Bolthole Index

Graham County, Arizona

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Safford, Arizona

Safford, Arizona requires an application to the city building inspector before anyone constructs, remodels or moves a building.1 The city sets its own zoning, with districts such as AR, R1-6 and R1-10, rather than Graham County.2 Septic permits inside Safford still come from the Graham County Health Department, and recreational vehicles cannot be a permanent dwelling on any lot in the city.34

At a glance

Building permit
Required; apply to the city building inspector before starting work1
Zoning
City zoning districts including AR, R1-6 and R1-102
Minimum lot (R1-10 / R1-6)
10,000 / 6,000 square feet56
Septic
Graham County Health Department permits; city sewer connection required when available37
RV living
Not allowed as a permanent dwelling; temporary only in parks, campgrounds or with a temporary use permit4
Accessory dwelling
One per lot in R1-6 and A-R89
Owner-builder
State contractor-license exemption for owners doing their own work10

Who to call

Planning & zoning

City of Safford Planning & Community Development

Zoning ordinance enforcement, planning and development services, building-code enforcement and code enforcement inside Safford

928-432-4140

808 S 8th Avenue, Safford, AZ 85548

Building permits

City of Safford Building / Development Permits & Codes

Building permit applications, fee schedules, code books and homeowner contractor-license exception form inside Safford

928-432-4140

Septic permits

Graham County Health Department, Environmental Health Services

Plan review, permits and inspections for new and replacement septic systems in Graham County, including inside Safford

928-428-0110

826 W Main Street, Safford, AZ 85546

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Safford means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Safford, Arizona?

Yes. Safford's zoning code requires anyone who wants to construct, remodel or move a building or structure to apply to the building inspector before starting.1 The city's Building page offers a residential and commercial building permit application, a fee schedule and a residential building checklist.11 Safford follows its own adopted codes; its adopted-code chapter lists the 2015 International Building Code, while the Building page lists 2024 editions of the International Residential Code and related codes.1211 Ask the city which edition governs your plans.

Graham County's building permits apply to the county's land-use districts, not to land inside Safford.13

Who issues building permits in Safford, and how do you reach them?

The City of Safford Planning & Community Development Department enforces the building codes and the zoning ordinance; call 928-432-4140.14 The Building / Development Permits & Codes page hosts the application forms, and the same number schedules a time to view the code books.11 Septic permits are handled separately by the Graham County Health Department.15

Does Safford have zoning, and what does it mean for homes and RVs?

Yes. Safford administers its own zoning districts, including R1-10, R1-6 and A-R.2 Single-family lots in R1-10 need at least 10000 square feet, and in R1-6 at least 6000 square feet.56 The R1-6 and A-R districts each allow one accessory dwelling unit per lot.89

No recreational vehicle may be occupied as a permanent dwelling on any lot in the city, and temporary living quarters are limited to a designated space in an approved park or campground or a temporary use permit.4 We could not confirm a citywide tiny-home rule, minimum home size or setbacks; Planning & Community Development can tell you for your district.14

How do septic permits work in Safford?

Where city sewer is available, the owner must connect within 24 months after the city gives notice, and sewer is presumed available within 300 feet of the property.7 Where it is not, a private septic system may operate only with the required permits and compliance with city, county and state requirements.7

The Graham County Health Department's environmental staff issue septic permits and inspect installations in Graham County.315 Construction on any part of the system may not begin until the permit is issued.16 Only 8% of Graham County soils rate without severe limits for a conventional drain field, so plan for a site evaluation.17

What stays with Graham County and the state when you build in Safford?

Septic permits stay with the Graham County Health Department for every address in the county, city or not.3 Wells are not a city permit: Arizona's Department of Water Resources takes a Notice of Intention to Drill, Deepen, Replace or Modify a Well (Form 55-40).18 A driveway that connects to a state highway needs an Arizona Department of Transportation access permit.19

Arizona exempts owners who do the work themselves from contractor licensing, and the city offers a Contractor License Exceptions for Home Owners form.1011 That exemption concerns licensing; it is not a waiver of the city's building permit. We could not confirm the city's inspection steps or fees.

