Blueprint Printing for Houston: Job-Site Sets and One-Stop Paper Plans
Houston plan sets print at $1.95 a sheet in black and white or $3.75 in color, at sizes from 18×24 to 36×48, and orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day to all 50 states. The Houston Permitting Center runs two tracks. New single-family plans are submitted electronically, uploaded at a minimum output of 42×30, and every approved page is stamped with the City seal in red. The approved set then has to be printed at 24×36 or larger and kept on the jobsite for the whole build. The One-Stop Walk-In Service, launched March 3, 2025, is paper only and wants two identical complete sets, and the City doesn’t offer copy services.
Prices (flat, 18×24 to 36×48)
| Per sheet | |
|---|---|
| Black & white | $1.95 |
| Color | $3.75 |
Where we ship in Houston
We ship Houston sets to Downtown and Midtown, Montrose and the Heights, EaDo and the Museum District, the Energy Corridor and Westchase, and Clear Lake. We also ship to Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland and The Woodlands, but they have their own permit offices or county rules. The HPC rules here are the City of Houston’s.
What the City of Houston asks for
The Houston Permitting Center (Building Code Enforcement) runs plan review. Most plans go in electronically; a walk-in service takes paper. Quoted from the Houston Permitting Center’s Plan Review page and Residential EPR User Guide v9.2:
| Rule | What the City says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New single-family | “All plans must be submitted electronically.” | HPC Plan Review page, Residential |
| Upload size | Plans must be uploaded “to scale, with a minimum output dimension of 42″ x 30″.” | HPC Residential EPR User Guide (v9.2) |
| Job-site set | “The approved plan set must be printed at a minimum size of 24″x36″ and kept on the jobsite throughout the duration of construction” | Same |
| City stamp | “Each page of the approved plan set will be stamped with the City of Houston seal in red” | Same |
| Walk-in (paper) | The One-Stop Plan Review Walk-In Service, launched March 3, 2025, “processes paper plans only.” | HPC Plan Review page |
| Walk-in, residential | “Two identical, complete sets of paper plans and documents, securely bound.” | Same |
| Walk-in, commercial | “Two identical, complete sets of paper plans and documents. Do not staple the plans.” “Plans must be printed to scale at least 11 x 17.” | Same |
| No copies at the City | “The City of Houston does not offer copy services to the public.” | Same |
So, for your order:
- Print the approved set at its drawn size. Houston’s uploads are laid out at 30×42 or larger, and the job-site set must be at least 24×36. Printing at the size the PDF was drawn keeps the written scale true; we print 24×36, 30×42, 36×46 and 36×48 at the same price. See how to print a PDF to scale and 30×42 printing.
- Decide on color for the stamped set. The City’s seal on each approved page is red. In black and white ($1.95) it prints gray; in color ($3.75) it stays red. Ask your inspector if you’re unsure which they prefer.
- Walk-in means two matching sets. Order 2 copies of the full set so both are identical. Our prints ship rolled and unbound, so commercial walk-in sets arrive unstapled. Residential walk-in sets must be securely bound, so bind them before your visit.
- The City won’t copy for you, so bring every set you need or have them shipped to the office before your visit.
Houston wants plans uploaded to scale, so print at 100%. Jobsite size: 24×36 printing.
We print your plans on white 20 lb bond as uploaded, red City seal included when you choose color. The Houston Permitting Center and your designer decide what’s filed, so confirm with them first.
Built for Houston jobs
- Approved single-family jobsite sets at 24×36 or larger.
- Two identical walk-in sets: bound for residential, unstapled for commercial, 11×17 minimum.
- Color prints when you want the red City seal to show in red.
- Revised sheets after an HPC review.
Quick cost examples (print only; shipping chosen at checkout)
| Example | Sheets | Print total | With code WELCOME20 (20% off your first order) |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Stop walk-in: 2 identical sets of a 14-sheet set, B&W | 28 | $54.60 | $43.68 |
| Approved job-site set, 16 sheets, B&W | 16 | $31.20 | $24.96 |
| Same job-site set in color (red City seal stays red) | 16 | $60.00 | $48.00 |
| 6 revised sheets, 2 copies, B&W | 12 | $23.40 | $18.72 |
Frequently asked questions
Where can I print plans for the Houston walk-in service?
Upload the PDF, order two copies and we ship both sets to you, since the City doesn’t offer copy services. Orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day.
What size does Houston require for the job-site set?
The Houston Permitting Center’s residential e-plan guide says the approved plan set must be printed at a minimum of 24×36 and kept on the jobsite for the whole project. We print 24×36, 30×42, 36×46 and 36×48 at the same price.
How many sets do I bring to the One-Stop walk-in?
The City’s plan review page asks for two identical, complete sets of paper plans. Commercial sets must be at least 11×17, printed to scale and not stapled.
Will the City print copies for me?
No. The Plan Review page says the City of Houston does not offer copy services to the public.
Should the approved set be in color?
The City stamps each approved page with a red seal. Black and white ($1.95 a sheet) prints it gray; color ($3.75) keeps it red. Check with your inspector if you’re unsure.
