Permitting
Home Addition Packages
Complete permit-ready drawing packages for residential additions: room additions, second stories, and covered expansions.
Scope Coverage
Eight addition types. One complete permit package.
8+
Addition Types
7–12 Days
Turnaround
Target
First-Pass Approval
All US
Jurisdictions
The Process
From site to submission.
Existing Conditions Documentation
We establish the existing structure on record (floor plan, elevations, and site conditions) as the baseline from which the addition is drawn. Accuracy here prevents corrections during plan check.
Addition Design Drafting
The proposed addition is drawn in full, coordinated against the existing structure: new floor plans, exterior elevations, building sections, and all required detail drawings.
Code and Zoning Compliance
The addition is reviewed against setback requirements, lot coverage limits, FAR, height restrictions, and all applicable building code requirements including egress, structural, and energy compliance.
Permit Set Assembly
All sheets are compiled into a jurisdiction-specific submission package, formatted to the building department's requirements, with a complete title sheet, code summary, and sheet index.
Deliverables
What every package includes.
01
Existing Conditions Floor Plan
Measured plan of the existing structure showing all dimensions, wall locations, openings, and conditions relevant to the proposed addition scope.
02
Proposed Addition Floor Plan
Complete dimensioned plan of the addition with all new construction shown in context with the existing structure.
03
Exterior Elevations
All affected building elevations showing the addition in context with the existing structure, with heights, materials, and openings called out.
04
Building Section
Cross-section through the addition showing structural assembly, ceiling heights, insulation locations, and floor-to-floor dimensions.
05
Site Plan
Site plan showing the addition footprint against property lines, with all required setback dimensions and updated lot coverage calculation.
06
Title Sheet and Code Summary
Project identification, scope description, applicable codes, and all regulatory summary information required by the jurisdiction.
Why Additions Fail Plan Check
Addition permits are rejected more often than new construction permits because the existing structure introduces variables that make compliance harder to demonstrate. A package built specifically for the addition type, not a generic template, passes plan check faster.
Common rejection reasons
- Setback violations not caught before submission
- Existing conditions incorrectly documented
- Missing coordination between existing and new structure
- Energy compliance omitted for conditioned additions
- Jurisdiction-specific sheet requirements not met
Common Questions
Frequently asked.
Still have questions? Contact us and we will answer them directly before you submit an inquiry.
- Do you handle additions that require structural engineering?
- Yes. We coordinate with the structural engineer of record. Our structural coordination service handles the integration of structural drawings into the permit set. We manage the coordination so you have one submission-ready package.
- What if the existing structure isn't in the city's records?
- We work from your provided measurements, site photos, or an existing conditions survey. We document on the title sheet that existing conditions are based on field measurement. Most jurisdictions accept this for additions under a certain size threshold.
- Can you match the existing architecture?
- Yes. We draw the addition to match or complement the existing structure's architectural style, materials, and proportions as documented in your provided reference.
- Do you cover additions in California?
- Yes. California additions require Title 24 energy compliance documentation, which is included in our California permit packages.
Designed For
Who this serves.
Homeowners
Adding living space to an existing home and need permit documentation to proceed with construction.
General Contractors
Who need a complete permit set for a client's addition project before pulling the building permit.
Design-Build Firms
Who need a production drafting partner to deliver permit sets on client addition projects.
Real Estate Investors
Adding square footage to increase property value and need a code-compliant permit set for the work.
Continue Exploring
Related services.
- Permitting
Permit Set Preparation
Jurisdiction-specific permit packages built for first-pass approval.
- Permitting
Garage Conversion Packages
Permit documentation for converting attached and detached garages into living space, ADUs, or accessory rooms.
- Coordination
Structural Coordination
Architectural and structural drawings coordinated into one coherent permit set.
Ready to permit your addition?
Share your project scope, jurisdiction, and any existing drawings. We confirm the package contents and timeline before starting.