How to Get a Building Permit in Mesa, Arizona

Whether you're adding a casita in the backyard, finishing out a commercial tenant space, or building from the ground up, you're going to need a permit in Mesa before work starts. The process is fully electronic now, which makes things more convenient — but there are still steps to follow and requirements to meet. Here's what you need to know whether you're on the residential or commercial side.

Everything Goes Through DIMES

The City of Mesa handles all permit applications, plan submittals, reviews, and approvals through their online portal called DIMES. You can access it at buildingandcode.mesaaz.gov. This is where you apply for your permit, upload your plans, track your review status, and eventually get your permit issued. There's no paper process anymore — it's all digital.

If you prefer to talk to someone in person, the Development Services office is at 55 N. Center St. in Mesa, open Monday through Thursday from 7 AM to 6 PM. You can also reach them at 480-644-4273.

Residential Permits in Mesa

Do you need a permit?

Most residential work in Mesa requires one. Additions, remodels, new home construction, ADUs, casitas, enclosed patios, accessory structures, swimming pools — all of it needs a permit. Even window or door replacements can require one if you're enlarging the opening or adding a new header. When in doubt, ask before you build. Skipping a permit when one is required creates real headaches down the road, especially when it comes time to sell or refinance.

What to submit

Everything gets submitted as a single PDF, drawn to scale, and no larger than 1 GB. Depending on the scope of work, your plan set will typically include a site plan, a code data sheet, architectural drawings, structural plans, and electrical, plumbing, and mechanical plans — along with any required specs or calculations. A simple room addition won't need the same package as a full custom home build, so the scope drives what's required.

How long does review take?

Standard plan review runs 10 City of Mesa business days. If your timeline is tight, expedited review is available in 5 business days — but it costs an additional 100% of the building permit fee, essentially doubling your review cost. Sometimes it's worth it.

What does it cost?

Permit fees are based on the total estimated construction cost. You pay a deposit at submittal, and the balance is calculated after plan review and collected before the permit is issued. Current fee schedules are on the City of Mesa Building Permit & Plan Review page.

Commercial Permits in Mesa

Planning & Zoning comes first

Commercial projects have an extra layer that residential projects typically don't. Before you can get into plan review, you'll need Planning & Zoning approval — this is where land use, zoning compliance, and site plan review happen. Once that's cleared, you move into the building permit process through DIMES just like everyone else.

The plan review process

Commercial plan sets are reviewed by the city's plans examiners, who check for compliance across all applicable codes — structural, life safety, accessibility, energy, and more. Reviews are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. That means if your plans come in clean and complete, you move through the queue faster. Incomplete submittals or sets that generate a lot of comments mean more revision rounds and more waiting — which adds real time and cost to a project.

Current codes in Mesa

Mesa adopted the 2024 International Code Council (ICC) family of codes along with the 2023 National Electrical Code, which went into effect on January 8, 2026. If your engineers or architects are working from older references, make sure everyone is on the same page before you submit. The Commercial Construction FAQ on Mesa's website is worth a read before you get started.

Common Things That Slow Projects Down

Most permit delays come down to the same handful of issues — missing information on the plans, zoning questions that weren't sorted out before submittal, or drawings that don't coordinate across disciplines. Each round of comments from the city means another revision cycle and another wait in the review queue.

It's also worth knowing that permits don't last forever. If work doesn't begin within a certain window after the permit is issued, or if there's a long gap between inspections, the permit can lapse. At that point you're going back through parts of the process again — which nobody wants.

Building in Mesa? We Can Help.

At SOKO Designs, we put together permit-ready construction documents for residential and commercial projects throughout the Valley. We work in Mesa regularly and know what their plan reviewers are looking for. When the plans are done right the first time, your project moves faster — simple as that.

If you're ready to get started or just have questions about the process, give us a call at

480-710-4866 or START A PROJECT NOW! We're happy to talk through your project.

For the most current requirements, always verify directly with the City of Mesa Development Services. Codes, fees, and processes are subject to change.