City of Tucson Planning & Development Services reviews plans for residential and commercial construction before issuing permits for the work intended.
Each of the sections provides information about the materials required for different permit types.
Make sure your plans comply with currently adopted standards by reviewing All Codes.
View Frequently Asked Permit Questions (FAQ)
Fee Schedule and how to pay fees online.
Information for Development Professionals – resources for design professionals and registered contractors.
There are two basic types of building permits:
Residential Permits - Permits for one- & two-family dwellings, additions, garages, porches, electrical reconnects, gas lines, air conditioning
Commercial Permits - Permits for tenant improvements, certificate of occupancy, new multifamily and commercial buildings
Plan Check / Permit Extension Request Form - Due to COVID-19, all active permits will receive 180-day extensions upon written request.
View items that do NOT need permits at Building Permit Exemptions.
The City Development Review Committee (CDRC) reviews development packages and applications for land division/subdivision. The CDRC is composed of agencies that regulate land use per Administrative Manual (AM) Section 3-01. Questions, contact CDRC@tucsonaz.gov.
Review Types
Development package can include the following types of review: site/tentative plat, landscape, native plant preservation (npp), water harvesting, grading, private road paving, storm water pollution preservation plan (swppp), flood plain use permit, environmental resource report (err), and flexible lot development (fld). A development package is a construction document used to demonstrate how a project site will be developed to comply with the Unified Development Code (UDC), any other local applicable regulations, and state statute.
- Format and content requirements can be found in AM Section 2-06 [see submittal requirements(PDF, 235KB)].
- Timeframe can be found in AM Section 3-02. First submittal review up to 20 working days and repeats for re-submittal until approvable.
- Fees for review and permit can be found in AM Section 4-01 .2 (tech and archive), .5.5 (grading and swppp), & .17 (site and landscape) or .20 (tentative plat).
- Revision to an active development package issued a permit, can be made to applicable sheets with cloud and delta, this includes field changes and as-builts. Provide a revision letter of the sheet numbers and changes.
Land division/subdivision is one of the following types of review: land split, lot reconfiguration, block plat, condominium, minor subdivision, or final plat. A final plat is a survey document suitable for recordation of all or part of a subdivision substantially conforming to an approved tentative plat (if required) prepared in accordance with UDC Article 8, any other local applicable regulations, and state statute. A final plat is recorded after approval by Mayor & Council.
- Format and content requirements can be found in AM Section 2-07 (2-08 for land split).
- Timeframe can be found in AM Section 3-02. First submittal review up to 20 working days and repeats for re-submittal until approvable.
- Fees for review can be found in AM Section 4-01.20 ($82.50 for land split) and .2 (tech and archive). Additional fees are required for apartments being converted into condominiums of $100 per unit per resolution #20473, along with elevations, floor plans, & cross sections.
- Release (partial or final) of assurance or substitution of assurance to a recorded subdivision can be viewed in UDC Article 8.6.2 and AM Section 2-09. Email a complete and acceptable Assurance Release Request (PDF) or Assurance Agreement (Doc) to subdividsionlotrelease@tucsonaz.gov. Fee for substitution of assurance can be found in AM Section 4-01.4 (assurances).
CDRC Pre-Submittal Meetings
Prior to submitting for a Development Package or Land Division, applicants are welcome to attend a pre-submittal meeting with the City Development Review Committee (CDRC). This is an informal meeting that typically includes City staff from Planning and Development Services, Transportation and Mobility, Fire, and Water. Other reviewers may be included, as needed, such as the City’s Design Professional, Historic Preservation Officer, and Economic Initiatives staff. Please note, pre-submittal meeting attendance is required prior to formal submittal for a block plat, minor subdivision and special districts application.
Meetings are currently held every Thursday afternoon via virtual meetings (Microsoft Teams). Conference call instructions are emailed to all attendees before their meeting.
To be placed on a CDRC Pre-Submittal schedule.
