Floor Plans
Existing and proposed layouts the elevations are drawn from.
Elevation drawings
Elevation Drawings for Permits & HOAs
Straight-on views of each side of the building, with heights measured from grade, roof pitch, windows and exterior materials. Existing and proposed, drawn to scale.
- Heights from grade
- Roof pitch noted
- Materials labelled
- Existing & proposed
Example sheet
What’s on Your Elevation Sheet
A finished front elevation for a garage addition. Hover or tap a number to see what each part is and why the reviewer needs it.
- 1
Overall height
Measured from grade to the ridge, the number zoning height limits are checked against.
- 2
Plate height
Floor to the top of the wall, where the roof starts.
- 3
Roof pitch and covering
Slope as rise over run, and the roofing material.
- 4
Windows and doors
In the same places as the floor plan, at their real sizes.
- 5
Exterior materials
Siding, trim and finishes named, for the plan reviewer and the HOA.
- 6
Finish grade line
Where the ground meets the wall, so heights have a fixed starting point.
- 7
New work highlighted
The addition hatched, so it stands out from the existing house.
- 8
View name and scale
Which side this is, and the scale it’s drawn at.
- 9
Title block with sources
Address, scale, date and what the drawing was based on.
Your sheet shows the sides your county or HOA asks for, so it can differ from this example.
Quick answer
What Is an Elevation Drawing?
An elevation drawing is a flat, straight-on view of one side of a building, drawn to scale, showing its height, roof shape, windows, doors and exterior materials. Permit offices use elevations to check building height and appearance; HOAs use them to approve how a project will look from the street.
- Also called
- Exterior elevations, building elevations, front/side/rear views
- Needed for
- Additions, second storeys, garages, ADUs, new homes, porch and roof changes
- Who asks for it
- The building and zoning office; HOA architectural committees
- What you send
- Photos of each side and your floor plans, or a sketch
- What you get
- One scaled view per side, with heights and materials labelled
- How many sides
- Usually all four for new buildings; often just the affected sides for changes
What’s included
Always on the Elevations, Plus What Reviewers Add
A zoning reviewer cares about height; an HOA cares about looks. The left column is on every elevation we draw; the right is added when your permit or HOA asks for it.
AlwaysOn every elevation sheet
- Each requested sideFront, rear and sides, labelled by direction
- Heights from gradePlate height and overall ridge height
- Roof pitchRise over run, with the roofing material
- Windows and doorsMatching the floor plan locations
- Exterior materialsSiding, trim, roofing and finishes
- Finish grade lineWhere the ground meets each wall
- Title block and scaleAddress, scale, date and sources
If askedAdded when your permit or HOA requires it
- Existing and proposed viewsSide by side, so the change is obvious
- Height limit lineYour zoning height limit drawn across the view
- ColoursPaint and material colours named or rendered
- Building sectionA cut through the building, for structure and ceiling heights
- Neighbouring buildingsOutline of adjacent houses, for context
- Window and door scheduleSizes and types in a table
- Roof planRidges, valleys and slopes seen from above
By project
What Your Elevations Show for Your Project
The same view answers different questions on different projects. Pick yours to see what we put on the sheet.
Elevations for a home addition
- Existing house and the addition, told apart
- Addition roofline tying into the existing roof
- Heights of both, measured from grade
- Matching or new exterior materials
Often also asked for: floor plans and a site plan.
Elevations for a garage
- Garage door size and location
- Wall and ridge height against accessory limits
- Roof pitch and overhangs
- Siding and trim to match the house
Often also asked for: a site plan with setbacks and a floor plan.
Elevations for an ADU
- All four sides of the ADU
- Height against your ADU height limit
- Windows facing neighbours, where privacy rules apply
- Entry door and steps
Often also asked for: a full permit set.
Elevations for HOA approval
- Street-facing side drawn first
- Materials and colours named
- Before and after views of the change
- Fences, porches or roof changes in context
Often paired with: a 3D rendering, when the committee wants to see colour.
Elevations for a porch or roof change
- New roof or cover tying into the house
- Clearance under the cover
- Post sizes and spacing shown
- Height of the new ridge or eave
Often also asked for: a framing plan, and an engineer’s stamp in some counties.
Also: second storeys, new homes, window and siding changes, and storefronts. Ask about yours
Is this the right drawing?
