Building Safety in Arizona (2026)
127 rules on the books across Arizona, 23 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Lead Paint
Local lead-paint rules for older housing, hazard abatement orders, inspection triggers, and how local requirements sit alongside the federal disclosure and RRP rules.
Phoenix
Some RestrictionsPhoenix's Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance bans lead-based paint on any residential structure and requires lead-free…
Read full rule →Pima County
Some RestrictionsLead paint in Pima County is regulated under federal EPA RRP Rule (40 CFR 745) and Arizona Department of Health…
Read full rule →Elevator Maintenance
Inspection schedules, maintenance requirements, and safety certifications for residential and commercial elevators and escalators.
Phoenix
Some RestrictionsPhoenix requires periodic safety inspections of elevators, dumbwaiters, and escalators, charging $100 plus $10 per…
Read full rule →Scottsdale
Some RestrictionsScottsdale's amended Fire Code requires at least one elevator in any building four or more stories above or below grade…
Read full rule →Fire Sprinkler Requirements
When residential and commercial buildings must install fire sprinkler systems, including new-construction triggers and major-renovation thresholds.
Glendale
Heavy RestrictionsGlendale requires an approved automatic sprinkler system throughout the entire building for every newly constructed…
Read full rule →Mesa
Heavy RestrictionsMesa's amended Building Code requires an approved automatic fire sprinkler system in all areas of new buildings and…
Read full rule →Chandler
Significant RestrictionsChandler's amended Building Code requires automatic fire sprinklers throughout every Group R occupancy, apartments…
Read full rule →Peoria
Significant RestrictionsEvery new single-family or duplex home in Peoria (Group R-3) must be built with a residential fire sprinkler system…
Read full rule →Goodyear
Some RestrictionsGoodyear requires automatic sprinklers throughout every Group R building, including Build-for-Rent multifamily…
Read full rule →Maricopa
Some RestrictionsMaricopa requires automatic sprinklers throughout new Group R (residential) buildings, including "Build for Rent"…
Read full rule →Queen Creek
Some RestrictionsThe Town of Queen Creek amends International Fire Code Section 903.2 to require automatic sprinklers throughout all new…
Read full rule →Sahuarita
Some RestrictionsSahuarita's I-1 Light Industrial zone requires sprinkler systems in every hotel, motel, lodge, or inn permitted there…
Read full rule →Scottsdale
Some RestrictionsScottsdale requires an automatic sprinkler system, installed to NFPA 13, 13-R, or 13-D, throughout every new Group R…
Read full rule →Tempe
Some RestrictionsTempe's amended 2024 Fire Code requires an automatic sprinkler system throughout every Group R residential fire area…
Read full rule →Maricopa County
Light RestrictionsUnincorporated Maricopa County's own building code sets no fire-sprinkler mandate for homes: the Local Additions and…
Read full rule →Yavapai County
Light RestrictionsYavapai County does not mandate whole-house fire sprinklers in the unincorporated area. Its amended IRC only requires…
Read full rule →Pinal County
Few RestrictionsPinal County cannot require a fire sprinkler system in an accessory dwelling unit or force it onto a commercial…
Read full rule →Yuma
Few RestrictionsYuma does not require automatic fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes. The city's 2024 IRC amendments strike…
Read full rule →Childcare Center Rules
Building safety standards specific to family childcare homes and centers, including egress, sprinklers, lead and asbestos clearances, and outdoor play standards.
