From lot to permit: what a ground-up custom home takes
Phoenix metro · Applies in every Valley jurisdiction
A ground-up custom home is the most involved permit there is — it touches zoning, site/civil, structural, energy, and every trade. The exact portal and timelines depend on your city (see our city guides), but the path below is the same across the Valley. SOKO takes you from raw lot to issued permit.
The Process, Step by Step
Zoning & Site Check
Confirm the lot's zoning, setbacks, height and lot-coverage limits, easements, and any HOA or overlay rules — before design gets too far down the road.
Design & Construction Documents
We produce the full permit set: site plan, civil/grading & drainage, architectural, structural with engineering, MEP, and energy compliance.
Submittal
The complete set is submitted through your city's portal (SHAPE PHX, DIMES, SPUR, One Stop Shop, etc.).
Multi-Discipline Plan Review & Corrections
Building, structural, energy, and often planning/engineering review the set. Comments come back through the portal; we revise and resubmit until approved.
Fees & Permit Issuance
Final valuation-based fees are paid and the permit issues with the approved plans. No vertical construction before this point.
Phased Inspections
Inspected in sequence — footing/stem wall, underground MEP, framing and rough-ins, insulation, and so on — each passing before it's covered.
Final Inspection & Certificate of Occupancy
The final sign-off releases the Certificate of Occupancy so the home can be lived in.
What a New-Build Permit Set Includes
Site plan — footprint, setbacks, easements, driveway, and utilities
Civil / grading & drainage — how the lot drains and ties to the street
Architectural — floor plans, elevations, sections, and details
Structural + engineering — foundation, framing, and load calcs
MEP — mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans
Energy compliance — HVAC Manual J / S / D and the required energy report
Find Your City's Specifics
Jurisdiction matters
Portals, review timelines, and fees differ by city. Pick your jurisdiction in the City Permit Guides for the exact process where you're building.
This guide is a general overview of the residential new-construction permit process in the Phoenix metro, provided for your convenience. Requirements, timelines, and codes are set by each jurisdiction and may change — always follow current City or County guidance. SOKO Designs manages this process for you from design through approval.
Building a home from the ground up?
We take you from lot and design through permit-ready plans and city approval — in any Valley jurisdiction.
