Print My Plans
Virginia Beach Blueprint Printing: Counter Sets and Commercial Copies
By Eli Gewirtzman, Owner · Last checked Nov 4, 2026 (prices and City of Virginia Beach Planning Department, Permits & Inspections sources)
Virginia Beach accepts counter submissions only for qualifying small plan sets. Residential additions, alterations and accessory structures of 500 square feet or less, and uncovered decks of any size, must have five pages or fewer. Larger or otherwise ineligible submissions go online, with initial reviews listed at 15 to 45 business days. Upload the drawings you need printed 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 |
What Virginia Beach says about plan sets
From the City’s Building Permits and Commercial Building Permits pages:
| Rule | What Virginia Beach says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Counter location | “Municipal Center, Building 3, 2403 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach” | Building Permits |
| Counter is for small sets | Counter submittals are accepted “only for small plan sets meeting the requirements listed below” | Same |
| Residential counter limit | Additions, alterations and accessory structures of 500 square feet or less: the “plan set shall not exceed five pages” | Same |
| Decks | “Uncovered decks of any size” qualify, still at five pages or fewer | Same |
| Commercial counter limit | “Interior and exterior alterations with a work area of 2,500 square feet or less” | Same |
| Online timing | “The initial review for online submissions takes 15-45 business days.” “Revisions take half of the original review timeframe.” | Same |
| Commercial plan copies | “Two copies of the complete signed and sealed architectural and structural plans, as well as material specifications of all work.” | Commercial Building Permits |
| Inspection cutoff | Inspections “must be scheduled PRIOR to 8 a.m. for the day desired” | Same |
Before you print a Virginia Beach set
- Confirm counter eligibility. A qualifying small residential set must have five pages or fewer. If yours is longer, use the online route or ask the permit office and designer what is appropriate; do not omit required sheets.
- Check the commercial copy count. The City lists two copies of complete signed and sealed architectural and structural plans. Confirm that requirement for your submission route.
- Match the original sheet size. We print 17×22 through 36×48. If your drawings are 11×17, ask the designer and permit office about an acceptable larger layout before ordering; enlarging them changes the written scale. See the PDF page size checker guide.
- Ordering as a homeowner? See plan printing for homeowners.
Virginia Beach Permits & Inspections and your design professional decide what the approved set contains. We print the file you upload and don’t submit anything to the City, so confirm your project’s path with the permit office.
Virginia Beach work we print for
- Uncovered decks, porches and sheds in Kempsville, Great Neck and Pungo.
- Small additions and alterations at the Oceanfront and in Sandbridge.
- Commercial alterations in Town Center and along Virginia Beach Boulevard.
- Chesapeake, Norfolk and Suffolk run their own permits. See blueprint printing in Chesapeake.
What a Virginia Beach order costs (prints only; shipping chosen at checkout)
| Job | Sheets | Print total |
|---|---|---|
| Uncovered deck counter set, 18×24 B&W | 4 | $7.80 |
| 400 sq ft addition counter set, 24×36 B&W | 5 | $9.75 |
| Town Center office alteration, 2 copies × 18 sheets, 24×36 B&W | 36 | $70.20 |
| Color site plan | 1 | $3.75 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit plans in person in Virginia Beach?
Only for small plan sets. The City accepts counter submittals at the Municipal Center, Building 3, 2403 Courthouse Drive, for sets that meet its size limits. Everything else goes online.
How many pages can a Virginia Beach counter set have?
For residential additions, alterations and accessory structures of 500 square feet or less, and for uncovered decks of any size, the plan set can’t exceed five pages.
How many copies of commercial plans does Virginia Beach want?
Two copies of the complete signed and sealed architectural and structural plans, plus material specifications of all work.
How long does an online review take in Virginia Beach?
The City says the initial review takes 15 to 45 business days, and revisions take half of the original review time.
When do I schedule a Virginia Beach inspection?
Before 8 a.m. on the day you want it. Inspections can be booked up to five working days ahead.
When does a Virginia Beach order ship?
Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day.