Tempe, Arizona Building Permits
Tempe, Arizona building permit guide for homeowners and businesses, including fees, review timelines, zoning, adopted codes, floodplain rules, and FAQs.
Wind
ASCE 7 basic wind speed: typically 115 mph ultimate design wind speed, Risk Category II, with final design based on exposure category, building height, risk category, and Tempe’s adopted code provisions.
Snow Load
Ground snow load: minimal to 0 psf for Tempe’s low-elevation desert climate; snow is generally not a controlling load, but the adopted code criteria should be verified.
Flood
Tempe participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and uses FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Sites near the Salt River/Rio Salado, Tempe Town Lake, Indian Bend Wash, canals, or mapped AO/AE flood zones may need floodplain clearance, drainage reports, elevation certificates, finished-floor elevation verification, and stormwater controls.
Earthquake
Seismic design category is typically low to moderate, commonly Seismic Design Category B for many Risk Category II structures in the Tempe/Phoenix area, subject to geotechnical report, site class, occupancy, and structural configuration.
Wildfire
Tempe is primarily urban and has limited wildland-urban interface exposure compared with outlying desert communities. However, properties near open space, washes, Hayden Butte, vacant desert parcels, or the Rio Salado corridor may be reviewed for fire access, vegetation management, hydrant spacing, and emergency access requirements.
Building Department
City of Tempe Community Development Department - Building Safety Division
Approval Timeline
Simple residential trade permits and qualifying minor permits may be issued same day to 5 business days. Residential additions, remodels, pools, and accessory structures commonly take about 10 to 20 business days for first review. Commercial tenant improvements often take about 15 to 30 business days. Larger commercial, multifamily, mixed-use, downtown, ASU-area, civil site, floodplain, or fire-sprinklered projects may take 30 to 45 business days or longer, especially if design review, zoning entitlements, or multiple resubmittals are needed.
Common Requirements
Tempe submittals typically include a permit application, project valuation, site plan, zoning data, floor plans, elevations, sections, structural drawings, foundation and framing details, energy code documentation, mechanical/electrical/plumbing plans, roof or truss documentation, material specifications, and contractor information. Commercial and multifamily projects usually need a code analysis, occupancy and construction type, egress plans, accessibility details, fire sprinkler/alarm drawings when applicable, special inspection forms, structural calculations, civil grading and drainage plans, stormwater documents, parking calculations, landscape plans, and right-of-way or utility coordination if work affects public infrastructure.
Zoning Information
Tempe uses the Zoning and Development Code to regulate land use, density, setbacks, height, lot coverage, parking, landscape standards, signs, and design requirements. Zoning is especially important near downtown Tempe, Arizona State University, light-rail corridors, Rio Salado, historic neighborhoods, and mixed-use redevelopment areas. Overlay districts, planned area developments, development plan review, use permits, and historic preservation approvals may be required before a building permit is issued.
Permit Costs
Tempe permit fees are generally calculated from project valuation, permit type, plan review, inspections, and trade work. Simple residential trade permits may be roughly $75 to $300. Residential remodels, patio covers, pools, and additions often range from several hundred dollars to $2,500+. Commercial tenant improvements commonly range from $1,000 to $10,000+ depending on valuation and fire, accessibility, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing scope. New multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial projects can be significantly higher because civil, utility, development, right-of-way, and impact-related fees may apply.
Engineering Requirements
Tempe typically requires Arizona-registered design professional stamps for commercial buildings, tenant improvements involving structural or life-safety changes, multifamily projects, new buildings, engineered foundations, non-prescriptive structural systems, retaining walls over standard code limits, steel framing, large openings in bearing walls, special inspection items, and projects requiring fire-resistance, accessibility, or complex egress analysis. Residential work may use prescriptive IRC methods when applicable, but stamped structural calculations are often needed for beams, trusses, custom patio covers, and nonstandard framing.
Local Code Adoption
Tempe generally administers the 2018 International Building Code, 2018 International Residential Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, and the 2017 National Electrical Code with local amendments. Confirm the current Tempe-adopted code edition and amendments before finalizing permit drawings.
Typical Projects
Common Tempe permit projects include commercial tenant improvements, restaurant and bar build-outs, adaptive reuse projects, multifamily and mixed-use buildings, ASU-area remodels, office conversions, residential additions, accessory dwelling-style improvements where allowed, patio covers, pools, solar PV, re-roofs, signs, right-of-way improvements, and redevelopment near downtown and light-rail corridors.