Administrative overview · FIPS 04012
La Paz County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
La Paz County Department of Community Development / Building and Safety Department
For a project in or near La Paz County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
928-669-6138 (Community Development); 928-669-6115 (Code Compliance/Building Inspector)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
La Paz County Department of Community Development, 1112 S. Joshua Ave., Suite 202, Parker, AZ 85344.
Operating hours
Monday-Thursday, 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; closed government holidays.
Review expectation
Administrative review is 15 business days, after which the county sends an acceptance or incompleteness notice and deficiencies if applicable. The application instructions also provide statutory fee-refund/excusal remedies if the county misses the required overall timeframe.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for La Paz County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
La Paz County Department of Community Development / Building and Safety Department is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 928-669-6138 (Community Development); 928-669-6115 (Code Compliance/Building Inspector).
How long might review take?
Administrative review is 15 business days, after which the county sends an acceptance or incompleteness notice and deficiencies if applicable. The application instructions also provide statutory fee-refund/excusal remedies if the county misses the required overall timeframe.
How are inspections scheduled?
Submit the complete, signed application with site plan and plans to Community Development and keep the work site accessible to the Building Inspector. Contact 928-669-6138 or comdev@lapaz.gov to coordinate required inspections; the county may issue a Stop Work order if construction does not match approved plans or the site plan.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
La Paz County Building Code Ordinance No. 2024-02 adopts the 2018 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Fire, Property Maintenance, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, with county amendments and appendices, plus the 2020 National Electrical Code. Qualifying accessory structures under 2018 IRC R105.2/IBC 105.2 may be exempt from a building permit, but they remain subject to La Paz County zoning, floodplain and wastewater rules and require a site-plan review before construction ($20 fee). Demolition and grading generally still require permits; the reviewed current county materials did not provide a broader cosmetic-work exemption list.