Mesa Building Permit Office
Mesa
City of Mesa
480-644-4273
Monday-Thursday 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Friday essential service call center 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
55 N Center Street, Mesa, Arizona, 85201
Construction permits within the City of Mesa are handled through City of Mesa Development Services. Building permit applications, electronic plan uploads, review activity, payments, permit records, and inspection information are managed through the city’s DIMES system. Planning and zoning review remains a separate part of the development process, so some projects must clear land-use requirements before the construction permit can move forward.
Mesa Separates Planning Approval From Construction Permitting
A construction permit does not replace zoning or land-use approval. Mesa directs residential applicants to determine required Planning approvals before preparing the permit application. Commercial projects may need Planning and Zoning approval, a preliminary review, or an administrative review before construction plans are submitted.
Permit review can apply to additions, structural alterations, electrical, mechanical or plumbing modifications, fire-damage repairs, conversions of non-livable space, carport or patio enclosures, demolition, in-ground pools, manufactured-home installations, and detached structures over 200 square feet.
Mesa’s commercial permitting path covers new buildings, tenant improvements, alterations, changes of occupancy, building-system work, and safety systems such as fire sprinklers and alarms. Mesa treats multifamily development as commercial construction for this process.
For residential property in a flood zone, the City directs applicants to obtain approval from the Flood Control District of Maricopa County before applying for the Mesa construction permit. The District separately regulates development within designated floodplains, including certain grading, filling, fencing, and structural work.
Building Permit Applications Are Submitted Through DIMES
Mesa uses DIMES for electronic building permit applications. Applicants create an account, select the appropriate permit type, enter the project information, upload plans and supporting documents, and submit the record for city review. Permit acceptance, review activity, requests for revisions, and status notifications are also tied to the DIMES record.
Resolve Planning Requirements
Confirm that the proposed use, building location, setbacks, exterior changes, or other development work satisfies Mesa Planning requirements. Commercial projects should complete required Planning and Zoning steps before construction plan review when applicable.
Prepare the Project-Specific Plans
Mesa publishes separate requirements for different project types. A new residential home application can include a fully dimensioned site plan, code data sheet, architectural and structural drawings, engineer-sealed drawings, grading and drainage information when applicable, utility information, and electrical, plumbing, and mechanical plans.
Additions and remodels use a more limited set when the scope allows it, while pools, manufactured homes, commercial buildings, tenant improvements, and specialized construction have their own forms or checklists.
Submit the Application in DIMES
Upload the required documents with the permit record and complete the electronic submission. Applicants should monitor the DIMES record and system emails because missing information, plan comments, and resubmittal requests are communicated during review.
Respond to Plan Review Comments
If corrections are required, revised documents are uploaded back to the permit record. Mesa provides plan comments and markups electronically so the next submittal can address the identified code or plan-review issues.
Clear Holds, Pay Fees, and Obtain the Permit
After approval, check the DIMES record for unresolved holds or tasks. Mesa sends a fee-due notice when the permit is ready for the payment stage. Required fees must be paid before permit issuance, after which the approved plans can be retrieved for construction and inspection use.
Residential and Commercial Review Timelines Differ
Mesa lists a 10-working-day review period for residential plans. An expedited residential review with a five-working-day target is available for an additional fee. Second and third residential reviews follow the same published review period.
The published regular commercial plan-review period is 18 working days. Mesa also provides expedited review options, including a 10-working-day expedited review and a five-working-day super-expedited option that requires prior approval and additional review fees.
Mesa defines the working days used for these published construction-plan review periods as Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays. Actual processing can also depend on the completeness of the plans, required corrections, and other approvals attached to the project.
Mesa Is Using the 2024 ICC Code Family and 2023 NEC
Mesa’s current construction standards include the 2024 editions of the IBC, IRC, IFC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IEBC, IECC, and ISPSC together with the 2023 National Electrical Code. The city’s 2024 I-Code adoption and related amendments took effect on January 8, 2026.
Project documentation should follow the city’s current forms and checklists rather than a general permit checklist. Mesa publishes separate materials for residential construction, commercial work, signs, pools, manufactured homes, electrical work, plumbing, mechanical systems, gas systems, fire-related work, EV chargers, and other project types.
Mesa Inspections Can Be Requested Online, by Text, or by Phone
Inspections begin after the construction permit has been issued. The approved plans must remain available for the inspector, and inspections are required at applicable construction stages before work is concealed or covered.
- DIMES: Open the permit record, select the inspections area under Record Info, choose the inspection type, and select the requested date.
- Text: Inspection scheduling, rescheduling, and cancellation requests can be sent to 480-644-2428 using the permit number, three-digit inspection code, and inspection date.
- Automated phone: The same number, 480-644-2428, provides 24-hour automated inspection scheduling.
Failed inspections require correction and another inspection request. Correction information is posted to the DIMES record. All required inspections and applicable conditions must be cleared before the permit can be completed and occupancy allowed.
For completed projects, a Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Completion can be accessed from the attachments associated with the DIMES permit record when the applicable certificate has been generated.
Mesa states that a construction permit becomes void when no work and required inspection activity occur within 180 days. Reactivation fees can apply, so inactive projects should be addressed before that period expires.
Permit Charges Depend on the Project and Construction Valuation
Mesa publishes Development Services fees through the city’s Schedule of Fees and Charges. Building permit charges can depend on construction valuation, the type of permit, review services, revisions, and other project-specific services. Specialized or accelerated review can add separate charges.
The current city fee schedule should be checked before filing or paying a permit record because Development Services charges can be revised through the city’s annual fee process.
Mesa Building Permit Links
Building Permit & Plan Review
City of Mesa permit information for residential and commercial construction.
DIMES
Submit permit applications, upload documents, review records, check permit activity, and access inspection functions.
Residential Construction Requirements
Mesa’s permit sequence, project examples, required documents, review process, and permit completion information for residential work.
Commercial Construction Requirements
Planning, permit, plan-review, document, and inspection information for commercial and multifamily construction.
Construction Inspections
Official scheduling instructions for online, text, and automated phone inspection requests.
Construction Forms, Guides & Checklists
Current project forms and code checklists for residential, commercial, and specialty construction.
DIMES How-To Guides
City instructions for applying for a building permit and checking record information or status in DIMES.
Mesa Building Code
Current adopted construction codes and Mesa amendments.
Citywide Fees and Charges
Current Development Services and Planning fee schedules published by the City of Mesa.
Maricopa County Flood Control Permits
Floodplain Use Permit information for work subject to Flood Control District review.