CASE STUDY
Commercial Parking Expansion — ADA · Houston · Harris County
Houston, TX 77056 (Galleria area) County: City of Houston · Harris County Project: Retail Strip Center — Parking Lot Expansion…
VIEW CASE STUDYFULL PERMIT DRAWING SETS · NATIONWIDE
Complete Permit Drawing Sets for Residential & Commercial Projects
One coordinated package for site, architectural, structural, MEP, code, energy and professional-review needs, organized around the property, proposed work and reviewing jurisdiction.
One Coordinated ScopeSite · Architectural · Structural · MEP
Site & ZoningPlacement, setbacks and access
ArchitecturePlans, elevations and sections
StructuralFoundations, framing and calculations
MEP / EnergyElectrical, plumbing, HVAC and compliance
WHAT A FULL PERMIT SET DOES
One Package That Explains the Entire Project
A full permit set explains where the project sits on the property, what exists today, what will change, what will be built, how the structure is supported and how the building systems are coordinated.
A deck, ADU, metal building, home addition and commercial tenant improvement should not all receive the same template. The package has to match the actual construction scope and local review requirements.
COORDINATED DISCIPLINES
What Your Permit Package May Include
Only the disciplines required for your project should be included.
Site & Zoning Plans
Property lines, setbacks, access, easements, utilities and proposed improvements.
Architectural Drawings
Existing and proposed plans, elevations, roof plans, sections and demolition scope.
Structural Plans & Calculations
Foundations, framing, beams, connections and calculations where required.
Electrical, Plumbing & HVAC
Lighting, power, fixtures, plumbing layouts and mechanical equipment.
Civil / Grading / Drainage
Grading, drainage, impervious area, utility and civil coordination where required.
Professional Review
Architect or engineer review, calculations, signature and seal coordination when required.
NOT SURE WHICH DISCIPLINES YOU NEED?
Send the address and project description first. We’ll help define the drawing scope before work begins.
PROJECT TYPES
Permit Packages for New Construction, Additions, Alterations & Conversions
Different project types require different combinations of site, architectural, structural, MEP and professional-review work.
Home Additions & Remodels
Existing, demolition, proposed, foundation, framing and MEP coordination.
ADUs & Guest Houses
Site, architecture, structural, MEP and energy coordination.
Garages & Carports
Site, floor, elevation, foundation, framing and anchorage.
Decks, Porches & Patio Covers
Site, footing, framing, elevation, guard, stair and connection details.
Metal Buildings & Pole Barns
Site, foundation, architectural, manufacturer and MEP coordination.
Commercial Tenant Improvements
Architecture, accessibility, life safety, MEP and occupancy coordination.
DRAWING PACKAGE CONTENTS
Typical Sheets in a Full Permit Drawing Set
A complete permit package is assembled around the actual project, building type and reviewing authority. Not every project needs every sheet, but these are the core drawing groups most commonly coordinated for residential and commercial permit submittals.
Each sheet has a different purpose: the cover sheet establishes the project and code basis, site plans explain the property, architectural drawings define the building, structural sheets explain how it is supported, and MEP sheets coordinate the building systems.
COORDINATED PERMIT PACKAGESite · Architectural · Structural · MEP · Code · Energy
01
Cover / Code Summary
The cover sheet establishes the permit package and gives reviewers a clear project overview.
- Project address and owner / applicant information
- Scope of work and drawing index
- Applicable codes and design criteria
- General permit notes and schedules
- Professional information where applicable
02
Existing / Demolition
Existing-condition drawings distinguish what remains, what changes and what will be removed.
- Existing floor or site conditions
- Existing room uses and dimensions
- Walls, fixtures and systems to remove
- Existing elevations where affected
- Existing vs. proposed conditions clearly labeled
03
Site / Zoning
Site sheets connect the proposed construction to the property, zoning envelope and access conditions.
- Property boundaries and lot dimensions
- Existing and proposed structures
- Setbacks, easements and access
- Driveways, walks and site improvements
- Utilities, septic or wells where applicable
04
Architectural
Architectural sheets communicate the layout, exterior appearance and building geometry used by the other disciplines.
- Floor plans and room dimensions
- Roof plans and key elevations
- Exterior elevations and building heights
- Building sections and construction details
- Door, window and finish information
05
Structural
Structural drawings explain how loads move through foundations, framing, beams, posts and connections.
- Foundation and footing information
- Floor, wall and roof framing plans
- Beam, header, post and connection details
- Anchorage and lateral-load details
- Calculations and PE review where required
06
MEP / Energy
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and energy documents coordinate the systems needed to operate the building.
- Electrical lighting, power and equipment
- Plumbing fixtures and piping information
- HVAC equipment and distribution
- Ventilation and water-heater coordination
- Energy-compliance information where required
NEED THE RIGHT SHEET LIST FOR YOUR PROJECT?
Send the address, proposed work and available plans. We’ll help define which permit sheets and disciplines belong in your package.
WHY COORDINATION MATTERS
Each Discipline Has to Agree With the Others
A permit set is not simply a stack of independent drawings. Architectural openings affect structural framing. Plumbing fixtures affect floor plans. HVAC equipment affects roof, ceiling and electrical information. Site grading can affect finished-floor elevations and accessibility.
