Permit drawing questions, answered
36 plain answers about cost, timing, engineers, stamps and permits. Cannot find yours? Ask us and you will hear back from a person.
Getting started
What do I need to send you to get started?
Whatever you already have: sketches, photos, a survey, CAD files or an old permit set. If you have only an address and an idea, we can still scope the project. We reply with a fixed scope and price before any work starts, and you pay nothing to get it.
Send us your project →What is a permit set?
A permit set is the package of drawings a building department needs before it will issue a permit. It typically includes a site plan, floor plans, elevations and sections, and structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing sheets when the project calls for them.
What Drawings Are Required for a Building Permit? →Can a drafter draw my plans, or do I need an engineer?
A drafter or designer can draw a permit set, but most jurisdictions require engineering calculations and a seal from a licensed engineer for structural work. We can prepare the whole set, or review and seal drawings you already have.
Can you work from a sketch or photos?
Yes. Clear dimensions help most. If something is missing, we tell you what to measure before we quote, so the price is based on real information.
Which states do you cover?
We prepare permit drawings for projects in 48 states. Requirements change from state to state and often from city to city, so we confirm what your building department asks for before drafting.
Requirements by state →How do I request a quote?
Use the form on our contact page, call 1 (938) 246-8550, or tap Tell Us at the top of any page to chat, email or ask us to call you. You get a fixed scope and price before any payment.
Contact us →Pricing and payment
How much do permit drawings cost?
Starting fees for a typical residential scope: Structural Engineering from $1,699, Architectural plans (full set) from $2,200, MEP Engineering from $1,199, Civil and Site Engineering from $2,200, Landscape Design quoted per project, Solar and Energy Permits from $1,800, Permit Expediting from $599. Your final price depends on size, disciplines and jurisdiction, and we confirm it in writing before work begins.
See all pricing →Can I just get drawings I already have stamped?
Yes. Stamping only starts at $300 for residential, $600 for commercial and $900 for industrial work. We review the drawings against the code your jurisdiction enforces before sealing, and tell you if anything needs to change.
Is the price on your site what I will pay?
These are starting fees for a typical scope. Your actual price depends on size, disciplines and jurisdiction, and we confirm it in writing before work begins. We do not start and then raise the number.
What do rush and hard-deadline options cost?
Rush turnaround adds 30% and a hard deadline adds 50%. We confirm the delivery date in writing before you pay.
How do I pay, and when?
Every project follows the same schedule: 30% to start, 30% when we share the drawing preview for your review, and the remaining 40% after final delivery. You approve a written scope and price before the first payment.
What payment methods do you accept?
Visa, Mastercard and Amex, bank transfer or ACH, PayPal, Zelle, wire transfer, and check.
Do you charge for revisions?
Responding to plan review comments on drawings we prepared is included. Changes you request that fall outside the agreed scope are quoted separately and confirmed before we begin them.
Refund and revision policy →What if I only need one discipline?
That is fine and often cheaper. Many permits only need structural, or only MEP. We tell you what your jurisdiction actually requires rather than selling you a full set by default.
Do you offer a discount for multiple projects?
Repeat clients and multi-property work are quoted case by case. Tell us the volume up front and we will price accordingly rather than quoting each job in isolation.
What happens if I cancel partway through?
You are invoiced only for the work completed up to that point, not the full project fee. The detail is in our refund and revision policy.
How long things take
How fast can I get my sealed drawings?
Typical residential projects run 3 to 7 business days from the point we have everything we need. An ADU set typically takes 5 to 10 business days, a load-bearing wall removal letter 3 business days, and larger or multi-discipline commercial sets take longer. We confirm the delivery date in writing before you pay.
How long does the city take to review my permit?
That depends on the building department, the time of year and how complete the submittal is, and it is outside our control. Plan review is separate from, and usually longer than, the time it takes to prepare the drawings.
How Long Does a Building Permit Take? →Engineers, stamps and licenses
What is a PE stamp, and when do I need one?
A PE stamp is the seal and signature of a licensed Professional Engineer, applied to drawings or calculations they have reviewed and take responsibility for. Building departments commonly require one for structural work such as load-bearing wall removal, additions, foundations and retaining walls. Your jurisdiction decides what your project needs.
