the full list.

No. The City of Cottonwood treats them as distinct processes with separate checklists. A Tenant Improvement Permit (per DocumentCenter/View/991) covers completing, remodeling, or altering space within an existing building, including changes of use, and carries its own 180-day expiration and progress-inspection rules. A Commercial Building Permit (per the Commercial Building Plans Checklist, DocumentCenter/View/988) covers new construction, additions, and structural shell alterations.