The cost of permit drawings depends on what needs to be documented and how much of the design is already resolved. For a remodel, start by separating existing-condition documentation, proposed drawings, and interior design/selections.

At Delano Designs, whole-home remodel documentation is priced at $3.50 per square foot for the existing area being documented and $7 per square foot for proposed remodel drawings. Design and a full bill of materials add $10 per square foot for the area receiving that service. Your proposal identifies which area each fee applies to.

For example, a 700-square-foot basement finish with 1,000 square feet of unchanged upstairs documentation would calculate as $3,500 for the upstairs, $4,900 for proposed basement drawings, and $7,000 for basement design/BOM: $15,400 in planning fees. This is a scope illustration, not an ADU quote or construction estimate.

Single rooms use starting project fees because coordination does not shrink proportionally with floor area. Bathroom design starts at $3,500, with permit-ready drawings after design starting at $2,500. Kitchen design starts at $5,000, with drawings after design starting at $4,500. When both phases are needed, that means starting planning totals of $6,000 and $9,500 respectively.

Engineering, surveys, municipal fees/filing, purchased materials, construction, and construction administration are separate unless included in writing. Additions and new structures are custom-scoped.

A useful quote also explains revisions, required information, and production timing. Drawings can support a clearer submission and contractor comparison; they do not guarantee approval or a final construction price.