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Floor plans

Floor Plans for Building Permits

Existing and proposed layouts drawn to scale, with every wall, door, window and room size the plan reviewer looks for. Drafted from your measurements, photos or old plans.

  • Existing & proposed
  • Room sizes labelled
  • New walls marked
  • PDF ready to upload
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living rm~24 x 21? kitchen bed 1bed 2 bathW/D about 44 ft37 ft? new bath walls here →
LIVING24'-0" × 21'-4" KITCHEN / DINING20'-0" × 18'-8" BEDROOM 118'-0" × 16'-0" BEDROOM 216'-0" × 18'-8" BATHW/D 44'-0"37'-4" EXISTING WALLNEW WALL FLOOR PLANSCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"
Example: a phone photo of a sketch turned into a scaled floor plan. Drag to compare.

Example sheet

What’s on Your Floor Plan

A finished sheet for a small remodel that adds a bathroom. Hover or tap a number to see what each part is and why the reviewer needs it.

Example sheet
LIVING24'-0" × 21'-4" KITCHEN / DINING20'-0" × 18'-8" BEDROOM 118'-0" × 16'-0" BEDROOM 216'-0" × 18'-8" BATHW/D 44'-0"37'-4" EXISTING WALLNEW WALL FLOOR PLANSCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0" 12345678
  1. 1

    Overall dimensions

    Outside wall to outside wall, so the reviewer can check floor area.

  2. 2

    Wall thickness to scale

    Exterior and interior walls drawn at their real thickness.

  3. 3

    Room names and sizes

    Every room labelled with its use and its clear dimensions.

  4. 4

    New walls shown differently

    New work in a separate fill, with a legend, so nobody confuses it with what’s there.

  5. 5

    Doors and swings

    Every door with its swing, so the reviewer can check clearances.

  6. 6

    Windows

    Each window located on its wall. Bedroom windows matter for emergency escape.

  7. 7

    Fixtures and appliances

    Kitchen counters, sinks, toilets, tubs and laundry, where the permit covers them.

  8. 8

    Legend and scale

    What each wall type means, and the scale the sheet is drawn at.

  9. 9

    Title block with sources

    Address, scale, date and what the plan was drawn from.

Your sheet follows your county’s checklist, so the parts can differ from this example.

Quick answer

What Is a Floor Plan for a Permit?

A permit floor plan is a scaled drawing that looks straight down on each storey, showing walls, doors, windows and room sizes. For remodels and additions it shows the existing layout and the proposed one, so the plan reviewer can see exactly what changes.

Reviewed by the MakeSitePlan drafting team · Updated October 2026

Also called
Floor layout, as-built plan (existing only), proposed plan
Needed for
Remodels, additions, garage conversions, ADUs, basement finishes, change of use
Who asks for it
The building department; sometimes your HOA, lender or insurer
What you send
Old plans, or a sketch with room measurements. Photos fill the gaps
What you get
A scaled PDF with existing and new walls clearly told apart
Site visit
None. You measure, or send what you have, and we draw it

What’s included

Always on the Plan, Plus What Your Permit Adds

A remodel permit and an ADU permit don’t ask for the same detail. The left column is on every floor plan we draw; the right is added when your project or county calls for it.

AlwaysOn every floor plan

  • Walls to scaleExterior and interior, at their real thickness
  • Room names and sizesUse and clear dimensions for each room
  • Doors and windowsPlaced on their walls, with door swings
  • Overall dimensionsSo total floor area can be checked
  • Stairs and openingsDirection of travel and openings between rooms
  • FixturesKitchen, bath and laundry fixtures in place
  • Title block and scaleAddress, scale, date and data sources

If askedAdded when the permit requires it

  • Existing and proposed sheetsSide by side, or new walls on one sheet with a legend
  • Demolition planWalls and fixtures being removed, shown dashed
  • Window and door scheduleSizes and types in a table
  • Egress notesBedroom escape window sizes, where required
  • Smoke and CO alarm locationsWhere your code asks for them on plan
  • Basic electrical layoutOutlets, switches and lights for remodels
  • Square-footage tableConditioned and unconditioned area, by floor

By project

What Your Floor Plan Shows for Your Project

Each project needs the plan for a different reason. Pick yours to see what we put on the sheet.

Example floor plan of a house with bedrooms, living area, kitchen and bathrooms

Floor plan for a remodel

  • Existing layout as it is today
  • Walls to be removed, shown dashed
  • New walls in a separate fill
  • Kitchen and bath fixtures in their new spots

Often also asked for: a demolition plan and a basic electrical layout.

Price My Remodel Plan

Also: basements, attics, change of use and small commercial tenant spaces. Ask about yours

Is this the right drawing?

Floor Plan vs As-Built vs Full Permit Set

They overlap, which is why people order the wrong one. Here’s what each is for, so you only pay for what your permit needs.

