Concrete Pad Permit Phoenix AZ

Do You Need a Permit for a Concrete Pad in Phoenix?

Most ground-level concrete pads in Phoenix do not need a building permit. What does need attention is the driveway where it meets the street, the structure that may go on the pad, and the rules on where you can park. Here is each, quoted from the source.

Ground-level slabs exempt

Driveway right-of-way rule

Structures on pads

RV parking rules

Last reviewed October 2026

The short answer

A concrete pad on your own lot in Phoenix, no more than 30 inches above grade, does not need a building permit. The City's "Work Exempt from Permit" bulletin lists "platforms, sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below and which are not part of an accessible route" among the exemptions, and its commentary adds sport courts and similar uncovered uses.

What needs a permit and what does not

Concrete pad work and the City of Phoenix permit rules

Work	Permit?	Rule
Pad, patio, walkway or driveway on your lot, at grade	No building permit	Work Exempt from Permit, IBC 105.2 item 7
Driveway in the right of way, roll or ribbon curb, up to 10.5 ft	No separate driveway permit	Driveway Policy for Single Family Development
Driveway in the right of way over 10.5 ft	Driveway permit	Driveway Policy for Single Family Development
Driveway onto a street with no curb or sidewalk	Driveway permit, MAG Detail 205 tie-in	Driveway Policy for Single Family Development
Detached shed up to 200 sq ft, no utilities	Exempt	Work Exempt from Permit
Shed over 200 sq ft, attached structures, most carports	Building permit	Work Exempt from Permit
Retaining wall over 3 ft	Building permit	Work Exempt from Permit

Swipe the table sideways to see every column →

City of Phoenix Planning & Development bulletins TRT/DOC 00618 and 00071 (rev. 03/26). Other Valley cities have similar but not identical rules; check yours.

The driveway rule at the street

Phoenix City Code 31-44 controls driveway access to public streets, and the City's single-family driveway policy explains how it applies. Where the street already has roll or ribbon curb and gutter, up to 10.5 feet of concrete driveway inside the right of way counts as part of the on-site job. Past that, a separate permit is needed, and the policy sets residential driveway concrete in the right of way at 6 inches thick. Streets with no curb, gutter or sidewalk always need a driveway permit and an at-grade tie-in.

The parking rules that apply to a pad

Phoenix

Phoenix City Code 36-145 and Zoning Ordinance 702 require parking and maneuvering areas in front and side yards to be dust-free: asphalt, cement concrete, or on a single-family lot at least 3 inches of crushed rock or gravel inside a permanent border. The rear yard of a single-family lot is exempt.

Mesa, Gilbert and Glendale

Mesa requires concrete, asphalt or bordered crushed rock in front and side yards and keeps RVs off driveways after 48 hours. Gilbert keeps RVs out of the front and street-side setbacks and wants them screened. Glendale requires side-yard RVs to sit on concrete, pavers or asphalt. Each city page on this site quotes its own rules; start from the service area page.

Maricopa County

Maricopa County Air Quality Rule 310.01 requires residential parking and maneuvering areas of 3,000 square feet or more to be paved or stabilized as the local code allows, and limits dust from unpaved lots.

Concrete pad permits in Phoenix: frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to pour a concrete slab in my backyard in Phoenix?

Usually not. The City of Phoenix 'Work Exempt from Permit' bulletin, under IBC 105.2, exempts platforms, sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade that are not over a basement or story below and are not part of an accessible route. The City's commentary adds sport courts and similar uncovered uses.

Does a driveway widening need a permit in Phoenix?

The part on your lot generally does not. In the street right of way, where the street has roll or ribbon curb, up to 10.5 feet of concrete driveway is treated as part of the on-site job; more than that needs a separate driveway permit. On streets with no curb or sidewalk, a driveway permit and an at-grade tie-in are required.

Does a shed on a concrete pad need a permit?

In Phoenix, a one-story detached shed of 200 square feet or less is exempt, but adding utilities to it needs a permit for the utilities. Larger sheds need a building permit.

Do I need permission to park an RV on a new pad?

Not a permit, but the parking rules apply. In Phoenix, front and side yard parking areas must be dust-free. Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale and other cities have their own rules on where an RV can sit, and HOA rules apply on top of all of them.