Print My Plans
How to Get Copies of Your House Blueprints (and Print Them Full Size)
By Eli Gewirtzman, Owner · Last checked Oct 24, 2026
Planning a remodel, an addition or a sale and need the original plans for your house? They may still exist. Here’s where to look, what to expect, and how to turn whatever you find into full-size prints your contractor can use.
Short answer: start with your city or county building department’s records office. Ask for the permit history and any plans on file for your address. Then try the builder, the original architect, your HOA, and past owners. Be ready for limits: many departments only keep plans for newer construction, and plans signed by an architect or engineer often need their permission before the city can copy them.
From $1.95 a sheet for black and white, $3.75 for color, any size from 17×22 to 36×48. Orders by 3 PM ET on business days ship the same day.
1. Your building department’s records
This is the best first stop. Many departments let you search permits by address online, and some keep older plans on microfilm or in archives.
- Search the permit history first. It tells you what was built when, and who designed it. Miami-Dade County, for example, says permits and plans “may all be searched online for free,” and routes plan requests to its microfilm office (miamidade.gov).
- Then request the plans. Expect a records form, proof that you own the home, and a wait. San Diego says its plan duplication process “typically takes up to six weeks,” with copies at “$.25 per page” once permission is obtained (sandiego.gov).
- Know what may not exist. Carlsbad, California notes that “most plans retained by the City are for new construction permitted after 1980” and that “plans for residential remodels or additions are not typically retained” (carlsbadca.gov). Older homes often have no plans on file at all.
2. Why the city may need the architect’s OK
Cities often treat plans signed and stamped by an architect or engineer as the designer’s copyrighted work. In California, cities ask for the design professional’s and the owner’s written permission before copying plans; Carlsbad cites California Health and Safety Code 19851 (carlsbadca.gov). Cities handle it differently:
- San Diego: if the plans “are signed and stamped by an architect and/or engineer, then it is copyrighted material,” and the city asks that professional for permission.
- Thousand Oaks: copies “cannot be provided without the express written consent of the property owner and the architect/engineer of record,” but if the professional doesn’t answer within 30 days, “copies of the requested plans will be provided” (toaks.gov).
Rules differ by state and city, so ask your records office how it handles this before you pay any fees.
3. Other places to look
- The builder or developer. If a production builder built your home, it may still have the model’s plan set.
- The original architect or designer. Their name may be on the permit record or on old paperwork, and they may still have the files.
- Your HOA or condo association. Some keep architectural review files for the homes they govern.
- Past owners and your closing papers. Sometimes the plans were handed over at sale.
- Your county assessor. It won’t have construction plans, but its record may include a sketch of the footprint and square footage, a useful start if you need new drawings.
4. If no plans exist
You’ll need new drawings. A designer, architect or drafting service can measure the house and draw “as-built” plans. If you’re applying for a permit, your survey may serve as the base for a site plan: see printing a survey or plot plan for a permit.
Once you have the file: printing it full size
Records offices often send scans as PDFs. Print them at full size so the scale on the sheets is usable:
- Size. Older residential sets are commonly 18×24 or 24×36. Print at the sheet size of the scan; if the PDF’s page size looks odd, check it with the free PDF page size checker.
- Scale. A scan of a paper print is only as accurate as the scan. Treat dimensions written on the drawing as the truth, not measurements taken with a ruler. More in our blueprint scale guide.
- Black and white is right for nearly all old plan scans.
| Example | Sheets | Printing | With code WELCOME20 (20% off printing on your first order) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-sheet house set, 1 copy, B&W | 8 | $15.60 | $12.48 |
| Same set, 2 copies (you + contractor) | 16 | $31.20 | $24.96 |
$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. Printing only, before shipping. More on house sets: house plan printing.
What we do and don’t do
We print the PDF you have. We don’t search records, request plans from a city, or redraw a house. Make sure you have the right to copy the plans before ordering prints.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the original blueprints for my house?
Start with your city or county building department’s records office and ask for plans on file for your address. Then try the builder, the original architect, your HOA and past owners.
Can I get my house plans from the city?
Sometimes. Many departments keep plans for newer homes, but older homes and small remodels often have none on file. Carlsbad, California, for example, says most plans it keeps are for construction permitted after 1980.
Why does the city need the architect’s permission?
Cities often treat signed and stamped plans as the designer’s copyrighted work. In California, cities ask for the professional’s and the owner’s written permission before copying. Thousand Oaks releases copies if the professional doesn’t respond within 30 days.
How long does it take to get copies of house plans?
It varies by department. San Diego, for example, says its process typically takes up to six weeks.
What if there are no plans for my house?
Hire a designer or drafting service to measure the house and draw as-built plans. Your survey can be a starting point for a site plan.
Can you print the plans once I get them?
Yes. Upload the PDF and we print it full size, from 17×22 to 36×48. Orders placed by 3 PM ET on business days ship the same day. Delivery depends on your destination and the shipping option selected at checkout; transit times are estimates.
Printing it
Got the PDF? Upload it on the order page, choose the size and number of copies, and check out. If we make a mistake, we reprint and ship it free of charge.
From $1.95 a sheet for black and white, $3.75 for color, any size from 17×22 to 36×48. Orders by 3 PM ET on business days ship the same day.
Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day. Delivery timing depends on the shipping service and destination. See the terms for business-day and holiday details.