Tucson, AZ Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- IBC 2024 Edition, Tucson Code § 6-34
- Effective date
- January 1, 2026 (Ord. No. 12213)
- Applicability trigger
- New construction after June 30, 1992, § 6-37
- Permits received by
- Building inspection supervisor, § 6-33
- Amending body
- Mayor and council, § 6-36
Summary
Tucson has adopted the International Building Code, 2024 Edition, with local amendments, and Tucson Code § 6-37 requires every new building or structure erected after June 30, 1992 to conform to that adopted code, which is what triggers the city's building permit process.
The document entitled "International Building Code, 2024 Edition" published by the International Code Council, with local amendments, a copy of which amendments are attached to Ordinance No. 12213 as Exhibit "A" are hereby adopted. ... Every new building and structure erected in or moved into the jurisdiction of the city after June 30, 1992, shall conform to the applicable requirements of the Building Safety Administrative Code adopted in section 6-1 and as amended, and to the requirements of the building code adopted in section 6-34 and as amended.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-150: Current through June 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Tucson Code § 6-34 adopts the "International Building Code, 2024 Edition," published by the International Code Council, with local amendments attached to Ordinance No. 12213 as Exhibit A, effective January 1, 2026. Section 6-37 then makes that code binding: every new building and structure erected in or moved into the city after June 30, 1992 must conform to the requirements of the Building Safety Administrative Code adopted in § 6-1 and to the building code adopted in § 6-34. Under § 6-33, the building inspection supervisor's office is the one that receives permit applications, collects fees, and examines and approves plans and specifications before construction can begin, and it is administered through the Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD), established under Tucson Code § 11B-1.
Three certified copies of the adopted code and any amendments are kept on file with the city clerk under § 6-35 for public inspection during regular office hours, and the mayor and council may amend the code at any time under § 6-36. 1, escalating with repeat findings, on top of any stop-work or abatement order.
Violations & Fines
Constructing, moving, or altering a building without complying with the adopted building code is a civil infraction under Tucson Code § 6-5. Fines under § 8-6.1 run $100-$2,500 for a first finding, no less than $200 for a second, and no less than $300 for a third, with a mandatory abatement order and additional daily fines for continued non-compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tucson
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