How to Submit a Building Permit Application for Plan Review
Construction projects that do not qualify for Same-Day Review, or exceed the mechanical/electrical/plumbing (M/E/P) thresholds, are required to submit for formal plan review to the City's Electronic Plan Review (EPR) system. EPR allows architects, applicants, residents, and developers to submit plans for review entirely online and 100% paperless.
EPR Document Resources
- Building Permit Application Types
- EPR Application Packet
- EPR Processing Steps
- EPR Submittal Questionnaire
- EPR Upload and Submittal Standards
- EPR Minimum Submittal Guide
Jump to Section:
Continue the Process:
Prepare and complete your project documents (e.g., building permit application, projects plans, structural calculations, soils report, EPR Submittal Questionnaire, etc.)
Submit application online
Create/submit application in Citizen Access (step-by-step instructions here).
Upload documents to ProjectDox
- Applications, structural calculations, soils report, means and methods plans and other similar documentation should be uploaded to the 'Supporting Docs' folder
- Project plans should be uploaded to the 'Plans' folder. Each plans sheet should be uploaded as a separate PDF file. See EPR Upload and Submittal Standards for file naming, file size, and other standards.
Prescreen
A Permit Specialist will process the application and prescreen the submittal to ensure it is complete, meets minimum submittal requirements, and is ready for routing to reviewers.
Pay Plan Review Fees
Once the application submittal is deemed complete, fees will be assessed and payment is required prior to beginning the first round of review. Plan review formally begins upon payment of plan review fees. See here for instructions on how to pay plan review fees online.
Plan Review
- In Review - Project is currently in a review cycle
- Applicant Corrections or Resubmittal Required - A round of review is completed and there are outstanding corrections that require project to be resubmitted for another review cycle.
- Approved - All plan reviewers have approved the project and project is awaiting final processing by Permit Specialist prior to building permit issuance.
- Ready to Issue - Fees are ready to be paid and building permit is ready to be issued.
Building Permit Issuance
- In-Person at Permit Services Center
- Online via City's Virtual Permit Issuance service by appointment only (schedule appointment).
FAQ
How do I check my plan review status?
Details on how to view a project's plan review status and contact information for assigned City reviewers can be found here.
How do I login and view 'My Projects' and tasks that need to be completed?
Details on how to login to the EPR system, view your submitted projects, and see pending tasks that need to be completed can be viewed here.
How do I upload files to the Electronic Plan Review system?
Instructions on how to upload files such as plan sheets, permit application, structural calculations, and other project-related documents can be viewed here.
How do I complete my assigned tasks in the Electronic Plan Review System?
Step-by-step instructions are here detailing how to complete the various tasks required of the applicant during the plan review process.
Why do I keep receiving emails that I need to complete a task?
If you are receiving automated notifications that there is a pending task that needs to be completed by the applicant, then that means an action needs to be taken by the applicant to inform the system that the project is ready to be returned to the City. The EPR system is a task-based system and has no way of knowing when an applicant is finished uploading documents. Completion of the pending task is required to return the project to the City and move forward with processing. Instructions on how to complete tasks can be viewed here.
How do I view corrections, markups, and checklists for my plan review project?
Detailed instructions can be found here on how to view plan markups, corrections, and checklists from City Reviewers.
How do I publish (i.e., export) a plans sheet as a PDF file?
Instructions on how to export a plans sheet as a PDF can be found here.
How do I pay plan review fees?
You can view step-by-step instructions on how to pay plan review fees here.
When is a licensed professional (e.g., architect, engineer) required to prepare construction documents?
A licensed professional is required to prepare construction documents for:
- All newly constructed building structures;
- Single-family residential addition/remodel projects more than one story and where the structure deviates from substantial compliance with the conventional framing requirements for wood frame constructions, as prescribed in the California Residential Code;
- Multi-family and commercial tenant improvement projects that include alterations to the occupancy/use, structural safety, or fire life safety; or
- Where deemed necessary by the City of Santa Monica Building Officer
How do I download my approved plans and documents?
Instructions can be found here on how to download plans and documents that have completed the plan review process and are approved.
