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.