Mesa’s Development Services Department combines planning, building-plan review, permitting, and inspections. Building and trade permit applications are submitted electronically through DIMES, which is also used for planning applications and supporting documents. Before construction plans are filed, applicants may need Planning approval for zoning, land use, site design, or discretionary actions such as an Administrative Use Permit, Council Use Permit, or rezoning.
Mesa’s Zoning Ordinance establishes permitted uses and development standards, while additional plans and design requirements apply in certain areas. The City maintains separate development guidance for places such as the Desert Uplands, where preserving the character of native desert terrain is an important planning consideration. Current Planning also reviews subdivisions, redevelopment, changes in land use, and other development proposals for consistency with zoning and design standards.
Locally designated historic resources follow another review path. Alterations, rehabilitation, and new construction affecting designated historic buildings or districts can require a Certificate of Appropriateness, with applications submitted through DIMES. Ordinary maintenance and certain in-kind work may be exempt from that process.
Floodplain and public right-of-way conditions can add approvals outside the standard building-permit sequence. For residential property in a mapped flood zone, Mesa directs applicants to obtain approval from the Maricopa County Flood Control District before applying for a City construction permit. Excavation and utility construction within public right-of-way require separate City permits and inspections. Applicants can start with Mesa’s Development Services permitting resources and then confirm zoning, historic, flood-zone, and right-of-way requirements for the site.