Steel Building Permit Drawings in Canada

by Delcor Engineering Team | Jun 17, 2026 | Codes, Permits & Engineering Requirements

Canadian steel building permit package with site plan supplier drawings foundation plan reactions anchor details and professional forms

Steel Building Permit Drawings in Canada: What Must Be Clear Before Submission

Steel building permit reviews are often delayed when the submitted documents do not clearly identify the building system, design loads, foundation support, anchorage, site location, and intended use.

The issue is usually inconsistent information, not just one missing drawing. Supplier drawings, foundation drawings, site plans, reaction tables, anchor details, and permit forms must refer to the same project and the same current revisions.

A steel building supplier may provide drawings for the building system. The foundation designer needs current reactions. The municipality or authority having jurisdiction, also called the AHJ, may need site information, grading information, professional forms, or clarification on building use. The contractor may need final anchor details before concrete is placed.

If these items do not match, permit comments and construction delays are more likely.

This guide explains what steel building permit drawings in Canada should communicate, how supplier drawings fit into the permit package, why foundation reactions and anchor layouts matter, what permit reviewers commonly question, and how to check the package before submission, resubmission, concrete placement, fabrication, or erection.

Technical Review

This guide was prepared by the DelCor Engineering Team and reviewed by DelCor’s structural engineering staff for technical clarity, engineering caution, and Canadian project relevance.

The content is intended to help owners, contractors, suppliers, fabricators, erectors, and applicants preparing or responding to steel building permit submissions in Canada. It does not replace project-specific engineering review or the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction.

The Main Point

A steel building permit package is not just a drawing collection. It is a coordinated review package.

A proper package should allow the AHJ to understand the building system, design basis, foundation support, reactions, anchorage, site context, intended use, current revisions, and professional responsibility without guessing.

The best permit packages make the current drawing set obvious and reduce the need for the reviewer to compare conflicting documents.

If the reviewer has to compare disconnected drawings to figure out which information is current, the package is not ready for smooth permit review.

What Steel Building Permit Drawings Are

Steel building permit drawings are the drawings and supporting documents submitted for permit review. They show the proposed building and the technical information needed to review it under the applicable jurisdiction, project scope, site conditions, and building use.

In simple terms, steel building permit drawings explain the building, foundation, site, use, current drawing revisions, and engineering scope to the AHJ.

A steel building permit package may include:

supplier steel building drawings
structural drawings
foundation drawings
foundation reaction information
anchor bolt layout
base plate information
site plan information
grading or drainage information where required
building use notes
design load notes
professional forms or schedules where required
permit comment responses where applicable

In Canada, steel building permit drawing requirements are not controlled by one national submission checklist. The required documents can change by province, territory, municipality, local authority, building use, site conditions, and project scope. A package that is clear enough for one jurisdiction may still need additional forms, site information, or professional documentation in another.

The Reviewer’s Question Is Simple

When a permit reviewer opens the submission, the basic question is not only, “Are drawings included?”

The stronger question is:

Does this package clearly explain the proposed building and how the submitted documents fit together?

A reviewer may need to understand:

Reviewer Question	What the Package Should Show
What building is proposed?	Building size, layout, height, framing system, roof and wall system
Where is it going?	Site plan, building location, setbacks, access, property context
What will it be used for?	Storage, farm use, shop, warehouse, repair, industrial, commercial, or other use
What loads apply?	Snow, wind, seismic, live, dead, collateral, equipment, vehicle, racking, crane, or mezzanine loads where applicable
How is the building supported?	Foundation drawings, soil assumptions, frost considerations, footings, piers, grade beams, slabs, piles, or other support
What loads reach the foundation?	Current reaction table and load information from the steel building system
How is the frame anchored?	Anchor bolt size, pattern, embedment, projection, base plate relationship, and templates where applicable
Which drawings are current?	Revision dates, superseded drawings removed or clearly marked, coordinated resubmission documents
Who is responsible for what?	Professional seals, schedules, forms, or scope notes where required

A package can include many drawings and still fail this test if the documents do not match.

