Viewing plans and permits

Building plans and permits are public records available for viewing during regular working hours at the Development Services counter of the Faraday Center. In addition, many permits are available for viewing online.

Please note: Most plans retained by the City are for new construction permitted after 1980. Plans for residential remodels or additions are not typically retained. Plans for structures built prior to the city of Carlsbad date of incorporation (July 16, 1952) may be available at the County of San Diego Planning & Development Services Department”.

 Distribution of plans to the public

All structures start as architectural drawings created and designed by an architect or engineer. These design professionals own copyrights and approval rights on any duplicates made. To protect the design professional's rights against misuse of the plans, Health and Safety Code Section 19851 requires that the City follow specific procedures when processing requests for duplication of plans.

Specifically, the law reads “The official copy of the plans maintained by the building department of the city or county provided for under Section 19850 shall be open for inspection only on the premises of the building department as a public record. The copy may not be duplicated in whole or in part except (1) with the written permission…of the certified, licensed or registered professional [architect, engineer, etc.]…who signed the original documents and the written permission of the original or current owner of the building…or (2) by order of a proper court or upon the request of any state agency.”

Additionally, pursuant to Section 19853 of the California Health and Safety Code, plans for “any building containing a bank, other financial institution, or public utility” may not be made available to the public, either for viewing or for copying.

The “official copy of the plans maintained by the building department” (§19851 H&S) relates only to the construction documents, i.e., those plans submitted to the Building Division in order to issue a building permit. Building permit construction documents (which generally include structural drawings, engineering calculations, utility schematics, etc.) are far different from the types of plans submitted to the Planning Division for Design Review and Conditional Use Permit applications (such as site plans, elevations, landscape plans, basic floor plans, etc.). 

Obtaining a copy of a building plan

1. Contact the building division to confirm the plans you would like to request are available. You can call 442-339-2719 or email building@carlsbadca.gov. 

2. Obtain authorization from the Property Owner (We will NOT release plans until permission is granted by the current property owner and listed certified, licensed, registered design professional who stamped and/or signed the plans) :

a. If you are the Property Owner and the Applicant, you will be required to fill out the Affidavit Request for Duplication of Copyrighted Plans (B-43) (fillable PDF) and get it notarized.

b. For new property owners - please provide a copy of the recorded grant deed. 

c. If you are NOT the Property Owner, you will be required to contact the Property Owner and have him/her fill out the Authorization of Agent to Act on Property Owner's Behalf lower section of the (B-43)

You must complete the Affidavit Request for Duplication of Copyrighted Plans with the Authorization of Agent to Act on Property Owner's Behalf section completed, and get the form notarized . We will also accept a letter from the property owner giving you permission to request the plans, and for us to release them to you on their behalf.

3. Submit all paperwork along with the required $148.00 Research Fee for each request to the City of Carlsbad Building Department located at 1635 Faraday Ave, Carlsbad, CA 92008.

4. We will process your request within 72 business hours of submittal. 

5. The design professional(s) have up to 30 days from the date the certified letter was mailed, to respond to the request. 

6. We will release the plans when all design professionals respond or when the 30 days are up, whichever comes first.

If you have additional questions, please contact our office at 442-339-2719 or by email at building@carlsbadca.gov.