Bullhead City sits on the Colorado River in Mohave County, and it runs its own building department entirely separate from the county's unincorporated-area process. What passes review in Kingman or out in the county isn't automatically accepted here — Bullhead City adopted its own code amendments (effective July 1, 2024) and maintains its own specific requirements for pools, fences, ADUs, and everything in between.
Build My Bullhead City Site Plan
Residential Site Plan Requirements
Bullhead City's Single Family Dwelling submittal requires one completed permit application worksheet, two copies of an 8½"×11" site plan, two complete sets of plans (minimum 18"×24", fully dimensioned and to scale), and truss layouts, roof/floor calculations, and structural calculations where applicable.
Your site plan itself needs to show survey monument identification at every property corner, exact dimensions of all boundaries, every existing structure's dimensions and location, every proposed structure the same way, setbacks from all property lines, accessory structures (fences, retaining walls, pools, driveways), public utility easements, utility connections, garage or storage location, grade elevations at property pins, finished floor elevations, and slopes.
One requirement that catches people off guard: if your dwelling doesn't include an enclosed garage, you need enclosed storage — attached or detached — covering at least 10% of your livable floor area. And every single-family dwelling must connect to public potable water, sanitary sewer, and electric — no exceptions built into the standard process, though septic or private well alternatives can be documented separately if that's your situation.
Setbacks
| Zone/Project Type | Front | Rear | Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family residential | Varies by zone | Varies by zone | 5 ft each side |
| Residential — attached | 20 ft | 10 ft | 5 ft one side, 0 ft opposite |
| Pools (single-family) | — | — | 5 ft from property lines |
| Pools (all other districts) | — | — | 25 ft from property lines |
A few specific rules worth knowing: setbacks established at the time of original subdivision approval prevail if they're tighter than what's set elsewhere. A through lot fronting two streets counts as having two front yards for setback purposes. And stairways or fire towers can project no more than 2 feet into a required yard.
Pool Requirements — More Detailed Than Most Cities
Bullhead City's pool barrier rules are specific and strictly enforced:
- 5-foot minimum barrier fence height, surrounding the entire pool/spa or separating the house from it
- Self-closing gate, 36"–60" wide
- Self-latching, mounted at no less than 54" above grade
- Gate must open away from the pool
- Acceptable materials: wood, block, wrought iron, solid masonry/concrete, or chain link with a maximum 1¼" opening at 11 gauge
- Temporary barriers must be 5-foot chain link — orange vinyl safety fencing is explicitly not acceptable
Setbacks run 5 feet from property lines for single-family lots, jumping to 25 feet in all other zoning districts. Water cannot go in the pool until the barrier passes final inspection — worth planning your construction sequence around that specifically.
ADU Requirements — Parking Is Not Automatically Waived
Every ADU in Bullhead City needs a building permit, regardless of whether it's detached, a garage conversion, or attached. Unlike some jurisdictions, Bullhead City does not automatically waive parking for ADUs — you need to show one dedicated parking space per unit directly on your site plan. Separate utility connections are required in most cases, and a detached ADU over 600 square feet triggers a required pre-permit meeting.
Skipping the permit carries real consequences here: stop-work orders with fines of $500–$1,500 per day, property disclosure issues at resale, denied insurance claims, and code enforcement citations of $250–$1,000 per month for unpermitted rentals. ADU review typically takes 4–6 weeks for a straightforward project.
Fences
Most fences and block walls need a permit. Height limits: 4 feet in the front yard (measured against the front yard setback), 6 feet in side or rear yards, with gates allowed an extra 2 feet for decorative features. Building within a public utility easement requires a separate encroachment permit on top of the standard fence permit.
Commercial and Multi-Family — When a Licensed Registrant Is Required
Commercial or multi-family buildings over two stories, over 3,000 square feet, intended for occupancy by more than 20 people, or with spans over 20 feet not achieved by trusses all require design and seal by an Arizona-licensed registrant. Outside agency approvals — Fire Department, Mohave County Development Services, Mohave County Environmental Health, ADOT, and utility providers — need to clear before the city issues a permit.
Review Timelines and Fees
| Review Type | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Standard permit review | 5–10 business days |
| Typical full response | 15–20 business days |
| ADU review | 4–6 weeks |
| Commercial (full review) | Up to 90 working days |
Fence permits run $82.50, plus an additional $100 encroachment permit if the fence sits within an easement. Other permit fees follow the city's valuation-based schedule — confirm current numbers directly, since these are reviewed periodically.
Before You Dig
Call Arizona 811 (or 1-800-STAKE-IT) before any excavation — fence posts, pool digging, footings, all of it.
Nearby Cities
If you're working just outside Bullhead City, Kingman sits about 35 miles northeast as the Mohave County seat, and Lake Havasu City] sits further south along the river — both run their own separate building departments with different requirements than what's covered here.
Building Your Site Plan From a Real Bullhead City Address
Enter your address, review property lines pulled from Mohave County parcel data, add your project — pool, fence, ADU, addition — and generate setbacks matching Bullhead City's specific zone requirements. Export a title-blocked PDF sized to the city's 8½"×11" format.
What This Doesn't Replace
This produces a preliminary, conceptual site plan for planning and permit prep. It is not a legal boundary survey, a sealed structural or commercial drawing, an Arizona-licensed registrant's stamp, and not a guarantee of approval. Commercial and larger multi-family projects crossing the thresholds above need a licensed Arizona professional directly, regardless of which tool you started with.
FAQ
Do I need a licensed surveyor for a site plan in Bullhead City?
No, for most residential permits — decks, fences, pools, sheds, ADUs, additions — an 8½"×11" site plan is enough. Commercial projects may require sealed plans from an Arizona-licensed registrant.
What size does my site plan need to be?
Residential: 8½"×11". Commercial: 8½"×11" site plan plus 24"×36" construction plans.
How long does plan review take?
Standard permits run 5–10 business days, with typical full response at 15–20 business days. ADUs run 4–6 weeks. Commercial can run up to 90 working days.
Do I need a permit for a pool?
Yes — every pool needs a permit and a 5-foot barrier fence meeting the city's specific self-closing, self-latching requirements.
Does Bullhead City waive parking requirements for ADUs?
No — one dedicated parking space per ADU must be shown on your site plan, unlike some jurisdictions that waive this.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
Yes, in most cases. Front yard fences max out at 4 feet, side and rear at 6 feet, with an extra 2 feet allowed for decorative gate features.
What happens if I skip a required ADU permit?
Stop-work orders with fines of $500–$1,500 per day, resale disclosure issues, denied insurance claims, and ongoing code enforcement citations for unpermitted use.
Is Bullhead City's process the same as unincorporated Mohave County's?
No — if your property sits inside city limits, you follow Bullhead City's specific building department requirements, not the county's.
Where do I submit my application?
Bullhead City Hall, 2355 Trane Rd, Bullhead City, AZ 86442 — in-person or email submittal.
When should I use SitePlans.us instead?
When your project is commercial, crosses the licensed-registrant thresholds above, or your submission has already been flagged.
Contact Bullhead City Development Services
| City Hall | 2355 Trane Rd, Bullhead City, AZ 86442 |
| Planning & Zoning | (928) 763-0123 |
| Building Division | (928) 763-0124 |
| Inspection Line | (928) 763-0172 |
Start With Your Address
Build My Site Plan — Commercial project, or already got flagged? Get a done-for-you plan from SitePlans.us →