Steel Building Permit Drawing Package Snapshot

Drawing / Document	What It Proves	Why It Matters
Supplier drawings	Steel building system, frame layout, bracing, base plates, design criteria	Shows what the steel building supplier is providing
Foundation drawings	Footings, piers, grade beams, slabs, piles, reinforcement, support system	Shows how steel building loads are supported
Foundation reactions	Loads transferred from the steel frame into the foundation	Required for foundation and anchor design
Anchor bolt layout	Bolt pattern, projection, embedment, and base plate relationship	Helps prevent concrete and erection conflicts
Site plan	Building location, setbacks, access, and property context	Helps the AHJ review placement on the site
Grading or drainage information	Finished floor elevation, water movement, and foundation exposure	Reduces site and review questions where required
Building use notes	Storage, farm, repair, warehouse, industrial, commercial, or other use	Affects loading, occupancy, code path, fire/life safety, energy, and review
Professional forms or schedules	Professional responsibility where required	Helps prevent intake or review delays
Permit response documents	How AHJ comments were addressed	Helps connect review comments to revised drawings

This table is not a universal list for every project. It shows the information that commonly needs to be coordinated on steel building permit submissions.

Who This Guide Helps

This guide is for owners, contractors, suppliers, developers, project managers, fabricators, erectors, and applicants preparing or responding to steel building permit submissions in Canada.

It is especially useful when:

a steel building permit application is being prepared
supplier drawings are available, but foundation drawings are not
foundation reactions are missing, preliminary, or revised
anchor bolt details are unclear
the municipality has requested more information
the site plan, grading, or drainage information is incomplete
the building use is not clearly described
the submitted drawings use different revision dates
permit comments need a technical response

The goal is to help the project team submit a clearer permit package before avoidable comments reach the review stage.

Permit Drawings Are Not the Same as Supplier Drawings

Supplier drawings are often one of the most important parts of a steel building permit package, but they are not always the complete permit package.

Supplier drawings usually focus on the steel building system. They may show:

building layout
frame elevations
roof framing
wall framing
purlins and girts
bracing
base plates
anchor bolt information
design criteria
load notes
foundation reactions
erection information

That information is valuable, but the AHJ may still need more. The permit package may also require foundation drawings, site plan information, grading details, professional forms, local submission documents, building use clarification, energy or fire/life safety coordination, or responses to previous review comments.

A supplier drawing can be correct for the steel building system and still be incomplete for permit submission.

That distinction matters. Many delays start when an owner or contractor assumes that supplier drawings alone are the full permit package.

Permit Drawings, Shop Drawings, and Erection Drawings Have Different Jobs

Steel building projects often involve several drawing types. They can overlap, but they do not serve the same purpose.

Drawing Type	Main Purpose	Common Permit Risk
Permit drawings	Support AHJ review	Missing site, foundation, use, code, or professional information can trigger comments
Supplier drawings	Define the steel building system	May not include complete foundation, grading, site, or local authority requirements
Foundation drawings	Show how the steel building loads are supported	Can be wrong if reactions are preliminary, missing, or outdated
Shop drawings	Support fabrication and detailing	Can create problems if based on old revisions or uncoordinated assumptions
Erection drawings	Support field assembly	Can conflict with anchors, base plates, or foundations if layouts changed
Site or grading drawings	Show location, access, elevations, drainage, and site conditions	Missing information can affect permit review and construction

A permit reviewer needs enough information to review the building, foundation, site, use, and design basis. A fabricator needs detailed shop information for manufacturing. An erector needs clear field assembly information. The contractor needs coordinated construction information.

The permit package should not confuse these roles.

The One-Project Test

Before submission, the project team should check whether the package describes one current project.

Ask these questions:

Do the supplier drawings and foundation drawings show the same building size?
Are the foundation reactions current?
Does the anchor bolt layout match the latest base plates?
Does the site plan show the same building footprint as the supplier drawings?
Is the intended building use clearly stated?
Are old drawing revisions removed or clearly superseded?
Are permit comment responses reflected in the revised drawings where required?
Are professional forms or schedules included where required?
Is the design basis clear enough for review?
Can the reviewer understand the package without reconstructing the project from disconnected files?

If the answer is no, the submission may still be technically unfinished even if many drawings are already available.

