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Zoning Clearance Permit in Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona

Required for work exempt from a full Building Permit (small accessory structures, fences, retaining walls, ground water tanks, driveways) as well as any structure requiring zoning setback/compliance confirmation, per the Town's own FAQ on Building Permit exemptions.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Required for building-permit-exempt work: one-story detached accessory structures under 400 sq ft, fences 6 ft or under, retaining walls 4 ft or under (from bottom of footing), ground water tanks 5,000 gallons or under, and certain sidewalks/driveways
  • Confirms zoning compliance (setbacks, lot coverage, use) even where no building-code review is triggered
  • Submittal checklist ('Zoning Clearance Permit' column) requires: signed application, 1 Plot Plan (8.5"x11"), and a deposit — same lightweight documentation tier as the OTC permit

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Zoning Clearance Permit FeeFigure sourced from the Town's own FAQ narrative on building-permit exemptions (dhaz.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=177); reconfirm the current exact dollar amount directly with the Building Safety office (928-632-7362), as no standalone current fee-schedule line item for 'Zoning Clearance' specific to the Town (as opposed to Yavapai County's own $200 unincorporated-area zoning clearance fee, which does NOT apply within Town limits) was independently located on a live Town fee-schedule page
Approximately $15 per item, per the Town's FAQ description of building-permit-exempt work requiring a Zoning Clearance Permit

Review timeline

Plan reviewDewey-Humboldt’s published plan-review target
0–10 business days

How long did your Zoning Clearance Permit permit actually take in Dewey-Humboldt?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

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

    Tips

    • Zoning Clearance is the correct permit path for anything on the Town's building-permit-exemption list (small sheds, low fences, low retaining walls, small ground water tanks) — these items still require Town sign-off, just not a full building-code plan review.
    • Do not confuse this Town-level Zoning Clearance with Yavapai County's own, separate Zoning Clearance Fee schedule (e.g., the County's $200 residential zoning clearance fee) — that County fee schedule explicitly governs 'UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF YAVAPAI COUNTY' and does not apply within incorporated Dewey-Humboldt town limits.
    • No inspections are associated with a standalone Zoning Clearance Permit since it does not involve building-code-regulated construction.

    Frequently asked questions

    Dewey-Humboldt requires a zoning clearance permit for: Required for building-permit-exempt work: one-story detached accessory structures under 400 sq ft, fences 6 ft or under, retaining walls 4 ft or under (from bottom of footing), ground water tanks 5,000 gallons or under, and certain sidewalks/driveways; Confirms zoning compliance (setbacks, lot coverage, use) even where no building-code review is triggered; Submittal checklist ('Zoning Clearance Permit' column) requires: signed application, 1 Plot Plan (8.5"x11"), and a deposit — same lightweight documentation tier as the OTC permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Town of Dewey-Humboldt Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 928-632-7362 before starting work.

    In Dewey-Humboldt, the published Zoning Clearance Permit Fee is: Approximately $15 per item, per the Town's FAQ description of building-permit-exempt work requiring a Zoning Clearance Permit. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Dewey-Humboldt's published plan-review target for a zoning clearance permit is 0–10 business days.

    You'll need: Zoning Clearance Application; Plot Plan Sketch and Affidavit (8.5"x11"). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through Town of Dewey-Humboldt Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 2735 South Highway 69, Suite 12, Humboldt, AZ 86329 (Mailing: P.O. Box 69, Humboldt, AZ 86329). Phone: 928-632-7362, email: MartyJoanou@dhaz.gov (Building Official); riocochran@dhaz.gov (Permit Tech/Administrative Assistant). Office hours: Building Safety is a division of the Community Development Department (fax 928-632-7365). The Town runs its own independent Building Safety Division — it does NOT contract building-permit administration to Yavapai County — with a named Building Official (Marty Joanou) and Permit Tech (Rio Cochran). Applicants are directed to call ahead ('Please call us about your project at 928-632-7362. Our Building Inspector will be happy to discuss your project in advance so that all information needed is included on the appropriate forms.'). The Town's process is paper/PDF-form based (fillable permit packets from the Document Center dropped off or mailed in) — no CloudPermit/EnerGov-type online portal was found. A septic permit approved by Yavapai County (separate agency, on-site wastewater) is required BEFORE the Town will begin reviewing building plans; Yavapai County septic review may add 4-6 weeks during peak season per the Town's own FAQ.. Official information: https://www.dhaz.gov/2203/Building-Permit.

