Skip to main content
PermitBase

Fire Permit (Fire Code Construction and Operational Permits) in Unincorporated Yuma County, Arizona

Yuma County is an exception to the Arizona county-fire-district pattern: it adopts and enforces its own fire code for unincorporated territory rather than relegating fire review to an independent fire district. The Yuma County Board of Supervisors adopted the 2024 International Fire Code by Ordinance No. 2026-02 on May 4, 2026, effective 12:01 a.m. June 8, 2026, and expressly directed the Yuma County Department of Development Services to enforce it. DDS charges its own Fire Code Plan Review fee, Fire Permit, and Annual Fire Permit, runs its own fire inspections (it publishes 'Fire Pre Inspection' and 'Deficiencies Found During Fire Inspections' brochures), maintains a county Fire Code Advisory Board, and publishes its own fire-related construction policies.

Reviewed 2026-07-07 · Source

When you need this permit

  • The 2024 International Fire Code is part of the Yuma County Comprehensive Building Safety Code, adopted by Yuma County Ordinance No. 2026-02 (Board of Supervisors, May 4, 2026, Item No. ZF1; recorded 05/15/2026 as document 2026-12402), effective 12:01 a.m. June 8, 2026, replacing the previously adopted 2003 International Fire Code
  • Ordinance No. 2026-02 directs the Yuma County Department of Development Services to enforce the fire code requirements as set forth in A.R.S. §11-861, as applicable to and enforceable by Yuma County
  • Zoning Ordinance Sec. 1201.02: it is unlawful to perform any work without the required permits under the provisions of the Building, Fire, Mechanical, Electrical and/or Plumbing Codes adopted by the Yuma County Board of Supervisors
  • Fire code plan review is a distinct, separately-priced review step in the DDS Fee Schedule's Plan Reviews section, alongside Building Plan Review and Consultant Building Plan Review
  • Where different sections of the Comprehensive Building Safety Code and other codes of the jurisdiction specify different materials, methods of construction, or other requirements, the more restrictive governs; where a general requirement conflicts with a specific requirement, the specific requirement applies (Ordinance No. 2026-02 recitals)
  • Fees stated inside the referenced model codes do not apply — Yuma County has a statutorily adopted DDS fee schedule and Ordinance No. 2026-02 states that fees mentioned in the referenced codes shall not apply
  • Three copies of the 2024 International Fire Code are on file in the Office of the County Clerk and are declared public records, ordered to remain on file with the Clerk of the Board
  • Violation of the adopted code is a Class 2 Misdemeanor, with each day the illegal erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, maintenance or use continues constituting a separate offense
  • County fire-related construction policies published by DDS Building Safety apply in addition to the code: Dry Hydrants and Construction Standards; Fire Department Apparatus Access Roadway; Fire Department Connection (FDC); Fire Resistant Construction Requirements for Awning Structures; and Water Requirements for Manual Firefighting during Construction
  • Commercial/industrial/MH & RV Park project applications must state how water for manual fire support will be provided (Commercial Project Information Guide & Application, item 15 / application field 14)

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Fee schedule

Fire Code Plan ReviewYuma County DDS Fee Schedule, Section 1 PLAN REVIEWS (page 1 of 12) — read from a 170-dpi page render, not from text extraction. Listed immediately after Building Plan Review Fees and Consultant Building Plan Review Fees. Source: https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/28926/636228368161800000
$50.00
Fire PermitYuma County DDS Fee Schedule, Miscellaneous Permits (page 6 of 12) — read from a 170-dpi page render. This is a Yuma County fee charged by the county's own Department of Development Services, not a fire-district fee.
$110.00
Annual Fire PermitYuma County DDS Fee Schedule, Miscellaneous Permits (page 6 of 12) — read from a 170-dpi page render. Listed directly beneath the Fire Permit line.
$50.00
Operating Without Approved and Valid PermitYuma County DDS Fee Schedule, Miscellaneous Permits (page 6 of 12, read from render) — expressly applies to 'all type permits issued by DDS,' which includes fire permits.
Twice original permit fee assessed

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Fire Permit (Fire Code Construction and Operational Permits) permit actually take in Unincorporated Yuma County?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Fire Pre Inspection

    Yuma County Development Services publishes a 'Fire Pre Inspection' public information brochure describing the county's own fire inspection process (https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/development-services/divisions/customer-service/public-information-brochures)

