How to Respond to Plan Check Comments
Plan check correction letters stall projects for weeks when handled poorly. This guide walks through how to write responses that get approved on the first resubmittal.
Why this matters
Each resubmittal cycle adds two to four weeks to the permit timeline, plus resubmittal fees. Most projects that go through three or more cycles are not failing because the building is wrong. They are failing because the response letters are vague and the plan checker cannot confirm compliance without doing additional research themselves.
Step-by-step process
Read every comment before responding to any
Plan check comments are often related to each other. A structural comment may share the same root cause as a fire-rating comment. Reading the full letter first lets you identify clusters and avoid responses that contradict each other. Number each comment in your response to match the numbering in the correction letter.
Identify the code section behind each comment
Every correction should cite the code section the plan checker is applying. If it does not, look it up. Your response carries far more weight when you cite the same section back, acknowledge the requirement, and explain how your drawings comply. Common sources: IBC, CBC (California), local amendments, fire code, energy code. Document the code edition the jurisdiction is using.
Write a response in three parts: acknowledge, cite, confirm
For each comment: (1) Acknowledge the comment and its intent in one sentence. (2) Cite the specific code section. (3) State exactly what change was made or where on the drawings the compliance can be found. Include the sheet number and detail number. Vague responses like "revised per comment" trigger a second round of corrections.
Update the drawings and cross-reference them in your response
Every code-related correction requires a drawing change unless the drawings already comply and you are clarifying a misread. Revise the affected sheets, add a revision cloud, and reference the revision delta in your response letter. If no drawing change is needed, say so explicitly and explain why the existing documents satisfy the requirement.
Package and submit with a cover letter
Lead the resubmittal with a response matrix: a table with the original comment number, the comment text, and your response. This makes it easy for the plan checker to verify that every item was addressed. Many jurisdictions accept electronic resubmittal through their online portal; check the format requirements before uploading.
Most common mistakes
- Responding before reading the full letter: leads to contradictory answers
- Vague responses like "revised per comment" without a sheet reference
- Missing code citations: the plan checker wrote those for a reason
- Marking drawings revised without updating the revision block and delta
- Not confirming compliance for comments where the original drawings were already correct
Time required
Manual process
4 to 8 hours
Per correction letter, including code lookup and drawing revisions
With TrussNote
Under 30 minutes
Upload the correction letter, get a draft response with code citations and sheet references
Try it on your next correction letter
Upload a plan check correction letter and TrussNote generates a full response with code citations, sheet references, and resubmittal cover letter.