Our goal is to coordinate the applicable disciplines from one project scope so dimensions, building geometry, equipment locations and permit notes do not contradict each other from sheet to sheet.
Shared project dimensionsExisting vs. proposed clearly labeledConsistent openings and equipmentStructural reactions coordinatedSite and floor elevations alignedPermit comments tracked by discipline
WHAT TO SEND
Start With the Project Information You Already Have
You do not need to guess every permit requirement before contacting us. Send the available information first and we can identify missing inputs before drafting begins.
- Complete property address
- Survey or existing site plan
- Existing floor plans or prior permit drawings
- Interior and exterior photographs
- Field dimensions or sketches
- Project description and intended use
- Manufacturer or truss documents
- Geotechnical or flood information if available
- Permit checklist or reviewer comments
ALREADY HAVE CITY OR COUNTY COMMENTS?
Send the correction notice with the current plan set so we can identify which disciplines and sheets need revision.
WORKFLOW
How a Full Permit Package Moves From Intake to Submittal
Defining the correct scope before drafting reduces duplicated work and makes review comments easier to track.
01
Project Intake
Address, survey, drawings, photos and project goals.
02
Scope Definition
Required disciplines, missing information and review needs.
03
Drawing Production
Applicable sheets developed around the same project geometry.
04
Coordination Review
Dimensions, details and cross-discipline scope checked.
05
Permit Delivery
Final files issued with applicable correction support.
PROFESSIONAL REVIEW
PE, Architect or Specialty Review When the Jurisdiction Requires It
Not every permit set needs a professional seal. When the project or jurisdiction requires licensed review, we can coordinate the applicable professional discipline based on the state and technical scope.
Signature and seal are subject to the reviewing professional’s independent judgment and acceptance of the final documents.
RELATED SERVICES
Go Deeper Into Each Permit Discipline
Use these owner pages when your project needs a focused discipline in addition to or instead of a complete package.
NATIONWIDE PERMIT SUPPORT
Requirements Change by State, County and City
Wind, snow, seismic, flood, energy, accessibility, zoning and professional-review requirements vary by location.
EXPLORE LOCATION REQUIREMENTS →
DETAILED FAQ
Full Permit Drawing Set FAQ
Common questions about scope, disciplines, source documents, professional review and corrections.
What is a full permit drawing set?+
A coordinated package of drawings, notes, details, schedules and calculations used to explain the project to the reviewing authority.
Does every full permit set include site, architectural, structural and MEP plans?+
No. Only the disciplines required for the actual project should be included.
Can you prepare residential and commercial permit sets?+
Yes. We support new construction, additions, ADUs, remodels, garages, decks, tenant improvements, change-of-use work and other project types.
What is usually included for a new house?+
A typical package may include a cover sheet, site plan, floor plans, roof plan, elevations, sections, structural plans, MEP plans, energy documents and calculations where required.
What is usually included for a home addition?+
Existing, demolition and proposed plans plus affected foundation, framing, MEP and energy/code coordination.
Do I need a property survey?+
Projects affecting the footprint, setbacks, access, parking, utilities or grading commonly require reliable property information or a survey.
Can you start from sketches and photographs?+
Yes, for many projects. Larger existing buildings may also need field-verified measurements or prior drawings.
Do you prepare demolition plans?+
Yes. Existing-condition and demolition drawings can be included for additions, remodels, conversions and tenant improvements.
Are structural calculations included?+
Only when listed in the agreed scope and required by the project or jurisdiction.
Can MEP drawings be included?+
Yes. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical drawings can be included or coordinated when required.
Do you prepare energy-code documents?+
Energy documentation can be coordinated when required by the state, climate zone and project type.
Can you coordinate PE or architect review?+
Yes for qualifying projects, subject to state licensure and the reviewing professional’s independent acceptance.
Do you handle permit corrections?+
Yes. Send the full comment letter and current submitted set so affected sheets can be identified.
Can you help legalize an existing unpermitted addition?+
Yes, when existing conditions can be verified and the required architectural or structural scope can be defined.
Can you coordinate a metal-building permit set?+
Yes. Site, architectural, foundation, manufacturer and MEP coordination may be required.
What is not automatically included?+
Surveys, geotechnical reports, truss engineering, product approvals, fire sprinkler design, permit fees and specialty inspections are not automatically included unless listed.
What should I send for a quote?+
Start with the address, project description, survey, existing plans, sketches, photos, dimensions and any permit checklist or comments.
Do you provide PDF and DWG files?+
Permit-ready PDF drawings are standard for drawing scopes. DWG files can be included where agreed.
How long does a full permit set take?+
Turnaround depends on size, number of disciplines, source information, structural complexity and professional review requirements.
START YOUR PERMIT PACKAGE
Request a Full Permit Drawing Set Review
Send the project address, proposed work and whatever documents you already have. We will review the available information and identify the likely disciplines and missing inputs.
Tell Us About the Project
Attach one plan, survey, sketch, photo or comment letter if available.