Permit guides
Short Answers on Plans & Permits
What drawings you need, what reviewers check, and when you need a surveyor or engineer. Each answer is a two-minute read.
Permit basics
- Does my project need a permit?Project by project: what usually needs one and who reviews it.
- What drawings does a building permit need?Small projects usually need a site plan; additions and ADUs need a full set.
- What are permit corrections?What a correction letter means and how resubmittals work.
- Who should revise rejected plans?Revising, redrawing, or going back to the original drafter.
Site plans
- What is a site plan?A scaled drawing of your lot, buildings and new work.
- Site plan vs plot plan vs surveyWhen a drafted plan is enough and when you need a surveyor.
- What plan reviewers check on a site planSetbacks, scale, coverage, easements and sources.
- Why site plans aren’t offered in CaliforniaState law treats locating property lines as surveying.
Drawings explained
- What is a permit floor plan?Existing and proposed layouts, and what they must show.
- What is an elevation drawing?Heights, roof pitch and materials for each side.
- Rendering vs elevationWhich one your HOA or permit office is asking for.
- What is a full permit set?The sheets in a set and why they must agree.
- What does an engineer’s stamp mean?What a PE seal covers, and what it doesn’t.
- Subdivision layout vs platWhere a layout fits and when a surveyor takes over.
Project rules
- Deck permitsSetbacks, height, footings, ledger and guards.
- Fence permitsHeights by yard, corner sight lines and gates.
- Pool permitsSetbacks, barriers and self-closing gates.
- ADU permitsSize limits, separation, parking and utilities.
- Retaining wall permitsHeight limits, drainage and engineer stamps.
- Shed permitsSize thresholds and accessory setbacks.
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