1. Submission
Your finished plan set is submitted to your local building department, along with any required application forms and fees (permit application fees are separate from drafting costs and are set by your city or county).
2. Plan review
A plan reviewer checks the drawings against local building code, zoning, and any applicable structural requirements. Review times vary widely by jurisdiction—from days to several weeks—depending on how busy the department is and the complexity of the project.
3. Corrections (if any)
It's common for a reviewer to come back with questions or required corrections before approving a set, especially for larger or more complex projects. This is a normal part of the process, not a sign something went wrong. Having a well-scoped, complete plan set from the start reduces how many rounds of corrections you're likely to see.
4. Approval and permit issuance
Once the reviewer signs off, the building department issues your permit, and construction can begin. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may need to schedule inspections at various stages of construction (foundation, framing, electrical, final).
What we do and don't control
We prepare your plan set to match what your jurisdiction typically requires, and we're available to answer reviewer questions about the drawings. What we can't do is guarantee approval—that decision belongs to your local building department, and requirements can be interpreted differently department to department. See our Terms of Service for the full picture on this.