Deck & porch permit drawings, made simple.
Same look. Professional results. Every time.
01Four steps
How PermitSketch works
One straight path from the property to a set of residential permit drawings. Your project is saved to your account, so you can start on site and pick it back up later.
1.Address
Enter project details
Type the project address. The lookup pulls public property information for you to review and correct before anything reaches a sheet.
2.Photos
Upload property photos
Shoot with your phone camera or pick from your library, then caption each photo so the existing conditions are on record.
3.Scope
Add measurements and details
Enter dimensions in feet and inches. Every value is marked Unknown, Estimated or Field verified, so nothing unconfirmed slips through unnoticed.
4.Drawings
Generate and download
Generate the sheet set, review each view, then export an 11x17 PDF or individual PNG and JPEG sheets.
02The sheet set
The permit drawing sheets you get
Deck permit drawings and porch permit drawings are mostly the same handful of views. PermitSketch lays each one out in a consistent black-line style, ready for your review.
Swipe to see all 8 sheets
Sheets are generated from one project data model — change a measurement and every affected view updates.
03Built for the field
Permit drawing software that works on your phone
Measurements get taken on site, tape in one hand. PermitSketch is designed mobile-first so you can enter them right there instead of copying notes into a desktop program later.
Large controls
Buttons, rows and inputs are sized for a thumb on a job site, not a mouse pointer.
Single-column intake
One question after another, top to bottom. No side panels, no pinching and zooming around a desktop layout.
Sticky primary action
Continue and download stay pinned to the bottom of the screen, where your thumb already is.
Save status
You can see whether your work has been saved before you put the phone back in your pocket.
04Who it is for
Built for deck builders, remodelers, contractors and DIY homeowners
Deck & porch builders
Turn the measurements you already take on every job into a consistent set of deck plans for permit, with your company in the title block.
Remodelers
Add a porch, landing or stair to a renovation without stopping to draft it by hand or learn a CAD program.
General contractors
Keep small exterior structures moving: collect the site information once and produce the same sheet layout for every project.
DIY homeowners
Organize your own measurements into clear drawings, see exactly what still needs verifying, and review it with your building department.
05Export
Export 11x17 PDF, PNG or JPEG for your building department
Download the full set as one PDF to print or upload, or grab a single sheet as an image to drop into an email or an online application.
PDF
11x17 landscape, full set
PNG
Single sheets
JPEG
Single sheets
- The sheet carries your contractor details — not ours — along with the project address, application number, revision and date.
- Sheets are diagrams, not scaled survey drawings: the written dimensions govern, so check every one.
- Anything you left blank or have not field-verified prints as VERIFY IN FIELD, and every sheet is labeled DRAFT - FOR REVIEW.
Illustration — 11 x 17 in. landscape sheet
06Honest scope
What PermitSketch is — and isn’t
Permit drawings are your responsibility, and we would rather be clear about that than oversell. Here is where the tool stops.
It is
- A drawing tool that organizes your address, photos and field measurements into clear, consistent sheets.
- A way to produce the same professional layout on every job, with your company in the title block.
- Upfront about gaps: anything you left blank or have not field-verified is flagged VERIFY IN FIELD, and every sheet is labeled DRAFT - FOR REVIEW.
- Quick to revise — update a measurement and regenerate the affected views.
It isn’t
- An engineer or an architect. No drawing is reviewed, sealed or stamped by a licensed professional.
- A promise of approval. Your building department decides what it accepts.
- A structural calculator. It never sizes joists, beams, posts or footings for you: it draws the sizes you enter, and prints VERIFY IN FIELD for the ones you leave blank.
- A substitute for local rules. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, so check what yours needs.
- A reason to skip the review. Read every sheet and verify every dimension before you submit or build.
07Learn
Permit drawing guides
Plain-language walkthroughs of what goes on each sheet, whether or not you draw it with PermitSketch.
- How to draw deck plans for a permitWhat a deck permit drawing set usually contains, and how to measure for it.
- Porch permit drawings: what to includeElevations, plan view, roof and column information for a porch application.
- Deck stair & railing details for permitsThe stair, guard and handrail information reviewers commonly ask to see.
- Deck framing plan & footing layoutShowing joists, beams, posts and footing locations clearly on one sheet.
08Questions
Permit drawing FAQs
Straight answers about what the tool does, what it produces and where your own review comes in.
Can I draw my own deck plans for a permit?
In many US jurisdictions, homeowners and contractors can prepare their own drawings for a simple residential deck, but the rules vary. Some building departments require a licensed architect or engineer for taller, larger or non-standard decks. Ask your local building department first. PermitSketch helps you produce clear, dimensioned sheets; it is not an engineering or architectural service.
What drawings do I need for a deck permit?
Most departments ask for a site plan showing where the deck sits on the lot, plus structural drawings: a deck plan, framing plan, footing layout, cross-section, and stair and railing details. The exact list varies, so get your local submittal checklist. PermitSketch produces the deck plan, framing, footing, section and detail sheets with a title block for you to review. It does not produce a surveyed site or plot plan.
How do I draw deck plans for a permit?
Measure the deck, then note joist, beam, post and footing sizes and spacing. Draw a dimensioned deck plan, a framing plan, a footing layout and a cross-section. In PermitSketch you enter the address, add photos, enter the scope and measurements, and generate the drawings. Check every sheet against your local requirements before you submit it.
Do I need an engineer or architect for deck permit drawings?
Often not for a simple deck that follows the prescriptive tables in your locally adopted code, but it depends on where you build. Many jurisdictions require stamped drawings for elevated, large, covered or unusual decks. PermitSketch is a drawing tool, not a design professional, so confirm what your building department expects before you start.
Do I need a permit to build a deck or porch?
Many jurisdictions require a permit for decks that are attached to the house, above a certain height or over a certain size, and for most covered porches. Small, low, freestanding decks are sometimes exempt. The rules differ by city and county, so confirm with your building department before you build or order materials.
What size should permit drawings be?
Requirements vary. Many departments accept 11x17 or larger sheets, and many take PDF uploads through an online portal. Whatever the size, drawings need to be legible and dimensioned. PermitSketch exports 11x17 PDF sheets plus PNG or JPEG images. Check your department's submittal guidelines for sheet size, scale and file format before you send anything.
Is there permit drawing software that works on a phone?
Yes. PermitSketch is a mobile-first web app. On site, you enter the project address, take or upload photos, enter the scope and your field measurements, and generate the drawing sheets. You can export an 11x17 PDF or PNG and JPEG images. Review everything carefully before you send it to your building department.
Does PermitSketch guarantee my permit will be approved?
No. No software can. Each building department reviews drawings against its own adopted codes and local amendments. You are responsible for verifying the dimensions, spans and details shown on your sheets. The plan reviewer may still ask for corrections, more information or a drawing stamped by a licensed design professional.
What should a deck framing plan show?
Typically the ledger and how it attaches, joist size, spacing and direction, beam size and location, post locations, footing locations, blocking and overall dimensions. Sizes come from your local prescriptive tables or a design professional. PermitSketch draws only the sizes you enter. Anything you leave blank, or have not confirmed on site, prints as VERIFY IN FIELD.
From property to permit-ready drawings
Start your deck or porch permit drawings
Enter the address, add site photos and key in your field measurements. PermitSketch organizes them into a clean drawing set you can review, export and take to your building department.
PermitSketch is a drawing tool. Requirements vary by jurisdiction — review every sheet before you submit.