HOW TO OBTAIN A BUILDING PERMIT
PIMA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Note:
The permit application process may require contacting some or all of the Development Service Departments and Divisions to obtain the proper information relating to your permit. For general questions relating to your project, contact Development Services Information at: 520-740-6510. For specific questions related to a denial, request for information or some other item for a specific division in Development Services contact that division directly.

Divison	Telephone
Public Service (Information)	(520) 740-6510
Addressing	(520) 740-6480
Department of Environmental Quality ( Septic & Air Quality)	(520) 740-6501
Floodplain	(520) 243-1800
HDZ / Grading	(520) 740-6523
Building Safety and Sustainability	(520) 740-6490
Right-of-Way	(520) 740-6508
Subdivision Coordination	(520) 740-6515
Zoning Information	(520) 740-6450
Zoning (Permit Review)	(520) 740-6450
Zoning Enforcement / Violations	(520) 740-6740
Wastewater	(520) 740-6503

NOTE:
Some projects may be exempt from needing a Building Permit; however, they may still require permitting by other departments or divisions. For example, You do not need a Building permit for a detached storage shed that is 1 story in height and is less than 200 sq. ft. in floor area, but there may be additional zoning requirements.

A person may apply for a building permit at the Pima County Development Services Department, 201 North Stone Avenue, 1st Floor, Tucson Arizona. All requests for permits must be submitted at the Public Service counter with a statement of valuation based on construction costs.

Required Paperwork:

The applicant, or the applicants agent (with a Letter of Authorization), must provide detailed information to fully and clearly describe the proposed project. In some cases, a simple description of the project, such as "Upgrade existing electric service from 100 Amps to 200 Amps" may be sufficient. However, in most cases a site plan and construction drawing will be required. In addition, when applying for permits on undeveloped property a copy of the recorded deed and legal description for the property is usually required. Plans submitted for minor projects may be submitted on plain paper. All plans must be signed by the individual preparing the plans, or responsible individual, and include the correct address and phone number. Scaled plans (1/4” per foot) are preferred and, if plans are five pages or more. One reproducable bonded blackline copy, velum or sepia must be submitted. If plans are less than five pages, two sets of plans may be submitted. It is important to know that plans drawn in pencil will not be accepted for submittal.

The Review Process:

Upon submittal, the site plan and construction plans will be reviewed by several Pima County Departments or Divisions within Development Services to verify compliance with all applicable Zoning and Building Saftey and Sustainability requirements. Corrections, modifications, and/or additional information may be required after the initial reviews have been completed.

What is the Time Frame:

Time frames for building permit review and issuance may vary depending on the project being permitted. Some simpler projects can be fully permitted "over-the-counter". Every Monday and Tuesday between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. the Building Codes division has “walk-thru” reviews for small Residential additions of four hundred square feet or less. More extensive small residential project will require the plan to be left with the Building Codes Division for a short term. Approximately one to three days. With an appointment, small commercial tenant improvements 3000 sq. ft. or less are usually completed at the Building Saftey counter on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8:30 AM and 12:00 PM.Commercial Tenant improvements, greater than 3000 sq. ft., require the plans to be submitted to the Building Safety and Sustainability Division for one to three days for review. Generally, residential plan reviews are preformed within ten working days and residential additions are completed within ten working days. Commercial plan reviews are performed within ten working days. If, after this initial review, a plan is required to be returned to the applicant for corrections, and the applicant returns the plan to the Building Codes Division with the corrections made, it may take up to five working days to complete the re-review.

• Note: The plan reviewer may change the scheduled review times depending on the complexity of the project.
• Note: The actual length of time required to review plans may vary depending on the complexity of the plans, the total number of plans under review by the Building Safety and Sustainbility Division and the availability of the appropriate plans examiner.

Since there are several other Pima County Departments or Development Services Divisions which have to review the plans, the total review time can extend out. The applicants will be called when the plans are ready to be picked up, either for corrections or for permit issuance.

How Fees are established:

The building permit fee varies depending on the construction type and size of the project. For example, room additions, patio covers, and garages, are charged a fee based on the square footage. Single family homes are charged a fee based on square footage of living area, garage, and porches. Estimates for permit fees may be provided by the Public Service Division at (520) 740-6510.

Issuance of the Permit:

Upon approval of the construction drawings, and after all of the questions, comments and the like from all the reviewers have been addressed, the application, and an approved set of documentation is taken to the Public Service desk in Development Services. The staff there assembles the information, the fees are calculated and a Permit is issued. The “permit paperwork,” including the Inspection Card, contains information which the applicant should review carefully as some conditions, or comments may require the applicant to provide additional information prior to certain phases of construction, during the construction process, or at the end of the project. It also contains information regarding the inspections required and how to arrange for them. With the issuance of a building permit, one set of approved drawings and documents must be available on the job-site. Pima County will retain an approved set of drawings until the job is finished. When the final inspections are completed, the permit is then closed.

• For additonal information see the Building Saftey and Sustainability.