• Golden State Design & Engineering
• Comment 0

How Detailed Should Design Drawings Be Before Permits?

How Detailed Should Design Drawings Be Before Permits?

When planning a construction project, one of the first and most important questions that arises is: how detailed should design drawings be before permits are submitted? This step is often underestimated by homeowners and even seasoned developers. Yet, submitting incomplete or improperly detailed construction permit drawings can stall the entire approval process, cause costly mistakes, and significantly delay when construction begins.

Understanding the role and level of detail required in permit drawings is essential for navigating the permitting process, achieving code compliance, and launching a successful construction project. At Golden State Design & Engineering, we’ve worked with hundreds of clients across California to develop complete and permit-ready construction documents that meet every expectation set by the local building department.

This guide outlines exactly what goes into creating permit drawings, why they matter, and how we prepare clients for a seamless building permit application process.

What Are Permit Drawings and Why Do They Matter?

Permit drawings are a subset of your full construction documents, prepared specifically for review and approval by the local building department. These detailed plans are not just a formality, they’re the foundation of the approval process. They must clearly demonstrate that your construction project complies with local building codes, zoning regulations, and applicable safety regulations.

Unlike detailed construction documents used by builders on-site, permit drawings focus solely on code compliance and essential technical requirements. They help local authorities determine whether your project qualifies for building permits and whether it poses any risks to public safety, environmental standards, or neighboring properties.

The clearer and more complete your construction permit drawings are, including accurate material specifications and practical solutions, the faster you’ll receive the necessary permits, and the fewer back-and-forth corrections you’ll face.

What’s Required in Permit-Ready Drawings?

The exact permit requirements vary from city to city, but California jurisdictions generally expect a well-organized drawing set that includes specific technical content. The following are the key components of construction plans required for most building permit applications:

Site Plan Essentials

The site plan, often based on a detailed land survey, shows the overall layout of your property, including existing and proposed elements. It must be scaled, dimensioned, and readable by reviewers in the building department.

A complete site plan should include:

• Property boundaries and setback lines
• Location of all existing structures and proposed new construction
• Hardscaping features such as driveways and walkways
• Topography and drainage (if applicable)
• Utility access points and right-of-way areas
• Grading and erosion control (when required)

The site plan plays a vital role in confirming compliance with zoning laws, determining lot coverage, and analyzing height restrictions. In hillside or fire-prone areas, additional detail is often required for local regulations.

Floor Plans and Room Layouts

Floor plans should accurately illustrate the internal layout of the building, reflecting the intended space utilization and meeting all building codes related to egress, accessibility, and occupancy classifications.

At a minimum, floor plans must show:

• Room names and sizes
• Door and window placements with dimensions
• Wall thicknesses and materials
• Staircases and clearances
• Overall building dimensions

These permit drawings help the permitting authority evaluate how safely people can move through the building, how it aligns with use classifications, and how it meets energy or fire safety requirements.

Building Elevations and Cross-Sections

Elevations are orthographic views of each building face. These detailed plans are used to evaluate the project’s visual impact and exterior code compliance.

They should include:

• Building height relative to grade
• Roof slopes and materials
• Window and door placement
• Exterior finish materials

Cross-sections, meanwhile, are vertical slices through the building that help the building inspector and plan checkers visualize construction methods, floor-to-ceiling heights, and how the structure interfaces with the terrain. Both are key construction permit drawings for obtaining approvals in areas with view corridors, design review boards, or zoning regulations limiting building massing.

Structural Drawings and Engineering Requirements

Most construction projects involving new construction, additions, or significant changes to load-bearing elements will require structural drawings. These are prepared by licensed structural engineers and include:

• Foundation plans with footings, piers, and reinforcement
• Floor and roof framing layouts
• Structural load paths, shear walls, and hold-down details
• Structural notes, schedules, and calculations

These engineering drawings provide the technical backbone of your project and ensure structural integrity. A solid structural package also contributes to more accurate material procurement, better buildability, and increased construction safety.

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems (MEP)

Depending on your project scope and local code enforcement, your permit drawings may need to include basic layouts of electrical systems, HVAC systems, and plumbing layouts.

These typically include:

• HVAC equipment location and ducting paths
• Electrical panel schedules, outlet layouts, and lighting plans
• Plumbing fixture placement and basic pipe routing

Full detailed specifications for these systems often come later during the construction process, but sufficient information must be included in the permit drawings to verify compliance with building codes and energy efficiency requirements.