Where Steel Building Permit Packages Usually Break

Steel building permit issues usually happen at the connections between documents, not inside one isolated sheet.

The most common break points are:

supplier drawings and foundation drawings
reaction tables and foundation design
base plates and anchor bolt layout
site plan and building footprint
grading and finished floor elevation
building use and design assumptions
permit response letters and revised drawings
current drawings and superseded revisions

These are coordination points. If they are unclear, the AHJ may request more information before review can continue.

Foundation Reactions Are Not a Minor Detail

Foundation reactions are the loads transferred from the steel building frame into the foundation. They can include compression, uplift, shear, moment, and bracing forces depending on the building system and load combinations.

Those reactions affect how the foundation is designed or reviewed.

They may influence:

footing size
pier size
grade beams
slab thickening
piles or pile caps where applicable
anchor rods
uplift resistance
overturning checks
sliding resistance
soil bearing
reinforcement
foundation dimensions
connection between the frame and foundation

If reactions are preliminary, missing, or based on an old supplier revision, the foundation design may need review or revision.

This becomes especially important before concrete is placed. Once concrete is poured, wrong anchor locations, wrong embedment, missing reinforcement, or foundation dimensions based on old reactions can become expensive construction problems.

Foundation Drawings Must Use Current Information

Foundation drawings should be based on the current steel building information available for the project.

Before foundation drawings are submitted or used for construction, check:

latest supplier drawing revision
current reaction table
base plate details
anchor bolt layout
anchor templates where applicable
soil or geotechnical information where available
frost assumptions
finished floor elevation where relevant
grading assumptions where relevant
site constraints that affect foundation exposure or drainage

If the supplier changes the frame, reactions, base plates, or anchor layout after the foundation drawings are prepared, the foundation drawings should be reviewed before resubmission or construction continues.

Anchor Bolt Layout Is a High-Risk Handoff

Anchor bolts connect the steel frame to the foundation. They are a critical handoff between engineering, supplier drawings, foundation drawings, and field construction.

Anchor bolt information should match:

final column grid
base plate size
bolt diameter
bolt spacing
embedment
projection
anchor templates
concrete edge distances
reinforcement
foundation drawing revision
supplier drawing revision

If anchors are placed from outdated or unclear information, the steel frame may not fit. Erection can stop. Field changes may require engineering review.

Potential field fixes such as drilling new anchors, using post-installed anchors, slotting base plates, welding modifications, plate changes, or shifting steel should not be treated as simple site decisions. They can affect load transfer, tension, shear, edge distance, embedment, and structural performance.

Anchor coordination should be confirmed before concrete placement.

Site Plans and Grading Can Affect Permit Review

A structurally correct steel building can still receive permit comments if the site information is incomplete.

Depending on the project and municipality, the submission may need to show:

building location
property lines
setbacks
access routes
driveway location
loading or truck movement areas
finished floor elevation
existing grades
proposed grades
drainage direction
foundation exposure
adjacent property conditions
retaining conditions
stormwater or surface water considerations where required

A full grading design is not required for every steel building. But if finished floor elevation, drainage, site slope, truck access, foundation exposure, or adjacent properties affect the project, those issues should be addressed before submission.

The AHJ may not only ask, “Is the building structurally designed?” It may also ask, “Does the building work on this site?”

Building Use Must Be Clear

The intended use of the building affects the permit package.

A steel building used for equipment storage is not automatically reviewed the same way as a repair garage, warehouse, truck shop, industrial building, cold storage building, manufacturing space, or public-facing commercial building.

Building use can affect:

occupancy classification
importance category where applicable
live loads
slab loading
vehicle loads
storage or racking loads
equipment loads
crane or hoist loads
mezzanine loads
fire and life safety coordination
ventilation coordination
accessibility requirements where applicable
energy requirements where applicable
permit submission documents

A drawing set that only says “steel building” may not be enough. The package should explain the intended use clearly enough for review.

Drawing Revisions Need Control

Revision control is one of the simplest ways to avoid permit confusion.

The project team should confirm:

supplier drawing revision date
reaction table date
foundation drawing revision date
anchor bolt layout revision date
base plate detail revision
site plan date
grading drawing date
permit response date
resubmission date

Old drawings should not remain in the package unless they are clearly marked as superseded or included for a specific reason.

