Bolthole Index

Maricopa County, Arizona

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Tempe, Arizona

Tempe, Arizona sets its own zoning through the Tempe Zoning and Development Code1 and has adopted the 2024 International Residential Code for homes inside city limits2. Building permit applications go through the city's online Citizen Access Portal3. Septic permits in Arizona are issued by the county on behalf of ADEQ4, so Maricopa County, not the city, is the septic contact.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, city zoning with district-specific standards1
Building code
2024 International Residential Code, with Tempe amendments2
Building permit process
Online through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal3
Inspections
Required once a permit is issued and work begins5
Septic permits
County, on behalf of ADEQ (Maricopa County for Tempe)4
RV living on streets
Not allowed as a dwelling unit6
Owner-builder
Exempt from contractor licensing for owner-occupied homes; local permits still apply7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Tempe Permit Center (Building Safety)

Building permit applications, plan review and inspections requests inside Tempe city limits

480-350-4311

[email protected]

31 E. 5th St. Tempe, AZ 85281

Septic permits

Maricopa County Environmental Services - Onsite Wastewater Program

Septic (onsite wastewater) applications and final inspections, issued on ADEQ's behalf

602-506-6666

[email protected]

Online permits →

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Tempe means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Tempe, AZ have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Inside Tempe city limits, the Tempe Zoning and Development Code publishes standards by district, and an overlay district may modify them8. Maricopa County's own zoning ordinance covers only unincorporated land9, so it does not set the rules on a Tempe lot.

The numbers differ sharply by district. In the AG agricultural district, a dwelling needs 43,560 square feet of site area10, with setbacks of 40 feet in front, 20 feet at the side and 35 feet at the rear11, and lot coverage of 25 percent12. In the R1-6 single-family district, the minimum is 6,000 square feet13, with setbacks of 20 feet front, 5 feet side and 15 feet rear14, and coverage up to 45 percent15.

Building height is capped at 30 feet in both AG16 and R1-617, subject to the exceptions in Section 4-205(A). We could not confirm a minimum dwelling floor area; ask the Tempe Permit Center.

Do you need a building permit in Tempe, AZ, and who issues it?

Construction inside Tempe is permitted and inspected by the city, not Maricopa County. Tempe adopted the 2024 International Residential Code with local amendments for residential construction2. The City of Tempe Permit Center takes applications, and all of them must be submitted online through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal using a registered account18.

Once a permit is issued and work begins, building inspections must be requested through the Community Development Building Safety inspections section5. A building cannot be used or occupied until the building inspector approves the final inspection19.

Maricopa County's building permit requirement applies to unincorporated Maricopa County20. For land outside city limits, see the Maricopa County page.

How do septic permits work in Tempe, AZ?

Arizona's Department of Environmental Quality keeps authority over onsite wastewater permits and has delegated their administration to each of the state's 15 counties, which issue permits on ADEQ's behalf4. Applications go to the county where the property sits, so a septic question about a Tempe address goes to the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department Onsite Wastewater Program21.

We could not confirm whether a Tempe lot must connect to city sewer or whether off-grid sanitation is allowed inside the city. Ask the Tempe Permit Center before assuming a septic system is an option on a city lot. We also could not confirm the private-well permit rule inside Tempe.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Tempe, AZ?

No recreational vehicle, boat or trailer parked on a Tempe street may be occupied as a dwelling unit6. That rule covers streets and does not settle occupancy on a private parcel, which we could not confirm. Camping on public property is prohibited unless the area is specifically authorized or the person holds a permit22.

If a recreational vehicle sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area, it must stay fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet the city's permit and anchoring requirements23.

We could not confirm any Tempe rule on tiny-home occupancy; ask the Tempe Permit Center.

Building a home in Tempe, AZ: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district and any overlay in the Tempe Zoning and Development Code8.
  2. Check the district's lot, setback and height limits before drawing plans14.
  3. Create an account and submit your application on the Tempe Citizen Access Portal18.
  4. Request inspections as work proceeds, and get approval before the next construction step5.
  5. Get final inspection approval before anyone occupies the building19.

An owner who builds a home only for their own occupancy is exempt from Arizona contractor licensing, but that exemption does not remove any local building permit requirement7.

What stays with Maricopa County, and what to check before you buy in Tempe?

Septic permits stay with Maricopa County4. For land outside Tempe city limits, the county's rules apply instead; see the Maricopa County page.

A driveway or street access in Tempe needs approval from the Public Works Director24. A driveway onto a state highway needs an ADOT access permit, which does not transfer to a new owner25.

Maricopa County's effective property tax rate is 0.5 percent26, and its median property tax bill is $1,965 a year27. Those figures are county-wide, not Tempe-specific.

Watch-outs

  • Overlay districts can change the lot, setback and height standards in Tempe's residential tables, so confirm your parcel's overlay with the city8.
  • Accessory dwelling units in Tempe may be used as short-term rentals only under Chapter 16a, Article X of the city code and with owner occupancy28.

