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Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy in Prescott Valley, Arizona

In the Town of Prescott Valley a change of use is governed by Town Code Sec. 7-01-190 (Certificate of Occupancy) of the Town's Administrative Code: no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof may be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy, and changes in the character or use of a building must comply with all applicable codes for the new use. The Town publishes no standalone change-of-use application and no change-of-use or certificate-of-occupancy fee line - in practice a commercial use change is carried by a Commercial Tenant Improvement (T.I.) permit, which the Town's own Sign Permit Application Checklist confirms is the prerequisite step when 'changing your tenant use'.

Reviewed 2026-08-15 · Source

When you need this permit

  • No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made, until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy; issuance of a certificate of occupancy is not an approval of a violation of the administrative code, the technical codes, or other Town ordinances (Town Code Sec. 7-01-190.A)
  • Changes in the character or use of a building shall comply with all applicable codes for the new use (Town Code Sec. 7-01-190.B)
  • The building official issues the certificate only after inspecting the building or structure and finding no violations of the administrative code or other laws enforced by the Town (Sec. 7-01-190.C)
  • The certificate of occupancy must state the building permit number; the address of the structure; the name and address of the owner; a description of the portion of the structure covered; a statement that the described portion has been inspected for compliance with the administrative code and the technical codes for the occupancy and division of occupancy and the use for which the proposed occupancy is classified; the name of the building official; the edition of the code under which the permit was issued; the use and occupancy per the adopted technical codes; the type of construction as defined by the adopted technical codes; the design occupant load; whether a provided automatic sprinkler system is required; and any special stipulations and conditions of the building permit (Sec. 7-01-190.C.1 through C.12)
  • A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued before completion of the entire permitted work where the portion(s) can be occupied safely; the building official sets the validity period, which shall not exceed 90 days for R-3 and U occupancies and 180 days for all other uses (Sec. 7-01-190.D)
  • The certificate of occupancy must be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises and shall not be removed except by the building official (Sec. 7-01-190.E)
  • The building official may suspend or revoke a certificate of occupancy in writing when it was issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information, or when the building, structure or portion is in violation of an ordinance, regulation, the administrative code or the technical codes (Sec. 7-01-190.F)
  • A certificate of completion, as distinct from a certificate of occupancy, is issued only for non-occupiable buildings such as shell buildings and specialty restrictive construction (Sec. 7-01-190.G)
  • SEQUENCING: the Town's own Sign Permit Application Checklist (updated 12/2024) states 'If you are changing your tenant use, start this step only after a Commercial T.I. permit has been submit' - confirming that the Commercial Tenant Improvement permit is the vehicle through which a commercial tenant-use change is processed
  • A permit is required before any building, structure or building service equipment regulated by the technical codes is 'erected, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished', and that requirement is in addition to any zoning, subdivision and/or engineering approvals and permits required elsewhere in the Town Code (Town Code Sec. 7-01-140.A)
  • Depending on the new use, a zoning approval may also be required under Town Code Chapter 13, Article 13-13 (conditional use permits at Sec. 13-13-090, special use permits at Sec. 13-13-100) - a separate application with its own fee

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Certificate of Occupancy / Change of Occupancy / Change of UseThe Town of Prescott Valley Comprehensive Fee Schedule (Res. 2023-2339, eff. 10/28/2023; FY2025-26 posting) contains NO fee line for a certificate of occupancy, change of occupancy, or change of use. All 26 pages of the schedule were searched for 'occupancy', 'change of use', 'change in use', 'C of O' and 'certificate', and the Development Services sections (Board of Adjustment Fees, Building Permit Fees, Grading, Impact Fees, Inspections and Fees, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing Fees, Other Fees, Planning Fees, Signs, Subdivision Fees, Zoning Fees) were additionally read as rendered page images. There is no such line. This is a documented absence, not an unread source.
Not separately published by the Town
Underlying Commercial Tenant Improvement building permit fee (where construction work is involved)Town of Prescott Valley Comprehensive Fee Schedule, 'DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: BUILDING PERMIT FEES' section (page 5 of 26 of the FY2025-26 posting), Unit of Measure 'Per Permit', Authorization Res. 2023-2339, Effective Date 10/28/2023. Read from a 200-dpi rendered page image. This is the standard valuation table, not a change-of-use-specific fee - it applies because a use change with work is permitted as a Commercial T.I.
Valuation-based: $26.75 at $1.00-$500.00 valuation; $37.45 at $501.00-$2,000.00; $53.50 for the first $2,000 plus $9.65 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof up to $25,000; $269.65 for the first $25,000 plus $6.95 per additional $1,000 up to $50,000; $443.50 for the first $50,000 plus $5.90 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; $737.75 for the first $100,000 plus $1.60 per additional $1,000 thereafter
Deposits - Commercial / Industrial - Additions / RemodelsTown of Prescott Valley Comprehensive Fee Schedule, 'DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: BUILDING PERMIT FEES' section (page 5 of 26); the schedule's Notes column reads 'May be required at time of application'
$107.00 per permit
Plan Review Fee - Commercial (applies to the Tenant Improvement plan review)Town of Prescott Valley Comprehensive Fee Schedule, 'DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: INSPECTIONS AND FEES' page (page 11 of 26 of the FY2025-26 posting), Unit of Measure 'Per Plan', Authorization Res. 2023-2339, Effective Date 10/28/2023. Read from a 200-dpi rendered page image.
65% of the Building Permit Fee, including Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical Fees
Investigation Fee (work commenced without a permit)Town of Prescott Valley Comprehensive Fee Schedule (page 11 of 26 of the FY2025-26 posting); the schedule's Notes column reads 'If work commences without first obtaining a permit.' Authorization Res. 2023-2339, Effective Date 10/28/2023.
100% of the permit fee, per occurrence
New Use Permit - Non-Residential / Commercial (zoning approval, only if required)Town of Prescott Valley Comprehensive Fee Schedule, 'DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FEES' section (pages 3-4 of 26), Authorization Res. 2023-2339, Effective Date 10/28/2023. The schedule's Proposed Action column records a proposed rename to 'Conditional Use Permit - Non-Residential / Commercial' with 'no change' in amount, on the stated basis 'Chapter 13 Zoning Code Update January 2025 added Conditional Use Permits' - a proposal, recorded here as such, not as an adopted change. This is a zoning use permit, NOT a change-of-occupancy fee, and applies only where the new use is not permitted by right.
$267.50 per application

