Take a survey to share your vision for Tucson

What's in you plan, Tucson?

The City of Tucson is in the early stages of an almost three-year process to update the City’s General and Sustainability Plan from 2013, known as Plan Tucson.

Throughout this spring, Tucson residents will be asked to share their priorities and vision for the future of Tucson. Your input on the survey will be used to identify goals, priorities, and direction for Tucson's next ten years. Information on the City's recent efforts and Plan Tucson engagement can be found on our website at plantucson.tucsonaz.gov.

The Plan Tucson Update Team is grateful for your contributions to the assessment of the city’s challenges and needs, guiding Tucson’s long-term direction, from prior City planning efforts to today and into the future.

Survey: https://bit.ly/PlanTucsonPhase1Survey

We appreciate your time in taking the survey and participating in the Plan Tucson Update.

Water Conservation Amendments 

On October 18, 2022, the City of Tucson Mayor and Council directed staff to begin working on several amendments to city codes related to water conservation (access the study session materials here).

At the request of Mayor and Council, staff will begin review and engagement on five measures, three of which can be handled in the near future:

- Prohibition of ornamental grass (termed "non-functional turf" in our code)
- Requirement for Watersense fixtures
- Requirement for separate utility meters for outdoor irrigation

On February 22, 2023, the City of Tucson Mayor and Council is expected to hold a study session to further discuss the prohibition of non-functional turf and provide staff additional direction on moving forward with the proposed amendments.

Development Code Updates 

On February 15, 2023, the City of Tucson Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing to review and make recommendations to Mayor and Council on the Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) Code Update Package UDC Amendment.

That meeting will be held virtually via zoom. All information for accessing the meeting, along with the agenda and materials may be found on the Planning Commission website.  

Over the past nine months, PDSD has conducted outreach to the public, local groups, and review staff through presentations, meetings, a survey which recorded over 130 responses, and a study session and public hearing with the Planning Commission.

The result is a proposal for ten amendments to the various development codes in the following areas:

- Improve PDSD Processes
- Remove Barriers to Small-scale Infill
- Simplify Development Standards
- Correct Minor Code Errors

For more information related to the PDSD Code Update Package please visit the project website.

Join a discussion on the Resilient Southwest Building Code Collaborative

The City of Tucson, in partnership with New Buildings Institute, International Code Council, LISC Phoenix, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, Urban Sustainability Directors’ Network, and ULI Arizona, invite you to a sharing session about the Resilient Southwest Building Codes Collaborative. 

This Collaborative is a joint effort by communities from Arizona and New Mexico, national and regional technical partners, and state and local community-based organizations to advance energy and water efficiency, climate resilience, and affordability through southwest-adapted building codes. The Collaborative is pursuing funding through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) new Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) grant program to develop model building codes and implementation resources, provide industry training to support code adoption, and expand workforce development opportunities. 

Please join us virtually on March 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., as we introduce the Collaborative's RECI grant proposal. The Collaborative seeks input, prior to submitting a final application to DOE, on the draft proposal, including how the work of the Collaborative could further support communities in the Southwest and opportunities for additional technical, community-based, or jurisdictional partners.  

Click here to register for the event. For more information, please contact Leslie Ethen, [email protected].   

Join the Planning and Development Services team

The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department is currently recruiting as we continue to grow our customer-centric team and help shape the future of Tucson.

Construction Inspector: The City of Tucson Planning and Development Services Department seeks multiple Construction Inspectors to join us in providing strategic, timely, quality planning and development services to an engaged public. The Construction Inspector provides inspection activities related to the development of private property for compliance with applicable engineering, landscaping, and zoning codes and standards. The position receives direction from the Construction Inspection Supervisor and consults with other staff for design changes or project clarifications.

Customer Service Representative: Provides friendly customer service by answering telephones, greeting customers, providing information, processes applications for service, responding to requests, handling problems and irate customers, researching inquiries and discrepancies, following up on complaints and concerns and coordinating and communicating with field personnel. Performs related duties such as: inputting, processing, and issuing permit applications, assigning file-case numbers, inspecting, and cutting film, receiving and processing plans, fulfilling public records requests, processing permit payments and scanning documents.

Are you interested in learning more about open positions, City of Tucson benefits, and applying to join the team? Browse the job listing page for more information on all the open positions with the City of Tucson.

Board, Committee, & Commission Meetings

All public meetings are held virtually using Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Check individual meeting agendas for instructions on how to connect to the meeting and participate

Board of Adjustment
Wednesday, February 22
1 p.m.

Design Review Board
Friday, February 24
7:30 a.m.

Planning Commission
Wednesday, February 15
6 p.m.

Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission Plans Review Subcommittee
Thursday, February 23
1 p.m.

Zoning Examiner
Thursday, February 16
Thursday, February 23
6 p.m.

PDSD Metrics & Tucson Development Activity  

Take a look at development activity in the City of Tucson for the month of January.

The Planning and Development Services Department issued 831 building permits and saw construction valuation of more than $97 million during the last month.