Bolthole Index

Navajo County, Arizona

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Show Low, Arizona

Show Low, Arizona has its own building-permit process and municipal zoning office.12 Inside Show Low, city building and zoning questions go to the city; Navajo County Planning and Development Services administers septic systems within its ADEQ delegation.23 Manufactured-home placement requires both a city building permit and a state installation permit.4

At a glance

Building permits
City applications, plan review and inspections; ask Building Safety about your project15
Zoning
City Planning and Zoning handles zoning and setback questions2
Septic permits
Navajo County administers systems within its ADEQ delegation3
Manufactured homes
City building permit plus state installation permit4
RV and tiny-home living
City occupancy rules unconfirmed; ask Planning and Zoning2
Floodplain development
City standards apply in special flood hazard areas6
Wells
ADWR Notice of Intent to Drill before drilling, deepening or modifying a well7

Who to call

Building permits

City of Show Low Building Safety

City building-permit questions, building-code questions and inspection scheduling

928-532-4050

180 N. 9th St. Show Low, AZ 85901

Zoning

City of Show Low Planning and Zoning

City zoning, setbacks, land divisions and formal zoning determinations

(928) 532-4040

[email protected]

Septic permits

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Onsite Wastewater Program

State onsite-wastewater program and delegated-county application routing

Floodplain permits

City of Show Low Engineering / Floodplain Administrator

City floodplain-development questions, drainage records and elevation certificates

928-532-4000

180 N. 9th Street Show Low, AZ 85901

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Show Low, AZ?

Show Low provides city building-permit applications, plan review and inspection requests; contact Building Safety about the application required for your proposed home or alteration.15 Show Low lists the International Code, Series 2018, and NEC 2017 among its adopted construction standards.8

For a Show Low single-family residence, the application and plan submittal require a $200 deposit applied to plan review, and the plan-review fee is 20% of the building-permit fee.9 The deposit is not the total building-permit cost; ask Building Safety for the project-specific calculation.95

Who handles building permits and inspections in Show Low?

Show Low Building Safety lists its Building Division at 928-532-4050 and its inspection line at 928-532-4055.5 Show Low requires inspection requests to be called in 24 hours in advance and also provides an online inspection-request link.10

Use the city’s permit applications for complete project requirements; the city’s online permit-viewing service requires a contractor access code.1 Show Low plans expire after 180 days if the building permit has not issued, and the deposit is forfeited.9 Ask Building Safety about owner-builder requirements and final occupancy approval, which we could not confirm for Show Low.5

Does Show Low have zoning, and what about RVs or tiny homes?

Show Low Planning and Zoning handles city zoning, setback questions and minor land divisions; direct a city parcel’s land-use questions to that office.2 Ask for a formal Zoning Administrator determination when the purchase depends on a proposed use: Show Low says a city employee cannot bind the city except through that determination.2

We could not confirm Show Low’s private-land RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny-home occupancy, minimum dwelling size or complete district setback rules; ask Planning and Zoning about the exact parcel and proposed living arrangement.2 Navajo County’s zoning ordinance excludes incorporated cities, so its unincorporated-land standards do not answer those Show Low questions.11

How do septic permits work inside Show Low?

Navajo County Planning and Development Services accepts ADEQ’s delegation for eligible onsite wastewater facilities, including conventional septic systems with design flow below 3,000 gallons per day; ADEQ retains review of projects presenting a local conflict of interest.3 ADEQ directs applicants to submit an onsite-wastewater application to the county where the property lies.12

For a Show Low parcel needing onsite treatment, the documented process requires a Notice of Intent to Construct, construction approval, inspection and testing, and a Notice of Intent to Discharge; Discharge Authorization is required before operation.13 Before designing septic, ask the city about sewer service and connection requirements, which we could not confirm for Show Low.5

What are the steps to building a home in Show Low?

  1. Ask Show Low Planning and Zoning for a parcel-specific zoning and setback determination before committing to the home design.2
  2. Ask the city about sewer availability; if onsite wastewater is needed, route the septic application through the county’s delegated program.53
  3. Submit the appropriate Show Low building application and plans, with the single-family $200 deposit where applicable.19
  4. For manufactured-home or factory-built-building placement, obtain both the Show Low building permit and Arizona manufactured-home installation permit.4
  5. Schedule city inspections with 24 hours’ advance notice and ask Building Safety what final approvals are required before moving in.105

What should you check before buying land in Show Low?

