Phoenix Building Permit Review Times
Phoenix is one of the more transparent large cities for permit expectations: its Planning & Development Department publishes a monthly Plan Reviews: Turnaround Times report with both target (“goal”) and actual average days for initial plan review.
Phoenix permitting, the figures
The key published figures for this jurisdiction — each cited to its official source.
What the data shows
Phoenix publishes monthly goal and actual-average turnaround times for initial plan review (in calendar days), making expectations unusually transparent (Plan Reviews: Turnaround Times, City of Phoenix PDD).
In the May 2026 report, commercial major reviews averaged 35 days (goal 45) and residential custom homes 30 days (goal 30), averages at or inside goal for several categories.
These are initial plan-review turnaround times; correction cycles are handled separately, and figures fluctuate month to month with workload.
Most delay accumulates before technical review
The data points to the same lever everywhere: most delay accumulates before technical review, in completeness and resubmittal cycles. Permittable's Permit Review Diagnostic checks your plans against applicable codes and common reviewer issues before you submit — so your package is more likely to clear on the first pass.
Phoenix permitting: FAQ
How long does plan review take in Phoenix?
Per the City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department's monthly turnaround report (May 2026), initial plan review averaged about 35 calendar days for major commercial projects (goal 45) and 30 days for custom/standard homes (goal 30). Minor residential remodels averaged 21 days (goal 20).
Does Phoenix publish its permit review times?
Yes. Phoenix publishes a monthly Plan Reviews: Turnaround Times report showing both the target (“goal”) and the prior month's actual average days for initial plan review, by project type.
Are these total permit times?
No: these are initial plan-review turnaround times in calendar days. Correction cycles are separate, and figures change month to month with workload.
Sources
All figures on this page are drawn from Plan Reviews: Turnaround Times (monthly report) — City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department. Monthly report of goal vs. average INITIAL plan-review turnaround, in calendar days. “Goal” is the target; “Average” is the prior month's typical completion time. Figures cited from the May 2026 edition. www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/pdd/about-us/reports-data.html. Specific tables, reports, and pages are cited inline with each figure above.
These are the City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department's published goal and average turnaround times for initial plan review (calendar days), from its monthly Plan Reviews: Turnaround Times report (May 2026 edition). “Goal” is the target; “Average” reflects the prior month's typical completion time. Figures fluctuate monthly and exclude correction cycles. Methodology differs from other jurisdictions on this site, so compare with care.