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

Required in the City of Prescott whenever the use of an existing building changes to a different Use Category. Prescott Land Development Code Sec. 9.2.1.B makes a certificate of occupancy mandatory for a 'change in use of an existing building to a different Use Category as set forth in Sec. 11.1', alongside the ordinary new-construction trigger at Sec. 9.2.1.A. The Building Official issues the certificate and the Community Development Director reviews every request to confirm the intended use, building or structure complies with all applicable Code regulations and standards and with the approved building and site plan. Prescott files this as its own CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY permit type (prefix B), which the City lists as NOT available for online submittal - applicants must contact the Building Division directly.

Reviewed 2026-08-15 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A certificate of occupancy is required for (A) occupancy and use of a building hereafter erected or enlarged, and (B) change in use of an existing building to a different Use Category as set forth in Land Development Code Sec. 11.1 (Prescott LDC Sec. 9.2.1)
  • The Building Official holds the authority to issue building permits meeting the International Building Codes, the City of Prescott General Engineering Standards, and the Land Development Code, and is vested with authority to approve certificates of occupancy for projects completed in accordance with approved plans (LDC Sec. 9.2.2, citing Prescott City Code Titles III and VI)
  • When the contractor believes a structure or use is ready for occupancy, a final inspection for a certificate of occupancy must be requested of the Building Official or designee (LDC Sec. 9.2.3.A)
  • The Community Development Director or designee reviews all certificate of occupancy requests to determine whether intended uses, buildings or structures comply with all applicable Code regulations and standards and with the approved building and site plan (LDC Sec. 9.2.3.B)
  • The Building Official inspects the use or structure and issues the certificate of occupancy only if it complies with all applicable provisions of the building code, the City of Prescott General Engineering Standards, and the Land Development Code (LDC Sec. 9.2.3.C)
  • A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued pending the permanent certificate, valid for a period established by the Building Official and the Community Development Director, pending completion of improvements or during partial occupancy; bonding at 125 percent of the estimated improvement costs may be required for outstanding improvements (LDC Sec. 9.2.4)
  • It is unlawful to occupy any building that does not have a valid certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy, except where the building was constructed or occupied before LDC Sec. 9.2 took effect (LDC Sec. 9.2.5)
  • The CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY permit type (permit prefix B) is NOT available for online submittal through the PrescottPermits.com portal - the City directs applicants to contact the Building Division at buildingpermits@prescott-az.gov or 928-777-1371 (City of Prescott Permit Type & Subtype Descriptions handout, page 10 of 10)
  • Depending on the new Use Category, a use change may also require a separate zoning approval with its own fee - for example a Conditional Use Permit under LDC Sec. 9.3 ($1,302.28), a Special Use Permit under LDC Sec. 9.9 ($1,803.15 general), or a Temporary Use Permit under LDC Sec. 9.11 ($200.35)
  • Where the change of use changes water demand, the City charges a separate Water Service Agreement - Change Of Use fee ($203.94)
  • A change of use accompanied by construction work is permitted separately as a Commercial Tenant Improvement and Remodel building permit, which carries its own published review timeline of 25 business days for round 1 and 12 business days for additional rounds

Required documents

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Fee schedule

C of O Walkthru IssueFY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule, page 3 of 8, Community Development - Building table (FY26 $66.00 -> FY27 $67.00, CPI ADJ 2026 of 1.2%)
$67.00 each
C of O Walkthru BLDG OnlyFY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule, page 3 of 8, Community Development - Building table (FY26 $198.00 -> FY27 $201.00)
$201.00 each
C of O Walkthru Congregate Living Life Safety OccupancyFY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule, page 3 of 8, Community Development - Building table (FY26 $528.00 -> FY27 $535.00)
$535.00 each
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy - CommercialFY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule, page 3 of 8, Community Development - Building table (FY26 $792.00 -> FY27 $802.00)
$802.00 each
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy - ResidentialFY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule, page 3 of 8, Community Development - Building table (FY26 $396.00 -> FY27 $401.00)
$401.00 each
Water Service Agreement - Change Of UseFY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule, page 4 of 8, Community Development - Planning table (FY26 $201.52 -> FY27 $203.94). This is a water-service fee, not a building fee; it applies where the use change alters water service.
$203.94 each
Conditional Use Permit Fee (only if the new use requires one)FY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule, page 3 of 8, Community Development - Planning table (FY26 $1,286.84 -> FY27 $1,302.28). Charged only where the new Use Category is a conditional use in the district under LDC Sec. 9.3 - it is not a change-of-occupancy fee.
$1,302.28 each
Special Use Permits, General (only if the new use requires one)FY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule, page 3 of 8, Community Development - Planning table (FY26 $1,781.77 -> FY27 $1,803.15), under LDC Sec. 9.9
$1,803.15 each