Building a home in Safford: the steps, in order

  1. Call Planning & Community Development (928-432-4140) to confirm your lot's zoning district and what it allows.14
  2. Ask whether city sewer is within 300 feet, since a connection is required within 24 months of notice.7
  3. If no sewer applies, apply to the Graham County Health Department (928-428-0110) for a septic permit before any septic work.1516
  4. File the building permit application with the city before construction begins.111
  5. File a Notice of Intention (Form 55-40) with the state before drilling a well.18

Watch-outs

  • The city's code chapter lists 2015 building codes while its Building page lists 2024 editions; confirm which edition applies before you finalize plans.1211
  • RVs cannot be a permanent home inside Safford city limits.4
  • Only 8% of Graham County soils rate without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field.17

Sources

  1. Safford Code § 17.84.040 — Building-permit applications (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  2. Safford Code § 17.32.010 — R1-6 purpose (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  3. graham.az.gov, quoted and re-checked
  4. Safford Code § 17.12.180 — Mobile homes and recreational vehicles (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  5. Safford Code, R1-10 Single-Family Residential District (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  6. Safford Code § 17.32.010 — R1-6 purpose (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  7. Safford Code, Private sewage disposal systems prohibited; exceptions (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  8. Safford Code, R1-6 use requirements (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  9. Safford Code, A-R Agricultural Residential District (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  10. azleg.gov, quoted and re-checked
  11. City of Safford Building / Development Permits & Codes (cityofsafford.us)
  12. Safford Code § 15.12.010 — International Residential Code (Safford), quoted and re-checked
  13. Graham County Planning and Zoning Ordinance, quoted and re-checked
  14. City of Safford Planning & Community Development (cityofsafford.us)
  15. Graham County Health Department, Environmental Health Services (graham.az.gov)
  16. Permit Requirements for the Installation of Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  17. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  18. Well Forms and Applications, quoted and re-checked
  19. Encroachment Permits Guideline & Procedures 2024 (Arizona statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Safford

Safford’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    A person seeking to construct, remodel, or move a building or structure inside Safford city limits.

    • Application must be made to the building inspector before construction begins.
    • The section also covers construction of certain signage.
    “Any person, firm or corporation desiring to construct, remodel or move a building or structure, or construct certain signage within the city shall make application therefor to the building inspector before commencing construction thereon.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Residential construction inside Safford city limits.

    • The adopted code is the 2015 International Residential Code as amended.

    code edition: 2015 International Residential Code (as amended)

    “The 2015 International Residential Code, as amended, is hereby adopted by reference and incorporated herein as fully as if set out at length in this Code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Commercial utility-service applications inside Safford city limits.

    • The city form lists a Certificate of Occupancy among required documents for commercial utility accounts; this does not establish a universal certificate-of-occupancy requirement for all residential construction.
    “Required Documents: Tax ID City Business License Certificate of Occupancy Planning and Zoning Approval”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Safford city limits, including the R1-6 single-family residential district.

    • Use remains subject to the applicable zoning-district regulations.
    “The purpose of this zoning district is to promote and preserve urban single-family residential development on lots with a minimum area of 6,000 square feet.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Safford city limits.

    • The cited district is R1-6 single-family residential.
    “The purpose of this zoning district is to promote and preserve urban single-family residential development on lots with a minimum area of 6,000 square feet.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Recreational-vehicle occupancy on lots or parcels inside Safford city limits.

    • Permanent dwelling use is prohibited.
    • Temporary living quarters are allowed only on a designated space in an approved mobile-home, travel-trailer, or campground park, or as otherwise allowed by temporary-use permit.
    “No recreational vehicle may be occupied as a permanent dwelling unit on any lot or parcel within the city, and no recreational vehicle may be occupied as temporary living quarters, except when placed on a designated space within an approved mobile home or travel trailer park or campground or as otherwise allowed by temporary use permit.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in Safford's A-R agricultural residential district.

    • One conventional dwelling or manufactured home is permitted per lot or parcel.
    • A manufactured home moved to or relocated within A-R may not have a manufactured date greater than 25 years.

    maximum manufactured-home age for moved or relocated homes: <= 25 years (A-R agricultural residential district)

    “Permitted uses include: A. One conventional dwelling or manufactured home per lot or parcel, subject to the following limitations: 1. A manufactured home moved to or relocated within the A-R agricultural residential district shall have a manufactured date not greater than 25 years.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, improvement, operation, or maintenance of a private sewage disposal system inside Safford city limits where city sewer is unavailable.

    • All required permits must be granted.
    • The system must comply with city, county, and state standards, regulations, specifications, and details.
    • Private-system authorization is temporary and connection is required when city sewer becomes available.
    “The property owner or use designs, constructs, alters or maintains the private sewage disposal system in compliance with all city, county and state standards, regulations, specifications and details, and only after being granted all required permits.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Private sewage disposal systems inside Safford city limits where the city wastewater system is not available.

    • Private systems may operate only while city wastewater is unavailable.
    • The system must be sanitary and comply with city, county, and state regulations and permits.
    • The owner must connect when city sewer becomes available.
    “Where the city wastewater system is not yet available to a property, a private sewage disposal system may operate as long as:”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Property inside Safford city limits with building or water fixtures when city sewer is available.

    • Public sewer is presumed available when it has available capacity and is within 300 feet of the property.
    • The owner must consent to direct connection within 24 months after notice of sewer availability.
    • If sewer is unavailable, a private sewage system may operate only with required permits and compliance with city, county and state requirements.

    public sewer availability distance: <= 300 feet (Public sewer must also have available capacity.) · connection period after notice: 24 months (Measured from the director's notice of sewer availability.)

    “Within 24 months from the date that the director provides notice of sewer availability, as defined in this Code, a real property owner with building or water fixtures thereon shall consent to direct connection to the city wastewater system in accordance with the city design requirements, the adopted uniform plumbing code, as amended, and all applicable state, county and city regulations.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Mobile or manufactured home subdivisions inside Safford city limits.

    • The subdivision must meet the city's subdivision regulations.
    “A mobile home subdivision must also meet the requirements of the city's subdivision regulations.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Recreational vehicles placed in Safford special-flood-hazard areas.

    • The RV must either remain fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed, and be ready for highway use, or meet § 18.02.040 permit requirements and manufactured-home elevation and anchoring requirements.

    RV stay without flood permit route: < 180 consecutive days (must also be fully licensed and ready for highway use)

    “All recreational vehicles placed on site will either: 1. Be on site for fewer than 180 consecutive days, and be fully licensed and ready for highway use. [...] 2. Meet the permit requirements of section 18.02.040 and the elevation and anchoring requirements for manufactured homes in subsection E of this section.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term and vacation rentals inside Safford city limits.

    • The owner must obtain a City of Safford business license.
    • The owner must provide the information required by § 5.05.020(A).
    “Any owner of a short-term or vacation rental must obtain a City of Safford business license.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Construction, remodeling, or moving a building or structure inside Safford city limits.

    • An application must be made to the building inspector before construction starts.
    “Any person, firm or corporation desiring to construct, remodel or move a building or structure, or construct certain signage within the city shall make application therefor to the building inspector before commencing construction thereon.”

Rules another office applies inside Safford

Safford does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family residential development in Safford's R1-6 district.

    • The district's principal permitted use is a single-family dwelling with customary accessory buildings and uses.

    minimum lot area: >= 6000 square feet (R1-6 district)

    “The purpose of this zoning district is to promote and preserve urban single-family residential development on lots with a minimum area of 6,000 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Single-family lots in Safford's R1-10 district.
      “The purpose of this zoning district is to promote and preserve urban single-family residential developments on lots with a minimum area of 10,000 square feet.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    One accessory dwelling in Safford's A-R Agricultural Residential District.

    • The accessory dwelling must be as defined in Sec. 17.08.040.
    • Other A-R district requirements apply.

    accessory dwelling units per lot: 1

    “One accessory dwelling as defined in section 17.08.040 .”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Allowed (with conditions) — One accessory dwelling unit per lot in Safford's R1-6 district, subject to Sec. 17.12.030B.
      “The use requirements are the same as those in the R1-10 zoning district and may include one accessory dwelling unit as defined in section 17.08.040 per lot conforming to section 17.12.030B.”
    • Allowed (with conditions) — One accessory dwelling on a lot in Safford's A-R agricultural residential district.
      “Permitted uses include: A. One conventional dwelling or manufactured home per lot or parcel, subject to the following limitations: [...] 2. One accessory dwelling as defined in section 17.08.040.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Safford or Graham County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Safford city limits.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Safford city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Safford city limits.
  • Setbacks — Main single-family and agricultural-residential setbacks inside Safford city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Residential property inside Safford city limits.
7 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Safford publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Graham County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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