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Residential permit drawings / plan set — strongest permit-specific visual
Recommended: real Drafting Smith permit drawing sheet, printed plan set, or detailed residential plans photographed in a clean architectural setting. A finished or under-construction home can appear subtly in the background.
Plans That Work
Residential Building Permit Drawings
Been told you need drawings for a building permit?
Drafting Smith prepares clear, detailed residential plans for new homes, renovations, additions, basements, secondary suites and other residential projects across Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba.
We'll review the project, check the current requirements for your municipality and determine what drawings are needed before the detailed work begins.
Send us the project details and we'll respond within 24 hours.
PLANS THAT WORK AT THE PERMIT DESK
Take Some of the Guesswork Out of the Permit Process
For many homeowners, the drawings aren't the confusing part.
It's figuring out what the municipality actually wants.
Do you need a site plan? Existing and proposed floor plans? Elevations? A development permit as well as a building permit? Does part of the project need an engineer?
Those answers depend on what you're building and where you're building it.
Drafting Smith starts by reviewing the project and the current municipal requirements. From there, we prepare drawings that clearly show the proposed work and coordinate other technical information when it's needed.
Our role is to prepare the plans.
The homeowner or builder submits the permit application, and the municipality reviews it and makes the final approval decision.
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Homeowner / contractor reviewing permit plans
Recommended: authentic review scene with residential plans, municipality checklist or laptop open to permit information. Avoid generic handshake imagery.
Residential Permit Drawings
Drawings for New and Existing Homes
Building or development drawings may be required for projects such as:
New Homes
Complete residential drawing packages showing the proposed home and the information required for municipal review.
Still working through the design?
Renovations & Additions
Existing and proposed plans showing what's changing, including additions, layout changes and exterior alterations.
Renovation & Addition Design →
Basement Developments & Secondary Suites
Plans for finishing a basement, changing an existing lower level or creating a secondary suite.
Basement & Secondary Suite Design →
Garages & Accessory Buildings
Drawings for detached garages and other residential accessory buildings where municipal plans are required.
Existing or Previously Unpermitted Work
Already completed the renovation, basement or suite?
Drafting Smith can prepare drawings showing existing work when plans are needed after construction.
Because the work is already in place, the property owner is responsible for the accuracy of the information provided and for any liability associated with previously completed construction.
We'll review the situation before accepting the project and determine what information is needed to document the existing conditions.
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New-home permit drawing set
Recommended: floor plan + exterior elevation from a real new-home project, with private information removed.
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Renovation existing + proposed plans
Recommended: before/after floor-plan pair showing exactly what changes in a renovation or addition.
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Basement / secondary-suite plan
Recommended: real basement or suite plan showing rooms, windows, exits and layout relationships.
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Garage / accessory-building drawings
Recommended: detached garage or accessory-building plan/elevation sheet where municipal drawings were required.
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Complete residential permit drawing sheet
Recommended: large, legible Drafting Smith sheet showing a mix of floor plan, elevations, section/site information. This should be one of the strongest technical visuals on the page.
The Drawing Package
What Building Permit Drawings Can Include
There isn't one universal permit package.
A basement development doesn't need the same drawings as a new house, and two municipalities may ask for different information for similar projects.
Depending on the project, your drawings may include:
Floor Plans
Plans showing the layout, rooms, walls, doors, windows, stairs and relevant dimensions.
For renovations, this may include both the existing layout and the proposed changes.
Site Plan
Where required, a site plan shows how the house, addition, garage or other proposed work sits on the property.
It may include lot lines, setbacks, access and other site information.
Some properties require information supplied by a surveyor.
Exterior Elevations
Views of the outside of the building showing proposed heights, openings, exterior changes and other relevant information.
Building Sections
Cut-through views that help explain floor levels, wall and roof relationships and how parts of the building come together.
Foundation Information
For new homes, additions and some other projects, foundation plans and related details may form part of the package.
Roof Information
New homes, additions and accessory buildings may require drawings showing roof form, slopes and relationships to the rest of the structure.
Construction Details
Where more explanation is needed, larger-scale details can show specific assemblies or construction conditions.
Other Project Information
Depending on the municipality and scope, additional documentation may be required from engineers, surveyors, truss suppliers or other professionals.
We identify those needs as early as we reasonably can.
Professional Drawings
A Permit Application Usually Needs More Than a Sketch
A rough sketch is a perfectly good way to explain your idea to us.
It usually isn't enough for a permit application.
Municipal reviewers need to be able to understand what exists, what's changing and how the proposed work fits together.
That normally means drawings prepared consistently and to scale, with the necessary dimensions, room uses, openings and construction information clearly shown.
Some municipalities allow homeowners to prepare their own drawings for certain projects. Others have more specific drafting requirements.
Either way, the plans still have to meet the submission standards for that particular municipality.
That's the difference between an idea on paper and a drawing package prepared for municipal review.