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy permit actually take in Prescott Valley?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Building Official Inspection for Certificate of Occupancy

    Town Code Sec. 7-01-190.C: after the building official inspects the building or structure and finds no violations of the administrative code or other laws enforced by the Town, the building official issues a certificate of occupancy stating the occupancy classification, construction type, design occupant load, and whether a provided automatic sprinkler system is required

  2. 2

    Trade rough-in and final inspections for any associated Tenant Improvement work

    Where the change of use involves construction, the underlying Commercial Tenant Improvement permit's electrical, plumbing and mechanical rough-in inspections and final inspection apply; inspections are scheduled through the Town's IVR line, 928-759-3060

See the full Prescott Valley inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Prescott Valley's change-of-use rule is short and absolute: Town Code Sec. 7-01-190.A bars any change in the existing occupancy classification until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy, and Sec. 7-01-190.B requires the new use to comply with all applicable codes - which is what turns a paper tenant change into a real code-upgrade exercise (egress, sprinklers, accessibility) when the occupancy group moves.
  • There is no change-of-use application form and no change-of-use fee in Prescott Valley. Both were chased through the Town's full permit-application library and all 26 pages of the Comprehensive Fee Schedule. The route is the Commercial Tenant Improvement permit - the Town's own Sign Permit Application Checklist says a tenant-use change must start with a Commercial T.I. submittal.
  • Temporary certificates of occupancy are time-boxed by occupancy group: not more than 90 days for R-3 and U occupancies, and not more than 180 days for all other uses (Town Code Sec. 7-01-190.D). Unlike some Arizona jurisdictions, the Town Code does not cap the number of renewals.
  • The certificate itself records whether your sprinkler system is required (Sec. 7-01-190.C.11) and the code edition under which the permit was issued (Sec. 7-01-190.C.7). That matters in Prescott Valley, which is still on the 2018 ICC code cycle and publishes a form titled 'Acknowledging 2024 ICC Codes Not Yet Adopted' for submittals drawn to the newer suite.
  • Do not confuse a certificate of completion with a certificate of occupancy: Sec. 7-01-190.G authorizes the building official to issue a certificate of completion only for non-occupiable buildings such as shell buildings and specialty restrictive construction.
  • A use change may also need a zoning use permit ($267.50 per application) if the new use is not permitted by right in the district. The Town's fee schedule shows a proposed rename of that line to 'Conditional Use Permit', on the basis of the January 2025 Chapter 13 Zoning Code update, at no change in amount.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Town Code Sec. 7-01-190.A provides that no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion of one may be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy, and Sec. 7-01-190.B requires that changes in the character or use of a building comply with all applicable codes for the new use. The Town does not publish a standalone change-of-use application - a commercial tenant-use change is processed through a Commercial Tenant Improvement permit, which the Town's own Sign Permit Application Checklist identifies as the required first step when changing tenant use.

The Town of Prescott Valley publishes no certificate-of-occupancy, change-of-occupancy, or change-of-use fee anywhere in its Comprehensive Fee Schedule - all 26 pages were checked. What you actually pay is the underlying Commercial Tenant Improvement building permit fee, which is valuation-based (for example, $443.50 for the first $50,000 of valuation plus $5.90 for each additional $1,000 up to $100,000), plus the 65% commercial plan review fee and a $107.00 commercial additions/remodels deposit that may be required at application. If the new use is not permitted by right in the zoning district, a use permit adds $267.50 per application. Confirm the total with the Permit Center at 928-759-5535.

