Identify the property and the project
Before comparing builders, assemble the property address, parcel information, any existing plans and a short description of the proposed work. Distinguish vacant-land construction, a teardown and rebuild, an addition and a whole-home renovation. The same company may offer several of these services, but the design and approval work can differ.
Use city resources to identify the responsible authority and applicable review path. A neighborhood, school or postal label should not be the only basis for selecting permit rules. If the project is outside a listed city, obtain the relevant county or municipal guidance instead of borrowing a nearby city’s checklist.
Phoenix: start with residential building
Phoenix’s residential page lists new homes, additions, remodeling and demolition among the work requiring construction permits. It links SHAPE PHX and provides separate appointment routes for standard plans and custom residential work. Begin with the route that matches the project rather than assuming every house follows a standard-plan process.
Ask the builder to identify the permit applicant, the drawings still needed and the person responsible for review responses. Keep the approved drawing set and subsequent changes organized so the design discussed during pricing is the design actually submitted.
Scottsdale: coordinate the building and site packages
Scottsdale links a single-family minimum-submittal checklist covering custom houses, guest houses and major additions or remodels. The checklist distinguishes building information from planning, engineering and drainage material; it also lists supporting calculations and site information. Because the linked PDF predates the current digital portal, confirm the current submission method with city staff.
The practical comparison question is who coordinates those documents. Ask whether the proposed agreement includes the relevant architect, structural and civil work, or whether you must retain separate consultants. Do not assume a design fee includes every required discipline.
Paradise Valley: establish hillside applicability
The town’s Hillside Building Committee reviews new construction for matters including disturbance, height, lighting, materials, grading and drainage. The permit guidance directs applicable hillside proposals through discussion and review before the building-permit application.
Discuss the parcel with town staff before fixing the footprint and outdoor program. Ask the builder for an example with a comparable site and review path; an attractive level-lot portfolio is a different form of experience from a constrained hillside project.
Define responsibility through completion
Create one responsibility schedule for drawings, applications, review comments, permit issuance, inspections and final approval. Identify what is included in the builder’s fee, what requires another consultant and what the owner must supply.
Separate a hoped-for start date from prerequisites still outstanding. Ask how the schedule changes when a review requires redesign or when selections change after approval. Use the current city sources below for requirements; this roadmap is a way to organize the conversation, not a parcel-specific approval.
Sources & dates
- Phoenix residential building · checked 2026-10-28
- Scottsdale current plan-submittal page · checked 2026-10-28
- Scottsdale linked single-family checklist · checked 2026-10-28
- Paradise Valley hillside review · checked 2026-10-28
- Paradise Valley current building application guidance · checked 2026-10-28
Questions or factual corrections: send a sourced correction.