Blueprint Printing for Cincinnati: Two Hard-Copy Sets for Permit Issuance
Cincinnati sets print at $1.95 a sheet in black and white or $3.75 in color, 18×24 up to 36×48, and orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day to any address in the 50 states. Here, plans go in digitally through ezTrak, the system Cincinnati shares with Hamilton County, but paper still matters at the end: when the permit is issued, Buildings & Inspections asks for two hard-copy sets carrying the architect’s or engineer’s stamp. If you’ve uploaded your drawings one sheet per file, as ezTrak requires, you can send us all of those files in one order.
Prices (flat, 18×24 to 36×48)
| Per sheet | |
|---|---|
| Black & white | $1.95 |
| Color | $3.75 |
Where we ship in Cincinnati
We ship Cincinnati sets to Over-the-Rhine rehabs, Clifton and Corryville student housing, Hyde Park and Oakley renovations, and West Side jobs in Westwood and Price Hill. We also ship across Hamilton County to Norwood, Blue Ash and Sharonville, and over the river to Covington and Newport in Kentucky. Those places have their own building offices and rules; the two-set requirement here is the City of Cincinnati’s.
What Cincinnati Buildings & Inspections asks for
The City takes plans digitally through its electronic plan submission (ezTrak). The paper comes back in at the end: hard-copy sets at permit issuance. From Cincinnati’s 12-step permit guide and the ezTrak standards it shares with Hamilton County:
| Rule | What the City says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Digital submission | “All customers must submit their plans digitally using the electronic submission guidelines.” | Submit Permit Application & Other Required Documents (Step 7) |
| Hard copies at issuance | “Note: You will be required to submit two (2) sets of hard copies of plans (properly stamped by a registered architect or engineer) at the time of permit issuance.” | Same |
| In person | “Four (4) sets of documents, drawings, and specifications of the proposed work (where applicable).” | Same (if you need to apply in person) |
| Print-ready sizes | “Pages within a file should be ready for print using standard ANSI sizes (letter, legal, ledger, 24×36, 30×42).” | ezTrak Electronic Document Standards Guide (last updated Oct 18, 2024) |
| One file per sheet | “Multi-page PDFs are not allowed, you must submit one digital file for each drawing/plan sheet.” | Same |
| Monochrome | “Content must be monochrome with white background.” | Same |
| Scale | “Scale must be a standard graphic measurable scale” … “set to print accurately.” | Same |
| Approval stamp | “A 3-inch square clear space must be reserved in the upper left corner of every drawing.” | Same |
What it means when you order:
- Two stamped sets, even if you filed online. The City asks for two hard-copy sets at permit issuance, stamped by the architect or engineer. Order the sheet count × 2 copies so both sets match.
- 24×36 or 30×42. Those are the large-format sizes on the City’s print-ready list, and we print both at the same $1.95 a sheet. See 24×36 printing and 30×42 printing.
- Many files, one order. ezTrak takes one file per sheet, so your set may be dozens of PDFs. If they come as several files, upload every file, or combine them into one PDF in the order you want them printed.
- Monochrome files print at $1.95. The City wants monochrome drawings on a white background, so the set prints in black and white.
Both 24×36 and 30×42 are on the City’s print-ready list. Before you upload, check that the PDF prints to scale.
We plot exactly what’s in your uploaded files on white 20 lb bond. Stamps, filing and the number of sets are up to your architect or engineer and Cincinnati Buildings & Inspections, so confirm them before you order.
Built for Cincinnati jobs
- The two stamped hard-copy sets due at permit issuance after an ezTrak review.
- Four-set packages for applicants who file in person.
- 30×42 commercial sets for Downtown and Uptown projects, at the same per-sheet price as 24×36.
- Replacement sheets after an ezTrak correction cycle, printed for both stamped sets.
Quick cost examples (print only; shipping chosen at checkout)
| Example | Sheets | Print total | With code WELCOME20 (20% off your first order) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 stamped hard-copy sets, 24×36, 14 sheets, B&W | 28 | $54.60 | $43.68 |
| 2 stamped sets, 30×42 commercial, 30 sheets, B&W | 60 | $117.00 | $93.60 |
| 4 sets for an in-person filing, 10 sheets, B&W | 40 | $78.00 | $62.40 |
| 3 revised sheets for each of the 2 sets, B&W | 6 | $11.70 | $9.36 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Cincinnati permit sets without going to a print shop?
Yes. Upload the stamped PDFs here and we ship both sets to your office or the site. Orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day.
Does Cincinnati still need paper plans if I submit online?
Yes, at the end. The City’s permit guide says plans are submitted digitally, and you’ll be required to submit two sets of hard copies of plans, stamped by a registered architect or engineer, at permit issuance.
What size should my Cincinnati sets be?
The City’s ezTrak guide asks for print-ready pages in standard sizes, including 24×36 and 30×42. Print at the size the sheets were drawn; we print both at the same price.
My ezTrak set is one file per sheet. Can you print it?
Yes. Upload every file, or combine them into one PDF in the order you want them printed, then choose the size and 2 copies.
How many sets if I apply in person?
The City’s in-person checklist lists four sets of documents, drawings and specifications (where applicable). It asks applicants to submit electronically when they can.
Does Cincinnati’s two-set rule cover Norwood or Covington?
No. Norwood is its own city, and Covington is in Kentucky; each has its own building department. This page only covers the City of Cincinnati.
