Septic / Onsite Wastewater System Permit in Unincorporated Yavapai County, Arizona

Unincorporated Yavapai County requires a septic / onsite wastewater system permit for: Required for any new residence or structure on a lot not connected to a public sewer system in unincorporated Yavapai County; Submit the Septic Permit Application - Conventional System, OR the Septic Permit Application - Alternate System for non-standard soil/site conditions; Site Investigation results required with the application, OR proof of connection to an existing sewer system in lieu of a septic permit; Floor plan required for all submittals, with all rooms/areas labeled; Directions to Property and Plot Plan required as part of the submittal package; Apply online through the CitizenServe Online Permit Portal (https://www4.citizenserve.com/Portal/PortalController?Action=showHomePage&ctzPagePrefix=Portal_&installationID=300). If your project isn't listed, confirm with Yavapai County Development Services — Customer Service & Permitting Unit (Building Safety Unit) at 928-771-3214 before starting work.

A standard (conventional) septic permit is $550; an alternate system (residential or commercial) is $1,050; a commercial septic permit is $750. Source: Yavapai County Permit Cost Estimate Sheet, effective 1/6/25, https://www.yavapaiaz.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/4/development-and-permits/permits/development-services/documents/permit-cost-estimate-sheet-8-28-25.pdf

Unincorporated Yavapai County does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Yavapai County Development Services — Customer Service & Permitting Unit (Building Safety Unit) at 928-771-3214 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Septic Permit Application - Conventional System; Plot Plan. Depending on your project, Unincorporated Yavapai County may also ask for: Septic Permit Application - Alternate System. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Yavapai County requires 3 inspection(s) for a septic / onsite wastewater system permit, in order: Site Investigation, Installation Inspection, Final. Schedule each through Yavapai County Development Services — Customer Service & Permitting Unit (Building Safety Unit) (928-771-3214).

Apply through Yavapai County Development Services — Customer Service & Permitting Unit (Building Safety Unit) at 1120 Commerce Drive, Prescott, AZ 86305 (also: 10 S. 6th Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326). Phone: 928-771-3214, email: web.development.services@yavapaiaz.gov. Office hours: Permit Technicians available 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Two public counters: Prescott (1120 Commerce Drive, 928-771-3214, fax 928-771-3432) and Cottonwood (10 S. 6th Street, 928-639-8151). All permit applications are submitted through the CitizenServe Online Permit Portal (https://www4.citizenserve.com/Portal/PortalController?Action=showHomePage&ctzPagePrefix=Portal_&installationID=300). Source: https://www.yavapaiaz.gov/Development-and-Permits/Development-Services/Customer-Service-Permitting-Unit. Official information: https://www.yavapaiaz.gov/Development-and-Permits/Development-Services/Customer-Service-Permitting-Unit.

Unincorporated Yavapai County, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has no statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-county/city authority. Yavapai County's Board of Supervisors independently adopts and administers its own construction codes for the unincorporated areas of the county through Development Services (Building Safety Unit); this is separate from, and does not apply within, the county's nine incorporated cities/towns (Prescott, Prescott Valley, Sedona, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Chino Valley, Clarkdale, Dewey-Humboldt, Jerome), each of which adopts and enforces its own codes.; 2024 International Building Code (IBC), adopted by reference with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-3, repealing and replacing Ordinance 2019-2, effective January 1, 2026. Includes Appendices A-P as amended. Source: 'Ordinances Adopting the 2024 International Building Codes...for the Unincorporated Areas of Yavapai County' (207-page ordinance compilation), https://www.yavapaiaz.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/2/development-and-permits/codes-amp-regulations/documents/code-update/2025-signed-ordinance-secured.pdf.; 2024 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (IRC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-4, effective January 1, 2026. Table R301.2 Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria is amended county-wide: basic wind speed 105 mph (Exposure C); Seismic Design Category C (county-wide, per amended R301.2.2.1); ground snow load 20-70 psf depending on elevation (footnote: over 7,000 ft requires site-specific analysis per Section R301.2.3); frost line depth 12 in below 4,500 ft, 18 in at 4,500-6,499 ft, 24 in at or above 6,500 ft; weathering negligible below 3,500 ft, moderate above 3,500 ft; termite damage potential negligible to moderate at/above 6,500 ft (see footnote); ice barrier underlayment NOT required; mean annual temperature 60°F at/below 3,500 ft, 50°F above 3,500 ft; air freezing index 1,500 or less. Source: same 2025-signed ordinance compilation, Ordinance 2025-4/IRC Table R301.2 amendment.; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-5, effective January 1, 2026.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-6, effective January 1, 2026.; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-7, effective January 1, 2026.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-8, effective January 1, 2026 (one edition behind the otherwise-2024 ICC set, consistent with the standard NFPA 3-year NEC cycle). Prior edition adopted under Ordinance 2007-7.; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-9, effective January 1, 2026.; Yavapai County Grading Ordinance, adopted/updated — Ordinance 2025-10, effective January 1, 2026 (supersedes Grading Ordinance 2019-9, cited in the county's PB-22 Grading Submittal Requirements policy).; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-11, effective January 1, 2026.; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-12, effective January 1, 2026 (newly adopted as its own title in this code cycle).; 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), adopted with Yavapai County amendments — Ordinance 2025-13, effective January 1, 2026. The county has NOT moved to a newer IECC edition; energy compliance for the 2024 code cycle is still evaluated under the 2012 IECC, mirroring the same 2012 IECC retention documented in this KB's Prescott entry.; Fire code enforcement in the unincorporated county is delegated to each area's local fire district under its own adopted fire code; where no authorized fire district exists, the State Fire Marshal's adopted fire code applies. Source: 2025 ordinance compilation, IBC Section on fire code applicability.. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Yavapai County overview page for the full list.