Contractors and Licensing: Rules in Phoenix-Area Cities
Contractor licenses, owner-builder rules, bonds, complaints and liens. City by city, then the Arizona law and model code behind it.
By City
| City | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Chandler | Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit in Chandler? Owner rules and how to apply Yes, an owner can pull the permit and do the work on their own home. If you lease or rent the home to others, a licensed contractor must obtain the permit. A state presumption against owner-builders who sell or rent within a year does not apply to owner-occupants. |
Arizona Law
All Arizona law- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 32-1101: How Arizona Classifies Contractor LicensesA.R.S. 32-1101 is the definitions section of Arizona's contractor law. It sets three license classes: commercial contractor for non-residential work, residential contractor for work within residential property lines, and dual licensed contractor for both. The class controls what work a plumber may legally perform.
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 32-1121: Arizona's Owner-Builder and Handyman Licensing ExemptionsA.R.S. 32-1121 exempts two groups from Arizona's contractor licensing law: homeowners who work on a house they own and occupy, and anyone doing casual work under $1,000 total. Both exemptions come with limits: permitted work and work meant for sale or rent generally fall outside them.
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 32-1132: Arizona's Residential Contractors' Recovery FundA.R.S. 32-1132 funds a state pool that repays Arizona homeowners for actual losses caused by a licensed residential contractor, up to $30,000 per claim. To collect, a homeowner must first win a court judgment or Registrar of Contractors order that the contractor has not paid.
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 32-1152: Arizona Contractor License BondsA.R.S. 32-1152 is the license-bond law. Before the Registrar of Contractors issues a license, the applicant must post a surety bond or a cash deposit. The amount is set by the registrar within a schedule, based on the contractor's classification and volume of work. A bond is separate from the Residential Contractors' Recovery Fund.
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 32-1153: A Contractor Must Be Licensed to Sue for PaymentA.R.S. 32-1153 bars a contractor from suing you for payment on work that needs a license unless the contractor was duly licensed both when the contract was signed and when the claim arose. It is a strong consumer protection against unlicensed plumbers and other contractors.
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 32-1154: Grounds to Suspend or Revoke a Contractor LicenseA.R.S. 32-1154 lists the acts and omissions that can get an Arizona contractor license suspended or revoked. The list includes abandoning a job, poor workmanship or code violations, fraud, false advertising, a felony conviction, and failing to pay for materials or services.
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 32-1155: The Deadline to File an Arizona ROC ComplaintA.R.S. 32-1155 is the statute that lets you file a written complaint against a licensed Arizona contractor with the Registrar of Contractors. The complaint must be filed within the deadline set by A.R.S. 32-1162: generally two years from the close of escrow (new construction) or two years from project completion (other work).
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 32-1158: What a Contractor's Written Contract Must IncludeA.R.S. 32-1158 sets what a contractor's written contract must include in Arizona. For any job over $1,000, the contract must list the contractor's name, address, and license number, the jobsite, the completion date, the total price, and deposit and payment terms. It must also carry a complaint-rights notice in at least ten-point bold type, signed by both parties.
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 33-1002: Arizona's Lien Exemption for Owner-Occupied HomesA.R.S. 33-1002 shields an owner-occupied Arizona home from many construction liens. A contractor, subcontractor, or supplier generally cannot lien your home unless they signed a written contract directly with you. Any agreement that waives this protection is void. It is a lien statute, not the separate homestead equity exemption in A.R.S. 33-1101.
- State LawUpdated Jul 2026A.R.S. 33-992.01: Arizona's Preliminary Twenty-Day Notice (Lien Rights)A.R.S. 33-992.01 is Arizona's preliminary twenty day notice law. It lets a contractor, subcontractor, or material supplier protect future mechanics' lien rights by serving a written notice, generally within twenty days of first furnishing labor or materials. For a homeowner, receiving one is normal. It is a required heads-up, not a lien, and not a bill.
Need The Work Done To Code?
Call a licensed plumber who pulls the permit in your city and passes inspection the first time.