Overview
Mesa is the third-largest city in Arizona and the largest suburb of Phoenix. Like all Maricopa County cities, it falls within MCAQD's curtailment jurisdiction. Mesa has a relatively accessible building permit process and a growing number of HOA-governed communities in its newer eastern developments.
Building Permits in Mesa
Mesa Development & Sustainability — Building Division. Apply at mesaaz.gov/residents/building-permits or call 480-644-2352. Mesa offers online permit applications and scheduling. Residential accessory structure permits (masonry fire pit, outdoor fireplace) are commonly over-the-counter for simple projects.
Key Rules
Portable fire features: no building permit required. Must comply with MCAQD curtailment rules (no wood burning on designated no-burn days) and maintain required setbacks. Permanent masonry features: building permit required. Gas line work: plumbing permit required, licensed plumber required in Arizona. Mesa's residential zoning setback minimums are 5 feet for accessory structures in R1/R2 zones.
Wood-Burning Curtailment
Check maricopa.gov/1854 before any wood-burning use from October through April. Sign up for MCAQD email/text alerts. All wood-burning devices (fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, pizza ovens) are prohibited on curtailment days within Maricopa County, including Mesa.
Department Contacts
| Department | Contact | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Mesa Building Division | mesaaz.gov/building / 480-644-2352 | Building permits |
| Mesa Fire & Medical | mesaaz.gov/fire / 480-644-2211 | Fire code |
| MCAQD | maricopa.gov/1854 | Curtailment days |