Single-Family Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Sedona, Arizona

Sedona requires a single-family residential building permit (new construction) for: Building permit required for new single-family and duplex dwelling construction within Sedona city limits; Plans must comply with the 2018 IRC and City of Sedona amendments, including Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (115 mph Vult wind speed; Seismic Design Category C; 25 psf ground snow load; 12-inch frost line depth; 16°F winter design temperature; moderate-to-heavy termite potential); A soils classification prepared by an Arizona-registered geotechnical engineer is required for all new structures (waived for non-habitable accessory structures 400 sq ft or less, with a recorded non-conversion agreement); A soils engineering & engineering geology report is additionally required if the soils classification shows a plasticity index of 15 or greater; Unless exempt under A.R.S. § 32-1121 (owner-occupied, not for sale/rent), all work must be performed by an Arizona-licensed general or specialty contractor; 3 complete sets of plans plus 1 electronic link required; plan sheets no larger than 30" x 42". If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Sedona Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 928-282-1154 before starting work.

In Sedona, the published Building Permit Fee (Based on Valuation) is: Per City of Sedona Consolidated Fee Schedule, Valuation/Permit Fee Schedule. Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — 65% of the calculated Building Permit Fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Per the City of Sedona's published A.R.S. § 9-836 time-frame table (Single-Family Residential Building Permit Packet, authorized under City Code Title 15), Administrative Completeness review takes 21 business days and Substantive Review takes an additional 21 business days, for an overall time frame of 42 business days.

You'll need: Residential Building Permit Application; Site and Grading Plan; Soils Classification / Soils Engineering & Geology Report; Color and Material Sample Sheet; Outdoor Lighting Application (Residential). Depending on your project, Sedona may also ask for: Owner-Builder/Developer Statement. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Sedona requires 4 inspection(s) for a single-family residential building permit (new construction), in order: Foundation/Footing, Framing, Lath/Gypsum Board, Final. Schedule each through City of Sedona Community Development Department — Building Safety Division (928-282-1154).

Apply through City of Sedona Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 102 Roadrunner Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336-3710 (Community Development front counter address also published as 104 Roadrunner Drive in some permit packets). Phone: 928-282-1154, email: Permittechs@sedonaaz.gov. Office hours: Community Development Department phone hours Monday - Thursday, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (4-day, 10-hour City workweek); lobby/front counter hours Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Construction Inspection Hotline: 928-282-3268 (call by 3:00 p.m. the business day before to request a next-day inspection). Staff: Steve Mertes, Chief Building Official/Community Development Director, 928-203-5097, smertes@sedonaaz.gov; Becky Oium, Plans Examiner, 928-203-5093; Patty Lewis, Permit Technician, 928-203-5118; Andrew Vaughn, Building Inspector, 928-204-7115, avaughn@sedonaaz.gov.. Official information: https://www.sedonaaz.gov/your-government/departments/community-development/permits.

Sedona, 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 Sedona runs its own Community Development Department / Building Safety Division and independently adopts and administers its own construction codes as City Code Title 15 (Buildings and Construction); it does not defer permitting to Yavapai County or Coconino County for parcels within Sedona city limits, even though the city itself straddles both counties. Source: Sedona City Code Chapter 15.05 (sedona.municipal.codes/SCC/15.05); City of Sedona Permits and Building Safety webpages.; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), as amended and codified, published by the International Code Council, adopted as the building code of the City of Sedona (Sedona City Code § 15.05.010), with City of Sedona amendments (§ 15.05.020). Adopted by City Council on September 24, 2019 (Ordinance 2019-05, Resolution 2019-18 Exh. A); effective for all permits submitted on or after October 25, 2019. Source: Sedona City Code § 15.05.010/.020; City of Sedona Building Safety and Permits pages ('Building Codes' section).; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments (§ 15.05.030/.040), effective October 25, 2019, including the City's amended IRC Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria. Source: Sedona City Code § 15.05.030/.040.; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage, 'Building Codes' list.; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019. Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019 (referenced in the Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Building Permit Packet's '2019 Amendments to Sedona City Code' insert). Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage; City of Sedona Swimming Pool and Spa Building Permit Packet.; 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published by the National Fire Protection Association, adopted with City of Sedona amendments, effective October 25, 2019 (one edition behind the 2018 ICC I-Codes set, consistent with the City's own stated rationale of aligning with 'surrounding communities and counties'). Source: City of Sedona Building Safety webpage.; Manufactured homes, mobile homes, and factory-built buildings are separately defined and regulated under Sedona City Code § 15.05.090 (adopting the Arizona Office of Manufactured Housing construction/installation standards per A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 16), with the City issuing its own 'Manufactured or factory built home permit' packet for placement, foundation, and site-related requirements. Source: Sedona City Code § 15.05.090; City of Sedona Permits page.; Building permit fees and valuation are governed by Sedona City Code § 15.05.060, which cross-references the City of Sedona Consolidated Fee Schedule (Valuation/Permit Fee Schedule and Unit Permit Fees) as the authoritative fee source rather than the ICC codes' own fee tables; the plan review fee is set at 65 percent of the calculated building permit fee when the permit fee is valuation-based. Source: Sedona City Code § 15.05.060 (sedona.municipal.codes/SCC/15.05.060).. Local amendments apply — see the Sedona overview page for the full list.

The 2018 IRC (and 2018 IBC for non-residential portions) as adopted and amended by the City of Sedona apply to all permits submitted on or after October 25, 2019, per Sedona City Code §§ 15.05.010-.040 (Ordinance 2019-05, adopted September 24, 2019).