If the AHJ receives two conflicting versions of the same project, the review becomes harder. If the contractor builds from one revision while the engineer reviews another, the project risk increases.

The drawing package should make the current version obvious.

Permit-Ready Does Not Mean Permit-Approved

Permit-ready means the documents have been prepared for submission based on available information and the defined scope.

It does not mean permit-approved.

The AHJ can still request:

revised drawings
additional design notes
site plan clarification
grading or drainage information
updated foundation reactions
foundation details
professional forms
building use clarification
zoning or planning confirmation
fire and life safety information
accessibility or energy information where applicable
additional consultant input

Engineering can reduce avoidable documentation gaps, but it does not control municipal review timelines, zoning decisions, permit approval, inspection outcomes, or third-party requirements.

Approval belongs to the reviewing authority.

Before Submission, Read the Package Like a Reviewer

Before submission, look at the package from the AHJ’s side.

Can the reviewer quickly understand:

what building is being proposed
where it is located
what it will be used for
which drawings are current
what design basis applies
how the steel frame loads reach the foundation
whether anchors match the base plates
whether site and grading information is adequate where required
who is responsible for which scope

If not, the package may not be ready for efficient review.

This does not mean every project needs more drawings. It means the drawings that are submitted should be clear, current, and coordinated.

Common Permit Comments on Steel Building Drawings

Permit comments are often requests for clarification, missing information, or revised documents. They are not always rejections.

Permit Comment	What Usually Needs to Be Checked
Foundation information requested	Reactions, foundation drawings, soil assumptions, frost assumptions, anchor coordination
Reactions unclear or missing	Supplier drawings, reaction table, revision date, frame changes
Anchor layout unclear	Base plates, bolt size, embedment, projection, templates, foundation details
Site plan requested	Building location, setbacks, access, property context
Grading or drainage requested	Finished floor elevation, drainage direction, slopes, foundation exposure
Building use unclear	Occupancy/use, storage, vehicles, equipment, public access, fire/life safety coordination
Design loads unclear	Project location, snow, wind, seismic, live loads, collateral loads, importance category where applicable
Drawing mismatch noted	Current supplier, foundation, anchor, site, grading, and response revisions
Professional form requested	Local submission requirements and responsible professional scope
Response letter incomplete	Whether the revised drawings actually address the AHJ comment

A good permit response should not only explain the answer. It should also identify which drawing or note was revised and which revision should be reviewed.

Need a Permit Drawing Review Before Submission?

If supplier drawings, reactions, foundation details, anchor layouts, site information, or permit forms do not clearly match, the project should be reviewed before submission, concrete placement, fabrication, or erection.

DelCor can review the project stage, identify drawing coordination gaps, and help define whether permit drawing, structural, foundation, anchor, grading, shop drawing, or construction-stage engineering support may be required before the issue reaches submission, concrete, fabrication, or erection.

Request Permit Drawing Review

Before You Submit: Practical Permit Drawing Checklist

Before submitting steel building drawings for permit review, check:

Project address and municipality are correct.
The AHJ is identified.
Intended building use is clearly stated.
Supplier drawings are current.
Foundation reactions are current.
Foundation drawings match the latest reactions.
Anchor bolt layout matches final base plates.
Building dimensions match across drawings.
Site plan matches building size and location.
Finished floor elevation is shown where required.
Grading or drainage information is included where required.
Design loads and code basis are clear where required.
Professional forms or schedules are included where required.
Old drawing revisions are removed or clearly superseded.
Permit comments from previous review cycles are addressed in both response documents and drawings where needed.

This checklist does not replace project-specific engineering review. It helps catch common coordination gaps before submission.

How DelCor Helps With Steel Building Permit Drawing Issues

DelCor can support steel building permit drawing issues when the project needs technical coordination before submission, resubmission, concrete placement, fabrication, or erection.

Depending on the scope, support may include:

permit drawing review
foundation and reaction coordination
anchor layout review
site or grading coordination
shop drawing review
construction-stage technical support
technical responses to AHJ comments

This support is usually most useful when supplier drawings, foundation drawings, reactions, anchor layouts, site information, or permit comments do not clearly align.

