Floor plans for permits are scaled drawings of each level of a building, seen from above as if cut horizontally about four feet above the floor. They show walls, rooms, doors, windows, stairs and fixtures, with enough dimensions and notes for a reviewer to check the design against the building code. A floor plan for a permit is more than a layout sketch: it has to show what exists, what changes, and how the result meets the rules for room sizes, exits, alarms and more.
Quick answer: Floor plans for permits should be drawn to a stated scale and show overall and room dimensions, wall types, room names and uses, doors and windows with sizes, egress windows in bedrooms, stairs with rise and run, smoke and CO alarm locations, plumbing fixtures and major equipment, and a clear distinction between existing, demolished and new work.
Key takeaways
- Floor plans are needed for additions, remodels, ADUs, garages, conversions and new homes.
- Reviewers use them to check room sizes, exits, egress, alarms and fire separation.
- Existing and proposed plans, or a combined plan with a clear legend, show what changes.
- Dimensions must close: room dimensions should add up to overall dimensions.
- Accurate existing conditions are the foundation of every remodel set.
When you need floor plans for permits
| Project | Floor plans usually needed? |
|---|---|
| Fence, shed, driveway | No; a site plan is enough |
| Deck | Framing plan rather than a floor plan |
| Kitchen or bath remodel (layout change) | Yes |
| Wall removal | Yes, with structural details |
| Basement finish | Yes |
| Garage conversion | Yes |
| Home addition | Yes, existing and proposed |
| ADU | Yes |
| New house | Yes, every level |
Our pillar on permit drawing sets shows where floor plans sit in a full set.
What reviewers check on floor plans
- Room uses: bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living, storage, since rules depend on use.
- Room sizes and ceiling heights: habitable rooms have minimum dimensions and heights.
- Emergency escape openings: every sleeping room and many basements; see egress window requirements.
- Exits: the required exit door, hallways and stair widths.
- Stairs: rise, run, width, headroom, handrails, guards.
- Smoke and CO alarms: locations and interconnection.
- Fire separation: between garages and living space, and between dwelling units.
- Light and ventilation: window areas or mechanical exhaust in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Safety glazing: glass in hazardous locations.
- Structural elements: bearing walls, beams, posts, especially where walls are removed.
Information every permit floor plan should include
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Title block | Project address, sheet title and number, date, revision block, preparer |
| Scale | Stated scale, commonly ¼” = 1′-0″ for residential plans |
| North arrow | Orientation consistent with the site plan |
| Dimensions | Overall, room-to-room, openings, wall thicknesses |
| Room labels | Name and use, often area |
| Doors and windows | Sizes, swing, tags referencing a schedule |
| Walls | Existing, new, demolished, rated; legend for each |
| Stairs | Direction arrow, number of risers, rise and run |
| Fixtures and appliances | Plumbing fixtures, kitchen layout, water heater, furnace |
| Alarms | Smoke and CO locations |
| Notes | Code references, ceiling heights, special items |
| References | Section cuts, detail callouts, elevation markers |
Our guide to floor plan symbols explains the conventions used for each.
Existing, demolition and proposed plans
For remodels and additions, reviewers need to see what is there now and what changes. Common approaches:
- Separate sheets: an existing plan, a demolition plan and a proposed plan.
- Combined plan: one plan using line types or hatching to show existing walls to remain, walls to be removed (dashed) and new walls (filled or hatched).
Either works if the legend is clear. Starting from an accurate as-built floor plan is essential; if the existing plan is wrong, the proposed one will be too.
Scale and readability
Residential floor plans are usually drawn at ¼ inch = 1 foot, with larger houses sometimes at ⅛ inch = 1 foot. Text must remain readable when printed at the stated sheet size and when viewed on screen. Many online permit portals have minimum sheet size and text height requirements, and some reject drawings that are not to scale. Avoid “not to scale” notes on permit plans.
Dimensions that close
Reviewers and builders rely on dimension strings that add up. Room widths plus wall thicknesses should equal the overall dimension. Common mistakes include strings that don’t close, dimensions to different points (wall face vs stud vs centre) without saying which, and missing dimensions to openings. Pick a convention, such as exterior dimensions to the face of framing and interior dimensions to the face of studs, and note it.
Door and window schedules
On larger projects, doors and windows are tagged on the plan and listed in schedules with sizes, types, glazing, egress status and fire ratings. On small projects, sizes can be noted directly on the plan. Either way, reviewers need to confirm egress window sizes, safety glazing and rated doors such as the garage-to-house door.
Floor plans for different projects
Kitchen and bathroom remodels
Show fixture locations, appliance locations, ventilation (range hood, bath fan), GFCI receptacles if electrical is on the same sheet, and any wall changes. Clearances in front of toilets and between fixtures are often checked.
Basement finishing
Show ceiling heights (including under beams and ducts), egress windows or doors, the furnace and water heater room, smoke and CO alarms, and any bedroom.
Additions
Show the existing house adjacent to the addition, new openings in existing walls with headers, and how floor levels connect. See our home addition permit guide.
ADUs and conversions
Show the unit boundaries, fire separation between units, separate entrances and all habitable-room requirements. See our ADU permit guide.
Measuring for an accurate floor plan
Accurate plans start with accurate measurements: exterior perimeter, every room, wall thicknesses, door and window sizes and positions, ceiling heights and fixed features. Laser measures and a systematic approach make it much faster. Our guide on how to measure a house for a floor plan walks through the method.
