PDSD Development Activity

Overview

WELCOME to the Planning and Development Services Department Development Activity Map.

This Activity Map shows certain permits and special approvals that Planning and Development Services (PDSD) administers. This tool was created to provide a link to significant projects that are in an "active" status, meaning that the work is visible to the community, in the case of permits, or that community members had an opportunity to provide input through various means, in the case of special approvals.

Frequently asked questions and other resources are available to help navigate and utilize the Map.

“BY RIGHT” PERMITS

What are “By Right” Permits?

By Right permits, which are also referred to as ministerial permits or simply permits, are granted if the proposed project complies with established standards set forth in the City of Tucson’s Unified Development Code (UDC) and the accompanying Technical Standards. These permits, since they are not discretionary, are not subject to public review, are reviewed by PDSD staff for compliance with the code and standards, and are issued administratively by PDSD staff.

For what period of time are permits shown on the Activity Map?

Permits are shown on the Development Activity Map from the time PDSD issues a permit to the applicant until the work authorized by the permit is considered complete. In general, this period corresponds to the time in which physical activity, such as grading, paving, landscaping, and construction, and the related inspections, occur. Each permit on the Map has an associated project status between work authorization and completion. Definitions of each of these "active" statuses can be found here.(PDF, 460KB)

What kinds of permits are not shown on the Activity Map?

PDSD issues around 10,000 permits a year, many for small activities that are have little to no visibility or impact outside the property in question. Because there are so many permits for projects such as solar installations, water heater replacements, installation of fences or walls, and installations of pools and spas, these permits are excluded from the Map. For more information on all activities associated with a specific property, go to Property Research Online.

  • A list of all the permits shown on the Development Activity Map can be found here(PDF, 449KB).

SPECIAL APPROVALS

What are special approvals?

Special approvals, which are also referred to as “discretionary decisions,” are granted at the discretion of an authorized decision maker -- such as the PDSD Director; an appointed Board, Committee, or Commission; the Zoning Examiner; Board of Adjustment; and/or the Mayor and Council -- and include public notification. A special approval may be needed for a variety of reasons, such as if the proposed project is not consistent with underlying zoning for the property, is deviating from regulations found in the City Unified Development Code, or does not comply with the requirements of a designated special district, such as an Historic Preservation Zone.

For what period of time are special approvals shown on the Development Activity Map?

Projects requiring special approvals and public notification are shown on the Development Activity Map from the time PDSD receives the project application and remain throughout the public review process. Each special approval on the Map has an associated project status between application and approval (projects are removed from the Map once the final approvals for the project are obtained). Definitions of each of these "active" statuses can be found here.(PDF, 460KB)

What kinds of special approvals are not shown on the Activity Map?

Some special approvals are approved administratively by the PDSD Director and do not require review by an advisory body or public notification. These approvals consist almost exclusively of minor replacement of equipment on existing cell towers, for which public notification is not required. For more information on all activities associated with a specific property, go to Property Research Online.

  • A list of all special approvals shown on the Development Activity Map can be found here.(PDF, 458KB)

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY MAP FEATURES

The Development Activity Map includes tools that allow users to zoom in and out, select projects within a specified radius of an address or location, view data associated with each project, link to additional information in Property Research Online (PRO), and download data associated with each project.

  • See the FAQ(PDF, 217KB) sheet for additional tips on how to use the Development Activity Map functions.
  • Please Note: Projects can be undergoing review for multiple special approvals and site or building permits at the same time. When viewing project information (by left clicking on the icon that represents that project on the map), check the upper left hand corner of the pop-up screen. If there is a “1 of x” number, it indicates the activity being viewed is only the first of “x” activities ongoing at that address. Use the arrows on the right side of the pop-up screen to toggle through the various activities associated with that address.

Data tables can be downloaded from the Map. Other resources available include explanations of the data fields(PDF, 420KB) in the tables and a glossary(PDF, 498KB) of terms.

QUESTIONS

For questions about the Development Activity Map or the PDSD website in general, contact PDSDWebsite@tucsonaz.gov