Blueprint Printing for Austin: Paper Copies of Your Approved Record Set
Austin sets print for $1.95 a sheet in black and white or $3.75 in color, in sizes from 18×24 to 36×48, and orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day to any address in the 50 states. Austin Development Services reviews PDFs and posts the approved plan set on the Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) Portal. Step 6 of activating a permit is printing that record set, and the City warns that without a paper copy on site, inspections can fail and a certificate of occupancy can be delayed.
Prices (flat, 18×24 to 36×48)
| Per sheet | |
|---|---|
| Black & white | $1.95 |
| Color | $3.75 |
Where we ship in Austin
We ship Austin sets to Downtown and Rainey Street towers, Hyde Park and Travis Heights remodels, Mueller and East Austin new builds, and the Domain and Four Points area. We also ship to Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville and Georgetown. Those cities run their own permits; the AB+C record-set step on this page is the City of Austin’s.
What Austin Development Services asks for
Austin reviews plans as PDFs and posts the approved set to the AB+C Portal. Before work starts, the City expects that set printed and on site. In Austin Development Services’ own words (Building Inspections, Activating a Permit, Residential Plan Review):
| Rule | What the City says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full set on resubmittal | “Submit the full set of plans, not only the revised plan sheet(s).” | DSD Residential Plan Review |
| File type | “It is recommended that the plans or exhibits be a vector-based PDF file.” | Same |
| Hand drawings | “Drawings may be done by hand as long as they are legible, drawn to scale, and include the required information for a responsible review.” | Same |
| Paper on site | “The permit holder and owner-general contractor must ensure that a paper copy of the approved plan set is available on-site for review by the City inspections staff.” | DSD Building Inspections, “Printing Approved Plan Set” |
| If it’s missing | “Failure to provide the City-approved set of plans may result in failed inspections and delays in receiving a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy.” | Same |
| Where to get it | “Approved plan sets can be downloaded from the Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) Portal using your AB+C Portal account or Public Search.” | Same |
| Activation step | “Step 6: Print the Record Set/Plan Set” | DSD, Activating a Permit |
Here’s how to order with that in mind:
- This one is paper. Austin says a paper copy of the approved plan set must be on site, so order it when you activate the permit, before the first inspection.
- Print the record set, not a working copy. Download it from the AB+C Portal (your account or Public Search with the PR number or address) and upload that PDF to us. If they come as several files, upload every file, or combine them into one PDF in the order you want them printed.
- Keep the scale true. Austin reviews plans drawn to scale; print at the size the PDF was drawn so dimensions measure right.
- Hand-drawn plans work too if they’re scanned to a full-size, legible PDF; we print what you upload.
Austin recommends vector PDFs, which print sharp at full size; check that the scale prints true. Also see approved plan set printing.
We print the record set you download from AB+C on white 20 lb bond, exactly as posted. Austin Development Services and your designer have the final say on what’s required, so check with them first.
Built for Austin jobs
- The paper record set Austin wants on site, ordered when you activate the permit.
- Full resubmittal sets, since the City asks for the whole set and not just the revised sheets.
- Scanned hand-drawn plans, which the City accepts if they’re legible and to scale.
- Color record sets for site plans or owner presentations.
Quick cost examples (print only; shipping chosen at checkout)
| Example | Sheets | Print total | With code WELCOME20 (20% off your first order) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New-home record set, 16 sheets, B&W | 16 | $31.20 | $24.96 |
| Remodel/ | 9 | $17.55 | $14.04 |
| Commercial finish-out, 2 copies of a 24-sheet set | 48 | $93.60 | $74.88 |
| Same 16-sheet record set in color | 16 | $60.00 | $48.00 |
Frequently asked questions
Who prints Austin record sets from the AB+C Portal?
Download the set from AB+C (your account or Public Search) and upload it here. Orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day.
Does Austin require a paper copy of the approved plans?
Yes. Austin Development Services says the permit holder and owner-general contractor must make sure a paper copy of the approved plan set is on site for City inspectors.
What happens if the plans aren’t on site?
The City says failing to provide the City-approved set may result in failed inspections and delays in getting a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy.
Where do I download Austin’s approved plans?
From the Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) Portal, through your account or Public Search with the PR number or address. Then upload the PDF to us.
Can you print hand-drawn plans?
Yes, if they’re scanned to a full-size PDF. Austin accepts hand drawings that are legible and drawn to scale; we print the PDF as you upload it.
Does Round Rock or Cedar Park use AB+C?
No. AB+C is the City of Austin’s portal. Round Rock, Cedar Park and other nearby cities have their own permit systems.
