Permit Arlington: Online Submission Guidelines

• Maximum individual file size: 250 MB
• Typical sheet sizes:
  • Any plan or drawing sized is acceptable, plans should be to scale or have dimensions
  • The permit system may resize any plan or drawing between 11 in. x 17 in. and 24 in. x 36 in. onto a 24 in. x 36 in. template frame.
• Sheet orientation: Landscape only
• 3 in. x 3 in. blank space: A 3 in. x 3 in. blank space is required at the top-right corner of each submitted document. This space is for Arlington County’s approval stamp, which is applied at permit issuance
• Plan Sheets should be upload as individual PDF files: Upload each plan sheet within a drawing set as a separate PDF file. Plans or drawings that are bundled and uploaded as a single, multi-page PDF document will be rejected. Vector-based PDFs are preferred.
• Other Documents: Calculations, production information, forms and letters can be submitted as multi-page PDF files, Submit each form or calcuation as its own PDF.
• No encryption or passwords: Placing encryption or passwords on files generates an error that prevents staff from viewing the files.
• No layers Clean and purge all extraneous layers from drawings, All PDFs should be single-layer because files with multiple layers may not have all layers visible to Cunty staff once uploaded.
• Scalable vector plans: While scanned sketches are acceptable in some cases, every effort should be made to submit scalable vector plans.
• Do not delete files: Never delete plans or drawings that have been submitted, unless directed to do so by the County.
• File names: The name of the file is shown to staff reviewing the plans of the document. Name your files so the file name matches the sheet name and number on the drawing. Utilize the file naming conventions when possible for the file name as well as the sheet name and number shown on the drawings. Note that upon approval, your plan set will be ordered alphanumerically by file name.
• Utilize naming conventions: To facilitate rapid recognition and retrieval of files by our plan review teams, we recommend that each sheet within the drawing set follow the recommended naming conventions below provide these do not conflict with the sheet name and number on the drawing.
• Revisions: If you need to revise submitted plans or drawings, refer to the guidelines on permit revisions. Upload only the sheets that are being revised and use the exact same file name for each PDF as the original file. Include a comment response letter (PDF or Microsoft Word document) every time you resubmit plan or drawing files to the County for review. The letter should describe how outstanding County comments have been addressed and should identify any additional changes made to the plan or drawing files since the last review cycle.

Plan Sets

Plan sets consist of files required as part of the permit application submission that present proposed design, layout, and/or construction practices. Staff will use electronic plan review tools to review, make comments on, and mark up these files. Examples: demolition plans, architectural plans, landscape plans, traffic control plans, civil plans, mechanical plans, and construction details.

Submission Requirements

• Maximum individual file size: 250 MB
• Typical sheet sizes:
  • Any plan or drawing sized 24 in. by  36 in. or smaller is acceptable.
  • After the application is submitted, staff will resize any plan or drawing smaller than 11 in. x 17 in. onto an 11 in. x 17 in. template frame.
  • Staff will resize any plan or drawing between 11 in. x 17 in. and 24 in. x 36 in. onto a 24 in. x 36 in. template frame.
  • Plans or drawings over 24 in. x 36 in. will be rejected.
• Sheet orientation: Landscape only
• No encryption or passwords: Placing encryption or passwords on files generates an error that prevents staff from viewing the files.
• Scalable vector plans: While scanned sketches are acceptable in some cases, every effort should be made to submit scalable vector plans.
• Upload as individual PDF files: Upload each sheet within a drawing set as a separate, searchable PDF file. Plans or drawings that are bundled and uploaded as a single, multi-page PDF document will be rejected. Vector-based PDFs are preferred.
• Do not delete files: Never delete plans or drawings that have been submitted, unless directed to do so by the County.
• Utilize naming conventions: To facilitate rapid recognition and retrieval of files by our plan review teams, we strongly recommend that each sheet within the drawing set follow the recommended naming conventions below.
• File names: Name your files so they will display in the desired order alphanumerically. Upon approval, your plan set will be ordered exactly as displayed.
• Best practices: Refer to the best practices listed below.
• Revisions: If you need to revise submitted plans or drawings, refer to the guidelines on permit revisions. Include a comment response letter (PDF or Microsoft Word document) every time you resubmit plan or drawing files to the County for review. The letter should describe how outstanding County comments have been addressed and should identify any additional changes made to the plan or drawing files since the last review cycle.

Supporting Documents

Supporting documents consist of files other than plans and drawings that are submitted with the completed permit application for staff review. Staff will not use electronic plan review tools to review supporting documents. Examples: affidavits, certifications, letters, forms, reports, maps, product specifications, photos, and other non-drawing files.

Submission Requirements

• Maximum individual file size: 250 MB
• File type: Most file types are accepted for supporting documents, including PDF, Microsoft Office, and images (pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, jpg, jpeg, gif, tif, tiff, bmp, msg, eml). Upload each document as a multi-paged, searchable file.
• Typical page sizes:
  • 8.5 in. x 11 in.
  • 8.5 in. x 14 in.
  • 11 in. x 17 in.
• Page orientation: Portrait or landscape
• No encryption or passwords: Placing encryption or passwords on files generates an error that prevents staff from viewing the files.
• Do not delete files: Never delete supporting documents that have been submitted, unless directed to do so by the County.
• Revisions: If you need to revise submitted documents, refer to the guidelines on permit revisions.

Example 1

• Discipline code: A
• Sheet number: 001
• Descriptor: Cover Sheet
• File name: A-001 Cover Sheet.pdf

Example 2

• Discipline code: A
• Sheet number: 200.1
• Descriptor: Elevations
• File name: A-200.1 Elevations.pdf

Example 3

• Discipline code: C
• Sheet number: 101.1
• Descriptor: Existing Conditions Plan
• File name: C-101.1 Existing Conditions Plan.pdf

Example 4

• Discipline code: L
• Sheet number: 102
• Descriptor: Tree Protection Plan
• File name: L-102 Tree Protection Plan.pdf

Discipline Codes

Sheet Number Series Descriptors

The files uploaded in the system should be named so that the file name matches the sheet name and number on the drawing itself. To the extent possible, file names should begin with a discipline code, followed by sheet number series, followed by a descriptor. Following the sheet naming conventions below will allow the system to automatically provide the discipline and sheet types.

Example

• Discipline code: A (Architectural)
• Sheet number: 000‐099 (General Site Information)
• Descriptor: Architectural Cover Sheet General Information
• File name: Using the standard file naming conventions, the first page under Architectural general information would be A‐001 Architectural Cover Sheet General Information.pdf.

• Note that the system will not recognize spaces or other characters separating discipline and sheet type. Use only a single dash (-) to separate discipline and sheet type.

The following best practices will help facilitate acceptance and efficient review of plans and drawings:

• Include a sheet index on the cover sheet.
• Ensure all sheets have been uploaded per the sheet index.
• Clean and purge all extraneous layers from drawings.
• Minimize the number of layers included in drawings.
• Minimize the amount of hatching and/or convert to a less processor-intensive format type.
• Ensure reserved space for County approval stamp is located in the required area.