The contractor doing the work is responsible for traffic control, and the city or county must approve it first. Phoenix, Mesa and Maricopa County each require a traffic control permit or plan for street restrictions. In Phoenix the crew setting barricades must also hold a city certification. Plan it into the permit, not after.
Why traffic control is its own approval
A plumbing permit says the pipe work is allowed. It says nothing about the cars, bikes and people moving next to the trench. That is a separate safety question. Every agency treats it separately.
The federal standard behind all of this is the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Its Part 6 covers temporary traffic control. It says it applies to "highway construction, utility work, maintenance operations, and the management of traffic incidents." It also says the needs of "all road users" must be part of the plan, and that includes bicyclists and pedestrians with disabilities. So a sewer repair in the curb lane counts. A closed sidewalk needs an accessible way around it.
How the Valley agencies handle it
Each agency has its own office and its own paperwork.
| Agency | What it requires | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| City of Phoenix | Traffic control approval through the Right-of-Way Management Office; certified crews set and remove devices | The office "coordinates traffic control for temporary street closures and restrictions related to construction and maintenance projects" |
| City of Mesa | A Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) permit for most street restrictions | "A valid Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) permit is required for most traffic restrictions in Mesa" |
| Maricopa County | A traffic control plan for all work in county right of way | MCDOT "requires a TCP permits for all work within its right-of-way" |
| ADOT | An encroachment permit for work in state right of way, issued by the district office | Permits are required for any work within the state right of way |
Phoenix's Traffic Barricade Manual notes that closures on frontage roads and at or near freeway interchanges typically also need an ADOT permit.
### More on Mesa and Phoenix
Mesa runs a Temporary Traffic Control program, and the second edition of its manual took effect in July 2026. The city says the program "requires advance review and approval of most street restrictions and provides for improved coordination among various entities working in the public right-of-way." It also notes there are some cases where a permit is not required, spelled out in the city's TTC Rules and Procedures, so read those before assuming either way.
Phoenix runs a similar program through its Right-of-Way Management Office, reachable at 602-262-6235 on weekdays. The Traffic Barricade Manual says its TRACS permits, which reserve space in the street so that jobs do not collide, are free of charge. The manual's plan form also lists an emergency number for reporting street or sidewalk closures.
Who has to be certified
In Phoenix, not just anyone can put out barricades. The Traffic Barricade Manual says agencies or companies "requesting to set up and/or take down traffic control devices shall obtain certification from the City Traffic Engineer every year and complete training through the City every two years," citing Phoenix City Code 31-201 and 31-202. Blanket certification also requires ATSSA supervisory-level training or equivalent.
That is why plumbing contractors usually hire a certified barricade company, or hold the certification themselves. The city posts a certified barricade company list, and the manual's plan form asks the permit holder to name the certified barricade company on the plan. Working in the street without certification or a right-of-way use permit is a listed violation under Phoenix City Code 31-204, with a civil sanction.
What a traffic control plan actually is
It is a drawing and a schedule that show how traffic gets past the work. It answers a short list of questions. Which lane closes? For how many hours? Where do the signs go, and how far back does the warning start? How do pedestrians and bikes get around?
Phoenix's manual is practical about size. It says "On most minor projects, the typical illustrations contained in this TBM can be applied and constitute a pre-approved TCP." A formal plan is usually required for long-term or complex projects, including major utility construction, special events and arterial street closures, and can be required for others at the discretion of the inspector or the Right-of-Way Management program. A one-day lateral repair in an alley may need only the standard layout. A tap across an arterial will need a full plan. The difference is the length of the job, the size of the street and how much traffic it carries.
Maricopa County publishes a submittal form for plans, and says "Traffic Control Plans will not be approved without the Submittal form." Its stated goal is to review plans "within 2-working days or sooner." Mesa's Temporary Traffic Control Manual sets the rules for the city and applies to "all temporary traffic control activities within the City of Mesa limits."
### What about sidewalks and pedestrians
A closed sidewalk is treated seriously. Mesa's guidelines say "The safe and reasonable flow of pedestrian traffic should always be maintained," and require a pedestrian spotter if a walkway is closed off and on during work. Phoenix's plan form asks whether pedestrian access is kept on the same side with an ADA-accessible path or whether a detour is proposed, and requires a description of the detour route.
For a storefront, that has a business side too. Customers still need a safe way to your door. The plan is where you settle that, so raise it before the permit is filed, not after the barricades are up.
How to plan it into your project
- 1Tell your plumber early whether the work reaches the street. Traffic control adds lead time, especially on arterials.
- 2Ask the contractor who is setting the barricades. In Phoenix it must be a certified company.
- 3Ask for the plan or the standard layout number and check that it keeps your entrance, loading area and any accessible route usable.
- 4Match the permit dates. Right-of-way permits, the traffic control approval and the Arizona 811 locate should all point to the same work window. See what Arizona 811 requires before a commercial excavation.
- 5Confirm restoration and reopening. The lane is not reopened until the pavement is patched to the city's standard. See who restores the pavement.
For the permit side of the same job, see whether commercial plumbing work in the street needs a right-of-way permit.
HQ Plumbing & Air can take on sewer and water work that reaches the street. We are licensed and insured, estimates are free, and you get the price up front before work starts. During the estimate we will tell you whether your site needs traffic control, so it is planned before the dig.
This page explains how the process works and is not legal advice. Each agency sets its own rules and updates them, so confirm current requirements with the agency for your street.