Building permits in Phoenix, Arizona
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Phoenix, 6 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Phoenix
City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department
- 200 West Washington Street, Second Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003
- Phone: 602-262-7811
- Email: residential.building@phoenix.gov
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Phoenix
Phoenix permit records are public, and you can check a property's permit history online.
What needs a permit in Phoenix
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Phoenix, 6 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | platforms or decks not more than 30 inches above grade do not require a permit; elevated or attached decks do require a permit | Deck permits have no dedicated fee line, they are valuation-based building permits under... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Electrical permits have no dedicated fee line, they are valuation-based building permits... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fences and walls over 3 feet tall require a permit; fences under 3 feet tall are exempt | Residential fences carry a $98 minimum permit fee for project valuations of $1 to... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | HVAC (mechanical) permits have no dedicated fee line, they are valuation-based building... |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Patio permits have no dedicated fee line, they are valuation-based building permits... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing permits have no dedicated fee line (water heaters get the $98 minimum tier)... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential pool and spa permits carry a minimum $234 permit fee plus a $30 aquatics... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | re-roofing with same material as original is exempt; more than two layers of asphalt shingles over existing asphalt or structural changes require a permit | Roof replacement permits have no dedicated fee line, they are valuation-based building... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | detached structures without utilities at or under 200 sq ft are exempt; structures over 200 sq ft or with utilities require a permit | Shed permits have no dedicated fee line, they are valuation-based building permits under... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential solar photovoltaic permits use fixed-fee options from $780 with plan review... |
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Schedule an inspection in Phoenix
Permitted work is not finished until it passes inspection. The PDD Inspections page covers inspection requests through the SHAPE PHX portal and by phone.
Schedule or request a Phoenix inspection
When the portal will not take the date you need, the office still books by phone: 602-262-7811.
Checked . If the office has changed its process, report it.
Phoenix permit fees compared with nearby Arizona localities
| Arizona locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | Deck permits have no dedicated fee line, they are... | HVAC (mechanical) permits have no dedicated fee line, they... | Electrical permits have no dedicated fee line, they are... |
| Chandler | No deck-specific line item, billed as a standard building... | No HVAC or mechanical-specific fee line, mechanical... | Fee schedule sets a flat $100 fee only for electrical... |
| Gilbert | If a permit is required, valuation-based building permit... | Individual Mechanical Permit, residential: $150 (fee... | Individual Electrical Permit, residential: $150 (fee... |
| Maricopa County | No deck-specific line item, valuation-based building... | Flat fee of $50 for mechanical work under the Minor Self... | Flat rate by residential service size, $50 for 1-200 amps... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Arizona jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Phoenix permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Phoenix?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for Phoenix, 6 always require a permit (for example an electrical permit), 4 depend on size or scope (a deck permit, for instance). Each Phoenix permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Phoenix?
- Phoenix publishes a fee for 10 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Phoenix?
- City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department issues permits in Phoenix, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at 602-262-7811. The Phoenix official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the Phoenix pages were verified. 10 permit types, 6 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Phoenix is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.
Permitting activity in Phoenix
In 2024, Phoenix authorized permits for 8,997 new residential housing units (4,062 single-family, 4,935 in multi-family buildings), valued at $1.4B , down from 14,468 the year before. That works out to about 5.3 permits per 1,000 residents. It is a useful gauge of how busy the local permit office is.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual data · population 1,708,127.
About Phoenix
Phoenix has about 642,867 housing units. The median home is valued at $381,900, against a median household income of $77,041. About 57% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 1984. Older housing stock usually means more renovation, electrical, and plumbing permits.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.