Electronic Plan Check Submittal Requirements

Electronic Submittal Instructions

Applications are processed during normal business hours: 

Monday through Thursday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 

Step 1.What do you need? 

Please review the information below to understand the information, and materials required for your project:

  1. Plan Check Submittal Checklist -  Residential Projects
  2. Commercial Projects
  3. Format Requirements - please meet all requirements to ensure a timely turnaround time. 

Step 2.Fill out your Building Permit Application

Step 3.Submit your Building Application

Submit your Building Permit Application and all required submittal documents online using the City’s Permit Portal following the format requirements below.

Permit Portal 

Step 4.After submission

New submittals are processed within two (2) business days. Processing times may vary depending on the volume of incoming applications.

After you submit your plans initially, you will either receive a letter with comments requiring corrections or a notice of project approval.

 

Format Requirements

To ensure successful electronic plan review, all documents must meet the following standards. Submittals that do not comply will be rejected and returned to the applicant, causing processing delays.

File Type  

  • PDF Format: All files must be PDF version 1.4 or higher
  • Flattening: All PDFs must be flattened to remove layers, comments, stamps, and editable content. Use CAD export tools, “Save As / Flattened,” or the Optimize PDF function (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Pro).
  • Editable Content: Ensure no comments or editable objects remain. Files with annotations or “Comment Panel” items will be rejected.
  • No ZIP Files: Zipped folders are not accepted, please upload each file. 
  • Unsecured Files: Files must be unlocked (no password protection or encryption) to allow City markups, comments, and stamps.
  • Unsecured Settings: Choose “unsecured” on your security settings to enable staff to mark up the documents or create comments/note

 

Format Requirements 

To ensure successful electronic plan review, all documents must meet the following standards. Submittals that do not comply will be rejected and returned to the applicant, causing processing delays.

1. File Type  

  • PDF Format: All files must be PDF version 1.4 or higher
  • Flattening: All PDFs must be flattened to remove layers, comments, stamps, and editable content. Use CAD export tools, “Save As / Flattened,” or the Optimize PDF function (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Pro).
  • Editable Content: Ensure no comments or editable objects remain. Files with annotations or “Comment Panel” items will be rejected.
  • No ZIP Files: Zipped folders are not accepted, please upload each file. 
  • Unsecured Files: Files must be unlocked (no password protection or encryption) to allow City markups, comments, and stamps.
  • Unsecured Settings: Choose “unsecured” on your security settings to enable staff to mark up the documents or create comments/note

2. File Naming

  • Naming Format: Use Submission Cycle + File Description (e.g., SUB1 Application, SUB1 Civil Plans, SUB1 Struct Calcs).
  • Do NOT use special characters in the file names, including: ! * ; : @ & = + $ , / ? % # [ ] “ < >
  • File Length: File names must be under 140 characters.
  • Separate Files: Each major submittal item must be its own PDF (e.g., plans, Title 24 report, structural calcs, soils report, etc.)

3. Plan Organization

  • Maximum File Size: Each file must not exceed 100 MB. Larger sets must be split into logical sub-sets (e.g., Plans_Set1of2, Plans_Set2of2).
  • Area for Stamps: Reserve a 3″ x 6″ clear space in the lower-right quadrant of the cover sheet or first page for City stamps.
  • Cover Sheet: Include a cover sheet with a sheet index listing all sheets across all PDF plan sets.
  • Conditions of Approvals:
    • Paste copies of the conditions on subsequent page(s) after the cover sheet.
    • List any Conditions of Approval letters from project-related entitlements from Planning or Public Works on the cover sheet of your plans.

4. Plan Presentation

  • Paper Size: Between 18″ × 24″ and 36″ × 48″. (Minimum accepted: 11″ × 17″ for smaller projects only.)
  • Scale: PDF exhibits must be generated at a prescribed scale for staff to verify dimensions and areas within the file, using the built-in Acrobat measuring tool. Include a graphic scale bar on each sheet or label dimensions. Measurements must be in English units.
    • i.e. ¼” = 1’-0”, or 1/8” = 1’-0”
  • Orientation: All drawings/plans must uniformly use landscape orientation. Maintain a uniform page position and page size for all plans (architectural, landscape, civil, etc.).
  • Drawing Style: Use black-and-white plot style (no grayscale or color).

5. Page Numbering 

  • Location: Bottom-right corner of each sheet.
  • Format: Start with a discipline letter followed by a number (e.g., A1, A-11). Limit page numbers to 12 characters or fewer.
  • Font: Use a standard TrueType font (Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, or Courier). Use filled-in, non-italicized characters with clear spacing. Avoid overlapping, cursive, or decorative fonts.
  • Quality: Ensure 150 DPI or higher resolution and Z-coordinate = 0 (no 3D text).

6. Scanned Files

Scanned documents are acceptable if they:

  1. Are 150 DPI or higher;
  2. Are properly aligned (no skewed pages);
  3. Are clear, legible, and optimized
  4. Meet all other format requirements listed above.

 

Resubmittal Requirements

After you submit your plans initially, you will either receive a letter with comments requiring corrections or a notice of project approval.

If you receive comments, you must address each plan check comment and resubmit using the same requirements as your original submittal.

Instructions for resubmittals: 

 

  1. Create a response letter with a detailed explanation of how each plan check comment from all Departments/Divisions have been addressed.
  2. Cloud all changes and note delta number on the title block.
  3. Use the same format, plan size and scale as the original submittal.
  4. Please respond to all department corrections in one complete resubmittal. Partial response to corrections will not be accepted. (i.e., if Planning has a hold and Fire has a hold, then responses to both sets of corrections need to be resubmitted at the same time) 
  5. Resubmit a complete set of plans and other applicable documents such as structural calculations, energy design, equipment specifications, etc. to the permit portal. 

 

 

Revisions to Approved Plans

If your plans have already been approved and you need to make revisions, please follow these requirements:  

  • File includes the original plans with the City-approved stamp. 

  • Building Permit Number of original approved plans. 

  • A clear and concise description of work summarizing revisions to the original plans. 

  • A separate file containing a full, complete drawing and document package containing the newly revised sheets, changes clearly highlighted, clouded and delineated with date of revision. (i.e: Cloud all changes and note delta number on the title block.) 

For questions related to the electronic submittal process, code questions, or general building questions, please email permits@alamedaca.gov.

Submit Your Application

 

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