  2. 2

    Fire Inspection

    County fire inspection against the adopted International Fire Code; DDS publishes a companion brochure, 'Deficiencies Found During Fire Inspections,' listing the issues it most often cites

  3. 3

    Sprinkler System Maintenance

    Ongoing obligation rather than a one-time sign-off — DDS publishes a 'Maintaining a Sprinkler System' public information brochure for owners of sprinklered buildings in unincorporated Yuma County

See the full Unincorporated Yuma County inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Yuma County breaks the Arizona pattern: there is no fire district to route your fire plans to. The county's own Department of Development Services adopts, permits, plan-reviews and inspects under the fire code, and charges county fees for it.
  • Check which fire code edition applies to your project. Yuma County ran on the 2003 International Fire Code for years — it is still the edition named in the county's Over the Counter (March 2018) and Commercial (August 2016) project guides — but Ordinance No. 2026-02 replaced it with the 2024 International Fire Code effective June 8, 2026.
  • The county's Building Safety Code Amendments page lists amendments for the IBC, IRC, IEBC, ISPSC, IMC, IPC, IFGC, IECC and NEC but publishes no International Fire Code amendment document, so read the adopted IFC edition as published unless DDS tells you otherwise.
  • Read the county's own fire-adjacent construction policies before designing: Dry Hydrants and Construction Standards, Fire Department Apparatus Access Roadway, Fire Department Connection (FDC), Fire Resistant Construction Requirements for Awning Structures, and Water Requirements for Manual Firefighting during Construction are all published county policy, separate from the code text.
  • Commercial applications ask outright how water for manual fire support will be supplied — have that answer (and, in rural areas, a dry hydrant or tank plan) before you submit.
  • Yuma County maintains a Fire Code Advisory Board alongside its Building Code Advisory Board, both listed under Meetings on the Building Safety page — a further sign the fire code is administered in-house.

Frequently asked questions

Unincorporated Yuma County requires a fire permit (fire code construction and operational permits) for: The 2024 International Fire Code is part of the Yuma County Comprehensive Building Safety Code, adopted by Yuma County Ordinance No. 2026-02 (Board of Supervisors, May 4, 2026, Item No. ZF1; recorded 05/15/2026 as document 2026-12402), effective 12:01 a.m. June 8, 2026, replacing the previously adopted 2003 International Fire Code; Ordinance No. 2026-02 directs the Yuma County Department of Development Services to enforce the fire code requirements as set forth in A.R.S. §11-861, as applicable to and enforceable by Yuma County; Zoning Ordinance Sec. 1201.02: it is unlawful to perform any work without the required permits under the provisions of the Building, Fire, Mechanical, Electrical and/or Plumbing Codes adopted by the Yuma County Board of Supervisors; Fire code plan review is a distinct, separately-priced review step in the DDS Fee Schedule's Plan Reviews section, alongside Building Plan Review and Consultant Building Plan Review; Where different sections of the Comprehensive Building Safety Code and other codes of the jurisdiction specify different materials, methods of construction, or other requirements, the more restrictive governs; where a general requirement conflicts with a specific requirement, the specific requirement applies (Ordinance No. 2026-02 recitals); Fees stated inside the referenced model codes do not apply — Yuma County has a statutorily adopted DDS fee schedule and Ordinance No. 2026-02 states that fees mentioned in the referenced codes shall not apply; Three copies of the 2024 International Fire Code are on file in the Office of the County Clerk and are declared public records, ordered to remain on file with the Clerk of the Board; Violation of the adopted code is a Class 2 Misdemeanor, with each day the illegal erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, maintenance or use continues constituting a separate offense; County fire-related construction policies published by DDS Building Safety apply in addition to the code: Dry Hydrants and Construction Standards; Fire Department Apparatus Access Roadway; Fire Department Connection (FDC); Fire Resistant Construction Requirements for Awning Structures; and Water Requirements for Manual Firefighting during Construction; Commercial/industrial/MH & RV Park project applications must state how water for manual fire support will be provided (Commercial Project Information Guide & Application, item 15 / application field 14). If your project isn't listed, confirm with Yuma County Department of Development Services (DDS), Building Safety Division at (928) 817-5000 before starting work.

The Yuma County Department of Development Services Fee Schedule lists Fire Code Plan Review at $50.00 (Plan Reviews section), a Fire Permit at $110.00, and an Annual Fire Permit at $50.00 (Miscellaneous Permits section). Operating without an approved and valid permit is charged at twice the original permit fee. Source: https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/28926/636228368161800000

Unincorporated Yuma County does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Yuma County Department of Development Services (DDS), Building Safety Division at (928) 817-5000 for current turnaround.