What Level of Detail Is Required in Permit Drawings?

The detail level in your construction permit drawings should be enough to show clear compliance with every applicable code and requirement, but not so deep that you’re committing to detailed construction documents that may need to change.

Here’s what we recommend at GSDE:

• Include precise measurements and key construction details
• Exclude product-specific selections unless required
• Focus on meeting local building codes, not builder preferences
• Avoid overloading the set with interior finishes or final schedules

Submitting existing plans or conceptual sketches is rarely enough. At the same time, going too far too early can create rework later, especially if the city requests revisions.

Our team focuses on ensuring compliance, reducing redlines, and maintaining flexibility in your construction documents until your building permits are issued.

Differences Across Jurisdictions in California

In California, permit requirements and expectations vary dramatically between cities. Here are a few examples:

• Sacramento requires full energy code documentation for all residential projects
• San Jose often requests Title 24 compliance reports and added energy efficiency measures
• Santa Rosa enforces Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building standards
• Folsom may require additional drainage and grading plans

Understanding what the local building department expects is critical to project success. GSDE stays updated with local authorities across all the regions we serve, ensuring our clients’ construction permit drawings are jurisdiction-specific and submission-ready.

When Should Permit Drawings Be Prepared?

Permit drawings should be developed after the initial conceptual design has been reviewed and refined, but before final detailed construction documents are created.

The typical timeline looks like this:

1. Conceptual Design – Site analysis, layout options, code checks, and land survey data collection
2. Design Development – Refined floor plans, preliminary engineering
3. Permit Drawing Set – Full submission set for permit approval including practical solutions for compliance
4. Construction Documents – Post-approval detailed specifications for bidding and building

This order ensures that your plans match the project scope, meet city-specific requirements, and support project efficiency.

Are Licensed Professionals Required?

In most jurisdictions, yes. Building permits will only be issued if your drawings meet the legal and technical standards set by the permitting authority. This often includes stamped documents from:

• A licensed architect (for residential and commercial buildings)
• A licensed structural engineer (for any load-bearing elements)
• A licensed civil engineer (for grading, drainage, and utilities)

While drafting services may offer generic plans, only licensed professionals can prepare and sign off on code-compliant, technically sound construction permit drawings. GSDE provides all disciplines under one roof, which helps keep your project lifecycle on track and minimizes coordination issues among the parties involved.

How GSDE Prepares Permit-Ready Drawing Sets

At Golden State Design & Engineering, our process starts with a full review of your building project goals and jurisdictional requirements. From there, we assign the right professionals, whether it’s an architect, structural engineer, civil engineer, or permit specialist, to develop your construction documents with precision.

Our services include:

• Site analysis and zoning code review
• Scalable architectural drawings and structural design
• Coordination of all disciplines and clear understanding of roles
• Management of the permit process from submittal to permit approval

We also handle city communications, respond to correction letters, and ensure your final detailed drawings meet every legal and technical requirement. That way, you avoid delays, rework, or costly redesigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need full construction drawings to apply for a permit?

No. You need construction permit drawings that focus on building codes and code compliance. Detailed construction documents come later for the builder.

How long does it take to prepare permit drawings?

Typical preparation ranges from 2 to 6 weeks depending on project scope, size, and city-specific requirements.

Can I reuse drawings for different cities?

Not without significant revisions. Local building codes and planning policies vary, so drawings must be tailored to each jurisdiction.

Will my drawings need to be stamped?

Yes, in most cases, the building department will require stamped structural drawings and site plans. GSDE provides all necessary sign-offs in-house.

What if the city rejects my drawings?

We respond to all plan check comments with revisions that satisfy local authorities and help you secure necessary approvals without delay.

Final Thoughts

Submitting construction permit drawings that are incomplete or overly detailed can derail your timeline and inflate your budget. The key is knowing how detailed design drawings should be before permits are filed, comprehensive enough for code compliance, yet flexible enough for real-world construction.

At GSDE, we bring together architecture, engineering, and permitting to ensure every drawing is accurate, code-aligned, and ready for approval. Whether you’re launching a custom home, ADU, or renovation project, our team is here to help you move from concept to construction begins with clarity, speed, and confidence.

Start your project accurately. Contact GSDE today to schedule a consultation and ensure your permit drawings are done right the first time.