How to Draw Floor Plans for a Building Permit: A Homeowner's Guide (2026)
What your building department actually wants to see on a floor plan — and how to draw a clean, scaled, dimensioned set yourself without hiring a draftsman.
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The Easy Draft Blog
Floor plans, permits, and home additions — explained plainly.
No jargon, no architect-speak. Just honest, practical guides for homeowners and DIY builders who want to draw their own plans and get them approved.
Do You Need an Architect for a Home Addition?
When an architect is worth the money, when a draftsman is enough, and when you can legally draw the plans yourself — broken down by project type.
Read the guide →Best Floor Plan Software for Homeowners in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
A straight comparison of the floor plan tools homeowners actually use — what they cost, what they lock behind a subscription, and which one fits a one-off project.
Read the comparison →How Much Does It Cost to Have House Plans Drawn? (2026 Breakdown)
Real 2026 price ranges for draftsmen, architects, and stock plans — plus where you can save by doing the preliminary drawing yourself.
Read the breakdown →What Do Building Departments Require for an Addition Permit?
The documents, drawings, and details a typical building department asks for before approving an addition — and how to put the package together.
Read the guide →How to Plan a Home Addition: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Timers
From first idea to permit-ready plan: budgeting, layout, setbacks, and the order to tackle each step so you don't waste time or money.
Read the guide →Garage Conversion Floor Plans: How to Draw and Permit Yours
Turning a garage into living space starts with a good plan. Here's how to draw the layout, handle egress and ceiling height, and get it permitted.
Read the guide →ADU Floor Plans: A DIY Guide to Drawing Your Accessory Dwelling Unit
Planning an ADU? Learn how to lay out a compact, code-friendly unit and draw the floor plans yourself before spending on professional drawings.
Read the guide →How to Read a Floor Plan: Symbols, Scale, and Dimensions Explained
Walls, doors, windows, scale bars, dimension lines — a plain-English key to every symbol on a residential floor plan.
Read the guide →Can You Draw Your Own House Plans for a Permit? (Yes — Here's How)
In most places you can absolutely submit your own drawings. Here's when it's allowed, when it isn't, and how to make plans an inspector will accept.
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