Peoria
Significant RestrictionsA Peoria day care serving five or more children in a residential district must hold Arizona Department of Health…
Read full rule →Sahuarita
Significant RestrictionsA child care center attached to a religious use, school or membership organization needs a Type 1 conditional use…
Read full rule →Yuma
Significant RestrictionsA day care serving six or more children in a Yuma residential zone needs a conditional use permit and must meet fixed…
Read full rule →Maricopa
Some RestrictionsMaricopa zoning sets siting, hours, and licensing standards for day care facilities, whether stand-alone centers or…
Read full rule →Phoenix
Some RestrictionsPhoenix zoning allows home-based child care for up to six dependents by right; seven or more requires a use permit, a…
Read full rule →Queen Creek
Some RestrictionsCommercial daycare facilities in the Town of Queen Creek must hold a fire operational permit and pass a thorough Fire…
Read full rule →Scottsdale
Some RestrictionsScottsdale's zoning code ties a day care center's location to its distance from housing: under Table 11.201.A of §…
Read full rule →Sedona
Some RestrictionsSedona's building code lets a small in-home day care operate as a residential building instead of an institutional one…
Read full rule →Tucson
Some RestrictionsTucson's Unified Development Code sets detailed siting standards for child care centers in residential and office…
Read full rule →Yavapai County
Some RestrictionsYavapai County's amended building code sets the occupancy class for small child care group homes in the unincorporated…
Read full rule →Door Locking Hardware
Code requirements for emergency-egress door hardware, including thumb-turn locks, panic bars, and one-action egress required by the building code.
Goodyear
Some RestrictionsGoodyear's fire code amendments control the locking hardware that guards emergency access doors: multi-tenant buildings…
Read full rule →Phoenix
Some RestrictionsPhoenix's Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance requires every exterior door on a building to have a lock and hinges that…
Read full rule →Anti-Mansionization
Floor-area-ratio (FAR) and bulk limits added to single-family zones to prevent oversized rebuilds, including LA's Baseline Mansionization Ordinance updates.
Tempe
Significant RestrictionsTempe requires a discretionary Use Permit before any existing single-story, single-family home can add, expand or…
Read full rule →Sedona
Some RestrictionsSedona's Land Development Code stops single-family houses from reading as one oversized block by requiring multiple…
Read full rule →Green Building Code
CALGreen and equivalent state green building codes, plus reach codes that go further (electric-only new construction, EV-readiness, low-VOC materials).
Chandler
Some RestrictionsChandler has no separate green-building ordinance; its energy-efficiency mandate is the 2024 International Energy…
Read full rule →Scottsdale
Some RestrictionsScottsdale adopted the 2021 International Green Construction Code by reference, applying sustainability, water, energy…
Read full rule →Sedona
Some RestrictionsSedona's adopted 2018 energy code requires new construction with more than nine parking spaces to make 5 percent of…
Read full rule →Tucson
Some RestrictionsTucson does not mandate green building citywide, but a developer using the Flexible Lot Development Maximum Density…
Read full rule →Yuma
Some RestrictionsYuma's energy-efficiency standard is the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, adopted by City Code § 150-020…
Read full rule →Pima County
Light RestrictionsIn unincorporated Pima County, a legally nonconforming building doesn't have to be brought up to current zoning…
Read full rule →Gilbert
Few RestrictionsGilbert has adopted a green building standard, but it is optional. Code of Gilbert Sec. 10-40 adopts the "International…
Read full rule →Glendale
Few RestrictionsGlendale adopted the 2024 International Green Construction Code as Sec. 9-26 of its municipal code, but the city made…
Read full rule →Maricopa
Few RestrictionsMaricopa has no mandatory green building code: its Sustainable Development Incentive Program lets developers earn…
Read full rule →Maricopa County
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Maricopa County has adopted the International Green Construction Code, but only as a voluntary standard…
Read full rule →Tempe
Few RestrictionsTempe adopted the 2024 International Green Construction Code as Article XI of City Code Chapter 8, but Sec. 8-1100…
Read full rule →Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Where CO detectors are required (typically near sleeping areas in homes with fuel-burning appliances or attached garages), and seller/landlord deadlines.
Mesa
Some RestrictionsMesa's Residential Code requires carbon monoxide alarms to run on the building's electrical wiring with battery backup…
Read full rule →Phoenix
Some RestrictionsPhoenix requires every short-term rental to maintain a working smoke and carbon monoxide detection system that meets…
Read full rule →Tempe
Some RestrictionsTempe's amendment to Section R311.6 of its adopted 2024 International Residential Code requires carbon monoxide alarms…
Read full rule →Yavapai County
Some RestrictionsYavapai County requires carbon monoxide alarms in dwellings under Property Maintenance Code Section 705.1, pointing…
Read full rule →Building Permits
When a building permit is required, new work, renovations, reroofing, decks, the small-project exemptions, and what unpermitted work costs when it surfaces at sale or inspection.