Floor area calculations
Many permits ask for floor area: for fees, for FAR or ADU size limits, or for energy calculations. State how areas are measured, such as to the outside of exterior walls, and list conditioned and unconditioned areas separately. Garages, porches and unfinished basements are usually listed separately. See floor area ratio for how zoning uses these numbers.
Minimum room sizes and ceiling heights
The residential code sets minimums that floor plans must demonstrate. Under the IRC, habitable rooms (other than kitchens) must be at least 70 sq ft and at least 7 feet in any horizontal dimension, and habitable spaces, hallways and bathrooms generally need a ceiling height of at least 7 feet, with allowances for beams, ducts and sloped ceilings. Basements have their own exceptions for beams and ducts. Label room areas and ceiling heights where they are close to the limits, especially in attics, basements and converted garages, so the reviewer doesn’t need to ask.
Fire separation on floor plans
Floor plans show where fire-rated construction is needed. The most common are the wall and ceiling between an attached garage and the house, the door between them, and the separation between two dwelling units in a duplex or attached ADU. Use a distinct wall hatch for rated walls, note the rating and assembly (for example “½-inch gypsum board on garage side” or a listed one-hour assembly), and tag rated doors. Under-stair spaces used for storage may also need protection.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical on floor plans
On small projects, electrical, plumbing and mechanical information is often shown on the floor plan itself; on larger ones, it goes on separate sheets. Typical items include receptacles and their protection (GFCI, AFCI), switches and lights, smoke and CO alarms, exhaust fans, the furnace and water heater location, and plumbing fixtures. Some departments only need fixture locations; others want circuit layouts. Check the submittal checklist; our guide to residential MEP drawings explains when separate sheets are needed.
Accessibility notes
Most single-family homes don’t have to meet accessibility standards, but some projects do: certain multi-family buildings, some publicly funded housing, and commercial spaces. If your project is one of these, the floor plans must show clearances, door widths, turning spaces and accessible fixtures. For homes, many owners still choose wider doors and step-free entries for ageing in place, which are easy to show on the plan.
Floor plans vs other drawings
| Drawing | Shows |
|---|---|
| Site plan | The building on the lot, setbacks, driveway, utilities |
| Floor plan | Rooms, walls, openings on each level |
| Elevation | Exterior faces, heights, materials |
| Section | A vertical cut showing structure and heights |
| Framing plan | Joists, beams, rafters |
| MEP plans | Electrical, plumbing, mechanical layouts |
See elevation drawings and elevation vs section for the vertical views.
Common floor plan corrections
- Bedroom without an egress window, or window too small.
- Smoke alarms not shown.
- Room uses not labelled.
- Ceiling heights missing for basements and attics.
- Stair rise and run not shown.
- Existing vs new not distinguished.
- Dimensions missing or not adding up.
See why building permits get rejected for how to avoid these.
Who can draw floor plans for permits
In most states, homeowners, drafters and designers can prepare floor plans for one- and two-family homes. Some states and cities require a licensed architect or engineer above certain sizes or for certain work. Structural elements may need an engineer regardless. Check your state’s rules. Our floor plans service prepares permit-ready plans from your measurements, sketches or existing drawings.
A worked example: basement bedroom
Suppose you are finishing a basement with a bedroom, bathroom and family room. The floor plan for the permit would show the existing foundation walls, beams and columns; the new stud walls; the bedroom with its area and a new egress window and well, dimensioned and tagged; the bathroom fixtures and exhaust fan; ceiling heights in each room, including under the main beam and ductwork; the furnace and water heater room with its door and combustion air; smoke alarms in the bedroom, outside it and in the family room, with a CO alarm; and the stair with its rise and run. A note would identify which walls are new and which existing. That one sheet answers most of what a reviewer will ask.
Floor plans for contractors
Remodelling contractors often need floor plans quickly for permits on jobs that change layouts. A consistent drafting standard, with the same symbols, legend and notes every time, makes reviews predictable and reduces comments. Our contractor services provide permit floor plans on a repeat basis from site measurements.
File format and submission
Most offices now take PDFs through an online portal. Follow their requirements on sheet size, orientation, file naming, and whether each sheet is a separate file. Vector PDFs exported from CAD stay crisp when zoomed; scanned paper drawings often don’t. Keep the CAD files so revisions are easy if corrections come back.
Frequently asked questions
What scale should a floor plan for a permit be?
Commonly ¼ inch = 1 foot for residential work, with the scale stated on the sheet. Larger homes may use ⅛ inch = 1 foot with enlarged plans for kitchens and baths.
Do I need floor plans for a kitchen remodel?
Usually if the layout, walls or plumbing change. Like-for-like replacements may not need them.
Can I draw my own floor plans for a permit?
Often yes for residential projects, if they are scaled, dimensioned and complete.
What is the difference between a floor plan and a site plan?
A floor plan shows the inside of a building; a site plan shows the building on the lot.
Do floor plans need to show electrical outlets?
Often for larger projects, either on the floor plan or a separate electrical plan.
Do I need existing floor plans?
For remodels and additions, yes. Reviewers need to see what is changing.
How many copies of floor plans do I submit?
Most offices now accept digital PDFs through a portal. Paper submittals, where still used, often need two or three sets; check the checklist.
