If you're planning any construction project that requires a building permit — a new home, an addition, an ADU, or a commercial build-out — you'll need to submit a permit drawing set. It's the single most important document package in the approval process, and understanding what goes into it makes everything else easier.
A permit drawing set is a coordinated collection of technical drawings that show your local building department exactly what you intend to build and proves it complies with applicable codes. Below are the key components most jurisdictions expect to see.
The Key Components of a Permit Drawing Set
1. Title / Cover Sheet
The first page of the set. It provides an at-a-glance summary of the entire project — project information, sheet index, project data, applicable codes, vicinity map, and general notes.
2. Site Plan
A bird's-eye view of the entire property showing how the project sits on the lot.
3. Floor Plans
Scaled, top-down views of each level showing the layout of rooms, walls, doors, windows, and fixtures.
4. Elevations
Flat, straight-on views of each exterior face of the building.
5. Sections
Cut-through views that reveal the building's internal construction.
6. Structural Drawings
Show the framing, foundations, beams, and connections needed to carry loads safely.
7. MEP Plans
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing layouts.
8. Details & Schedules
Enlarged construction details and tables of repetitive information.
9. Code Analysis
A summary demonstrating how the design satisfies relevant building codes.
10. Energy Compliance
Documentation that the project meets energy standards (such as Title 24 in California).