How to Submit As-Built Drawings to the Building Department

If you need to submit as-built drawings to the building department in California, the process is usually straightforward once you know what the city wants to see. The key is to start with accurate existing-condition plans, organize the right files, and match your submittal package to the permit scope.

Whether you are planning a remodel, ADU, tenant improvement, or other update to an existing building, your as-built set helps the city understand what is already there before it reviews what you want to change. FastAsBuilt provides field-measured as-built drawings and measured floor plans across California, with local crews serving Southern California, the Bay Area, and San Diego.

What the building department expects from as-built drawings

When you submit plans, the building department is trying to verify existing conditions clearly enough to review proposed work. That means your as-built drawings should reflect the building as it exists in the field, not how someone thinks it was built years ago and not a rough sketch based on memory.

For many California projects, the city wants plans that are clean, legible, and scaled. Depending on the permit scope, that can include:

• Existing floor plans with room layout, doors, windows, and major dimensions
• Exterior elevations when exterior work is proposed
• Building sections when height, roof, floor, or structural relationships matter
• Site-related information if the permit affects setbacks, access, or exterior improvements
• A format suitable for plan check submission, often PDF and sometimes DWG for the design team

If you are still getting familiar with the basics, it helps to review what as-built drawings are and how they fit into permit planning. In most cases, as-builts are the starting point for architects, designers, engineers, and owners who need accurate existing plans before preparing a permit set.

Know when as-builts are enough and when you need a full permit set

One common point of confusion is the difference between as-built drawings and permit drawings. As-builts document existing conditions. A permit set usually includes existing conditions plus proposed changes, notes, and other discipline-specific sheets required for review.

If your goal is only to document the property for planning, leasing, budgeting, or due diligence, an existing-condition set may be enough. If your goal is a building department submittal for construction, the as-built set is usually one part of the full application package.

For example, you may need as-builts first, then have a designer mark up demolition, new work, and code-related information on top of those files. That is why permit-ready drafting quality matters. FastAsBuilt uses on-site laser measurement, then senior drafters produce permit-ready CAD files in PDF and DWG formats so your team can keep moving.

If you are unsure what else may be required, see what drawings you need for a building permit in California. That can help you separate the existing-condition package from the full plan check submission.

Start with accurate field measurements, not old records

Many projects run into trouble because the team starts with outdated plans from a previous owner, a marketing brochure, or a scanned image with no reliable dimensions. Building departments may not directly verify every dimension at intake, but inaccurate background plans create problems during design, review, and construction.

The safer path is to measure the building as it stands today. FastAsBuilt’s process is built around that need:

• We send a local crew to the property for on-site laser measurement.
• We capture the existing layout and visible conditions needed for drafting.
• Senior drafters turn those field measurements into organized CAD drawings.
• You receive permit-ready files in PDF and DWG.

This matters in California because remodels often involve additions, enclosed patios, reconfigured rooms, and unrecorded changes from prior work. If your plans do not match reality, plan review comments tend to multiply later. For a closer look at the workflow, read how as-built drawings are made.

For many homes and small projects, 2D as-built plans are enough to begin. FastAsBuilt’s 2D As-Built Plans start at $900 for up to 1,500 square feet, then $0.50 per square foot, include one revision, and typically deliver in 48–72 hours. If you need more detailed existing documentation, 3D As-Built Plans start at $1,500, then $1.00 per square foot, and include a 3D model plus 2D floor plans, elevations, and sections with typical delivery in 3–5 business days. You can also place an order online when you are ready to schedule.

Turnaround times are estimates and may vary based on project complexity and scheduling.

Prepare the right file formats for plan check submission

To submit as-built drawings to the building department efficiently, you need to think about both the city’s upload requirements and your design team’s working files. In practice, that usually means two different needs:

• PDF files for building department submittal and plan review
• DWG files for architects, engineers, and consultants who need editable backgrounds

Most California jurisdictions now use digital permit portals. Even if the city eventually asks for printed sheets in a special case, the first step is often an online upload. Your files should be easy to read, consistently named, and exported at a quality that keeps dimensions, text, and linework sharp.

Good practice for a building department submittal includes:

• Use a clean title on each sheet indicating existing conditions
• Keep scales and dimensions legible on screen
• Make sure north arrows, room labels, and key notes are readable
• Separate existing drawings from proposed design sheets if both are included
• Check sheet orientation before uploading

If your city has naming conventions, page limits, or file size limits, follow those exactly. Many plan check delays are not about design at all; they come from incomplete uploads, missing pages, or poorly organized files.