- Thursday Pre-Submittal Meeting Application
- Plan set (one compiled PDF)
- List of specific questions or topics you wish to discuss at the meeting
- Reports of drainage, geotechnical, soils, environmental resource, traffic impact, title, CC&Rs, or assurance agreement (as applicable)
- Conditions of rezoning, annexation, special exception, overlay, modification, or variance (if applicable)
- Last approved site plan or supplemental floor/elevation/site plan exhibit (if applicable)
- Decision letters from the director, zoning administrator, or design review committee (if applicable)
- If opting into a special district (IID, UOD) also include: brief project scope, relevant design and historic preservation information
After receipt of materials, City staff will contact the applicant (within 1-2 days) to confirm the meeting time and provide an activity number. Comments are entered in the City system and available to review by an activity number to search on pro.tucsonaz.gov. Please note, the quality of the review will be directly related to the quality and level of detail of the documents and information provided by the applicant. Comments will be reviewed with applicant at the meeting and are finalized by reviewers by 5:00 pm on the Monday following the meeting.
Please note, if your project is located within a special district, Infill Incentive District (IID) or Urban Overlay Zone (UOD), the required special district pre-application meeting will be combined with a CDRC pre-submittal meeting. Please make sure to include relevant additional materials listed above and also select the special district on your Pre-Submittal Meeting application.
Submittal
Apply to obtain review and approval for:
- Development Package and Land Division/Subdivision Application
- TSMR and PDMR
- Thursday Pre-Submittal Meeting
- Upload
- plan set (one compiled PDF)
- reports of drainage, geotechnical, soils, environmental resource, traffic impact, title, cc&rs, or assurance agreement (as applicable)
- conditions of rezoning, annexation, special exception, overlay, modification, or variance (if applicable)
- last approved site plan or supplemental floor/elevation/site plan exhibit (if applicable)
- decision letters from director, zoning administrator, or design review committee (if applicable)
- Receive email within 5 working days acknowledging the application is complete and under review by an activity number to search on pro.tucsonaz.gov. Over the counter review is available--be sure to upload and receive an email prior to visiting. Staff will review the files on the computer with you.
- Pay the invoiced fees at the permit counter or mail a check prior to completion of the first substantive review.
Floodplain Use Permits
FEMA Floodplain Information
Grading Permits
Permits for grading with bond information.
Sign Permits
Permits for wall signs, freestanding signs, banners etc.
Residential Solar permits - Licensed solar contractors can now use our new Solar One Stop review process, a joint venture with Pima County, for residential solar projects that meet the eligibility criteria.
Projects that do not meet the requirements for this same-day process need to continue to use the submittal portal.
The Solar One Stop is a collaborative effort between Pima County Development Services Department and the City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department, with the assistance of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to streamline the permitting of residential photovoltaic arrays.
Criteria: Residential solar projects are eligible as long as they are attached to a roof and are NOT located in a Historic Preservation Zone (HPZ) or Neighborhood Preservation Zone (NPZ). If your property is in an HPZ or NPZ please apply through our Online Building Permit Application
Process: For additional information about the process and to submit your application through the Solar One Stop, please click here.
Please note that customers using the Solar One Stop, whether they are located in the City or the County, apply to Pima County for an electrical/mechanical building permit, and schedule inspections with the County.
Request Modifications and Appeals to the Building Code.
Request Modifications and Variances to the Zoning Code, Dimensional Standard, Development Standard, Parking Design, Technical Standard, etc.
Applicant is responsible for obtaining review and approval by Pima County for projects involving ADEQ/RWRD sewers, on-site wastewater treatment facilities and public water systems(PDF, 334KB).
The granting of a City permit does not exempt the applicant from complying with any HOA's CC&Rs or any other private deed restrictions associated with the property; and the issuance of this permit is not in any way an indication that the work/project complies with any HOA's CC&Rs or any other private deed restrictions associated with the property.