Pima County Permit Resource Center

Everything you need to know about permits, timelines, and approvals

Permits in Pima County, Arizona

Pima County is the second most populous county in Arizona, home to Tucson and a growing collection of suburbs, master-planned communities, and rural properties across the Sonoran Desert. Building permits within incorporated cities and towns like Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and South Tucson are issued by each municipality. Pima County Development Services handles permits for all unincorporated areas of the county through the Pima County Permit Gateway.

Permit Pushers prepares applications, coordinates with Pima County and applicable cities, and manages submittals through the Permit Gateway so projects keep moving.

Permitting Authorities in Pima County

Pima County permitting involves several departments, most housed under the Development Services umbrella but with independent flood control, wastewater, and environmental authorities. The right mix depends on project type and location.

Development Services is the primary building and zoning authority for unincorporated Pima County.

DSD handles plan review, building permits, zoning, addressing, and inspections.

All applications are submitted through the Pima County Permit Gateway, a step-by-step decision tree system that guides applicants to the right permit type.
The Regional Flood Control District is the Floodplain Administrator for all unincorporated areas. Floodplain Use Permits are required for any development in a Special Flood Hazard Area or Flood Control Resource Area and are issued separately from building permits.
Unlike many Arizona counties, Pima County operates a regional wastewater system.
RWRD handles sewer connection permits, connection fee assessments, and coordination for any project connecting to the regional sewer system.
PDEQ issues permits related to air quality, dust activity permits, asbestos NESHAP compliance, and septic system inspections.

PDEQ reviews and permits onsite wastewater systems and coordinates required septic inspections.
PDOT issues right-of-way use permits, transportation review, and coordination for any project affecting county-maintained roads.
Reflecting Pima County's landmark Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan, CLR reviews projects for compatibility with adopted cultural resource and biological protection policies.

This can add another review layer for projects located on or near designated Conservation Lands.
Fire code review outside city limits is handled by local rural fire districts, including Rural/Metro, Northwest Fire District, Golder Ranch Fire District, and others depending on project location.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality handles state-level environmental compliance.

PERMIT SERVICES

Pima County Zoning Information

Before applying for a permit in an unincorporated area, you need to confirm the property is zoned for the intended use. Pima County zoning is governed by Title 18 (Zoning) of the Pima County Code, which establishes zoning districts, allowed uses, and development standards.

Common zoning districts include:

RH Rural Homestead, GR-1 General Rural, SR Suburban Ranch, SR-2, SH Suburban Homestead: Large-lot residential and rural districts that reflect the county's low-density character.

CR-1, CR-2, CR-3, CR-4, CR-5 Single Residence: Single-family residential districts with progressively smaller minimum lot sizes.

MR-1, MR-2 Multiple Residence: Multi-family residential districts.

TR Transitional: A district providing a transition between residential and business zones.

CB-1 Local Business, CB-2 General Business: Commercial districts ranging from neighborhood-scale to general business.

MU Mixed Use, CI-1 Light Industrial/Warehousing, CI-2 General Industrial, CI-3 Industrial: Mixed-use and industrial districts.

RVC Rural Village Center, GC Golf Course: Specialty districts serving specific development patterns.

Pima County zoning also includes a Renewable Energy Incentive District (REID) under Title 14, which allows utility-scale solar projects to receive development incentives including waivers and modifications of standard requirements. The county also administers Gateway Overlay Zones, Hillside Development Zones, and Scenic Route protections that add design and lighting standards on top of the base zoning district.

As of January 1, 2026, Pima County Development Services began reviewing applications for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) under new guidelines. Property owners in most residential districts can now add a secondary dwelling unit subject to ADU standards.

Zoning information for a specific property can be researched through PimaMaps or by contacting Development Services.

ZONING MAP

Pima County Building Code

Building codes in Arizona are adopted at the local jurisdiction level. For unincorporated areas of Pima County, the Board of Supervisors adopts the International Code Council's model codes along with county-specific amendments under Title 15 (Buildings and Construction) of the Pima County Code.

Effective January 1, 2026, Pima County adopted the 2024 International Building Code along with amendments approved by the Board of Supervisors. The adopted code suite also includes the 2024 International Residential Code, 2024 International Fire Code, 2024 International Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas Codes, and the 2023 National Electrical Code. Local amendments address Pima County-specific conditions including floodplain regulations, hillside development, stormwater harvesting, outdoor lighting for dark sky protection, and Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan compatibility.

Pima County's outdoor lighting code, adopted jointly with the City of Tucson, is among the most protective in the country and is designed to preserve dark skies for the region's astronomical observatories, including Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. All exterior lighting on new construction must meet shielding, color temperature, and lumen limits under the Outdoor Lighting Code.

Code alignment varies across Pima County's incorporated cities and towns. Some municipalities have adopted different code cycles than the county, so projects that straddle jurisdictional lines or move between city and county review may need to address different requirements.

Construction projects in Pima County must also comply with statewide code requirements adopted by the State of Arizona.

Pima County Permit Approval Timeframes

Pima County has modernized its permitting process through the online Permit Gateway. Building permits and site development applications must be submitted electronically through the portal. Development Services publishes target turnaround times for different permit types.

Development Services targets a five-business-day review for projects up to 20,000 square feet and a 10-business-day review for larger projects. Some site development reviews may qualify for a 15-business-day turnaround guarantee.

Rooftop solar permits are processed on an expedited automated path, often within 24 hours, through a partnership between Pima County and the City of Tucson.

Floodplain review is handled by the Regional Flood Control District on a separate timeline. Floodplain Use Permits are issued independently from building permits and often run on parallel timelines. Applicants can call 520-243-1800 for current floodplain review turnaround estimates.