    Dewey-Humboldt, 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 Town of Dewey-Humboldt (incorporated 2004 from the merger of the unincorporated communities of Dewey and Humboldt) runs its own independent Community Development Department / Building Safety Division and independently adopts and administers its own construction codes under Chapter 150 (Building Codes) of the Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances; it does NOT contract the building-permit function to Yavapai County. Source: Town of Dewey-Humboldt Building Safety page (dhaz.gov/2168/Building-Safety, listing named Town staff — Building Official Marty Joanou, Permit Tech Rio Cochran) and Chapter 150 of the Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/deweyhumboldt).; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendixes C, E, G, H, I, and N as published by the International Code Council, adopted by reference in Resolution 21-162 as the Town's Building Code (Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances § 150.02), with Town amendments (Ord. 21-159, passed 4-20-2021). Source: § 150.02 Building Code, Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/deweyhumboldt/latest/deweyhum_az/0-0-0-11324).; 2018 International Residential One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code (IRC), including Appendixes A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, M, N, O, P, Q, R, and S, adopted by reference as the Town's one- and two-family dwelling code (§ 150.03), with Town amendments including a Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria insertion. Source: § 150.03 Residential One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code, Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/deweyhumboldt/latest/deweyhum_az/0-0-0-11403).; International Plumbing Code and International Mechanical Code provisions are administered under Chapters 150.04 and 150.05 of the Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances; Chapter 12 (Mechanical Administration) and the administrative provisions of Chapters 12 through 24 of the adopted IRC are explicitly superseded by the Dewey-Humboldt Administrative Building Code per the IRC § 150.03 amendments. Fuel Gas Code provisions (IRC Chapter 24 / IFGC) carry Town-specific amendments to appliance location, hazardous-location piping, and minimum burial depth. Source: § 150.03 Residential One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code amendments (Chapter 24 Fuel Gas section), Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances; Chapter 150 table of contents (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/deweyhumboldt/latest/deweyhum_az/0-0-0-1366) confirming separate 150.04 Plumbing Code, 150.05 Mechanical Code, and 150.06 Fuel Gas Code sections exist within the adopted structure.; National Electrical Code (NEC), referenced and adopted by the Town, administered under § 150.07 Electrical Code; the IBC § 2701.1 (Scope) amendment specifically cross-references 'The National Electrical Code as adopted by Dewey-Humboldt.' The specific NEC edition-year was not independently confirmable from a Town-published source beyond this cross-reference as of this verification pass — flagged as a confirmed gap for the exact edition year (the Town's 2018-cycle code adoption for IBC/IRC/IEBC/ISPSC suggests a contemporaneous NEC edition, most likely 2017 or 2020 NEC given the 2021 adoption ordinance date, but this is not independently confirmed and is NOT asserted here as fact). Source: § 150.02 Building Code, Chapter 27 Electrical amendment (Section 2701.1), Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), including Appendixes A, B, and C, adopted by reference in Resolution 21-162 (§ 150.09), governing repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition, and relocation of existing buildings including historic buildings. Source: § 150.09 Existing Building Code, Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/deweyhumboldt/latest/deweyhum_az/0-0-0-11856).; Dewey-Humboldt Grading Ordinance Code (§ 150.08), a locally authored (non-ICC) grading code governing excavation, fill, and site grading within the Town; a separate Grading Permit is issued alongside or instead of a building permit for qualifying site work. Source: Chapter 150 table of contents, Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances.; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), adopted by reference in Resolution 21-162 (§ 150.10), together with A.R.S. § 36-1681 (Arizona's statutory pool-barrier law), governing installation and maintenance of swimming pools, spas, and related accessories/equipment. Source: § 150.10 Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/deweyhumboldt/latest/deweyhum_az/0-0-0-11873).; International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2006 Edition, adopted by reference (§ 150.11) to regulate the design and construction of buildings for effective energy use — NOTE: unlike the Town's other 2018-cycle ICC codes (IBC/IRC/IEBC/ISPSC, all adopted via Resolution 21-162), the energy code was NOT advanced past the 2006 edition, a materially older cycle than any other adopted code in this file. The IRC's own Chapter 11 (Energy Efficiency) is deleted and replaced with a cross-reference to this adopted IECC per the § 150.03 amendments. Source: § 150.11 Energy Conservation Code, Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/deweyhumboldt/latest/deweyhum_az/0-0-0-11981).; Arizonans with Disabilities Act (A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 9, Article 8) and the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (federal Standards for State and local governments, and for public accommodations/commercial facilities), adopted and cross-referenced at § 150.12 (also cited elsewhere in the code as § 150.11 in an alternate section-numbering pass — both URLs resolve to the same Arizonans with Disabilities Act subject matter in this chapter). Source: § 150.12 Arizonans with Disabilities Act, Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/deweyhumboldt/latest/deweyhum_az/0-0-0-12004); IBC § 1101.2 amendment (Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances § 150.02).; Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) — NOT the Town itself — enforces fire protection systems and the International Fire Code as separately adopted and amended by the Fire District. IBC Chapter 9 (Fire Protection Systems) and IRC § R313 (Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems) are both deleted in their entirety by Town ordinance and replaced with a cross-reference requiring compliance with 'Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority requirements'; the Town's Building Official assists CAFMA with inspection/testing oversight but withholds Town approvals where fire protection systems are not CAFMA-compliant. Source: § 150.02 Building Code (Chapter 9 amendment) and § 150.03 Residential Code (Section R313 amendment), Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances.; Flood hazard area regulation within Dewey-Humboldt is explicitly NOT administered by the Town — IBC § 1612 (Flood Loads), IRC § R322 (Flood-resistant construction), IFGC § G2404.7/301.11 (Flood Hazard), and related grading-in-flood-hazard-area sections are all deleted from the Town's adopted codes and are instead 'controlled by Yavapai County Flood Control District.' Source: § 150.02 Building Code (Chapter 16/18 amendments) and § 150.03 Residential Code (Section R322 and Fuel Gas Chapter 24 amendments), Dewey-Humboldt Code of Ordinances.. Local amendments apply — see the Dewey-Humboldt overview page for the full list.

    Per the Town's FAQ, one-story detached accessory structures under 400 sq ft, fences 6 ft or under, retaining walls 4 ft or under (from the footing bottom), ground water tanks 5,000 gallons or under, and certain sidewalks/driveways do not require a Building Permit — but a Zoning Clearance Permit (roughly $15 per item per the Town's description) is still required for each.

    Sources & verification

    Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.

    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 Dewey-Humboldt building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.