Sources

  1. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  2. Tempe City Code, Section 8-300 — 2024 International Residential Code (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  3. Tempe Permit Center (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  4. Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facility | ADEQ (Arizona statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Tempe Building Inspections (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  6. Tempe City Code, Section 19-139 — Parking recreational vehicles, boats, trailers on streets (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  7. Persons not required to be licensed; penalties; applicability (Arizona statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  9. Maricopa County Zoning Ordinance Update (2026 county census)
  10. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  11. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  12. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  13. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  14. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  15. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  16. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  17. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-202 — Development Standards for Residential Districts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  18. City of Tempe Permit Center (Building Safety) (tempe.gov)
  19. Tempe Certificate of Occupancy (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  20. Permitting Services (2026 county census)
  21. Maricopa County Environmental Services - Onsite Wastewater Program (swm.maricopa.gov)
  22. Tempe City Code, Section 23-91 — Prohibited acts (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  23. Tempe City Code, Section 12-33 — Standards for manufactured homes and recreational vehicles (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  24. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 4-502 — Motor Vehicle Access and Circulation Standards (Tempe), quoted and re-checked
  25. Encroachment Permits Guideline & Procedures 2024 (Arizona statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Tempe Zoning and Development Code, Section 3-402 — Accessory Dwelling Units (Tempe), quoted and re-checked

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Tempe

Tempe’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Residential construction inside Tempe city limits.

    • Tempe adopted the 2024 IRC with amendments; the Tempe Administrative Code controls if it conflicts with this code.

    code edition: 2024 International Residential Code (With local amendments.)

    “That certain document known as "The International Residential Code, 2024 Edition," which has been published as a code in book form by the International Code Council (ICC), chapters one through forty-four, and appendix chapters BB, BF, BG, BO, CA, CB, CD, CE, CF, and NB inclusive, three (3) copies with amendments of which are on file in the office of the City Clerk, and this same code, appendices and amendments are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof, as if fully set forth in this article.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Tempe city limits.

    • Inspection must be requested after a construction permit is issued and work begins; work must be approved before proceeding to the next construction step.
    “once a construction permit has been issued and the work has begun, building inspections must be requested through community development, building safety, inspections section.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings and structures inside Tempe city limits before use or occupancy.

    • A temporary or partial certificate may be issued if the inspection department finds no hazard will result before completion of the entire building or structure.
    “buildings or structures shall not be used or occupied until the building inspector approves the final inspection and approves the building for occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Tempe city limits.

    • Development standards vary by district and an overlay district may modify the standards.
    “Tables 4-202A, 4-202B, and 4-202C, respectively, provide the development standards for Tempe's single-family residential and agricultural districts, multi-family residential districts, and mobile home districts.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Residential and agricultural land inside Tempe city limits.

    • The cited section publishes district-specific standards in Tables 4-202A, 4-202B, and 4-202C; overlay districts may modify standards.
    “Tables 4-202A, 4-202B, and 4-202C, respectively, provide the development standards for Tempe's single-family residential and agricultural districts, multi-family residential districts, and mobile home districts.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational vehicles parked on streets inside Tempe city limits.

    • This claim concerns RVs parked on streets; it does not resolve private-parcel occupancy citywide.
    “(d) no recreational vehicle, boat or trailer parked on any street shall be occupied as a dwelling unit.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Camping on public property inside Tempe city limits.

    • Camping is allowed where an area is specifically authorized or the person has a permit; the rule does not apply to temporary structures or camps set up by a government agency or relief workers during a disaster or emergency situation.
    “No person shall camp on any public property, unless it is an area specifically authorized for camping or the person possesses a permit allowing camping in the area.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Access to a public street from development inside Tempe city limits.

    • Approval is by the Public Works Director under Code standards and City Public Works Standard Details; residential lots on collector or arterial streets have one street access point per street frontage unless modified by the Public Works Director or designee.
    “Access to a public street requires approval by the Public Works Director based on the standards contained in this Code and the City of Tempe Public Works Standard Details.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed in Special Flood Hazard Areas inside Tempe city limits.

    • The RV must either remain fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet Section 12-28 permit requirements and manufactured-home elevation and anchoring requirements.

    temporary RV duration: < 180 consecutive days (Alternative compliance options are available under Section 12-33(b).)

    “All recreational vehicles placed on site will either: (1) Be on site for fewer than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days; (2) Be fully licensed and ready for highway use. A recreational vehicle is ready for highway use if it is on its wheels or jacking system, is attached to the site only by quick disconnect type utilities and security devices, and has no permanent attached additions; or (3) Meet the permit requirements of Section 12-28 and the elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes in subsection (a) of this section.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units inside Tempe city limits.

    • The cited provision applies to ADUs and requires compliance with Tempe City Code Chapter 16a, Article X, and owner-occupancy requirements.
    “Short-term rental or vacation rentals are permitted, subject to Tempe City Code, Chapter 16a, Article X, and owner occupancy requirements.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Building Safety permit applications inside Tempe city limits.

    • Applications must be submitted online through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal and a registered account is required.
    “All applications must be submitted online through the Tempe Citizen Access Portal. A registered account is required to use the portal.”

Rules another office applies inside Tempe

Tempe does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Tempe or Maricopa County directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwelling floor area inside Tempe city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Tempe city limits.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation for residences inside Tempe city limits.
  • Well permit — Private wells inside Tempe city limits.
  • Mandatory utility hookup — New homes inside Tempe city limits.
1 more unanswered
  • Agricultural exemption

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Tempe publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Maricopa County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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