Print My Plans
Charleston, South Carolina Blueprint Printing for the Job Site
By Eli Gewirtzman, Owner · Last checked Nov 4, 2026 (prices and City of Charleston Building Inspections sources)
Charleston requires plans stamped Field Copy, including updates from the Building Inspections Office, on site for every inspection and for the rest of the job. Keep that City-issued set safe and use separate working copies for the crew, office and owner. Upload the approved PDF for those copies at $1.95 a sheet in black and white or $3.75 in color. Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day.
Prices (flat, 17×22 to 36×48)
| Per sheet | |
|---|---|
| Black & white | $1.95 |
| Color | $3.75 |
Charleston’s rules before an inspection
From the City of Charleston’s Inspection Procedures page:
| Rule | What Charleston says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Field Copy on site | Plans stamped Field Copy “and any updates from the Building Inspections Office are to be on site for all inspections” | Inspection Procedures |
| For the whole job | “The plans shall remain on the job site throughout the remainder of the job.” | Same |
| Placard | “The address and permit placard must be posted and visible from the road or street” | Same |
| Sub-trades | Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fuel-gas inspections “are scheduled under the project’s building permit” | Same |
| Before noon | “Requests made before noon (Noon) will be scheduled one business day out.” | Same |
| After noon | “Requests received after noon (Noon) will be scheduled two business days out.” | Same |
| No phone requests | Inspection “requests will not be accepted via phone call and/or voicemail” | Same |
Keeping a Charleston set in shape
- Protect the Field Copy. Keep the City’s stamped set available for inspections and use a separate working set for daily site work.
- Print updates as they come. The rule covers updates from Building Inspections. Add revised sheets to the working set so the crew uses the current drawings. See printing revised sheets.
- Copies for each trade. Electrical, plumbing and other trade inspections run under the building permit. Give each trade the current drawings it needs.
- Full size. Match the print size to the PDF page size to preserve the stated scale. See the PDF page size checker guide before ordering.
Our prints are working copies. They don’t replace the City’s Field Copy, and we don’t deal with Building Inspections for you. Ask the City (inspection help line 843-724-7441; it prefers texts) if you’re unsure what must be on site.
Charleston projects we print for
- Renovations on the peninsula, from Harleston Village to Cannonborough-Elliotborough.
- New homes and additions on James Island, Johns Island and West Ashley.
- Commercial work on Daniel Island and along King Street.
- Mount Pleasant and North Charleston are separate cities with their own building departments, so this page covers the City of Charleston only.
What a Charleston order costs (prints only; shipping chosen at checkout)
| Job | Sheets | Print total |
|---|---|---|
| Peninsula single-house renovation, working set, 24×36 B&W | 14 | $27.30 |
| James Island new home, sets for GC and 2 trades, 24×36 B&W | 45 | $87.75 |
| Revised sheets after an update | 3 | $5.85 |
| Color site and drainage sheets | 2 | $7.50 |
Frequently asked questions
What plans must be on site for a Charleston inspection?
The City says plans stamped Field Copy, along with any updates from the Building Inspections Office, must be on site for all inspections and stay there for the rest of the job.
Can your prints replace Charleston’s Field Copy?
No. The Field Copy is the set the City stamps. Our prints are working copies for the crew, trades and office.
How do I request a Charleston inspection?
Through the Customer Self Service portal or by email. The City doesn’t accept inspection requests by phone call or voicemail.
How fast does Charleston schedule inspections?
Requests made before noon are scheduled one business day out; requests after noon are scheduled two business days out.
Do these rules apply in Mount Pleasant or North Charleston?
No. Those are separate cities with their own building departments.
When does a Charleston order ship?
Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day.