Building permits inside Safford city limits come from the Building Division of the Planning & Community Development Department (928-432-4140). One application form covers building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fence, pool, demolition and manufactured home work, and the City says review may take two to four weeks. Fees follow a valuation table: $989.50 for a $200,000 project, plus $5 for each utility.
What requires a building permit in Safford?
Safford’s zoning code says no building or structure may be constructed, reconstructed, altered or moved, and no land use changed, until the building inspector or zoning administrator has issued a permit. The City’s application form shows how that is divided up:
Project
- New construction, residential or commercial
- Additions
- Alterations
- Demolition
- Pools
Permit type (tick all that apply)
- Building
- Mechanical
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Zoning plot or site plan
- Fence
- Manufactured home
Signs have their own Sign Permit Application, priced from the building permit fee schedule. Site work on a development needs a Site Development Permit, which does not allow any vertical construction.
Who issues building permits in Safford?
The Building Division of the City’s Planning & Community Development Department. The same department enforces the zoning ordinance and carries out the City Fire Marshal’s duties, so building, zoning and fire review sit in one office. Jaime Embick is the Planning & Community Development Director. Under the Municipal Code the building official is appointed by the city manager and is the administrative authority for building, plumbing, electrical, fire and mechanical inspections.
The City’s permits stop at the city limits. In unincorporated Graham County, the County Planning and Zoning Department issues building permits from 921 Thatcher Boulevard in Safford (928-428-0410).
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | City of Safford Building Division, Planning & Community Development |
| Address | 808 S. 8th Avenue (P.O. Box 272), Safford, AZ 85548 |
| Phone | 928-432-4140 |
| Fax | 928-348-8515 |
| Application | Building Permit Application (Residential or Commercial), a PDF form |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Safford application forms
Safford permits start with PDF forms, which the City posts on its Building / Development Permits & Codes page:
- Building Permit Application (Residential or Commercial): asks for the project, valuation of work, address, tax parcel number, use of the building and a description of the work, then contacts for the occupant, owner, architect and contractor. The contractor lists a state contractor licence number, a state tax licence number and a City business licence number.
- Contractor License Exceptions for Home Owners: the owner-builder or owner-developer declaration, with spaces for the City and state licence numbers of any general, mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors used.
- Residential Building Checklist: the drawings to submit and the inspections to expect.
- Site Plan Application (Site Development Permit) and Sign Permit Application.
- Bond Exemption form.
The last block of the building application is a Certificate of Zoning Compliance. The zoning officer fills in the zoning district, the permitted and actual lot coverage and the required and proposed front, rear and side setbacks, then approves or denies it. Zoning is therefore checked on every building permit.
Safford building permit fees
The Municipal Code lets the Council set permit fees by resolution. The schedule the City posts on its building page is a valuation table headed “Building Permit Fees - 1996”, with lookup pages that run to $302,000:
| Total valuation | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 to $500 | $15 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $15 for the first $500, plus $2 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $45 for the first $2,000, plus $9 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $252 for the first $25,000, plus $6.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $414.50 for the first $50,000, plus $4.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $639.50 for the first $100,000, plus $3.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $2,039.50 for the first $500,000, plus $3 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $1,000,001 and up | $3,539.50 for the first $1,000,000, plus $2 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
The schedule adds $5 for each utility: mechanical, electrical, sewer and plumbing. On that table a $50,000 project pays $414.50 and a $200,000 project pays $989.50, before the utility add-ons. No separate plan review percentage appears on the posted schedule.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Site Development Permit application (form revised April 2025) | $25 |
| Site plan review (Resolution 00-009, 2000) | $25 |
| Conditional use permit | $150 |
| Temporary use permit | $50 |
| Water capacity fee, 5/8 or 3/4 inch meter (Resolution 14-017, effective July 1, 2014) | $3,822 |
| Wastewater capacity fee, 5/8 or 3/4 inch meter | $2,183 |
Because the posted building schedule is dated 1996 and the capacity resolution 2014, ask the Building Division to price the permit from your valuation before you budget a large job.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits in Safford
Trade work is not a separate application in Safford. You tick Mechanical, Plumbing or Electrical on the building permit application, alone or with Building, and the same Building Division inspectors review and inspect it. The posted fee schedule charges $5 for each utility on top of the valuation fee.
The City lists the 2024 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code as the editions it follows. Its residential checklist adds practical requirements: electrical plans must show every outlet, smoke detector, light, switch and fan, the sub-panel location and the main service ampacity; plumbing plans must show the water heater with its combustion air and flue, all cleanouts, and a two-way cleanout outside the structure.
Fire review also stays in-house, because Planning & Community Development performs the City Fire Marshal’s duties. A supplemental fire protection charge applies to dedicated fire service water lines, and a detector check meter or backflow device is required on every fire service.
Safford building-permit application documents
For a house, addition or remodel, the Residential Building Checklist asks for 2 copies of these scaled drawings:
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Drawings
- Site plan: size and shape of the lot, setbacks to the new work, and water, sewer, gas and electric entrances
- Footing and foundation plan: footing size and depth, stem walls, slabs, reinforcing, anchors and hold-downs
- Floor plan with room names, dimensions, door and window sizes
- Floor framing plan for a two-storey home
- Roof framing plan with the manufacturer’s truss calculations
- Exterior elevations with attic ventilation calculations
- Electrical plans, and a plumbing plan
For additions and remodels
- A drawing of the original structure showing what is added or altered
- Names of the new rooms
- New outlets, switches, lights and smoke detectors
- Smoke detectors in the existing house
- 5/8-inch Type X gypsum board shown between house and garage
Plans should note the codes they are drawn to. The checklist still prints the 2015 editions, while the City’s building page lists the 2024 International Codes and 2023 NEC, so use the editions on the web page. Design values are published there too: 115 mph wind, Exposure C, Seismic Design Category C, no ground snow load and a 0.5 inch frost line.
