Quick answer
Answer every comment in a numbered response letter that says what changed and on which sheet, cloud and date every revision, keep the drawings and calculations consistent, and resubmit everything as one complete package. A thorough response usually makes the second review the last.
Receiving plan review comments does not mean your project was rejected. It means the reviewer needs something changed, clarified or added before approving it. A clear, complete response is the fastest way to a permit, and a sloppy one can add weeks.
Read the whole letter first
Comments often come from several reviewers: building, structural, zoning, fire and sometimes engineering. Read everything before changing anything, because one change can affect another comment. Note any comment that is unclear and ask the reviewer about it early. Most reviewers would rather answer a short question than review a second wrong response.
Sort comments into three groups
- Drawing changes: add a dimension, revise a detail, change a beam size.
- Clarifications: the information is already there but the reviewer missed it. Point to the exact sheet and detail.
- Missing documents: calculations, energy forms, product approvals, a soils report or a truss package.
Write a response letter
Answer every comment, in the same order and numbering the reviewer used. For each one, quote or summarize the comment, state what was done, and say exactly where to find it: sheet number and detail number. Never leave a comment unanswered, even when the answer is that no change is needed and why.
Revise the drawings the right way
- Cloud every change and tag it with a revision number
- Update the revision block and date on each changed sheet
- Update the calculations if any member size or load changed, so drawings and calculations still agree
- Re-seal changed engineered sheets where the jurisdiction requires it
Resubmit as one complete package
Upload the response letter, the revised sheets and any new documents together, following the portal’s resubmittal instructions. Partial resubmittals usually restart the clock.
The most common structural comments
- Beam or header without a size or calculation
- Missing shear wall, hold-down or anchor bolt information
- Footing sizes or depths not shown
- Design loads not listed on the drawings
- Calculations that do not match the framing plan
How Residential PE helps
Permit support is included in every Residential PE project: we answer the reviewer’s comments, revise our sheets and resubmit until your permit is approved, at no extra charge. If you received comments on drawings prepared by someone else, our review and stamp service can address them. Send us the comment letter for a quote.
Common questions
How many review rounds are normal?
One round of comments is common. A thorough response usually means the second review is the last.
Can I call the plan reviewer?
Usually yes. Many departments list reviewer contacts or offer short meetings. A quick conversation about an unclear comment saves time.
Who should answer structural comments?
The engineer who designed the structure, since any change must be checked against the calculations and re-sealed.