The moment you unlock your home’s potential through remodeling is exhilarating – whether you’re reimagining your kitchen’s functionality, transforming a primary suite into a personal retreat, or expanding your living space. However, one critical step often overlooked in the excitement is securing proper building permits. In Maricopa County alone, 22% of renovation delays stem from permit-related issues, making this knowledge essential for Phoenix-area homeowners.
Many remodels and home upgrades require building permits before you even swing a hammer or take down any walls. Building permits are a necessary part of a construction project to ensure the safety and security of your property. But what are the building permits in Phoenix, AZ, and what do they all mean?
Let’s explore more about building permits in Phoenix and the East Valley.
What is a Building Permit?
When you are undergoing a renovation project or building a new home, you will need to file one or multiple building permits with your city. Essentially, an Arizona building permit is a document issued by your local government after they review your project to ensure proper zoning laws, land use standards, and construction requirements are followed.
Depending on the scale of your project, you could be planning on opening up walls, building new rooms in your home, and undergoing other major renovations. Because of these large and complicated projects, your plans must be approved to reduce the risk of a serious or dangerous situation.
For example, a typical permit application is reviewed to look for:
- Accessory buildings (guest houses, detached garages, storage sheds, gazebos, picnic pavilions, boathouses, small pole barns, greenhouses, and barns)
- Alteration of building exterior
- Carports
- Corrals
- Fences
- Guest homes
- Patio covers
- Patio/garage enclosures
- Ramadas
- Repair of residential/commercial sewer
- Rewiring of any electrical
- Room additions
- Solar heater installation
- Spa installation
- Swimming pools
- Tenant improvements
- Window replacement
Think about it — you could be so excited to start your renovation that you start cutting into your drywall without knowing what’s behind your walls. One wrong cut could compromise your sewer line, or you could put yourself in serious danger if your electrical lines are cut or exposed.
Construction mistakes can be costly, and even deadly if you aren’t careful, which is why building permits are so important! They allow you to move forward with your project with the confidence you need to avoid those impactful mistakes.
Do All Home Renovations Need Building Permits?
The good news is that not all building renovation projects require permits. Building permits in Phoenix, Arizona, are typically required any time there are major renovations to an existing home or when a new home is built entirely.
Home upgrades that typically don’t require a permit include:
- Painting
- Wallpapering
- Carpeting and tiling
- Replacing faucets and minor fixture upgrades
- Installing smoke detectors
- Minor repairs of non-structural materials like trim or hardware.
Any other project involving alterations or additions to a space will require a building permit. This also includes changes or upgrades to your plumbing, electrical, and heating systems. If you upgrade your bathroom with a new tub or shower surround, renovate your kitchen, or add a new room to your home, a building permit must be submitted and approved.
Arizona also requires permits for outdoor upgrades like decks, patios, and foundation work. While this may seem frustrating, not getting a permit before doing the work can cause more problems down the road.
What Happens if You Renovate Without a Building Permit?
If you typically try to avoid paperwork, you might wonder if you can skip filing a permit with the city. After all, it’s your home, right? Unfortunately, doing so can be costly in more ways than one.
To start, you are simply increasing your risk of a serious fire, water, or structural failure disaster. If your work isn’t approved before you start, you could take down load-bearing walls without knowing or cut into a main water line. Recovering from these situations can be astronomically expensive and will undoubtedly derail your home renovation.
In addition, non-permitted work can become an issue when you go to sell your home someday. The majority of home purchase agreements involve an inspection of the property, and non-permitted work will be discovered during this walk-through. If the new homeowners are uncomfortable buying a home with non-permitted work, they can back out completely or request that the work be reversed and redone only after a permit is approved. That means you will essentially be paying for the remodel twice!
You can also receive a citation from your city, which will increase the cost of obtaining future permits. As a consequence of the unpermitted work, you could even be fined upwards of $500!
Related Reading: Get inspired! Check out these 24 trending remodeling ideas.
What is the Process for Submitting Arizona Building Permits?
Thankfully, this process can be simple and quick if you follow all the steps appropriately. To start, you must find the correct permit for your local jurisdiction. All building permits in Arizona fall into a similar category, but each city may have slightly different requirements and regulations.
Start by locating your jurisdiction with this helpful map from the Arizona Building Officials. Once you have your Building Department’s location, you must download and fill out the appropriate construction permit application or complete it online.
This application will outline your proposed project, the layout of your home, and the contact information for your planned contractor. These applications are detailed, so take your time going through them to be as thorough as possible. The more thorough you are, the easier it will be to approve!
Links to Building Permits in Arizona
If you are planning to renovate your home soon, start the process of obtaining a permit now! Use one of the links below based on where you are in the metro area, and follow the prompts to submit your permit seamlessly.
- Phoenix, AZ Permit Application
- Scottsdale, AZ Permit Application
- Mesa, AZ Building Permits
- Maricopa County, AZ Building Permits
Pay the Fee and Wait for Approval
Once you complete the application, all you have left to do is submit it and pay your permit fee. Permit fees vary based on the size and complexity of the project you plan to complete. Each jurisdiction has a different price breakdown based on common projects, so check with the staff before submitting your application.
After that, you simply wait for your approval! The Building Department staff will review your application and contact you if any corrections are needed. If something is missing on your form or a potential risk or hazard is uncovered, you will have to make these changes before your final approval.
Finally, you will be notified when your application is approved, and your permit will be issued. Keep a copy of your permit for your records if any issues arise when you plan to sell your home.
Related Reading: Planning a kitchen remodel? Check out the best four kitchen layouts in 2025!
Choosing the Right Remodeling Team for Your Home Renovation
One of the most important parts of any home renovation is choosing the right team to handle your construction needs. Not all contractors are created equal, and you could wind up costing yourself serious time and money if you choose the wrong team to help you tackle your renovation.
To start, make sure you read reviews and ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations! Here at 123 Remodeling, we love it when our past customers refer us to their loved ones. It means we have made such a positive impact on them that they would recommend our services to the important people in their lives.
You should also ensure that your construction team communicates clearly and that the construction process is easy to follow. Our team of talented interior designers, project managers, and construction professionals will outline each step clearly and provide plans and updates as the work progresses.
Finally, you need to ensure the team you choose is fully transparent in its cost breakdown. The tale of unexpected or hidden costs during construction projects is well-known in this industry, so choose the team that will keep you informed of the costs every step of the way.
Ready to tackle your next home remodel project? Let the team at 123 Remodeling handle your kitchen, bathroom, or whole-home renovation. We will walk you through the permitting process and help you design the space of your dreams.
Don’t wait! Book a free consultation with 123 Remodeling and let our team bring your home design ideas to life.