Do I need a building permit in Graham County, and who issues it?
Written by the Hydra Pest Control team, Arizona-licensed (license #9790)
Last reviewed:
Plan on needing a building permit for a new home. Who issues it depends on where the land is: Graham County Planning & Zoning for unincorporated areas, the City of Safford inside city limits, and the Town of Thatcher inside town limits. Confirm requirements, inspections and timing directly with that office before you start.
Unincorporated Graham County
Graham County Planning & Zoning issues building permits and manufactured home installation permits. 921 Thatcher Blvd, 2nd Floor, Safford; 928-428-0410.
City of Safford
Safford Planning & Community Development handles building permits and code enforcement. The permit application and forms are on its Building/Development Permits & Codes page. 928-432-4140. The City's posted design criteria list the area's termite damage risk as 'moderate to heavy.'
Town of Thatcher
Thatcher Planning & Zoning offers an online portal for permits and lists a building inspector. Confirm requirements directly with the Town.
Pima or another town
Contact that town to find out who issues permits for your parcel.
Termite note
Plan the termite pre-treatment before the slab pour. See the first 10 steps and what to ask a pre-treatment company. Building in Sierra Vista or the White Mountains? The statewide guide covers those areas.
Frequently asked
How do I know if my land is in city limits?
Ask the county or city planning office.
Do manufactured homes need a permit?
Graham County Planning & Zoning issues manufactured home installation permits. Inside city or town limits, check with that city or town.
Who inspects a new home while it's being built?
For permitted work, the building inspectors at the office that issued your permit. Graham County Planning & Zoning lists building inspectors on its staff, and so does the City of Safford, whose Residential Building Inspection Checklist includes foundation, concrete slab or under-floor, framing and final inspections. Ask your office how to schedule each one. A home inspector is different: a private inspector certified by the Arizona Board of Technical Registration whom you can choose to hire. That's separate from the permit inspections. The termite pre-treatment falls under Arizona Department of Agriculture rules: the treating company posts a tag at the site right after the pretreatment (R3-8-308(D)(6)) and files an eTARF with the Department within 30 days.
Related
Sources
- Graham County Planning & Zoning
- City of Safford Building/Development Permits & Codes
- City of Safford Planning & Community Development
- Town of Thatcher Planning & Zoning
- City of Safford Residential Building Inspection Checklist
- Arizona Board of Technical Registration: Home Inspections General Information
- Ariz. Admin. Code R3-8-308
- AZDA Pest Management FAQs (eTARF)
Building in the Gila Valley? Get a free custom quote for your termite pre-treatment.
Get a free custom quote