Build a complete submittal package around the as-builts

Your as-built drawings are rarely the only item needed for permit intake. To avoid rejection at the counter or in the online portal, make sure the rest of the package matches the permit type. The exact list varies by city and project, but a typical plan check submission may also include:

• Permit application information
• Project description and scope of work
• Proposed architectural sheets
• Structural, mechanical, electrical, or plumbing sheets if applicable
• Energy or other compliance documents if required for the project
• Supporting forms requested by the local jurisdiction

For existing homes, small remodels, and ADU planning, it is common to use the measured as-built set as the base file for the rest of the permit package. That is one reason many owners search for permit-ready as-built drawings instead of simple sketch plans.

If you are preparing an ADU or other custom scope, the measured background should be coordinated early so your designer can begin on the correct footprint and existing layout. FastAsBuilt also quotes custom projects individually for commercial properties, ADUs, SB9 projects, and tenant improvements.

Common reasons building departments reject or delay submittals

If you want to submit plans smoothly, it helps to think like a plan reviewer. Reviewers are looking for clarity, completeness, and consistency. They do not want to guess which walls are existing, which dimensions control, or whether a room layout is current.

Common submittal problems include:

• Plans based on outdated or unverified dimensions
• Missing sheets needed to explain the existing building
• Illegible scans, faint linework, or poor PDF exports
• Inconsistent room names or dimensions between sheets
• Existing and proposed work mixed together without clear labeling
• Uploading the wrong version of the file to the permit portal

Another frequent issue is assuming that a simple floor plan alone will satisfy every permit need. Some projects require elevations or sections to explain roof height, window changes, exterior modifications, or level relationships. If your scope touches those areas, include enough documentation from the start.

It also helps to confirm whether the city wants all existing sheets combined into one PDF or split by discipline or sheet set. A few minutes spent checking portal instructions can save days of back-and-forth later.

How to make your submittal easier for your designer and the city

The best building department submittal is one that everyone can understand quickly: owner, designer, consultant, and reviewer. You can improve your chances of a clean intake by organizing the process before drawings are uploaded.

Before measurement day

• Make sure all accessible rooms, garages, and exterior areas related to the project can be reached
• Gather any prior plans, if available, as reference only
• Know your project goal so the right level of documentation is produced

Before submit plans to the city

• Review the drawing set for room names, dimensions, and sheet labels
• Confirm whether your consultant team needs DWG files in addition to PDF
• Check the city portal for file naming, signatures, and upload instructions
• Separate existing-condition drawings from proposed design sheets where appropriate

For buyers, owners, and project managers who do not have any drawings at all, it may help to start with how to get floor plans of an existing house. That is often the first step before a permit conversation even begins.

When 2D plans are enough and when 3D documentation helps

Not every building department submittal needs a 3D model. For many residential projects, a clear 2D measured plan is the practical starting point. It gives your team the existing layout, dimensions, and plan-based background needed for design.

However, 3D as-built documentation can be useful when the project involves more complex geometry or when elevations and sections will be needed early. That can help with projects involving:

• Complicated roof forms
• Split-level conditions
• Exterior rework where elevation accuracy matters
• Commercial or tenant improvement planning
• Design coordination across multiple consultants

FastAsBuilt’s 3D As-Built Plans include a 3D model plus 2D floor plans, elevations, and sections, with two revisions and typical delivery in 3–5 business days. For straightforward homes and many remodels, 2D plans remain the faster, lower-cost option. The right choice depends on how much existing-building information your permit team needs at the beginning.

Turnaround times are estimates and may vary based on project complexity and scheduling.

Frequently asked questions

Can you submit as-built drawings by themselves for a permit?

Sometimes, but not usually for the full permit approval process. As-built drawings document existing conditions. Most permit applications also need proposed drawings and other supporting documents based on the type of work. The as-builts are often the foundation for the full plan check submission, not the whole package by themselves.

What file format should you use for a building department submittal?

In most cases, you should expect to use PDF for the city upload and DWG for your architect, designer, or engineer. Building departments typically review PDFs through their portal, while editable CAD files help your team prepare the proposed permit set. FastAsBuilt provides permit-ready CAD files in PDF and DWG.

How fast can you get measured as-built drawings in California?

FastAsBuilt’s 2D As-Built Plans typically deliver in 48–72 hours and include one revision. Our 3D As-Built Plans typically deliver in 3–5 business days and include two revisions. Timing can depend on project size, access, and scope, especially for custom commercial or tenant improvement work.

Turnaround times are estimates and may vary based on project complexity and scheduling.

Do you need as-built drawings if old plans already exist?

In many cases, yes. Older plans may be incomplete or may not reflect changes made over time. If you need reliable existing-condition drawings to submit plans or prepare a permit set, field measurement is the safer option. Accurate current plans reduce the risk of design conflicts and plan review comments later.

Bottom line

To submit as-built drawings to the building department successfully, start with accurate field-measured existing plans, prepare clean PDF and DWG files, and make sure your upload matches the city’s permit instructions and your project scope. FastAsBuilt helps property owners, designers, and project teams across California get permit-ready measured drawings that are organized for real-world plan check submission.