Permit floor plan As-built floor plan Full permit set Your own sketch
What it showsExisting and proposed layoutThe layout as it is todayFloor plan plus site, elevations, structure and moreA rough idea of the rooms
Drawn to scaleYesYesYesRarely
Shows new workYesNoYesSometimes
Accepted for permitsSimple remodelsPermitting past workAdditions, ADUs, new buildsSome small jobs only
Typical useMoving walls, kitchens, bathsRecords, sales, insuranceAnything structural or newShowing a drafter what you want
We draw itYesYesYesYou do. We redraw it

You need more than a floor plan if…

  • you’re adding floor area, a storey or a new building
  • walls that carry the roof or floor above are moving
  • the county checklist lists elevations, sections or structural sheets
  • your state requires a licensed architect or engineer for your building type

Not sure? Send your county’s checklist with your quote request. We’ll tell you which sheets it asks for before you pay anything.

Plan review

What the Plan Reviewer Checks on a Floor Plan

Floor plans get sent back for a handful of repeat reasons. We draw every sheet against this list.

  1. 01

    “Which walls are new, and which are coming out?”

    Existing, new and removed walls each drawn differently, with a legend on the sheet.

  2. 02

    “Do the room sizes add up?”

    Room dimensions that match the overall dimensions, measured to the same faces.

  3. 03

    “Can someone escape from each bedroom?”

    Bedroom windows located and noted for size, where your code requires emergency escape.

  4. 04

    “Are smoke and CO alarms shown?”

    Alarm locations marked on plan when the permit asks for them.

  5. 05

    “How much floor area is being added?”

    A square-footage table: existing, new and total, by floor.

  6. 06

    “Does the plan match the other sheets?”

    Windows and doors placed where the elevations show them, when we draw both.

Already got comments on a floor plan? We revise drawings to answer each reviewer comment, including plans drawn by someone else.

Permit Corrections

What to send us

Measurements Help. Photos Fill the Gaps.

  • Required
    Property addressSo we can check your county’s requirements
  • Required
    What’s changingWhich rooms, and what the new layout should be
  • Helpful
    Old plansEven old or partial plans save a lot of time
  • Helpful
    Room measurementsWall to wall, on a sketch. A tape measure is enough
  • Helpful
    Photos or a video walk-throughShows doors, windows and fixtures
  • Helpful
    Your county’s checklistOr the reviewer’s comment letter

No old plans? Send a sketch with wall-to-wall measurements and a few photos of each room. We’ll ask if anything is missing before we start.

How it works

  1. 1

    Send the basics

    Use the quote form or WhatsApp. Two minutes.

  2. 2

    Approve your price

    We check what your permit needs and reply with the price and turnaround. Nothing starts until you approve.

  3. 3

    Get your PDF

    Drawn to scale and checked against the reviewer list above, ready to upload.

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Deliverables & pricing

What You Receive, and What Sets the Price

We quote each plan because homes and permits differ. Here’s exactly what you get, and what moves the price up or down.

File
Vector PDF, print-ready. Other formats on request
Sheet size
Matched to your permit office, usually 11 × 17 or 24 × 36
Scale
Architectural scale, usually 1/4" = 1'-0"
Title block
Address, project, date, scale and data sources
Revisions
Revision terms are written in your quote
Turnaround
Stated in your quote. Rush can be requested

What affects the price

  • Floor areaMore rooms, more to draw
  • Number of storeysEach floor is its own plan
  • Existing + proposedTwo layouts instead of one
  • What you can sendOld plans save time over photos
  • Permit extrasDemolition, egress, electrical notes
  • Rush deliveryWhen you need it sooner
Get My Exact Price

Free quote. You see the price before we start.

Where we work

Floor Plans Across the U.S.

We draw to the code and checklist your building department uses, wherever the property is. State pages list what local offices usually ask for.

Licensing varies by state. Some states require a licensed architect or engineer for certain buildings. If yours does, we tell you in the quote.

Engineer stamp

Does a Floor Plan Need a Stamp?

Usually not for interior remodels. Moving a load-bearing wall, adding a storey or building an ADU can bring in structural review.

When yours does, our licensed engineer partner reviews and seals eligible plans in the states where they hold a licence. We confirm this in your quote.

Engineer-Stamped Plans

Floor plan FAQ

Floor Plan Questions

Short answers to what people ask before ordering. Ask anything else in your quote request.

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Reviewed by the MakeSitePlan drafting team
Updated October 2026

Do I have to measure my house myself?

Only the rooms that matter to the permit. Wall-to-wall measurements on a simple sketch are enough, plus a few photos. If you have old plans, you may not need to measure at all.

Can you draw from photos only?

Photos show where doors, windows and fixtures are, but not exact sizes. We need at least a few key measurements, or old plans, to draw to scale.

Can you show the existing and the new layout?

Yes. We draw both, either on two sheets or on one with new and removed walls marked in a legend, depending on what your county prefers.

Do you include electrical on the floor plan?

A basic layout of outlets, switches and lights can be added for remodels. Panel upgrades and load calculations are done by your electrician.

What scale is the floor plan drawn at?

Usually 1/4 inch to 1 foot, which most building departments expect for homes. Larger buildings may use 1/8 inch.

Is an as-built floor plan accepted for permits?

It’s accepted for permitting work that’s already done, and as the starting point for a remodel. For new work, the plan must also show what’s proposed.

Will I need a stamp?

Not for most interior remodels. Structural changes, additions and some ADUs may need an engineer’s review, and we tell you in the quote.

What file will I get?

A vector PDF sized for your permit office, ready to print or upload. If you need another format, ask in your quote.

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