Once issued, permits remain valid as long as construction progresses through periodic inspections. Extensions and reinstatements can be requested using the Request for Permit Activity Extension or Reinstatement form.

Inspections are scheduled through the Pima County Building Inspection Portal powered by VuSpex, which offers both traditional field inspections and virtual remote inspections. Inspections must be scheduled before 4 p.m. for next business day service. On-site inspections in the Mount Lemmon area are limited to Thursdays due to travel distance. This restriction does not apply to remote inspections.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

Step-by-Step: How to Get a Permit in Pima County

1. Confirm jurisdiction: Verify your property is in unincorporated Pima County. Projects inside Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, or South Tucson go through that city. Tribal land follows tribal permitting.

2. Determine your permit type: The Permit Gateway decision tree helps identify the right permit, whether building, MEP, grading, solar, septic, floodplain, or right-of-way.

3. Identify which departments are involved: Most projects run through Development Services. Sewer goes through Wastewater Reclamation, septic and air quality through Environmental Quality, floodplain through Flood Control, and right-of-way through Transportation.

4. Check zoning and overlays: Verify zoning through PimaMaps and check for Gateway, Hillside, Scenic Route, and dark sky overlays.

5. Set up your Permit Gateway account: Applications are submitted through permits.pima.gov using an account tied to the email address associated with the project.

6. Prepare your plans: Documents must meet the 2024 IBC with Pima County amendments and be uploaded as PDFs per the submittal checklist.

7. Submit your application: Upload plans and forms through the Permit Gateway. Contractors need an active Arizona ROC license. Paper and thumb drives are not accepted.

8. Review and corrections: Development Services routes the application and issues corrections by email. Most reviews clear within 5 business days, guaranteed within 15.

9. Pay fees and pull the permit: Final fees are applied after review. Pay online, in person, or by APA account. Approved plans can be downloaded with an approval watermark.

10. Schedule inspections: Schedule either a field or virtual inspection through the VuSpex Building Inspection Portal before 4 p.m. for next-business-day service.

11. Floodplain and utility coordination: Floodplain Use Permits and sewer connections are handled separately by Flood Control and Wastewater Reclamation.

12. Close-out and Certificate of Occupancy: Final inspection closes the permit. Some projects also require a Certificate of Occupancy once all prior-to-certificate requirements, known as P2C conditions, have been met.

Speeding Up the Permit Process in Pima County

The Gateway guides you to the correct permit type and auto-fills parts of the application. Starting here avoids submitting the wrong permit, a common cause of delay.

Permit Gateway Decision Tree

Floodplain and Utility Reviews

Floodplain and sewer connection reviews run on separate timelines. Starting them alongside the building permit keeps them from becoming a bottleneck.

Pima County Permit Expediting

Permit Pushers prepares applications, navigates the Permit Gateway, and coordinates with the county's review departments to keep projects moving from application to issuance.

How Much Do Permits Cost in Pima County?

Depending on the project, total permitting costs may include building permit fees, plan review fees, sewer or septic fees, roadway development impact fees, and charges from other reviewing departments. Development Services provides residential and commercial fee calculators to help estimate costs before you apply.

A significant cost factor in Pima County is the Roadway Development Impact Fee, assessed under A.R.S. § 11-1102 on new development to fund arterial roadway capacity needed to serve growth. The fee is charged across ten benefit areas and varies depending on where your project is located, so two identical homes in different parts of the county can carry different impact fees. A $75 administrative fee applies per permit. The county updated its impact fee program in 2025, with revised fees effective October 1, 2025. Check the impact fee service area map to confirm which benefit area your parcel falls within.

General ranges to budget for:

Simple residential permits (water heater, HVAC swap, minor electrical): $100 to $500

Mid-size residential projects (room addition, remodel): $500 to $3,000

Commercial tenant improvements: $2,000 to $15,000+

New commercial construction: $10,000 and up

Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work each requires its own permit and an Arizona ROC-licensed contractor in the appropriate specialty classification. Sewer connection fees are assessed separately by Regional Wastewater Reclamation, and septic and air quality permit fees are set by Environmental Quality under its own fee schedule.

Get a free quote if you want a clearer estimate for your specific project.

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on where your property sits. Projects inside Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, or South Tucson go through that city's permitting department.

Only projects in unincorporated Pima County go through Pima County Development Services.

The Permit Gateway can help confirm jurisdiction, and properties on the Tohono O'odham Nation or Pascua Yaqui Tribe lands follow tribal permitting processes.
The Permit Gateway is Pima County's online permitting system at permits.pima.gov.

It uses a step-by-step decision tree that guides you to the correct permit type and auto-fills parts of your application based on your answers.

You need an account tied to your project email to apply, submit plans, pay fees, and schedule inspections.
Pima County adopted its Outdoor Lighting Code jointly with the City of Tucson to protect dark skies for the region's astronomical observatories, including Kitt Peak and the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter.

New construction must meet shielding, color temperature, and lumen limits on all exterior lighting.

This is one of the reasons a lighting plan may be required as part of your submittal.
Development Services targets a five-business-day review for projects up to 20,000 square feet and a 10-business-day review for larger projects. Some site development reviews may qualify for a 15-business-day turnaround guarantee.
Rooftop solar permits may be processed within 24 hours through an automated review pathway. Floodplain reviews follow a separate timeline and are handled by the Pima County Regional Flood Control District.
Yes. Pima County uses the VuSpex platform for both traditional field inspections and virtual remote inspections, scheduled through the Building Inspection Portal.

Schedule before 4 p.m. for next business day service. Note that some remote areas have limited inspection days, such as Mt. Lemmon, which is inspected on Thursdays only.

Contact us for your free quote!

Still have questions about your project? We're happy to talk it through.

info@permitpushers.com
845-PERMITS
(845) 737-6487