Avondale
Some RestrictionsAvondale adopts the 2024 International Building Code and nine companion I-Codes by reference as its Building Codes and…
Read full rule →Buckeye
Some RestrictionsBuckeye's local amendment to the adopted International Building Code exempts minor, non-structural interior repairs…
Read full rule →Coconino County
Some RestrictionsCoconino County requires a Building Permit or Engineering Permit before any construction, reconstruction, alteration…
Read full rule →Gilbert
Some RestrictionsGilbert adopts the 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code by reference under Code of…
Read full rule →Glendale
Some RestrictionsGlendale requires a permit under the adopted 2024 International Building Code for nearly every construction…
Read full rule →Goodyear
Some RestrictionsGoodyear requires a building permit before anyone builds, alters, repairs, moves, or demolishes a structure, or…
Read full rule →Maricopa
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Maricopa, interior renovations, remodels, and repairs require a building permit under the adopted 2024…
Read full rule →Maricopa County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Maricopa County, low patios and terraces can extend into required yards without a Zoning Clearance…
Read full rule →Mesa
Some RestrictionsMesa requires anyone who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a…
Read full rule →Peoria
Some RestrictionsPeoria requires a building permit for nearly all construction under its locally amended 2018 International Building…
Read full rule →Phoenix
Some RestrictionsIn Phoenix, decks and patios attached to buildings or elevated more than 30 inches above grade generally require…
Read full rule →Pima County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Pima County requires building permits under the locally adopted 2024 International Building Code…
Read full rule →Pinal County
Some RestrictionsPinal County requires a building permit for construction of buildings and appurtenant structures in the unincorporated…
Read full rule →Queen Creek
Some RestrictionsThe Town of Queen Creek requires a permit from the Building Official before anyone constructs, enlarges, alters…
Read full rule →Sahuarita
Some RestrictionsSahuarita adopts the 2018 International Building Code, as locally amended by Resolution No. 2019-0596, to govern when a…
Read full rule →Scottsdale
Some RestrictionsScottsdale amends IBC Section 105 to run its own annual-permit and exemption system. City Code § 31-5 lets the building…
Read full rule →Sedona
Some RestrictionsSedona adopts the 2018 International Building Code and requires a permit for virtually all construction, alteration or…
Read full rule →Surprise
Some RestrictionsSurprise adopts the 2024 International Building Code and 2024 International Residential Code by ordinance as its local…
Read full rule →Tempe
Some RestrictionsTempe requires a building official-issued permit under City Code Sec. 8-105 before constructing, altering, moving or…
Read full rule →Tucson
Some RestrictionsTucson has adopted the International Building Code, 2024 Edition, with local amendments, and Tucson Code § 6-37…
Read full rule →Yavapai County
Some RestrictionsYavapai County requires a building permit for construction in the unincorporated county unless the work falls on the…
Read full rule →Yuma
Some RestrictionsYuma enforces the 2024 International Building Code through City Code § 150-015, with local fee and process amendments…
Read full rule →Chandler
Light RestrictionsChandler exempts a straight re-roof from a building permit on Group R-3 or U occupancies (houses and accessory…
Read full rule →Electrical Permits
Which electrical work (panel upgrades, EV chargers, solar inverters, sub-panels) requires a licensed-electrician permit vs. an owner-builder permit.