Can an engineer from another state stamp my drawings?
Generally no. Engineers are licensed state by state, and a license in one state does not carry over to another. The engineer who seals your drawings should be licensed in the state where the project will be built.
Read: out-of-state engineers →Who seals my drawings, and can I check their license?
Each project is matched to a professional licensed in your project's state and in the discipline the work needs. The engineer's name and license number are shared on request before you approve the quote, and you can check any license on the state licensing board's public lookup.
About our engineers →Do I need a structural engineer?
If the work changes how the building carries its weight, almost always. That includes removing a bearing wall, adding a story, cutting large openings, new foundations and most additions. For simple cosmetic work, usually not. Your building department makes the final call, and we tell you what your project needs.
Do I Need a Structural Engineer for My Project? →Is an engineer's letter enough, or do I need full drawings?
For a single opening in a house, a sealed letter with beam calculations is often enough. Bigger changes, such as removing several walls or opening up a whole floor, may need full structural drawings. The building department decides, and we tell you which one you need before you pay.
Load-bearing wall removal letter →How do I know if a wall is load-bearing?
Clues include a wall that runs across the joists or rafters above it, sits above a beam or another wall below, or is an exterior wall. None of these is proof on its own. A site check or the original drawings give the reliable answer, so treat the wall as load-bearing until someone qualified confirms it is not.
What is the difference between permit drawings and construction drawings?
Permit drawings show the building department that the design meets code. Construction drawings give the builder the detail needed to build it. A permit set is often enough to get approved, and builders sometimes need more detail afterwards.
Permit Drawings vs Construction Drawings: What Is the Difference? →Permits and approval
Do you guarantee my permit will be approved?
No, and you should be cautious of anyone who does. Final permit acceptance is always at the discretion of the local jurisdiction. What we control is the quality of the engineering and documentation: we prepare sealed, code-compliant plans and respond to correction comments on work we produced.
What happens if the city sends back corrections?
For plans we prepared, responding to plan review comments on the original scope is part of the job, not a separate invoice. We read the comments, revise the affected sheets, reseal them and send them back for resubmission. Changes to the project itself are quoted separately.
How to Respond to Plan Review Comments →Can you submit the permit application for me?
Yes. Permit expediting is available as its own service, starting at $599, or bundled with a drawing package. We handle submission, track the plan check and correspond with the building department.
Permit expediting →Do I need a permit for a deck?
Often yes. The model residential code exempts only a deck that is 200 square feet or smaller, no more than 30 inches above the ground, not attached to the house and not serving an exit door. Many cities set stricter limits, so check yours.
Read: deck permits →Do I need a permit for a retaining wall?
Under the model residential code, a retaining wall not over 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, is exempt unless it supports a surcharge such as a driveway, slope or structure. Many jurisdictions set a lower height, and taller or surcharged walls usually need engineering.
Read: retaining wall permits →Do I need a permit to convert a garage?
Yes, in virtually every jurisdiction. You are changing the use of the space, which triggers building, energy and often zoning review. Unpermitted conversions can cause problems at resale.
Garage conversion plans →Do I need a permit to remove a load-bearing wall?
In almost every jurisdiction, yes. Removing a load-bearing wall changes how the roof and floors above are supported, and the building department will want sealed calculations for the new beam.
Read: wall removal permits →What drawings do I need for an ADU permit?
Most jurisdictions want a site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, structural plans with calculations, and MEP layouts. Some also require an energy compliance form. We confirm the exact list with your building department before drafting.
ADU permit drawings →Files, privacy and contact
What file types can I upload?
PDF, DWG, DXF, JPG, PNG or ZIP. A photo of a hand sketch is fine as a starting point.
Is my project information kept private?
Yes. Files you send are used to scope and produce your drawings. We do not sell your data or share project details publicly, and sample sheets on this site are anonymized.
Privacy policy →How and when will you reply?
We reply by email, typically within one business day. You can also call 1 (938) 246-8550 or use Live chat with an engineer from the Tell Us button.
Still have a question?
Tell us about your project and ask anything. A licensed engineer replies by email, usually within one business day, and you pay nothing to get a fixed scope and price.
Prefer to talk? 1 (938) 246-8550