What DelCor Does Not Control

Good engineering support can reduce avoidable permit and construction risk, but it does not control every project variable.

DelCor does not control municipal permit approval, AHJ review timelines, zoning decisions, site plan approval outcomes, contractor workmanship, supplier document completeness, fabricator execution, field conditions, undisclosed geotechnical conditions, inspection outcomes, weather delays, material supply, or owner-directed changes made after documents are issued unless reviewed within scope.

This matters because a permit-ready package can still receive AHJ comments, and a technically coordinated package can still be affected by third-party decisions or field conditions.

Canadian Code, Permit, and Engineering References to Confirm

Steel building permit drawings in Canada should be checked against official and recognized sources before project-specific decisions are made.

Relevant reference points may include:

Codes Canada and National Model Code information
Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes provincial and territorial adoption information
the applicable provincial or territorial building code framework
municipal building permit requirements
the local authority having jurisdiction
provincial and territorial engineering regulators listed by Engineers Canada
CSA A660 quality certification for steel building systems from CWB Group
CSA A660 steel building systems context from CISC/CSSBI
supplier design criteria and project-specific engineered drawings
geotechnical and site information where required
official climate and load data used through the applicable code framework

Canada’s National Model Codes serve as model codes. They apply to a project only through the applicable provincial, territorial, or local adoption framework. Local authorities may also have their own submission requirements.

Engineering documents should be prepared or reviewed by professionals qualified and authorized for the applicable scope and jurisdiction.

CSA A660 certification is important quality certification context for manufacturers of steel building systems, but it does not replace project-specific permit drawings, foundation engineering, site information, or AHJ review.

Use the applicable local authority and project jurisdiction as the controlling source for submission requirements. National and industry references help frame the review, but the AHJ controls the actual permit process.

These references do not replace engineering judgment. They help define the regulatory and technical context for the submission.

Reviewed by Engineering Team

This content has been reviewed by the DelCor Engineering Team with emphasis on the information a permit reviewer needs to follow through a steel building submission.

The review focused on document traceability. A supplier drawing can correctly describe the steel-building system while still leaving the authority without the foundation, anchorage, site, building-use, professional, or local submission information needed to understand the complete project.

Structural reactions connect the steel-system design to the foundation design. The reactions used by the foundation designer should correspond to the current frame configuration, column grid, base plates, supplier revision, and applicable load information. When the steel package changes, the foundation and anchorage information should be checked before the documents are resubmitted or used for construction.

An anchor layout should not automatically be interpreted as complete anchorage design. Bolt grade, diameter, pattern, projection, embedment, concrete edge distance, reinforcement interaction, supply, templates, installation, tolerance, and field verification may fall under different scopes. Those responsibilities should be defined in the project documents.

Professional forms, schedules, seals, and declarations identify responsibility for the work stated in those documents. They do not automatically establish responsibility for every drawing, discipline, site condition, construction method, or field change included in the permit package.

Revision control is therefore part of technical permit readiness. The site plan, supplier drawings, reaction table, foundation drawings, anchor information, professional forms, response letters, and permit application should identify the same project and current revision. Superseded documents should be removed or clearly marked so neither the reviewer nor the contractor must decide which version governs.

Final submission requirements remain jurisdiction-specific. The applicable province or territory, municipality, authority having jurisdiction, adopted code framework, building use, site conditions, and project scope determine the required documents and professional authentication.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are steel building permit drawings in Canada?

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Steel building permit drawings are the drawings and supporting documents submitted to the authority having jurisdiction for building-permit review.

Depending on the project, the package may include steel supplier drawings, structural drawings, foundation drawings, design loads, anchor information, site plans, grading information, professional forms and responses to previous permit comments.

The required documents depend on the project location, building use, scope and local submission requirements.

2. Are supplier drawings enough for a steel building permit?

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Supplier drawings may satisfy only part of the permit submission.

They commonly describe the supplied steel building system, including the frame layout, bracing, purlins, girts, base plates, design criteria and foundation reactions. The permit authority may still require foundation drawings, site information, grading details, professional forms, building-use clarification or other discipline-specific documents.

