What’s Included in a Permit Drawing Set? A Sheet-by-Sheet Checklist

The core sheets every building department expects

Exact requirements vary by city and county (the “AHJ”, or authority having jurisdiction), but almost every residential plan review in the US starts from the same core sheets. Plans are typically printed or submitted at 24"×36" (Arch D) and drawn to a stated scale.

• Cover sheet (G-series): project address, owner, scope of work, applicable codes (usually the IRC or IBC edition your jurisdiction adopted), sheet index, and lot/zoning data.
• Site plan: property lines, existing and new structures, setbacks to each property line, easements, driveways, and lot coverage calculations.
• Floor plans: every level, with dimensions, room names, door and window sizes, smoke/CO alarm locations, and new vs. existing walls clearly marked.
• Exterior elevations: all four sides showing heights, roof pitch, finishes, window placement, and average grade.
• Building sections: a cut through the structure showing foundation, floor/wall/roof assemblies, insulation, ceiling heights, and stair geometry.
• Foundation and framing plans: footing sizes, beam and header sizes, joist and rafter layout, and hold-downs or shear walls where required.
• Construction details: connections, flashing, guardrails, stairs, fire separation, and any assembly the plan checker needs to see enlarged.
• Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing layouts (MEP): outlets, lighting, panels, HVAC equipment and ducts, fixtures, and water heater location.

Documents that are often required alongside the drawings

• Energy-code compliance: for example Title 24 reports in California, or IECC/REScheck documentation in many other states.
• Structural calculations and an engineer’s stamp when the design goes beyond prescriptive code tables (long spans, tall walls, high wind or seismic zones, retaining walls).
• A survey or plot plan when setbacks are tight or the city requires one.
• Truss calculations from the manufacturer for engineered roof or floor trusses.
• Demolition plan for renovations, showing what is removed and what stays.

Why plan checkers send corrections — and how to avoid them

Most correction letters come from a short list of issues: missing setback dimensions, unclear new-versus-existing walls, missing header or beam sizes, egress windows that are too small, missing smoke/CO alarm locations, and energy documentation that doesn’t match the drawings.

Checking your city’s submittal checklist before drafting begins, and drawing every sheet against it, is the single most effective way to get approved on the first or second review cycle.

What PermitSet delivers

Every PermitSet package is drafted against your jurisdiction’s adopted code and submittal checklist, delivered as vector PDF plus editable DWG, and includes support responding to plan-checker comments within the agreed scope. When your city requires a licensed stamp, we coordinate with a licensed local professional.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• International Code Council — 2021 International Residential Code
• California Energy Commission — Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Building codes and local ordinances change — always confirm requirements with your local building department.