Administrative overview · FIPS 04019
Pima 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
Pima County Development Services Department, Building and Site Development Division (unincorporated county jurisdiction)
For a project in or near Pima 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
520-724-9000 (Development Services); 520-724-9970 (building-code/code-compliance complaints); 520-419-2355 or 520-235-4600 (custom or same-day inspections)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Pima County Development Services, Public Works Building, 201 N. Stone Ave., 1st Floor, Tucson, AZ 85701.
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; county holidays excluded.
Review expectation
Published building-permit review goals are 5 business days for residential and commercial projects up to 20,000 square feet, 10 business days for larger projects, 3 days for off-model-plan permits, 1 day for electric reconnect/mechanical/plumbing permits, 3 days for corrected-project rereviews, and 3 days for issued-permit revisions. For site-development instruments, the county strives for 5 business days and guarantees a 15-business-day review timeframe; exceptional complexity or high activity can extend the goals.
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 Pima County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Pima County Development Services Department, Building and Site Development Division (unincorporated county jurisdiction) 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 520-724-9000 (Development Services); 520-724-9970 (building-code/code-compliance complaints); 520-419-2355 or 520-235-4600 (custom or same-day inspections).
How long might review take?
Published building-permit review goals are 5 business days for residential and commercial projects up to 20,000 square feet, 10 business days for larger projects, 3 days for off-model-plan permits, 1 day for electric reconnect/mechanical/plumbing permits, 3 days for corrected-project rereviews, and 3 days for issued-permit revisions. For site-development instruments, the county strives for 5 business days and guarantees a 15-business-day review timeframe; exceptional complexity or high activity can extend the goals.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule routine field or remote inspections through Pima County’s Building Inspection Portal powered by VuSpex; check permit conditions/status in Accela first and keep the site address posted with access directions or gate codes. Schedule before 4:00 p.m. for next-business-day inspections when available. Remote inspections may be used for eligible projects; Ajo/Why/Lukeville are limited to Tuesdays, Arivaca/Sasabe to Wednesdays, and Mt. Lemmon to Thursdays for on-site visits. Custom, weekend, specific-time or same-day requests use 520-419-2355 or 520-235-4600 and may incur an additional charge.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Current Pima County materials effective in 2026 identify the 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Property Maintenance, Existing Building, Swimming Pool and Spa, and Wildland-Urban Interface Codes with local amendments; the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code with local amendments applies to permit applications initiated on or after July 1, 2026; and the 2023 National Electrical Code is enforced. The Wildland-Urban Interface Code is limited to Rural Forest Village areas. Pima County examples of exempt minor work include attic insulation without remodeling; new carpet; nonstructural decks or flat work no more than 30 inches above adjacent grade when not over a basement/story or part of an accessible route; door, window, rain-gutter and like-material reroofing work; painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and countertops that do not affect plumbing or electrical; qualifying slabs; non-retaining fences/walls up to 7 feet; qualifying window awnings; portable or like-for-like cooling/heating equipment; limited low-voltage electrical work and like-for-like outlets/fixtures; plumbing leak or stoppage repairs and fixture replacements; qualifying water tanks; movable fixtures/partitions; and playground equipment. Other structural, addition/remodel, new-system, pool, grading, hillside, floodplain, septic, electrical-wiring and utility work may still require permits or separate approvals; the county’s list is illustrative and site conditions can trigger additional requirements.