Commercial Building Permit in Somerton, Arizona

Somerton requires a commercial building permit for: Building permit required for new commercial/industrial construction within Somerton city limits; reviewed against the 2018 IBC as adopted and amended by the City (Ordinance No. 2019-002), with the 2014 NEC, 2012 IFGC, 2012 IMC, 2012 IPC, and 2009 IECC governing the respective trades; Design criteria: City of Somerton is within Seismic Design Category D; basic (ultimate) wind speed is 115 mph; Plans for particular occupancies must be prepared by an Arizona Licensed Architect or Arizona Registered Engineer in accordance with state law; at initial submittal, drawings, calculations, and supporting documents must bear the preparing professional's name and license number; Commercial and Industrial Project Data Sheet required: gross/net site acreage, existing zoning, lot coverage %, total building area, building and landscape setbacks (required vs. provided), parking spaces required/provided, and proposed screening; an additional 10-foot buffer area is required if the site is adjacent to AG-zoned (agricultural) land; Plan Check Review Submittal Checklist quantities: Site Plan — five (5) 24"x36" prints with Registered Arizona Architect or Civil Engineer seal and signature; Preliminary Grading and Drainage Plan — three (3) prints with Registered Arizona Civil Engineer stamp (stormwater retention calculations required); Landscaping Plan — two (2) prints; Floor Plan — one (1) print with AZ Registered Architect stamp; Elevations — one (1) print with AZ Registered Architect stamp; Outdoor Lighting — two (2) prints with catalogue cuts for all exterior fixtures; Engineering (structural) plans and calculations: two (2) complete sets of structural calculations (and truss calculations if applicable) with the architect's or engineer's original wet signature and stamp on both sets; structural design criteria (wind, seismic) shown on plans; State Energy Conservation Information: all new and existing structures with conditioned space must provide energy calculations, with all energy-calculation requirements shown on the plans; A separate Sign Package application (with its own fee) is required for all multi-tenant, commercial, and industrial projects; When submitting through the On-line Permit Portal, the full plan set (site plan, architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical) must be one combined PDF file, with truss calculations, structural calculations, and supporting documents (e.g., geotechnical report) as separate PDFs; Building Contractor's Information page required: licensed contractor ROC number and class per trade, or Owner-Builder/Owner-Developer exemption under A.R.S. §32-1121A.5/A.6; Disclosure required regarding whether the property is within the 65/70/75 dB noise contour or High Noise and Accident Potential Zone of Marine Corps Air Station-Yuma/Yuma International Airport. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Somerton Community Development Department — Building Safety and Code Enforcement at 928-722-7399 before starting work.

In Somerton, the published Building Permit Fee — Valuation-Based is: $1-$500: $50; $501-$2,000: $50 for first $500 plus $4 per add'l $100; $2,001-$25,000: $80 for first $2,000 plus $16 per add'l $1,000; $25,001-$50,000: $450 for first $25,000 plus $12 per add'l $1,000; $50,001-$100,000: $740 for first $50,000 plus $8 per add'l $1,000; $100,001-$500,000: $1,140 for first $100,000 plus $6 per add'l $1,000; $500,001-$1,000,000: $3,720 for first $500,000 plus $6 per add'l $1,000; $1,000,001+: $6,450 for first $1,000,000 plus $4 per add'l $1,000. Additional published fees: Plan Check Fee — 65% of the building permit fee; Deferred Submittals for Separate Construction Plans Components (Commercial) — $300; Phased, Partial, or Deferred Submittal Permits — 200% of single permit fee (initial and subsequent permits); Expedited Plan Review (Commercial: 10 business days) — Double the plan review fee; Temporary Certificate of Occupancy — $100. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Per the City's A.R.S. § 9-835 Building Permit Processing Time Frames document, 'Commercial Building - New' has an overall review time of 27 business days (2 days administrative completeness review, 15 days for first substantive review, 10 days for second review if needed). Expedited review in 10 business days is available for double the plan review fee.

You'll need: Building Application Form (Commercial/Industrial packet); Commercial and Industrial Project Data Sheet + Landscape Data Sheet; Site Plan, Grading & Drainage, Landscaping, Floor Plan, Elevations, Outdoor Lighting prints; Structural Plans and Calculations; Building Contractor's Information. Depending on your project, Somerton may also ask for: Sign Package Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Somerton requires 4 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit, in order: Foundation/Footing, Underground/Rough-In (Trades), Framing, Final / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Somerton Community Development Department — Building Safety and Code Enforcement (928-722-7399).

Apply through City of Somerton Community Development Department — Building Safety and Code Enforcement at 143 N. State Ave. (2nd Floor), P.O. Box 638, Somerton, AZ 85350. Phone: 928-722-7399, email: MariaYbarra@Somertonaz.gov. Office hours: City Hall hours as of August 12, 2024: closed every other Friday (contact 928-722-7400 for the current schedule); Building Inspector observes modified Summer Hours during peak heat months. To schedule a building inspection, call (928) 722-7399 before 3:00 PM Monday-Friday, or email Maria Ybarra (Permit Technician), at least one business day in advance. Plans/applications may be submitted via the On-line Permit Portal, by email, or in person at 143 N. State Ave.. Official information: https://www.somertonaz.gov/departments/community_development_services/building_safety_and_code_enforcement.php.

Fees are valuation-based: square footage priced per the ICC Building Safety Journal Building Valuation Data Table (August 2023 edition) with a construction-type multiplier, then run through the City's tiered permit fee table (e.g., $1,140 for the first $100,000 of valuation plus $6 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000). The Plan Check fee is 65% of the building permit fee.

Yes for the key sheets — the City's Commercial/Multi-Family submittal checklist requires a Registered Arizona Architect or Civil Engineer seal on the site plan, an Arizona Registered Civil Engineer stamp on the grading and drainage plan, and an AZ Registered Architect stamp on the floor plan and elevations; structural calculations must carry the professional's original wet signature and stamp on both required sets.