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Rough sketch beside finished permit-ready drawing
Recommended: side-by-side or layered comparison: homeowner sketch/marked-up idea next to the professional drawing that communicates the project clearly.
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Site plan / property context
Recommended: clean site plan, survey-style property diagram or plan showing house placement, lot lines and setbacks — useful for explaining development review.
Municipal Requirements
Sometimes You Need More Than One Approval
A building permit and a development permit are not necessarily the same thing.
A building permit generally deals with how the project is constructed and the building requirements that apply to it.
A development permit generally deals with planning and land-use matters such as how the proposed project fits the property, zoning or local development rules.
Some projects need only a building permit. Others require both.
Secondary suites, additions, new homes and properties with particular zoning or site conditions are examples where additional development review may come into play depending on the municipality.
If drawings are required for both the development and building permit process, Drafting Smith can prepare the applicable residential plans.
The homeowner or builder remains responsible for submitting the application.
WHAT ABOUT ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING & GAS?
Some Permits Are Separate
Building drawings don't replace trade permits.
Depending on the project and jurisdiction, electrical, plumbing, gas or mechanical work may require separate permits.
Those are typically handled separately by the homeowner, contractor or applicable licensed trade.
Our focus is the residential design and drawing package.
When They're Needed
Some Projects Need More Than Drafting
Not every residential project requires an engineer.
Some do.
Structural changes, beams, foundation work and other conditions can trigger engineering requirements depending on the project and municipality.
When structural engineering is required, Drafting Smith can coordinate with the engineer and incorporate the applicable information into the drawing package.
A project may also require information from:
- A land surveyor
- Truss supplier
- Floor-system supplier
- Energy consultant
- Other specialized professionals
These services are separate unless specifically included in the project agreement.
The goal is to identify those requirements early rather than discovering them after the application has already been submitted.
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Structural engineering / beam detail
Recommended: real structural sketch, beam/post detail, foundation detail or engineer-marked drawing coordinated with Drafting Smith. Keep it residential and technical.
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Full-size Drafting Smith permit drawing sheet
Recommended: actual residential plan sheet large enough to inspect visually. Remove client name/address and detailed dimensions; retain room names and general room sizes.
Sample Work
See What a Permit Drawing Looks Like
The easiest way to understand the level of detail is to see an actual sheet.
For website samples, client names, addresses and detailed measurements can be removed for privacy. Room names and general room sizes can remain so visitors can still understand how the plans are organized.
Suggested Caption:
Sample residential drawing by Drafting Smith. Client information and detailed dimensions removed for privacy.
How It Works
From Project Idea to Permit Drawings
01
Tell Us What You're Planning
Send us the project location and a brief explanation of the work.
Include anything you already have — sketches, photos, old drawings, property information or existing plans.
02
We Check the Requirements
Before detailed drafting begins, we review the current requirements for the municipality and the type of project you're proposing.
We'll also identify information we still need from you.
03
Confirm the Scope
Once we understand the project, we'll confirm the drawings and services required and provide a free estimate.
We respond to estimate requests within 24 hours.
04
Prepare the Drawings
We develop the plans around the project and applicable submission requirements.
If engineering or another consultant is required, that can be coordinated as the drawings develop.
05
Receive Your Plans
Completed plans are supplied as PDF files.
Printed plan sets are also available upon request for an additional fee.
Drafting Smith retains the editable source files.
06
Submit Your Application
The homeowner or builder submits the permit application to the municipality.
If the municipal reviewer requests drawing changes or additional information, Drafting Smith can address those requests on a case-by-case basis.
Additional charges may apply depending on what needs to be changed.
Already Have Something?
Send Us What You Have
You don't need professional drawings before contacting us.
A hand sketch, real estate floor plan, old set of house plans, photographs or even a marked-up image can help us understand what you're trying to do.
We'll review what you have and determine what can be used and what still needs to be confirmed.
For renovations and existing buildings, measurements and existing conditions are handled case by case. The approach depends on the type of project, location, distance and the information already available.
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Hand sketch / marked-up idea
Recommended: genuine homeowner sketch, handwritten room layout or marked-up image — imperfect is better than polished here.
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Old house plan / real-estate floor plan
Recommended: existing drawing or floor-plan source used to understand the current building.
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Renovation photos / existing conditions
Recommended: clear project photos showing the area being changed, ideally with visible context rather than close-up detail only.
New Construction
Building Permit Drawings for New Homes
A new home typically requires a more complete drawing package than a small residential renovation.
The plans need to communicate the building as a whole — from its relationship to the property through the floor layouts, exterior design and major building components.
If your design is already established, Drafting Smith can prepare the residential drawings needed for the next stage.
If you're still developing the house itself, start with our custom home design service.
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New home + permit drawing set
Recommended: finished or under-construction custom home paired with a corresponding floor plan/elevation; reinforces the full-project scale of new-home permit drawings.
