How to Find the Floor Plans for City Buildings

Having the original floor plans for a building or home can be indispensable when planning to remodel or renovate a structure. The floor plan will often include location of load-bearing walls, wiring and plumbing systems. The first place to search for the original floor plans for a building is your city's permit department, records or zoning office. Some department in the city should maintain records of building plans.

Instructions

- 1
  Contact city hall and ask which department is charged with keeping such records; usually the city permit, records or zoning department. Provide the proper agency with the address of the structure in question and ask what forms or information are required for you to obtain the original floor plans. Permitplace.com has a listing of agencies responsible for such recordkeeping in various cities.
- 2
  Connect with the architect who designed the building. If the city doesn't have records of the floor plan, try to reach the original architect to see if he has copies on file. Architects usually keep copies of all their work.
- 3
  Contact the builder to see if she has a record of the floor plan. Most large building contractors will keep records of the buildings they've worked on.
- 4
  Ask local real estate agents. Realtors familiar with buildings in the area can often direct you to the right source for building plan information.

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