Maricopa County — home to booming cities like Phoenix, Mesa, and Scottsdale — has become a hotspot for new residential neighborhoods, commercial centers, and industrial parks. But before you dive into full design plans and expensive engineering work, it’s essential to fully explore your project’s feasibility.

Your feasibility period is your best opportunity to confirm that your vision aligns with Maricopa County’s development standards and to uncover potential challenges early. This step can help you avoid significant redesign costs and unexpected delays down the line.

Start with Zoning and Land Use Research

The first step in any feasibility study is understanding the county’s zoning requirements. Maricopa County’s zoning ordinance outlines:

• Approved uses for each zoning district (single-family, multi-family, commercial, industrial, agricultural)

• Minimum lot sizes and required frontages

• Maximum structure heights and coverage percentages

• Setback requirements from property lines and adjacent streets

Some properties may also fall within overlay districts or special flood hazard areas, requiring additional scrutiny. By clarifying your site’s zoning early, you’ll know if your project is permitted by right or whether you’ll need to pursue a zoning change or special use permit.

Draft a Preliminary Site Plan Tailored to County Standards

A strong conceptual site plan is vital for evaluating your site’s potential. In Maricopa County, your preliminary plan should include:

• Clearly marked property boundaries and easements

• Proposed building footprints and orientation

• Access driveways, parking layouts, and emergency vehicle routes

• Grading plans and on-site drainage features

• Utility connections for water, sewer, electric, and gas services

• Landscape buffer areas and open space preservation where required

Preparing this early layout helps identify space constraints and potential conflicts, ensuring your design aligns with county expectations before you move into detailed design phases.

Estimate Fees and Typical Review Durations

Maricopa County’s permit fees depend on construction valuation, building type, and scope. As part of your feasibility work, it’s smart to estimate:

• Building and grading permit fees

• Plan review costs for new structures or major renovations

• Separate fees for septic systems, if not connected to municipal sewer

• Costs related to flood control or drainage studies

Processing times can vary significantly. While smaller residential projects may move through review within a few weeks, larger commercial or multi-building developments can take several months, especially if additional studies or public hearings are required.

Take Advantage of Pre-Application Meetings

Maricopa County offers pre-application meetings to help clarify development requirements and identify red flags. During this meeting, you’ll receive:

• Early feedback from zoning, engineering, and environmental staff

• Guidance on any anticipated variances or code exceptions

• A list of potential studies or supplemental documents needed before full application

This proactive step often prevents costly surprises and helps streamline the formal review process later.

Identify Required Technical Studies and Special Clearances

Depending on your site location and project size, you may need additional reports and approvals. Common examples include:

• Stormwater management and drainage impact analyses

• Traffic impact studies for commercial or large-scale residential projects

• Environmental or archaeological assessments in protected or historically sensitive areas

• Floodplain development permits and FEMA compliance if applicable

By researching these requirements during your feasibility window, you can build realistic schedules and budgets.

Understand the County’s Inspection Process

Even while evaluating feasibility, it’s helpful to outline Maricopa County’s inspection stages to anticipate future project milestones. Typical inspections include:

• Pre-grading and site preparation checks

• Foundation and footing inspections

• Structural framing reviews

• Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-in inspections

• Final grading, landscaping, and driveway inspections

• Certificate of Occupancy inspection before move-in or business opening

Being aware of these steps helps you prepare for a smoother construction phase once permits are issued.

Maricopa County Feasibility Checklist

• Research zoning district rules and overlay requirements

• Prepare a conceptual site plan reflecting county standards

• Estimate total permit fees and expected review timelines

• Schedule a pre-application meeting for early guidance

• Identify technical studies or special approvals required

• Familiarize yourself with inspection stages and sign-off processes

Ready to Move Forward with Your Maricopa County Project?

If you're still in your feasibility period and want to confidently assess your project before spending on full design, we’re here to help. Our team specializes in creating preliminary site plans and comprehensive feasibility reviews tailored to Maricopa County’s unique development standards. Let us guide you through the early steps so you can move forward with certainty and avoid costly missteps.