Owner Builder Amendment

The owner builder amendment is a program for rural home construction in Cochise County. While program participants must comply with all Cochise County Building Safety Code and zoning requirements, the overall permitting costs associated with construction are lower than traditional residential home construction. This is due to either fewer, or no, building plan review and inspections being conducted, depending on the option selected by the participant. This amendment is intended to encourage the use of ingenuity and personal preferences of the owner-builder in allowing and facilitating the use of alternative building materials and methods. Be advised, this program does not exempt owner-builders from statewide codes such as the plumbing and fire codes and regulations regarding smoke detectors, nor does it exempt owner-builders from fire codes adopted by fire districts or the County.

For more information, please review the following information and frequently asked questions (FAQs):

  1. Purpose & Intent
  2. Application
  3. Definitions
  4. Regulation of Use
  5. Amendment Options
  6. Recording
  7. Permits
  8. Application Process
  9. Construction Plans
  10. Waiver of Plans
  11. Modifications
  12. Inspections
  13. Special Inspections
  14. Inspection Requests & Notice
  15. Certificate of Occupancy
  16. Temporary Occupancy
  17. Fees
  18. General Requirements
  19. Mechanical Requirements
  20. Electrical Requirements
  21. Plumbing Requirements
  22. Fire Prevention Requirements
  23. Sanitation Requirements
  24. Violations
  25. Petitions for Appeals
  26. Rezoning & Change of Use
  27. Other

The purpose of this amendment is to exempt a Rural Residential Owner-Builder from the requirement for construction plan review and inspections under the currently adopted version of the Cochise County Building Safety Code, provided the property is located in a Zoning District with a minimum parcel size of four-acres per dwelling unit and the subject parcel is at least four-acres in size.  This option is available for residential construction projects only.  This amendment also allows a Rural Residential Owner-Builder to comply with the Cochise County Building Safety Code plan review but limit inspections.  Such an Owner-Builder may, of course, also opt for compliance with the Cochise County Building Safety Code accompanied by full plan review and inspections.  This amendment is intended to allow the Rural Residential Owner-Builder the option to construct owner-occupied residential structures without County plan and inspection oversight, if the property is located in an area defined as “rural”.

By statute, this exemption does not exempt owner-builders from state, county building codes, or fire-district adopted fire codes and regulations regarding smoke detectors, nor does it exempt owner-builders from health regulations regarding wastewater treatment systems.