File specifications

Documents submitted via the online permit portal must follow the outlined specifications to effect smoother electronic document review, process clarity and standard security practices. 

File types and sizes

  1. Only PDF file types are accepted. No PDF portfolios, CAD, Office, jpegs, etc. 
  2. Each file shall be less than 400MB 

File names

  1. Maximum 60 characters
  2. Only dashes for symbol/punctuation (no "!" "#" "%" etc.).
  3. Every plan and document filename shall be similar to the following:

First-time submittal examples

  • PC1-701 Laurel St Plans
  • PC1-701 Laurel St Calcs
  • PC1-701 Laurel St T24 

Resubmittal examples to resolve comments/errors

  • PC2-701 Laurel St Plans
  • PC3-701 Laurel St Plans

Revisions to issued permits

  • PC1R1-701 Laurel St Plans
  • PC1R1-701 Laurel St Calcs
  • PC1R1-701 Laurel St T24

Submittal content

Please read the following information carefully. Sections 1-3 are for first submittals. Section 4 is for resubmittals. And Section 5 describes submittal requirements for revisions.

  1. Plan sets shall comply with the following criteria:
    • Combine all disciplines into one set
    • No password protection 
    • Preferably CAD-based as a vector file or drawing template
    • City may consider PDFs of hand-drawings (typically increased processing times)
    • Minimum 11 inches x 17 inches, landscape oriented
    • Generated to a scale, e.g., 1/4" = 1', 1/8" = 1', or 1:10
    • Sheet Index printed on first page listing all sheets in the file
    • Every sheet signed by designer or stamped by CA-licensed professional
    • 4-inch square empty space on coversheet for City's approval stamp
  2. Plan sets shall include bookmarks complying with the following:
    • Embedded into each PDF page
    • Bookmarked by page number with the bookmark (or page reference) for any sheet remaining identical from submittal to submittal. Below is a list of accepted bookmark formats. 

    Legend
    L= Single letter (A-Z)
     #= Single digit number (1-9)
    d= Dot (.) or Dash (-)


    Allowable format  Example
     Single letter with single number combinations
    L# A1
    Ld# A.1 or A-1
     Single letter with two number combinations
    L## A12
    Ld## A.12 or A-12
    L#d# A1.1 or A1-1
    Ld#d# A.1.1 or A.1-1
    A-1-1 or A-1.1 
     Single letter with three number combinations
    L### A123
    L#d## A1.23 or A1-23
    L##d# A12.3 or A12-3
    L#d#d# A1.2.3 or A1.2-3
    A-2-3 or A-2.3
    Ld### A.123 or A-123
    Ld#d## A.1.23 or A.1-23
    A-1-23 or A-1.23
     Single letter with four number combinations
    L##d## A12.34 or A12-34
     Two letters with one number combinations
     LL# AD1
     LLd# AD.1 or AD-2
     Two letters with two number combinations
    LL## AD12
    LL#d# AD1.2 or AD1-2
    LLd## AD.12 or AD-12
    LLd#d# AD.1.2 or AD.1-2
    AD-1-2 or AD-1.2
    L#d#L A1.2.D or A1.2-D
    A1-2-D or A1-2.D
     Two letters with three number combinations
    LL### AD123
    LL#d## AD1.23 or AD1-23
    LL###d# AD123.4 or AD123-4
    L##d#L A12.3D or A12-3D
  3. Cut sheets, manuals and other supporting documents shall be submitted separately as individual multipage PDFs
  4. Resubmitting shall comply with the following criteria:
    • Provide full plan set, not just modified/delta sheets
    • Cloud/highlight the updates
    • Pages submitted previously keep the same numbering/bookmarks
    • New pages inserted/added, shall have different numbering/bookmarks from previous
  5. Revisions are submittals that modify a previously issued permit. Updated plans shall comply with the following:
    • Start with approved plan set with the City's stamps
    • Slip-sheet/replace appropriate pages with updates (no stamps)
    • Add new pages as necessary
    • Ensure all updates are clouded/highlighted
    • Pages with the City's stamps retain same numbering/bookmarks
    • Use different numbering/bookmarks for slip-sheeted or added pages
    • Provide a narrative of changes with a bullet list of updates
    • Slip-sheeting example:

    Description Example
     Approved 4 page plan with City's stamps SH1, SH2, SH3, SH4
    Third page replaced, stamped different than others SH1, SH2, SH3Rev1, SH4
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