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

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

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Occupancy Inspection

    Requested of the Building Official or designee when the contractor believes the structure or use is ready for occupancy; the Building Official inspects the use or structure and issues the certificate of occupancy only on determining that it complies with all applicable provisions of the building code, the City of Prescott General Engineering Standards, and the Land Development Code (Prescott LDC Sec. 9.2.3.A and 9.2.3.C)

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

Tips

  • Prescott's change-of-use trigger is the Use Category, not the tenant. Land Development Code Sec. 9.2.1.B requires a new certificate of occupancy only when the use of an existing building changes to a DIFFERENT Use Category as set forth in LDC Sec. 11.1 - so a like-for-like tenant swap within the same category is a different situation from, say, retail moving to assembly. Check your proposed use against Sec. 11.1 before assuming which applies.
  • This permit type cannot be filed online. The City's Permit Type & Subtype Descriptions handout lists CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (prefix B) in its 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE PERMITTING' table on page 10, directing applicants to the Building Division at buildingpermits@prescott-az.gov or 928-777-1371. Do not expect to find it as a selectable type in the PrescottPermits.com portal.
  • A temporary certificate of occupancy in Prescott has no fixed statutory duration - LDC Sec. 9.2.4 leaves the validity period to be established by the Building Official and the Community Development Director, and permits bonding at 125 percent of estimated improvement costs for outstanding work. Budget $802.00 (commercial) or $401.00 (residential) for it.
  • Occupying without a valid certificate is expressly unlawful under LDC Sec. 9.2.5, with the only carve-out being buildings constructed or occupied before Sec. 9.2 took effect.
  • Budget for the zoning side separately. If the new Use Category is not permitted by right, a Conditional Use Permit ($1,302.28) or a general Special Use Permit ($1,803.15) is a separate Planning application on top of the certificate of occupancy, and a use change that alters water service adds a $203.94 Water Service Agreement - Change Of Use fee.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, when the new use falls in a different Use Category. Prescott Land Development Code Sec. 9.2.1.B requires a certificate of occupancy for any change in use of an existing building to a different Use Category as set forth in LDC Sec. 11.1. The Community Development Director reviews the request against all applicable Code regulations and the approved building and site plan, and the Building Official issues the certificate after a final inspection. Occupying a building without a valid certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate is unlawful under LDC Sec. 9.2.5.

Per the City of Prescott FY2027 Citywide Fee Schedule (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027): C of O Walkthru Issue is $67.00, C of O Walkthru BLDG Only is $201.00, and C of O Walkthru Congregate Living Life Safety Occupancy is $535.00. A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy is $802.00 for commercial and $401.00 for residential. The City does not publish which of the three C of O Walkthru lines applies to a use change with no construction work, so confirm the applicable line with the Building Division at 928-777-1371 before budgeting.

Prescott does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Prescott Community Development Department — Building Division / Permit Center at 928-777-1371 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Certificate of Occupancy application (Building Division, not the online portal). Depending on your project, Prescott may also ask for: Building permit application for any associated construction work; Zoning approval application (Conditional Use Permit, Special Use Permit, or Temporary Use Permit). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Prescott requires 1 inspection(s) for a change of use / certificate of occupancy permit, in order: Final Occupancy Inspection. Schedule each through City of Prescott Community Development Department — Building Division / Permit Center (928-777-1371).