Avondale
Some RestrictionsAvondale requires an electrical permit from the chief building official before any electrical installation, alteration…
Read full rule →Buckeye
Some RestrictionsBuckeye, Arizona adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code by reference for all electrical work, with local amendments…
Read full rule →Chandler
Some RestrictionsChandler adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code and requires a permit for electrical work under the amended Building…
Read full rule →Gilbert
Some RestrictionsElectrical work in Gilbert must comply with the "National Electrical Code, 2017 Edition," which Code of Gilbert Sec…
Read full rule →Glendale
Some RestrictionsGlendale adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) by reference, and any electrical work must be permitted and…
Read full rule →Goodyear
Some RestrictionsGoodyear requires all electrical construction and installation to comply with the 2023 NFPA 70 National Electrical…
Read full rule →Maricopa
Some RestrictionsMaricopa adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code for all electrical work, with a local amendment to kitchen-island…
Read full rule →Maricopa County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Maricopa County wires new construction to the National Electrical Code as locally amended by the Local…
Read full rule →Mesa
Some RestrictionsMesa enforces the National Electrical Code, adopted locally as the Mesa Electrical Code (§ 4-1-2(F)(3)), and requires a…
Read full rule →Peoria
Some RestrictionsPeoria enforces electrical work under the 2017 National Electrical Code, adopted and locally amended by City Code…
Read full rule →Phoenix
Some RestrictionsPhoenix adopts its Construction Code by reference, and that code, covering the City's Electrical Code, is what requires…
Read full rule →Pima County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Pima County wiring and electrical installations must meet the 2023 National Electrical Code, adopted as…
Read full rule →Pinal County
Some RestrictionsElectrical work in unincorporated Pinal County must comply with the National Electric Code, 2017 Edition, adopted by…
Read full rule →Queen Creek
Some RestrictionsQueen Creek has adopted the 2020 National Electrical Code under Town Code Section 7-1-1-4-4, and Section 7-1-4-1…
Read full rule →Sahuarita
Some RestrictionsSahuarita governs electrical wiring, service equipment and installations through the 2017 National Electrical Code…
Read full rule →Scottsdale
Some RestrictionsScottsdale enforces the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code as part of its Building Code, adopted by reference…
Read full rule →Sedona
Some RestrictionsSedona adopts the 2017 National Electrical Code for all electrical permits, but with one hard local rule: every…
Read full rule →Surprise
Some RestrictionsSurprise adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code by ordinance as its governing electrical code, modified by local…
Read full rule →Tempe
Some RestrictionsTempe adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code by Tempe City Code § 8-800, and its Article 90 amendments make it…
Read full rule →Tucson
Some RestrictionsTucson Code § 6-84 adopts the National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, with local amendments, and § 6-83 puts the…
Read full rule →Yavapai County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Yavapai County enforces the 2023 National Electrical Code under Ordinance No. 2025-8 and requires an…
Read full rule →Yuma
Some RestrictionsYuma enforces the 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code under City Code § 150-076, adopted by Resolution R2022-021…
Read full rule →Plumbing Permits
Which plumbing work (water heaters, sewer-line replacement, repipe, gas-line) requires a permit, and which minor repairs are typically exempt.
Avondale
Some RestrictionsAvondale adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code, with its own amendments and Appendices B, C and E, as the city's…
Read full rule →Buckeye
Some RestrictionsBuckeye plumbing work runs on the locally adopted 2024 International Plumbing Code under City Code § 15-2-4, with local…
Read full rule →Chandler
Some RestrictionsChandler enforces the 2024 International Plumbing Code and requires a permit for plumbing work, but Section 29-2.11…
Read full rule →Gilbert
Some RestrictionsPlumbing work in Gilbert must follow the "International Plumbing Code, 2018 Edition," which Code of Gilbert Sec. 10-34…
Read full rule →Glendale
Some RestrictionsGlendale adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code by reference, administered by the Building Safety Division, and…
Read full rule →Goodyear
Some RestrictionsGoodyear adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code by reference to govern plumbing installation, alteration and…
