What a plan check response letter is
A response letter (also called a correction response, comment response or response to plan review) goes back to the building department with your revised drawings. It restates every reviewer comment and says exactly how and where you resolved it.
Its job is to make the reviewer's second pass fast. A reviewer who can check each item in seconds approves faster than one who has to hunt through 20 sheets for what changed.
The format reviewers expect
- Header — project address, permit or plan check number, revision number and date.
- Every comment, in the reviewer's order and numbering. Restate it (or quote it) so the letter stands on its own.
- A response under each comment that says what changed and where: sheet number, detail number and the revision delta.
- No skipped items. If a comment needs nothing, say why.
- Separate documents referenced by name — “Structural calculations by [engineer], dated ___, provided under separate cover.”
Example responses to common comments
| Reviewer comment | Good response |
|---|---|
| Show smoke and CO alarm locations. | Smoke and CO alarm locations added to Sheet E-1. See revision cloud Δ1. |
| Dimension stair rise, run and headroom. | Stair section added to Sheet A-4, Detail 3, showing 7¾″ max riser, 10″ min tread and 6′-8″ min headroom. |
| Clarify egress at Bedroom 3. | Window W-7 revised to a casement providing 5.7 sq ft net clear opening, 24″ min height, 20″ min width, 44″ max sill. See window schedule, Sheet A-1. |
| Provide garage/dwelling separation. | Note added to Sheet A-1: ½″ gypsum board on garage side of common wall; door to be 20-minute rated, self-closing. See Δ1. |
| Provide calculations for beam B-1. | Structural calculations by [engineer], dated [date], provided under separate cover. Beam B-1 on Sheet S-1 revised to match. |
Notice the pattern: what changed + where it is. Specific code values in the response make the check even faster.
When you disagree with a comment
Reviewers are sometimes wrong, or apply a rule that doesn't fit your project. Handle it carefully:
- Call or email the reviewer first. Many disagreements are misunderstandings about where something is shown.
- Respond with the code section, politely: “Per IRC R___ as adopted by [jurisdiction], ___ is not required because ___. Please advise if additional information is needed.”
- If it's cheap to comply, comply. Winning an argument that costs you another two-week review cycle is still a loss.
A professional plan review flags code red flags and missing details before you submit — from $99.
See plan reviewComments that need an engineer or specialist
Some comments can't be answered by a drafter: structural calculations, engineered foundations, truss calcs, soils reports, energy compliance calculations, surveys. Identify those on day one and order them first — they are usually the slowest part of the resubmittal. See when a permit correction needs a structural engineer.
Before you hit submit
- Every comment has a response, in the reviewer's numbering.
- Every change is on the drawings, clouded and tagged with the revision delta.
- Title blocks show the new revision number and date.
- Engineering documents match the drawings (sizes, grid lines, details).
- You followed the jurisdiction's resubmittal instructions: full set vs. revised sheets only, file naming, portal upload.
Rather hand it off? Our Permit Correction Service revises the sheets and writes the full response letter — $499 flat.
Frequently asked questions
What should a plan check response letter include?
The project and permit number, revision number and date, then every reviewer comment in order with a short response saying what changed and on which sheet and detail.
Do I need to cloud changes on the drawings?
Most jurisdictions expect every revision to be marked with a revision cloud and a delta tag, with the revision number and date in the title block. Check your local submittal requirements.
Can I just answer comments in the letter?
No. The drawings are the permit document. The letter only tells the reviewer where to find each change on the sheets.
What if I don’t understand a comment?
Contact the reviewer and ask. It is faster than guessing and getting the same comment back.
Can you write the response letter for me?
Yes. Our Permit Correction Service revises your sheets and writes the comment-by-comment response letter for $499 flat.