Review time: the application says review may take up to two to four weeks. Planning & Community Development first checks the application for completeness and tells you of deficiencies during review or when the initial review ends.
How to apply in Safford: 6 steps
Outside the city limits, the permit comes from Graham County Planning and Zoning, not the City.
Setbacks and lot coverage are tested on the application’s Certificate of Zoning Compliance. The building code amendments cap height at 45 ft overall and 30 ft to the top of the highest outside wall.
Tick every permit type the job needs, state the valuation and parcel number, and add the contractor’s state, tax and City business licence numbers or the homeowner exemption form.
Submit the application and drawings to the Building Division, 808 S. 8th Avenue (P.O. Box 272).
If the permit is denied, the form points to an appeal to the Board of Adjustments under Section 17.88.030 of the Municipal Code.
Request each inspection 24 hours ahead, and make sure one is completed at least every 180 days.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Safford permit inspections and final approval
Inspection requests should reach the Building Division 24 hours before the time you want. Friday inspections are possible, but they must be requested before 12:00 p.m. on Thursday and they take place before noon. Call 928-432-4140.
The checklist lists the stops for a house:
- Foundation: after footing excavation, with reinforcing steel and any forms in place.
- Slab or under-floor: after in-slab conduit, piping and equipment are in, before concrete or floor sheathing.
- Frame: after the roof, framing, fire blocking and bracing are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing and heating are approved.
- Lath or gypsum board: after it is hung, before plaster or taping.
- Final: after grading, when the building is ready for occupancy.
An inspection record card must be posted or available before work starts and kept until final approval. A re-inspection fee may be charged when work is not ready or corrections have not been made. A permit stays active only if an inspection is completed at least once every 180 days from the issue date. By signing, you also agree to inspections by the Utility, Public Works and Engineering Departments where the project needs them.
Local permitting considerations in Safford
Septic systems: where a lot cannot connect to sewer, the onsite wastewater system goes through the Graham County Health Department (826 West Main Street, Safford, 928-428-1962). Its memo on the City’s page says systems are sized on the larger of bedroom count or fixture count and that a 100% reserve area must be kept free of permanent structures.
Wood roofs: the Municipal Code allows no new permits for shake or wood shingle roofs. They may only be repaired or replaced like for like, or used on additions of up to 20% of the existing floor area.
Sewer depth: the City’s residential code amendment requires building sewers to be at least 12 inches below grade.
Outdoor lighting: Chapter 15.32 of the Municipal Code is an outdoor lighting code with shielding and total light output limits, and it requires lighting plans with the permit submittal.
Water and sewer capacity fees: new connections pay capacity fees by meter size, inside and outside the city, under Resolution 14-017.
Code books: a full set can be viewed at the Building Inspector’s office, the Library and the City Clerk’s Office by appointment.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Arizona statewide rules
Arizona licenses contractors through the state Registrar of Contractors, and the small-job exemption never covers work that needs a permit. Arizona rules
Official Safford permit resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors
- Safford Building Permit Application (Residential or Commercial)
- Safford Building / Development Permits & Codes
- Safford Planning & Community Development Department
- Safford Building Permit Fee Schedule
- Safford Development Fee Schedule (Resolution 00-009)
- Safford Residential Building Checklist
- Contractor License Exceptions for Home Owners
- Safford Site Development Permit application
- Water and wastewater capacity fees (Resolution 14-017)
- Graham County Health Department septic sizing memo
- Safford Municipal Code, Title 15, Buildings and Construction
- Graham County Planning and Zoning (outside city limits)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Safford building permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Safford?
The Building Division of the City’s Planning & Community Development Department, 808 S. 8th Avenue, 928-432-4140. Outside the city limits, Graham County Planning and Zoning issues them.
How much is a building permit in Safford?
The posted schedule is based on valuation: $252 at $25,000, $414.50 at $50,000, $639.50 at $100,000 and $989.50 at $200,000, plus $5 for each utility (mechanical, electrical, sewer, plumbing).
How long does a Safford building permit take?
The City’s application says the review may take up to two to four weeks.
Can I apply for a Safford permit online?
The City publishes its Building Permit Application as a PDF form. It is submitted to the Building Division with two copies of the drawings.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Safford?
The building permit application has a Fence permit type, and the form’s zoning compliance block checks setbacks. Call 928-432-4140 with the height and location before you build.
Can a homeowner pull a permit in Safford?
Yes, by signing the Contractor License Exceptions for Home Owners form as owner-builder. The house must be for your own occupancy and not for sale or rent within one year of completion.
How do I schedule an inspection in Safford?
Ask 24 hours in advance on 928-432-4140. For a Friday inspection, ask before 12:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Which building codes does Safford use?
The City’s building page lists the 2024 International Building, Existing Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Fire Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
Simplify Safford permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Arizona. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Safford sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Safford permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Arizona permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Safford permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.