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Structural engineering · Phoenix, AZ

Structural Engineering Services in Phoenix, AZ

Connect with engineering firms serving Phoenix and the wider Valley of the Sun. Common work runs from load-bearing wall removals and room additions to casitas, patio covers and more.

Also searched as: residential structural engineer Phoenix AZ · stamped structural calculations Phoenix · Phoenix room addition engineer · Phoenix casita structural engineer · structural engineer near me Phoenix

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Local code & loads

Phoenix building code & ASCE 7 design loads

Phoenix enforces the 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code (PBCC), based on the 2024 IBC. Stamped calculations submitted for permit reference the design parameters below.

Values shown for reference only — project-specific values from the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool should be used for engineering design at the actual project address.

ASCE 7 design parameters

Default values used for most residential and light-commercial projects in Phoenix. Site Class and seismic spectral values may shift based on geotechnical investigation.

Building code2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code (PBCC), based on the 2024 IBC
ASCE 7 editionASCE 7-22
Seismic Sₛ0.18g
Seismic S₁0.057g
Site classDefault
SᴅS0.19g
Sᴅ₁0.11g
Seismic Design CategoryB
Ultimate wind speed101 mph
Ground snow load0 psf

Risk Category II assumed for typical residential and light commercial use — confirm with your engineer if the occupancy or use may require a higher category.

Phoenix is low-seismic, with most sites in Seismic Design Category B, so wind and soils tend to govern instead of earthquakes. Maricopa County uses a 115 mph design wind to account for monsoon microbursts and haboobs. The soils are the real story: expansive clay, hard caliche layers, collapsible soils, and earth fissures tied to groundwater subsidence. The values below are regional placeholders only. Always pull site-specific values from the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool (https://ascehazardtool.org) for the actual project address.

Common projects engineers design in Phoenix

The work engineers handle frequently in Phoenix and the surrounding Maricopa County.

  • Load-bearing wall removals and open-concept remodels
  • Room additions and second-story additions
  • Detached casitas and guest houses
  • Patio covers, ramadas, and shade structures
  • Foundation design over expansive and caliche soils
  • Pool structures and retaining walls
  • Rooftop solar array structural verification
  • Tenant improvements and light commercial work

What's different about Phoenix

Local conditions that affect structural design

City-specific factors that show up in many Phoenix calculations — and the things plan reviewers look for.

Phoenix soils do most of the work in foundation design. Expansive clay swells and shrinks with the monsoon-to-drought moisture swings, hard caliche layers turn up at unpredictable depths, and collapsible soils can settle when they get wet, so a geotechnical report is worth having on most projects.
Earth fissures from decades of groundwater pumping affect parts of the metro. It is worth checking a property against the mapped fissure zones before designing a foundation.
Monsoon season brings microbursts and dust storms with strong straight-line winds, which is why the county designs to 115 mph. Roof anchorage, wall bracing, and the connections on patio covers and ramadas all matter here.
Because earthquakes are a minor factor, second-story additions and big openings usually come down to gravity load paths and wind rather than seismic detailing, though the existing foundation still has to be checked for the new loads.
Rooftop solar is high-volume across the valley, and an engineer often reviews the existing roof for the added load and uplift before panels go on.

Permits

Where to submit your Phoenix permit

Stamped calculations from clearspan are submitted directly to the City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department. Most residential structural submittals are reviewed online.

Building department

City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department

200 West Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003

(602) 262-7800

Visit the building department →

Submittal notes

Phoenix runs its own Planning & Development Department and enforces the Phoenix Building Construction Code rather than a statewide code, since Arizona does not have one. Each neighboring city adopts its own code edition, so a project just over a city line may follow different rules. Confirm which jurisdiction covers the project address before submitting.

FAQ

Structural engineering in Phoenix — FAQs

The questions Phoenix contractors and homeowners ask most often.

Do I need an engineer to remove a wall in my Phoenix home?+
If the wall is load-bearing, stamped structural calculations from an engineer will help you avoid plan-review comments and keep the Phoenix permit moving.
Why do Phoenix foundations need a soils report so often?+
The valley's expansive clay, caliche, and collapsible soils behave differently from lot to lot, and some areas have earth fissures. A geotechnical report tells the engineer what is underground so the foundation can handle soil movement rather than guessing at it.
How quickly can I get stamped calculations for a Phoenix permit?+
Most residential beam and wall-removal calculations are turned around within a few business days through clearspan's process. Timelines depend on scope, and availability of an engineer to review and accept the design through clearspan.

Nearby cities

Structural engineers in other Phoenix Metro cities

Browse city pages for nearby jurisdictions.

Mesa, AZ→Scottsdale, AZ→Bakersfield, CA→Citrus Heights, CA→Clovis, CA→Concord, CA→
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