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Existing vs proposed renovation drawing
Recommended: before/after plan pair or overlay that clearly shows existing conditions and proposed changes. This should feel technical, not like a generic renovation photo.
Existing Homes
Show What's There — and What's Changing
One of the biggest differences with renovation drawings is that the new design has to work with an existing building.
The drawing package may need to establish the current conditions as well as the proposed work so the reviewer can clearly see what is changing.
Structural modifications may also require engineering.
Additional Living Space
Plans for Basement Developments & Suites
Basement and secondary-suite projects often need to work around existing windows, stairs, mechanical equipment, structural conditions and the layout above.
Municipal requirements can also differ significantly between a straightforward basement development and a secondary suite.
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Basement / secondary-suite permit plan
Recommended: real lower-level plan showing bedrooms, suite layout, windows/exits, mechanical constraints or existing/proposed conditions.
Across the Prairies
Building Permit Drawings Across Saskatchewan, Alberta & Manitoba
Drafting Smith is based in Saskatoon and works with residential clients throughout the Prairies.
Our primary service regions include:
Saskatoon
Building Permit Information for Saskatoon →
Regina
Residential Drafting in Regina →
Calgary
Residential Drafting in Calgary →
Edmonton
Residential Drafting in Edmonton →
Winnipeg
Residential Drafting in Winnipeg →
Because municipal requirements vary, each project is reviewed according to where the property is located rather than using one standard package everywhere.
Building Permits
Questions About Building Permit Drawings
They are drawings used to clearly communicate the proposed residential work as part of a municipal permit application.
Depending on the project, they may include floor plans, elevations, sections, site information, foundation plans and construction details.
It depends on the project and municipality.
Many residential projects require drawings as part of the application. Smaller projects may have simpler requirements, while new homes, additions and more complex alterations generally require more information.
We review the applicable requirements before beginning the detailed drawings.
For many standard residential projects, yes.
The phrase is often used to describe detailed plans such as floor plans, exterior elevations, sections and related construction drawings.
Drafting Smith is a residential drafting and design company, not an architecture firm.
If your particular project requires the involvement of a registered architect or another regulated professional, we'll identify that during our review.
The homeowner or builder submits the permit application.
Drafting Smith prepares the drawings and can help identify what drawing information the project requires, but we do not act as the permit applicant.
Yes.
If your project requires drawings for both development and building review, we can prepare the applicable residential plans.
The exact requirements depend on the municipality and project.
It happens.
A reviewer may ask for clarification, additional information or revisions before approving an application.
Drafting Smith can review and make requested drawing changes on a case-by-case basis. Additional fees may apply depending on the scope of the revisions.
No.
We prepare the drawings based on the project information and the current requirements we're able to identify, but the municipality reviews the application and makes the approval decision.
Additional information or revisions can be requested during that review.
In some municipalities and for some project types, homeowners are allowed to prepare their own drawings provided those drawings meet the municipality's submission standards.
Other municipalities or project types have more specific requirements.
If you'd rather not work through those requirements yourself, that's where professional drafting can help.
Maybe.
Structural changes, beams, foundations and other project conditions may require engineering.
When engineering is required, Drafting Smith can coordinate with the engineer and incorporate the relevant information into the drawings.
No.
Electrical, plumbing, gas and other trade permits are generally separate from the residential drawing package and are typically handled by the homeowner, builder or applicable trade.
Potentially, yes.
Drafting Smith can prepare drawings documenting existing work when plans are required after construction.
Because the work is already complete, the client is responsible for ensuring that the information and existing conditions provided to Drafting Smith are accurate and accepts responsibility for previously completed construction.
We'll review the situation before starting to determine what can reasonably be documented and what additional information may be required.
Turnaround depends on the size and complexity of the project and Drafting Smith's workload at the time.
Once we've reviewed the project, we'll be able to give you a better idea of the expected schedule.
Municipal review time is separate and is controlled by the municipality.
Pricing depends on the project and the drawings required.
Estimates are free.
Send us the project location, a description of the work and anything you already have. We'll review the information and respond within 24 hours.
Completed drawings are supplied as PDF files.
Printed plan sets are available upon request for an additional fee.
Editable DWG/source files are not supplied.
Yes.
Once the project is paid for, the finished PDF or printed plans can be taken to the builder or contractor of your choice.
Drafting Smith retains ownership of the editable working files used to produce them.
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Residential permit project — closing CTA image
Recommended: finished residence, project under construction, or plans-on-table image with enough negative space for the CTA. Use a different image from the hero.
Need Permit Drawings?
Let's Figure Out What Your Project Needs
Send us the property location, a quick description of the work and whatever you already have — sketches, photos, existing drawings or plans.
We'll review the project and current municipal requirements, then let you know what is needed to move forward.
Estimate requests are reviewed within 24 hours.