Elevation vs 3D Rendering vs Section
All three show a building from the side, but they answer different questions. Here’s which one your reviewer or HOA is asking for.
| Question | Elevation drawing | 3D rendering | Building section | Photo of the house |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it shows | One side, flat and to scale | A realistic view in colour | A slice through the building | What’s there today |
| Measurable | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Shows heights | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Shows the new work | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Typical use | Permits and HOA review | HOA, buyers, planning boards | Structure and ceiling heights | Background for us to draw from |
| We draw it | Yes | Yes | Yes | You take it. We use it |
You need a rendering or section too if…
- your HOA or design board asks to see colours and materials in context
- the reviewer needs ceiling heights, floor-to-floor heights or the roof structure
- you’re selling or pre-selling and buyers need to picture the finished house
- a planning board will review the project at a public meeting
Not sure? Send your county’s checklist or the HOA’s rules with your quote request. We’ll tell you which drawings they ask for before you pay anything.
Plan review
What Reviewers Check on Elevations
Height is the number most elevations are checked for, and the one most often drawn wrong. We draw every sheet against this list.
-
01
“Is the building under the height limit?”
Overall height measured from grade the way your zoning code defines it, with the limit line drawn when asked.
-
02
“Where is height measured from?”
Finish grade shown on every view, so the starting point is clear even on sloped lots.
-
03
“Does the roof pitch match the plans?”
Pitch written on each roof plane and kept the same across every view.
-
04
“Do the windows match the floor plan?”
Windows and doors placed where the floor plan has them, at the same sizes.
-
05
“What are the walls made of?”
Every exterior material named, so the HOA and the reviewer agree on what’s being built.
-
06
“Which side is which?”
Each view titled by direction (north, south…) and keyed to the site plan.
Got comments on your elevations? We revise drawings to answer each reviewer or HOA comment, including drawings made by someone else.
Permit CorrectionsWhat to send us
Photos of Each Side Get Us Most of the Way.
- RequiredProperty addressSo we can check height limits and requirements
- RequiredWhat’s changing on the outsideAddition, new roof, new windows, new building
- HelpfulPhotos of each sideStraight on, from as far back as you can
- HelpfulFloor plansKeeps windows and doors in the right places
- HelpfulOne or two heightsEave or ridge height, if you can measure it
- HelpfulHOA rules or county checklistSo the sheet shows what they’ll look for
Can’t measure the roof? That’s normal. With your floor plans and one known height, like a door or eave, we work out the rest from your photos.
How it works
-
1
Send the basics
Use the quote form or WhatsApp. Two minutes.
-
2
Approve your price
We check what your permit or HOA needs and reply with the price and turnaround. Nothing starts until you approve.
-
3
Get your PDF
Drawn to scale and checked against the reviewer list above, ready to upload.
Deliverables & pricing
What You Receive, and What Sets the Price
We quote each set of elevations because buildings 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
- Usually 1/4" = 1'-0", or 1/8" for larger buildings
- 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
- Number of sidesEach view is its own drawing
- Roof complexityHips, valleys and dormers take longer
- Existing + proposedTwo versions of each side
- Floor plans availableWithout them we draw from photos
- Colours or materials boardFor HOA submissions
- Rush deliveryWhen you need it sooner
Free quote. You see the price before we start.
Where we work
Elevation Drawings Across the U.S.
We draw to the height rules and checklist your building department or HOA uses, wherever the property is.
Licensing varies by state. Some states require a licensed architect for certain buildings. If yours does, we tell you in the quote.
For HOAs
Want It in Colour?
Elevations show exactly what’s being built. A 3D rendering shows how it will look, which is often what an HOA committee wants to see.
We can make the rendering from the same drawings, so both match.
3D RenderingsOften ordered together
Need More Than Elevations?
Elevations rarely go in alone. Order the other sheets together and they’re drawn to match.
-
-
3D Renderings
Realistic colour views for HOA approval and buyers.
-
Site Plans
Lot lines, setbacks and where the building sits.
Elevation FAQ
Elevation Drawing Questions
Short answers to what people ask before ordering. Ask anything else in your quote request.
Get Price QuoteHow many sides do I need?
New buildings usually need all four. For additions or changes, many counties only ask for the sides that change, but some want every side. We check your county’s checklist in the quote.
Can you match my existing house?
Yes. From photos of each side and your floor plans, we draw the existing house first, then add the new work in the same style and materials.
How is building height measured?
It depends on your zoning code: some measure to the ridge, some to the midpoint of the roof, and grade can be the average or the lowest point. We draw it the way your code defines it.
Will my HOA accept elevations instead of a rendering?
Many do, as long as materials and colours are named. Some committees ask for colour, and then a 3D rendering is the better choice.
Do you show colours on elevations?
Elevations are usually black and white with materials labelled. We can add colour or a separate colour and material sheet for HOA reviews.
Do you need my floor plans?
They help a lot, because windows and doors must line up with them. Without plans we draw from photos and a few measurements.
Can you draw elevations for a building that isn’t built yet?
Yes. We draw new buildings from your floor plans, sketches or a designer’s concept.
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.