Commercial Construction

Building Plan Review Requirements

In order to perform a thorough building plan review, the following specifications, drawings and details should be submitted:

A site plan includes the following information:

Distances from lot lines
Established street grades and proposed finish grades
Size and location of all new construction and all existing structures on the site.

Architectural plans and specifications should include the following information:

Accessibility provisions
Adequate details and dimensions to evaluate means of egress, including occupant loads for each floor, exit arrangement and sizes, corridors, doors, stairs, etc.
Adequate details to evaluate fire-resistive construction requirements, including data substantiating required ratings
Description and details of proposed special occupancies such as a covered mall, high-rise, mezzanine, atrium, public garage, etc.
Description of uses and the proposed use group(s) for all portions of the building
Details of required fire protection systems
Details of plastic, insulation, and safety glazing installation
Design approach for mixed-uses (as applicable)
Exit signs / means of egress lighting, including power supply
Fully dimensioned drawings to determine areas and building height
Proposed type of construction of the building

Structural plans, specifications, and engineering details should include the following information:

Applicable construction standards and material specifications (such as masonry, concrete, wood, steel, etc.)
Details of foundations and superstructure
Earthquake seismic zone/effective peak acceleration coefficient
Local design load criteria, including frost depth
Provisions for required special inspections
Signed and sealed structural design calculations which support the member sizes on the drawings
Soils report indicating the soil type and recommended allowable bearing pressure and foundation type