The supplier’s written scope should be reviewed before assuming the package is complete.

3. What is the difference between permit drawings and shop drawings for a steel building?

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Permit drawings support review by the authority having jurisdiction.

They explain the proposed building, structural design basis, foundations, site context, intended use and professional responsibility required for the permit stage.

Shop drawings support fabrication and detailing. They show how individual steel members, plates, holes, bolts, welds and assemblies will be manufactured and identified.

A drawing prepared for fabrication is not automatically a complete permit document.

4. Do steel building permit drawings require a P.Eng. stamp in Canada?

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Steel building permit submissions commonly require drawings or engineering documents sealed by a professional engineer authorized in the applicable province or territory.

The exact requirement depends on:

the project scope
building use
structural system
building classification
jurisdiction
authority having jurisdiction

A professional seal identifies responsibility for the engineering content within the engineer’s defined scope. It does not automatically cover every drawing, discipline or permit requirement.

5. What drawings are usually required for a steel building permit?

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A steel building permit package may contain several document groups.

Steel Building System Documents

These may include:

supplier drawings
framing plans
building elevations
bracing information
base plate details
design criteria
structural reactions

Foundation Documents

These may include:

footing and pier plans
grade beams
slab-edge details
reinforcing information
anchor design
foundation notes

Site and Grading Documents

Depending on the project, these may show:

building location
setbacks
access
finished-floor elevation
existing and proposed grades
drainage direction
foundation exposure

Professional and Jurisdictional Documents

These may include:

professional schedules
assurance forms
code information
energy or fire and life-safety documents
municipal submission forms

Permit-Response Documents

For a resubmission, the package may also require:

a response matrix
revised drawings
updated calculations
revised professional forms

The actual submission list must be confirmed with the authority having jurisdiction.

6. Are foundation drawings required for a steel building permit?

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Many steel building projects require foundation drawings because the permit reviewer must understand how the structural reactions will be supported.

Supplier drawings may provide frame reactions, base plate information and anchor geometry, but they do not always provide the complete foundation design.

Foundation drawings may need to address:

footings
piers
grade beams
reinforcement
frost requirements
soil assumptions
uplift
overturning
sliding
anchor embedment

The requirement depends on the project and jurisdiction.

7. Why are steel building foundation reactions required for permit and foundation drawings?

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Foundation reactions show the forces transferred from the steel building into the supporting foundation.

They may include:

vertical compression
uplift
horizontal shear
overturning moment
bracing reactions
load combinations

These forces are used to design or review footings, piers, grade beams, anchors, reinforcement, soil bearing, sliding resistance and overturning stability.

Foundation drawings should reference the current reaction package used as their design basis.

8. Can foundation drawings be submitted before final steel reactions are issued?

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Submitting foundation drawings before final steel reactions are issued creates design and permit risk.

Preliminary reactions may be used for early coordination if they are clearly identified, but changes to the steel frame, openings, bracing, building height or design loads can alter the final reactions.

Before resubmission, concrete placement or construction, the foundation design should be checked against the final steel building reactions.

9. What happens if anchor bolts do not match the steel building drawings?

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Erection may be delayed or stopped when installed anchors do not match the column grid, base plate holes, bolt pattern, projection or embedment requirements.

Potential corrections such as:

drilling new anchors
installing post-installed anchors
slotting base plates
welding modifications
changing plates
shifting structural steel

can affect load transfer, tension, shear, concrete breakout, edge distance and structural performance.

The discrepancy should be reviewed by the responsible engineer before a field correction is made.

10. Does a permit-ready steel building drawing package mean the permit is approved?

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No.

Permit-ready means the package has been prepared for submission based on the available information and defined professional scope.

The authority having jurisdiction may still request:

revised drawings
additional design information
updated foundation reactions
site-plan clarification
grading details
building-use clarification
professional forms
responses from another consultant

Only the reviewing authority can approve and issue the permit.

11. Can an AHJ request more information after stamped drawings are submitted?

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Yes.

A professional seal does not prevent the authority having jurisdiction from requesting additional information, revised drawings or clarification.

