Print My Plans
Oakland Plan Printing That Fits the City’s Drawing Standards
By Eli Gewirtzman, Owner · Last checked Nov 4, 2026 (prices and City of Oakland Planning and Building Department sources)
Oakland’s new-construction checklist calls for electronic PDF submissions. For printed drawings, the City’s additions-and-alterations standards prefer 22×34 or 24×36 sheets, with an 18×24 minimum and 36×48 maximum. Sets should use one sheet size, except for surveys and plot plans. We print those sizes 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 |
Oakland’s drawing standards
From the City’s Construction Plans Check List (additions and alterations, updated 3.2024) and its Submittal Checklist for New Construction (dated 03/21/2025):
| Rule | What Oakland says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic submittal | “All submittal documents should be electronic and in PDF format.” | Submittal Checklist for New Construction |
| Sheet size | 22 x 34 or 24 x 36 preferred; 18 x 24 minimum and 36 x 48 maximum | Construction Plans Check List, additions/alterations |
| One size per set | Not acceptable: “DIFFERENT SIZE SHEETS IN A DRAWING SET” (survey and plot plan excepted) | Same |
| Job-site durability | Not acceptable: “XEROXED COPIES (not durable for job site)” | Same |
| Lettering | Not acceptable: “DRAWINGS WITH LETTERING LESS THAN 1/8 INCH HIGH OR ILLEGIBLE LETTERING” | Same |
| Borders | 1.5 inches minimum at the left-hand bound edge, half an inch elsewhere | Same |
| Scale | Floor plans and elevations at a minimum of 1/4 inch to the foot; site plans at 1/8 or 1/10 inch to the foot | Same |
| Survey age | Topographic and boundary surveys “Certified within 3 years of application submittal” | Submittal Checklist for New Construction |
Before you print an Oakland set
- Match the original sheet size. Print 24×36 drawings at 24×36 rather than resizing them. The City lists mixed sheet sizes as unacceptable, except for surveys and plot plans.
- Preserve the binding margin. Print at the PDF’s original size so the 1.5-inch left border is not reduced or cropped. See the PDF page size checker guide for checking page dimensions.
- Keep lettering legible. The standards reject lettering below 1/8 inch high. Reducing a drawing also reduces its text, so use the original sheet size.
- Paper stock. We print on white 20 lb bond. Confirm any special material requirements with the City before ordering.
Oakland’s Planning and Building Department and your design professional decide what goes in the approved set. We print the PDF you upload and don’t work with the City for you, so confirm requirements with the department (bbpermit@oaklandca.gov is the contact the checklist gives).
Oakland work we print for
- Additions and ADUs in Rockridge, Temescal, the Laurel and the Oakland hills.
- Remodels and seismic retrofits in West Oakland and Fruitvale.
- Multifamily and commercial projects downtown and around Lake Merritt.
- Neighboring cities run their own departments. Berkeley, Alameda, Emeryville and San Leandro each have their own permit rules. For the city across the bridge, see blueprint printing in San Francisco.
What an Oakland order costs (prints only; shipping chosen at checkout)
| Job | Sheets | Print total |
|---|---|---|
| Rockridge kitchen and bath remodel, 24×36 B&W | 8 | $15.60 |
| Fourplex new construction, 22×34 B&W | 34 | $66.30 |
| Same remodel set, owner’s copy | 16 | $31.20 |
| Color landscape and Title 24 sheets | 5 | $18.75 |
Frequently asked questions
What sheet size does Oakland want for building plans?
The City’s drawing standards prefer 22 x 34 or 24 x 36 sheets, with 18 x 24 the minimum and 36 x 48 the maximum.
Can I mix sheet sizes in an Oakland plan set?
The standards list different size sheets in one drawing set as not acceptable. The survey and plot plan are the exception.
Does Oakland accept paper plan submittals?
Its new construction checklist says all submittal documents should be electronic and in PDF format. Ask the department about your project type.
What scale do Oakland floor plans need?
The additions and alterations checklist sets a minimum of 1/4 inch to the foot for floor plans and elevations.
Do Oakland’s rules apply in Berkeley or Alameda?
No. Those cities have their own building departments. This page covers the City of Oakland.
When does an Oakland order ship?
Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day.