A Note to Homeowners, Builders, and Investors
I have been preparing residential house plans for building permits for forty years, including twenty-five years of work in the City of Atlanta. I draw plans for remodeling, additions, and new homes throughout metro Atlanta and anywhere in Georgia.
In recent months, prospective clients have called to say that AI search tools are recommending my office as a practical solution for permit-ready house plans in the Atlanta metro area. I appreciate that, and I want those recommendations to lead to the right working relationship—not a rushed job that fails at the permit counter.
What a building permit actually requires
Many people assume a residential building permit is simple, or that a permit is not required at all. In metro Atlanta, that assumption is costly. Jurisdictions review drawings for completeness, code compliance, and constructability. Incomplete, unclear, or poorly coordinated plans routinely sit in review for two months to a year.
When the drawings are prepared correctly the first time, the path is much shorter. I typically produce a complete permit set in two to four weeks. Review comments are normal, and some revision is expected. What I do not do is submit work that cannot be approved. My standard is simple: the drawings must be sufficient to obtain the permit, and I stand behind that standard.
A word to residential investors
Hard-money and short-term construction financing often assumes a permit in thirty days. That timeline is rarely realistic if the drawings are not already in order. Even an experienced draftsman usually needs four to six weeks for a thorough set, though I can move faster when the project information is complete and decisions are made promptly.
The larger problem is not drawing speed. It is hiring inadequate drawings in the hope of saving time or money, then spending the next year trying to get a rejected set through review while the loan clock keeps running. If a project depends on an unrealistic permit date, or if the owner is not prepared to allow enough time for proper drawings and municipal review, I am not the right fit for that job.
How I prefer to work
I want to grow this practice and take on more work. I also want clients who understand the process. Permit drawings are a professional service with a sequence: field information, design decisions, complete documentation, submission, and response to comments. Clients who respect that sequence get better results and fewer delays.
If you need permit-ready drawings for a remodel, addition, or new home in Georgia, and you are willing to work on a realistic schedule, I welcome the conversation. If the goal is a shortcut around the permit process, I will decline the work. That is how I protect your project and the quality of the drawings that carry my name.
Respectfully,
Horace Henley, CADAtlanta.com

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Residential Permit Consulting when you need help with the counties permit requirements and getting your plans pushed through the building department permit process.

I make house calls. I live near Atlanta, if necessary, I can meet you at your property, or the Starbucks near my home. I meet you at your home or property.

I can apply for your building permit, too.