Apply through City of Prescott Community Development Department — Building Division / Permit Center at 201 N Montezuma Street, Prescott, AZ 86301. Phone: 928-777-1371, email: buildingpermits@prescott-az.gov. Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Applications are submitted online through the PrescottPermits.com portal (all permit types, including plan-reviewed and same-day Fast Track permits). On-site building inspections are performed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., except City holidays; inspections can be scheduled online as early as the next business day (up to 5 business days out) if requested before midnight. Note: the City's Building Permit application checklists (rev. 2023-2024) list an older office address of 201 S Cortez St, Prescott, AZ 86303 — the current Permit Center pages (2025-2026 vintage) consistently list 201 N Montezuma Street, Prescott, AZ 86301, which is used here as the verified current address.. Official information: https://prescott-az.gov/permit-center/.

Prescott, 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 Prescott's Community Development Department (Building Division) independently adopts and administers its own construction codes and Permit Center program; it does not defer permitting to Yavapai County. Source: City of Prescott Permit Center / Building Permits page (prescott-az.gov/permit-center/permit-categories/building-permits/).; 2024 International Building Code (IBC), as published by the International Code Council, adopted by the City of Prescott with local amendments codified at Prescott City Code Chapter 3, Article 3-1, 3-2, and 3-5. Currently in effect for plan review. Source: City of Prescott Building Permits page, '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout (rev. 01/01/2026), and Prescott City Code (codepublishing.com/AZ/Prescott).; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, adopted by reference with City of Prescott amendments (Prescott City Code Article 3-8). Source: City of Prescott '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout (rev. 01/01/2026).; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted with City of Prescott amendments. Source: City of Prescott '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout (rev. 01/01/2026); 2024 IMC Significant Changes handout.; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted with City of Prescott amendments (Prescott City Code Article 3-6). Source: City of Prescott '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout (rev. 01/01/2026); 2024 IPC Significant Changes handout.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), adopted with City of Prescott amendments (Prescott City Code Article 3-7) — one edition behind the 2024 ICC set, matching the standard NFPA 3-year NEC cycle. Source: City of Prescott '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout (rev. 01/01/2026); 2023 NEC Significant Changes handout.; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted with City of Prescott amendments. Source: City of Prescott '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout (rev. 01/01/2026).; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted with City of Prescott amendments. Source: City of Prescott '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout (rev. 01/01/2026); 2024 IEBC Significant Changes handout.; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by reference (Prescott City Code Article 6-1) as the City's uniform fire code, with a dedicated Urban-Wildland Interface amendment (Article 6-2) administered by the Prescott Fire Department. Source: City of Prescott '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout; Prescott City Code Article 6-1/6-2.; 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted with City of Prescott amendments (Prescott City Code Article 3-18) — the City has NOT moved to a newer IECC edition; energy compliance for the 2024 code cycle is still evaluated under the 2012 IECC Climate Zone 4B tables. Source: City of Prescott '2024 Codes-Design Criteria' handout (rev. 01/01/2026), which explicitly lists '2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)' alongside the otherwise-2024 code set.; City of Prescott Administrative Building Code (Prescott City Code Article 3-17) governs permit administration, application processing, plan review, and issuance procedures citywide, overriding the ICC model codes' own administrative chapters where they conflict. Source: Prescott City Code Article 3-17 (codepublishing.com/AZ/Prescott).. Local amendments apply — see the Prescott overview page for the full list.

No. The City of Prescott's Permit Type & Subtype Descriptions handout lists CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (permit prefix B) among the permit types and applications that are not available for online permitting, and directs applicants to contact the City of Prescott Building Division at buildingpermits@prescott-az.gov or 928-777-1371 instead of filing through the PrescottPermits.com portal.

Other permits in Prescott

Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Residence / Duplex)Residential Addition / Remodel Permit (Addition, Remodel, Casita, Guesthouse, Decks, Patio Cover, Pergola)Electrical Only PermitPlumbing Only PermitMechanical Only Permit (HVAC)Re-Roof Only PermitPhotovoltaic Solar System PermitDemolition PermitFences and Walls PermitAccessory Structures Permit (Sheds, Carports)EV Charger / EVSE PermitCommercial Building Permit (New Commercial & Multi-Family Construction)Commercial Tenant Improvement PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm System Permit

Change of Use / Certificate of Occupancy Permit in other cities

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

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