Depending on your project, Unincorporated Yuma County may also ask for: Yuma County Ordinance No. 2026-02 — 2024 International Fire Code adoption; Commercial / Industrial / MH & RV Park Project Information Guide & Application; Fire Department Apparatus Access Roadway policy; Fire Department Connection (FDC) policy; Water Requirements for Manual Firefighting during Construction policy. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Unincorporated Yuma County requires 3 inspection(s) for a fire permit (fire code construction and operational permits), in order: Fire Pre Inspection, Fire Inspection, Sprinkler System Maintenance. Schedule each through Yuma County Department of Development Services (DDS), Building Safety Division ((928) 817-5000).

Apply through Yuma County Department of Development Services (DDS), Building Safety Division at 2351 West 26th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364. Phone: (928) 817-5000, email: contact.dds@yumacountyaz.gov. Office hours: Weekdays 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Inspection requests must be called in before 4:00 p.m. (M-F) for next-business-day service; provide permit number, address, and inspection type: (928) 817-5196. Fax: (928) 817-5020.. Official information: https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/development-services/divisions/building-safety.

Unincorporated Yuma County, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has no mandatory statewide building code — code adoption is a per-city/county authority. Yuma County's Department of Development Services (DDS), Building Safety Division independently adopts and administers its own construction codes for unincorporated county territory (areas outside the incorporated cities of Yuma, San Luis, Somerton, and Wellton). Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page (yumacountyaz.gov/government/development-services/laws-guidelines/building-safety-code-amendments), which itemizes the county's currently-amended code editions.; 2018 International Building Code (IBC), amended by county-adopted amendments. Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page (amendment document: 2018 International Building Code Amendments PDF).; 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), amended by county-adopted amendments (superseding the prior 2012 IRC amendments, which remain separately published on the same page for historical reference). Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page.; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), amended by county-adopted amendments (superseding the prior 2012 IEBC amendments). Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page.; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), amended by county-adopted amendments. Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page.; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC), amended by county-adopted amendments dated 2024 (document publish-date 638205375930770000, i.e. 2024). Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page.; 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), amended by county-adopted amendments dated 2024. Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page.; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), amended by county-adopted amendments dated 2024. Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page.; 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC), amended by county-adopted amendments dated 2024 (this is a newer NEC edition than several incorporated Yuma County cities have adopted, e.g. San Luis at 2014 NEC). Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page.; 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), amended by county-adopted amendments. This is the most recent energy-code edition found published on the county's amendments page as of this review; no newer IECC adoption document was located. Source: Yuma County Building Safety Code Amendments page.; The full 'Yuma County Comprehensive Building Code' (the county's consolidated code-and-amendments volume) is available for public review at the Board of Supervisors Office (198 S. Main Street, Yuma), the Yuma County Libraries, and the Department of Development Services office (2351 West 26th Street, Yuma). Source: Yuma County Building Safety FAQ, 'Yuma County Comprehensive Building Code, where can I read it?' (yumacountyaz.gov/government/advanced-components/faq-single-list/-seldept-25).. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Yuma County overview page for the full list.

Yuma County does. Ordinance No. 2026-02, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on May 4, 2026 and effective June 8, 2026, amended the Yuma County Comprehensive Building Safety Code to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code and expressly directed the Yuma County Department of Development Services to enforce it under A.R.S. §11-861. DDS charges its own Fire Code Plan Review, Fire Permit and Annual Fire Permit fees and runs its own fire inspections. Source: https://www.yumacountyaz.gov/government/county-administrator/ordinances

Other permits in Unincorporated Yuma County

Residential Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel)Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Tenant Improvement, Remodel, Multi-Family)Electrical, Plumbing & Mechanical PermitManufactured Home Installation / Set-Up PermitEncroachment / Driveway PermitResidential Solar / Photovoltaic (PV) Installation PermitElectric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station / EVSE PermitSign PermitChange of Use / New Certificate of Occupancy

Fire Permit (Fire Code Construction and Operational Permits) in other cities

Apache Junction, ArizonaBenson, ArizonaBisbee, ArizonaBuckeye, ArizonaBullhead City, ArizonaCamp Verde, ArizonaCarefree, ArizonaCasa Grande, Arizona

Compare fire permit (fire code construction and operational permits) fees across Arizona →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Unincorporated Yuma County project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Unincorporated Yuma County — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →