What happens if plumbing work is done without a permit in Phoenix?

Section 114.1.4 makes it unlawful to do work that needs a permit "until such permit has been obtained from the building official and been posted on the premises." Work beyond the authorized scope of a permit counts as work without a permit. It is also unlawful to occupy, use or maintain a building or improvement that was built without a required permit. Each day a violation exists is a separate violation, and the city may use more than one remedy.

For nonpermitted construction, 114.1.4.1 says an investigation is made before a permit can be issued for the work, and that nonpermitted construction "is grounds for the building official to stop all work on the project until appropriate permits are obtained." The applicant must apply for or obtain a permit by the date on the notice of violation, with more time possible for complex work or other justifiable circumstances. Permits for work started without one "must be obtained no later than 60 calendar days from the date of application," again with an exception for more time.

Section 114.1.4.1.3 lists the money. For work started on a plumbing system (or a building, electrical, gas or mechanical system) without the required permit, the section lists these charges:

1. 1An investigation fee, assessed "whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued."
2. 2A permit fee at twice the published amount. "The permit fee for work commenced without permits shall be twice the published permit fees as set forth in Appendix A.2 of the Phoenix City Code."
3. 3A job-site meeting fee. When the permit is issued, an inspector meets the owner or authorized agent on site to decide the corrective action and set an inspection schedule.

There are two exceptions. The department may waive the investigation fee and the additional permit fee "where it can be demonstrated that the nonpermitted construction was completed by a previous owner." The job-site meeting section adds that the department may waive the job-site meeting fee on the same showing. And if the owner will demolish the unpermitted work, the demolition permit fee applies.

The Planning and Development fee schedule (Ordinance G-7465, effective January 20, 2026) lists these lines under fees for work done without a permit:

• An investigation fee of "$250 or the permit fee, whichever is greater, but not to exceed $2,500 for every day or portion of a day from the time unpermitted work began until a permit is obtained."
• A Section 114 investigation fee of "$250 or the permit fee per Table A, whichever is greater."
• A Section 114 job-site meeting fee at "$195 per hour per inspection discipline, minimum $390 (2-hours) per inspection discipline."
• A Section 114 permit fee of "2-times the permit fee per Table A, except for Residential Demolition permits."

The schedule lists the general and the Section 114 investigation lines separately. Which line the city applies to a given case is the city's call, so ask the permit counter before you budget.

• Nonpermitted construction: work that needed a permit and was started or finished without one, or that went beyond what a permit allowed.
• Notice of violation: the written notice that sets the date by which a permit must be obtained.
• Table A: the schedule the city uses to price a plumbing permit from the value of the work.
• Discipline: a trade inspection group, such as plumbing or electrical.

Under 114.1.1 the property owner, the tenant or occupant in control of the premises and the person performing the work all have a duty to comply. A commercial tenant that hires an unlicensed installer, a landlord who finds unpermitted piping and the contractor who did the work are all inside the rule.

• A buyer's inspection finds a new water line with no permit on file. The city investigates before it issues the permit. The owner pays the investigation fee, twice the permit fee and the job-site meeting fee.
• A tenant moves a restroom without pulling a permit. The tenant, the landlord and the installer are each responsible, and the city can stop all work on the project until permits are obtained.
• The same unpermitted line was installed by the prior owner. The answer flips: the department may waive the investigation fee, the additional permit fee and the job-site meeting fee if the owner can show a previous owner did the work.
• A contractor works beyond the scope written on the permit. The extra work is treated as work without a permit, not as a small change.

1. 1Find out whether the work needed a permit. Section 105.2 lists the plumbing work that is exempt, and Planning and Development can confirm if you are unsure.
2. 2If it did, stop work and apply for the permit before doing more.
3. 3Ask the permit counter which investigation fee line applies and get the fee figure in writing.
4. 4If a previous owner did the work, gather what shows it, such as the sale date and the age of the work, to ask for the waiver.
5. 5Apply through the city's current SHAPE PHX permitting process and obtain current counter or contact details from Planning and Development.
6. 6Meet the date on any notice of violation. If the work is complex, ask for more time before that date passes.

• "Paying the fee fixes it." The fees come on top of the permit and inspections, and the work still has to pass inspection.
• "Only the contractor is responsible." The code puts the duty on the owner, the tenant in control and the person doing the work.
• "A stop-work order is a fine." The code makes nonpermitted construction grounds to stop work. The fees are separate.