Phoenix's updated building construction code aligns with the city's broader commitment to sustainable growth in a desert environment. For backyard casitas and detached guest houses, this means new expectations around plumbing fixtures, water efficiency, and how interior square footage is planned and utilized. Key among these updates is alignment with EPA WaterSense standards for plumbing fixtures.

The City of Phoenix adopted the Phoenix Building Construction Code which includes an electric vehicle readiness requirement, the addition of EV charging infrastructure, on new builds in Phoenix to make it easier and more affordable to charge electric vehicles at home. In practical terms, this means new construction could include the conduit pathways and electrical panel capacity to support a future EV charging station — even if no charger is installed on day one.