Town Code Sec. 7-01-190.D authorizes the building official to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy before the entire permitted work is complete, provided the portion or portions can be occupied safely. The building official sets the validity period, which shall not exceed 90 days for R-3 and U occupancies and 180 days for all other uses.

You'll need: Commercial Tenant Improvement Application; Certificate of Occupancy issued by the building official. Depending on your project, Prescott Valley may also ask for: Zoning conditional use permit or special use permit application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Prescott Valley requires 2 inspection(s) for a change of use / certificate of occupancy permit, in order: Building Official Inspection for Certificate of Occupancy, Trade rough-in and final inspections for any associated Tenant Improvement work. Schedule each through Town of Prescott Valley Development Services Department — Building Safety / Permitting (928-759-3050 (Development Services main); 928-759-5535 (Permitting); 928-759-3060 (Inspection scheduling/IVR)).

Apply through Town of Prescott Valley Development Services Department — Building Safety / Permitting at 7501 E. Skoog Blvd. (Civic Center), Prescott Valley, AZ 86314. Phone: 928-759-3050 (Development Services main); 928-759-5535 (Permitting); 928-759-3060 (Inspection scheduling/IVR), email: permitting@prescottvalley-az.gov (permit applications); devserv@prescottvalley-az.gov (general Development Services). Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Development Services Counter payment window 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; permit pickup 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Applications are submitted through the Town's GoPost ePlan online portal (gopost-prescottvalley.eplansoftreview.com); walk-in/paper submittal is not the standard path.. Official information: https://www.prescottvalley-az.gov/departments/development_services/permit_center.php.

Prescott Valley, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-jurisdiction authority under state enabling statutes (A.R.S. Title 9 for municipalities). The Town of Prescott Valley runs its own Development Services Department and independently adopts and administers its own construction codes under Chapter 7 (Building Regulations) of the Town Code; it does not defer permitting to Yavapai County. Source: Town of Prescott Valley Development Services Department page and 2018 Code Design Requirements memo (Building Safety - Plans Examination, Senior Certified Plans Examiner Russ Harsh).; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), as published by the International Code Council, adopted by the Town of Prescott Valley effective January 1, 2020, under Chapter 7 of the Town Code, with Town amendments. Source: Town of Prescott Valley Development Services Department page (prescottvalley-az.gov) and 2018 Code Design Requirements memo.; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted effective January 1, 2020, with Town amendments. Source: 2018 Code Design Requirements memo, Town of Prescott Valley Development Services Department — Building Safety, Plans Examination.; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted effective January 1, 2020. Source: 2018 Code Design Requirements memo.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted effective January 1, 2020. Source: 2018 Code Design Requirements memo.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted effective January 1, 2020. Source: 2018 Code Design Requirements memo.; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted effective January 1, 2020 (one code cycle behind the 2018 ICC set, consistent with the NEC's separate 3-year publication cycle). Source: 2018 Code Design Requirements memo.; 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), Residential Only — the Town has NOT adopted a newer IECC edition; the 2006 edition remains the current residential energy code baseline as of this review. Source: 2018 Code Design Requirements memo (explicitly lists '2006 International Energy Conservation Code (Residential Only)').; ANSI A117.1-2009 American National Standard (Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities) and the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design are adopted as the Town's accessibility standards. Source: 2018 Code Design Requirements memo.; As of this review, the Town has NOT adopted the 2024 ICC code suite. The Town's own Permit Center document library includes a form titled 'Acknowledging 2024 ICC Codes Not Yet Adopted,' confirming the 2018-cycle codes listed above remain current and in force; applicants must sign this acknowledgment on certain submittals. Source: Town of Prescott Valley Permit Center page (Acknowledging 2024 ICC Codes Not Yet Adopted.pdf).; Manufactured/mobile homes are regulated directly by the State of Arizona (A.R.S. § 41-4001 et seq., Arizona Department of Fire, Building and Life Safety / Office of Manufactured Housing) for construction/installation standards; the Town issues its own separate Manufactured/Mobile Home permit for placement, foundation/tie-down, and site improvements (listed among the Town's Building Permit categories). Source: Town of Prescott Valley Permit Center page (Manufactured Mobile Permit Application.pdf).. Local amendments apply — see the Prescott Valley overview page for the full list.

Other permits in Prescott Valley

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Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy in other cities

Apache Junction, ArizonaBuckeye, ArizonaCamp Verde, ArizonaCocopah Indian Tribe, ArizonaDewey-Humboldt, ArizonaDuncan, ArizonaEagar, ArizonaFort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Arizona

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