Permit comments may relate to:

site location
foundations
grading
design loads
building use
fire and life-safety requirements
accessibility
energy requirements
professional responsibility
conflicts between submitted documents

The seal covers the engineering scope accepted by the professional. It does not represent permit approval.

12. What are the most common reasons steel building permit drawings receive review comments?

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Common reasons include:

missing foundation drawings
preliminary or outdated reactions
unclear anchor details
mismatched drawing revisions
missing site plans
incomplete grading information
unclear building use
missing design-load notes
incomplete professional forms
permit responses that are not reflected in revised drawings

Conflicting revision dates and uncoordinated handoffs between the steel system, foundations, anchors and site documents can be more important than the total number of drawings submitted.

A large package can still receive comments when the documents do not describe one current, coordinated project.

13. Is a site plan required for a steel building permit in Canada?

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A site plan is commonly required when the authority having jurisdiction needs to review the building’s location and relationship to the property.

The plan may need to show:

property lines
building footprint
setbacks
access
driveways
existing structures
easements
site constraints
municipal servicing information

The exact requirement depends on the municipality, project type and permit process.

14. Are grading drawings required for every steel building permit?

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No.

Grading drawings are not required for every steel building permit, but they may be required when site elevations or drainage conditions affect the proposed development.

Grading information may be needed when the project involves:

finished-floor elevation
sloped sites
drainage concerns
truck access
foundation exposure
retaining conditions
neighbouring properties
municipal site review

The authority having jurisdiction and responsible civil or site professionals should confirm what is required.

15. Does CSA A660 replace project-specific permit drawings?

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No.

CSA A660 certification addresses the manufacturer’s quality-assurance system for the design and manufacture of steel building systems within its certified scope.

It does not replace:

project-specific permit drawings
foundation engineering
anchor coordination
site information
grading design
professional authentication
permit review by the authority having jurisdiction

A CSA A660-certified building system may still require several other project documents before a permit can be issued.

16. How should steel building permit review comments be answered?

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Each permit comment should be reviewed against the current drawing set and assigned to the appropriate responsible party.

The response should:

Identify the AHJ comment.
Explain the action taken.
Identify the revised drawing, note, calculation or form.
State the current revision number or date.
Update every related steel, foundation, anchor and site document.
Confirm whether additional professional authentication is required.

A response letter should not claim that a comment is resolved when the affected drawings still contain outdated information.

DelCor may assist with technical permit responses when the comments fall within its confirmed written engineering scope.

17. What happens if steel building permit drawings change after permit approval?

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Changes made after permit approval may require further engineering review and approval from the authority having jurisdiction.

Changes involving the following can affect the permitted design:

building dimensions
intended use
frame geometry
structural members
bracing
openings
foundation reactions
anchors
foundation design
site location
grading
equipment loads

The project may require:

revised engineering calculations
updated drawings
a permit amendment
resubmission
revised shop or erection drawings
coordination before fabrication or construction continues

The contractor should not assume that an approved permit automatically authorizes later structural or site changes.

18. What documents are needed for a steel building permit drawing review?

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A review package should include the most current available project documents.

These may include:

project address and municipality
intended building use
steel supplier drawings
drawing revision history
structural design criteria
foundation reactions
base plate details
anchor layout
foundation drawings
site plan
grading or drainage information
geotechnical report
professional forms
permit comments
previous response letters
current construction status

The reviewer may request additional documents after confirming the project scope, jurisdiction and stage.

Complete and current information helps identify whether the project requires permit drawing coordination, foundation engineering, anchor review, grading input, revised calculations or a technical response to the authority having jurisdiction.

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Stop Making the Reviewer Rebuild the Project

When the site plan shows one building, the supplier package shows another, or the foundation and anchor details come from an earlier revision, the permit file stops telling one clear story. DelCor can review the drawing trail, identify where the documents separate, and define what should be corrected before submission or resubmission.

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Permit-Ready vs Permit-Approved Steel Building Drawings

Jun 19, 2026 | Codes, Permits & Engineering Requirements

Permit-Ready vs Permit-Approved Steel Building Drawings in Canada What the Difference Means Before You Build “Permit-ready” and “permit-approved” sound close enough that many steel building owners treat them as the same thing. They are not the same. Permit-ready...