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Should I print my permit set at 11×17 or 24×36?
Print what the building department's checklist asks for. Most want full-size sheets at scale (usually 24×36), and some accept 11×17 or 12×18 half-size sets for small residential work. With East Coast Blueprints a 24×36 is $2.00 a sheet, 12×18 $0.75 and 11×17 $0.35, so ordering both a full-size and a half-size set on one order costs little extra.
Why full size is the default. Plan reviewers and inspectors measure off the drawings with a scale ruler. A 24×36 sheet drawn at ¼″ = 1′ only measures correctly at 24×36. A reduced copy is not to scale and is usually marked that way.
Half-size is not 11×17. Exactly half of a 24×36 sheet is 12×18, which keeps a true half scale (¼″ = 1′ becomes ⅛″ = 1′). 11×17 is half of a 22×34 sheet, so a 24×36 drawing printed on 11×17 is a little smaller than half and fits no standard scale. If the reviewer will scale it, use 12×18.
How many copies. Residential permits commonly want two or three sets; commercial work more. The checklist says. One order can carry the full-size sets to the building department and a half-size set to your office.
Related questions
Will my building department accept 11×17?
It depends on the department and the project type, so check its submission checklist or call the permit counter. Many accept half-size for small residential work and require full-size for commercial.
Can I order full-size and half-size on one order?
Yes. Add a second line at 12×18 or 11×17 from the same PDF. Each line prices on its own and both ship in one box.
What does a residential permit set cost?
A 15-sheet set at 24×36 is about $30 in black and white, plus $15 Ground (free over $100). See the house permit set answer.
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See also
More answers: How much does it cost to print a 50-page plan set? · What is the cheapest way to print blueprints in bulk? · Where can I print 24×36 plans online and get them the next day? · How do I get blueprints printed and shipped to a job site? · Can I print blueprints the same day online? · How much does it cost to print a permit set for a house?