Paradise Valley requires Hillside Building Committee review before accepting a building permit application for any lot with a building-site slope of 10 percent or more, according to the Town of Paradise Valley's Building Permit Application Information. This adds a separate approval stage before plan review begins and applies to new custom homes, major additions, and guest houses on sloped terrain.
The Hillside Committee review adds approximately 6 to 12 weeks to the permitting timeline before building-department plan review begins, according to Fenn Rogers's "Building in Paradise Valley: What Makes It Different." You'll need to complete and clear this stage before the Town will accept your building permit application.
Timeline After Hillside Committee Approval
Once the Hillside Building Committee approves your project and the Town accepts your building permit application, plan review takes up to 15 business days per review round, according to the Town of Paradise Valley's Building Permit Application Information. After the plans are approved, the Town takes an additional 3 to 5 business days to issue the permit.
Full building permit review through Paradise Valley's Building Safety Department takes 6 to 14 weeks, according to Fenn Rogers. That timeline begins only after you've cleared the Hillside Building Committee stage on a sloped lot.
Additional Requirements for New Homes and Major Remodels
Additional requirements apply to every new house, regardless of value, or to remodel projects with a value of $500,000 or greater, according to the Town of Paradise Valley's Building Permit Application Information. Most Paradise Valley custom home and major addition projects will trigger these heightened review standards.
Prior to the first footing inspection, all property pins and property lines must be identified, according to the Town's Building Permit Application Information.
What to Do Before You Start Design
Check your lot's slope before you hire anyone to draw plans. If your building site has a 10 percent slope or greater, factor in 6 to 12 weeks for Hillside Building Committee review before the Town will accept your building permit application, then up to 15 business days per plan-review round after that.
We handle custom home drafting and permit plans in Arizona, and every set opens with a code-analysis sheet. If you're ready to get a quote for your Paradise Valley project, reach out here.