Maricopa County, AZ Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Foundation inspection
- Required before final building inspection
- Drainage inspection
- Required before Certificate of Occupancy
- Applies to
- Single-family homes, additions, accessory buildings
- Deficiency correction window
- 90 days from notice
- Enforced by
- Zoning Inspector and Drainage Administrator
Summary
Before final sign-off, Maricopa County requires a floor/stemwall/foundation inspection ahead of the final building inspection, plus a separate final drainage clearance inspection before the county will issue a Certificate of Occupancy for construction in unincorporated areas.
A Final Drainage Clearance Inspection must be approved prior to a final Certificate of Occupancy for permits issued to construct residential, commercial, industrial, educational, institutional, and such dwelling units as condominiums and apartments. A floor/stemwall/foundation inspection approval is required prior to a request for a final building inspection for a single-family dwelling, additions thereto or livable accessory buildings.
Full Breakdown
For a single-family dwelling, addition, or livable accessory building in unincorporated Maricopa County, a floor/stemwall/foundation inspection approval is required before you can request the final building inspection. Separately, a Final Drainage Clearance Inspection must be approved before the county issues a final Certificate of Occupancy for residential, commercial, industrial, educational, institutional, and multi-family projects. If inspectors flag drainage deficiencies, the builder gets 90 days from notice, or until final building inspection or occupancy (whichever is longer), to correct them. Skipping either inspection step is treated as a zoning violation the Zoning Inspector or Drainage Administrator can act on.
Violations & Fines
Failing to obtain the required floor/stemwall/foundation inspection before the final building inspection, or the final drainage clearance inspection before Certificate of Occupancy, is a citable zoning violation requiring correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maricopa County require a foundation inspection before the final inspection?
What inspection is needed before a Certificate of Occupancy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
Compare Maricopa County to another location·View the Arizona building safety overview
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