Ask Show Low Engineering about flood records, drainage information and completed elevation certificates for the parcel; city development standards apply in FEMA-designated special flood hazard areas.146 If a well is proposed, Arizona requires an ADWR Notice of Intent to Drill before drilling, deepening or modifying a well, with work performed by a licensed well-drilling contractor.7

For resale of a home served by septic, the seller must arrange a qualified inspection within 6 months before transfer, and the buyer must submit a Notice of Transfer within 15 calendar days afterward.15 For land outside Show Low city limits, use the Navajo County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area zoning answer.11

Watch-outs

  • Since March 2025, Show Low no longer issues manufactured-home or factory-built-building placement permits; the city building permit and state installation permit are both required.4
  • A Show Low building-permit application does not answer whether residential RV or tiny-home use is allowed; ask Planning and Zoning for a formal determination.12
  • We could not confirm Show Low’s sewer-connection, off-grid sanitation or driveway-access requirements; ask Building Safety and city Engineering before committing to a site plan.514

Sources

  1. City Permits & Applications (Show Low), quoted and re-checked
  2. City of Show Low Planning and Zoning (showlowaz.gov)
  3. Construction Permit Application, quoted and re-checked
  4. City Permits & Applications (Show Low), quoted and re-checked
  5. City of Show Low Building Safety (showlowaz.gov)
  6. FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area Information (Show Low), quoted and re-checked
  7. Well Drilling in Arizona, quoted and re-checked
  8. Show Low Codes & Standards (Show Low), quoted and re-checked
  9. Fee Schedules (Show Low), quoted and re-checked
  10. Building Safety (Show Low), quoted and re-checked
  11. Navajo County Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  12. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Onsite Wastewater Program (vei.azdeq.gov)
  13. Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Type 4.02–4.23 General Permit, quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Show Low Engineering / Floodplain Administrator (showlowaz.gov)
  15. Notice of Transfer and Inspection, quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Show Low

Show Low’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Manufactured-home or factory-built-building placement inside Show Low city limits.

    • As of March 28, 2025, the city no longer issues manufactured-home or factory-built-building placement permits; a State of Arizona Manufactured Home Installation permit is also required.
    “Important Notice: As of March 28th, 2025, the City of Show Low no longer issues manufactured home or factory-built building placement permits. Both a City of Show Low Building Permit and a State of Arizona Manufactured Home Installation permit are required.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building work inside Show Low city limits.

    • The city page states the listed standards were updated 7/8/2021; the code publisher states the code is current through Ordinance 2026-05, passed June 16, 2026.

    building code: International Code, Series 2018 · electrical code: NEC 2017 · mechanical code: International Mechanic Code, Series 2018 · plumbing code: International Plumbing Code, Series 2018

    “Building Code: International Code, Series 2018 [...] Electrical Code: NEC 2017 [...] Mechanical Code: International Mechanic Code, Series 2018 [...] Plumbing Code: International Plumbing Code, Series 2018”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Building inspections inside Show Low city limits.

    • Inspection requests must be called in 24 hours in advance; the page also provides an online Request an Inspection link.

    advance notice: 24 hours

    “Inspection Line* [...] *Please be advised; you must call in inspections 24 hours in advance.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land-development activity inside Show Low city limits.

    • Recorded deeds and restrictions or CC&Rs may impose additional requirements.
    “Stage I – Pre-application conference. [...] Stage III – Subdivision technical review. [...] Stage IV – Final plat.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in FEMA-designated special flood hazard areas inside Show Low city limits.

    • The city directs applicants to Chapter 19 of the City Code for the adopted standards.
    • The City Engineer serves as the city's FEMA floodplain administrator.
    • The requirement applies to development in special flood hazard areas, not necessarily every parcel.
    “The City of Show Low has adopted requirements and standards for the development in the special flood hazard area’s in our community.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Building permit applications inside Show Low city limits.

    • The city says the page is for general purposes and that individual permit applications contain complete details and requirements.
    • For single-family residences, the deposit is applied to plan review; the plan review fee is based on 20% of the building permit fee.
    • Plans expire after 180 days if the permit has not issued and the deposit is forfeited.

    single-family deposit: 200 USD (Applied to plan review fee) · residential plan review fee: 20 percent of building permit fee · plan validity: 180 days (If permit has not been issued, plans are returned and deposit forfeited) · master or standard plan fee after initial review: 50 USD (Provided there are no changes in the plans) · like-for-like replacement permit fee: 30 USD (Routine hardwired electrical, plumbing, and mechanical replacements in single-family and two-family dwellings) · commercial new-project deposit: 400 USD (Applied to plan review fee at issuance) · commercial tenant-improvement deposit: 200 USD (Applied to plan review fee at issuance) · commercial plan review fee: 50 percent of building permit fee

    “A $200 deposit for all single-family residences shall be received at the time of application and plan submittal which will be applied to the plan review fee. The plan review fee shall be based on 20% of the building permit fee.”
  • Permit processPartial

    City building-permit process inside Show Low city limits.

    • The city provides permit applications, an online permit portal, inspection requests, plan review, and fee schedules; individual permit applications contain complete project requirements.

    inspection notice: 24 hours · single-family plan/deposit validity: 180 days (If permit has not been issued, documents are returned and deposit forfeited)

    “Building Related Applications [...] View my permit - A contractor access code is required to access this site.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Show Low or Navajo County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Show Low city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Show Low city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Show Low city limits.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks inside Show Low city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Show Low city limits.
13 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access

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 Show Low publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Navajo County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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