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Building Permit Application Checklist: What to Bring to the Building Department
By Eli Gewirtzman, Owner · Last checked Oct 24, 2026
Gather the documents before visiting the permit counter or starting an online application. This checklist covers common requirements, with official examples; your reviewing office’s current checklist takes priority.
Short answer: bring (1) the completed permit application, (2) your construction drawings, in the number of paper sets your department asks for or as a PDF if it takes digital uploads, (3) a site or plot plan showing the work and the distances to your lot lines, (4) any sealed engineering such as structural calculations, and (5) contractor or owner-builder paperwork and the fee. The model residential code asks for plans “in two or more sets,” but your local checklist sets the real number.
The checklist
- Permit application form. From your city or county building department’s website. Fill in the property address, parcel number, scope of work and project value.
- Construction drawings (the plan set). Floor plans, elevations, sections, structural details, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical layouts as the job requires. See what is a permit set.
- Site plan or plot plan. The International Residential Code asks for a site plan “showing the size and location of new construction and existing structures on the site and distances from lot lines” (R106.2). Many owners start from their survey: see printing a survey or plot plan for a permit.
- Sealed documents, if required. Structural calculations, truss drawings or engineered sheets signed and sealed by a licensed design professional. Your state’s licensing law decides when a seal is needed.
- Supporting documents. Energy-code forms, product data sheets, HOA or zoning approval, and septic or well approvals where they apply.
- Contractor license or owner-builder form, plus proof of insurance if the department asks.
- The fee. Check the department’s fee schedule; some collect at submittal, others at issuance.
Paper sets: how many, what size, what color
How many. The model code text says plans “shall be submitted in two or more sets with each application for a permit” (IRC R106.1), but it also allows “electronic media documents… where approved by the building official” (R106.1.1). Local practice varies widely. Examples from official pages we re-checked on Oct 24, 2026:
| City | What the department says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | 2 sets if submitting on paper (residential) | cityoftulsa.org |
| Saint Paul, MN | 2 sets for new 1-2 family, commercial, multifamily and additions | stpaul.gov |
| San Francisco, CA | 2 paper sets for in-house paper review | sf.gov |
| St. Louis, MO | 5 copies for in-person submissions | stlouis-mo.gov |
| Jacksonville, FL | Electronic, as a single PDF | jacksonville.gov |
More cities, with exact quotes: plan copy requirements by city and how many plan copies for a permit.
If a permit expediter files for you, see how expediters order plan sets for each office.
What size. Print at the size the plans were drawn, usually 24×36. Some departments set a minimum: Boise asks for at least 18×24 (cityofboise.org). Never “fit to page,” because a shrunk sheet is no longer to scale.
What color. Black and white suits many line drawings, but some departments require color inspection sets. Follow the reviewing office’s instructions, and preserve color wherever it distinguishes information in the drawings.
After approval: the job-site set
The approved, stamped set usually has to stay on site for inspections, and the IRC also says “the building permit or a copy shall be kept on the site of the work” (R105.7). If your permit was approved online, you may have to print that set yourself: see approved plan set printing.
What printing the sets costs
Printing only, before shipping. $1.95 per sheet black and white, $3.75 color, the same at every size from 17×22 to 36×48, on 20 lb bond.
| Example | Sheets | Printing | With code WELCOME20 (20% off your first order) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-sheet set, 2 permit copies | 20 | $39.00 | $31.20 |
| Same, plus builder and job-site copies (4 total) | 40 | $78.00 | $62.40 |
| 10-sheet set, 5 copies (St. Louis-style in-person count) | 50 | $97.50 | $78.00 |
Price your own set with the plan printing cost calculator, or order through permit set printing.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to bring to the building department for a permit?
The application form, your construction drawings in the number of sets the department asks for, a site or plot plan, any sealed engineering, contractor or owner-builder paperwork, and the fee. Your department’s own checklist is the final word.
How many plan sets should I bring with the application?
The model residential code says “two or more sets,” and many departments ask for 2. Some ask for more, such as St. Louis (5 for in-person submissions), and many now take a single PDF instead. See how many plan copies a permit needs.
Can I submit building plans digitally?
Often, yes. The IRC allows electronic documents “where approved by the building official,” and many large cities now take PDF submissions only. Check your department’s website.
What size paper do permit drawings have to be?
Usually the size they were drawn at, most often 24×36. Some departments set a minimum, such as Boise’s 18×24. Don’t shrink the sheets.
Do I need a site plan for a building permit?
Usually. The IRC asks for a site plan showing new and existing structures and the distances to lot lines, though the building official can waive it for some work.
Do I still need paper if I applied online?
Often for the job site. Many departments expect a printed copy of the approved set on site for inspections.
Printing it
When your set is final, upload the PDF on the order page, choose the size, black and white or color, and the number of sets, and check out. Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day, arrives as soon as the next day. If we make a mistake, we reprint and ship it free of charge.