Read full rule →Maricopa
Some RestrictionsMaricopa enforces the 2024 International Plumbing Code as its local plumbing code, with the Building Official or a…
Read full rule →Maricopa County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Maricopa County regulates plumbing under the locally titled "Plumbing Code of Maricopa County," its…
Read full rule →Mesa
Some RestrictionsMesa enforces the International Plumbing Code, adopted locally as the Mesa Plumbing Code (§ 4-1-2(F)(4)), and requires…
Read full rule →Peoria
Some RestrictionsPeoria enforces plumbing work under the 2018 International Plumbing Code, adopted and locally amended by City Code…
Read full rule →Phoenix
Some RestrictionsPhoenix requires a plumbing permit from the Planning and Development Director before any building sewer construction…
Read full rule →Pima County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Pima County plumbing work must meet the 2024 International Plumbing Code, adopted by the county as its…
Read full rule →Pinal County
Some RestrictionsPlumbing installations in unincorporated Pinal County must follow the International Plumbing Code, 2018 Edition…
Read full rule →Queen Creek
Some RestrictionsQueen Creek has adopted the 2021 International Plumbing Code under Town Code Section 7-1-1-4-5, and Section 7-1-4-1…
Read full rule →Sahuarita
Some RestrictionsSahuarita requires plumbing work to follow the 2018 International Plumbing Code, adopted by STC § 15.05.020(A)(4) with…
Read full rule →Scottsdale
Some RestrictionsScottsdale adopted the 2021 International Plumbing Code, renamed locally the 'Plumbing Code of the City of Scottsdale,'…
Read full rule →Sedona
Some RestrictionsSedona runs plumbing work under the 2018 International Plumbing Code, adopted with local amendments covering fees…
Read full rule →Surprise
Some RestrictionsPlumbing work in Surprise must comply with the 2024 International Plumbing Code, adopted by reference under City Code §…
Read full rule →Tempe
Some RestrictionsTempe adopted the 2024 International Plumbing Code by reference under general code § 8-600, and § 8-105.1 of the Tempe…
Read full rule →Tucson
Some RestrictionsTucson adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code with local amendments as its plumbing code under City Code § 6-124…
Read full rule →Yavapai County
Some RestrictionsYavapai County Ordinance No. 2025-3 amends Section 101.4.3 of the adopted building code to apply the 2024 International…
Read full rule →Yuma
Some RestrictionsPlumbing work in Yuma is governed by the locally amended 2018 International Plumbing Code, adopted at City Code §…
Read full rule →Building Inspections
Required inspection types (rough framing, electrical, plumbing, final), how to schedule, what inspectors look for, and how to handle a failed inspection.
Maricopa
Significant RestrictionsThe Building Official keeps a comprehensive record of every inspection made under Maricopa's building codes, and…
Read full rule →Chandler
Some RestrictionsWhen Chandler's building official finds a structure, premises, vehicle or outdoor area out of compliance with an…
Read full rule →Glendale
Some RestrictionsGlendale's Building Safety Division inspects work under the adopted 2024 International Building Code at rough-in and…
Read full rule →Maricopa County
Some RestrictionsBefore final sign-off, Maricopa County requires a floor/stemwall/foundation inspection ahead of the final building…
Read full rule →Mesa
Some RestrictionsMesa's Building Safety Director makes a set sequence of required inspections on every permitted job, footing and…
Read full rule →Peoria
Some RestrictionsPeoria's building official inspects all permitted construction under the local IBC amendments at City Code Sec…
Read full rule →Queen Creek
Some RestrictionsThe Town of Queen Creek requires ten distinct inspection stages under Town Code Section 7-1-8-3, from footing and…
Read full rule →Sahuarita
Some RestrictionsSahuarita charges $100 for every reinspection triggered by a failed building inspection, and a separate $60 fee for…
Read full rule →Scottsdale
Some RestrictionsScottsdale's building official can order any inspection needed to verify code compliance beyond the standard required…
Read full rule →Tempe
Some RestrictionsTempe requires every permitted project to pass staged inspections by the Building Safety Division before work can…
Read full rule →Tucson
Some RestrictionsTucson Code § 6-33 puts one office in charge of every building inspection in the city: the building inspection…
Read full rule →Yavapai County
Some RestrictionsYavapai County requires a set sequence of 15 inspections under Ordinance No. 2019-1 Sec. 110, from footing through…
Read full rule →Yuma
Some RestrictionsYuma's Building Safety Division inspects under the amended 2024 IBC. Standard weekday inspections are covered by the…
Read full rule →