Frequently Asked Questions

Most plans include a foundation plan, floor plans, a roof plan, and exterior elevations. Many plans also include building sections, electrical plans, and construction notes and details. Check the plan details online to see what is included with your construction documents. You can view a sample plan set here, or reach out to us for help. The content is usually based on the needs where the designer is located, at the time the plan was created.

Plans that we sell generally are designed to conform to the building codes from when and where the original house was designed. That's why you may need updating or tweaking for your location. As always, check with your builder and your local building department first, and ask us any questions about the plan you're considering. We'd be happy to help!

Most stock house plans are not pre-engineered, as engineering requirements vary widely by location. Many regions - especially those with specific risks like earthquakes and land movement (California, Pacific Northwest, mountain regions), hurricanes (Florida, Gulf Coast, Carolinas), or heavy snow loads (the Northeast and Canada, Upper Midwest areas) may require review and stamping by a licensed local structural engineer. Other areas may require simpler engineering, like foundation reenforcement. This is typically done after you purchase the plan.

If you’re unsure whether engineering is required, your local building department is the best resource. They usually provide a checklist of what’s needed to apply for a building permit, including whether structural calculations or sealed drawings are required.

No, stock plans do not have a professional stamp attached. If your building department requires one, they will only accept a stamp from a professional licensed in the state where you plan to build. In this case, you will need to take your house plans to a local engineer or architect for review and stamping. If you're building in Nevada, you'll need to have your plan drawn by a licensed Nevada architect.

The typical plan set does not include any plumbing, heating or air conditioning drawings due to the wide variety of local codes and climatic conditions. It also depends on where your connections are for electricity, water, and waste (and the types of systems you choose).These details and specifications are easily obtained from your builder, contractor, and/or local sources.

Absolutely! Our modification service allows you to customize almost anything - whether it's adding an extra garage bay, adjusting square footage, changing the roof pitch, or more, the plan modification service is a great value and can be completed quickly. Additionally, if you purchase an electronic plan set (PDF or CAD), you may have the option to make changes locally. CAD files offer the most flexibility for custom edits. Just let us know what you're thinking, and we’ll provide an estimate and timeframe to get started. Learn more here.

Yes, Houseplans can create a fully custom plan for you. Pricing and timeframes are based on location and size of the home.

Find out! Build costs vary based on the size of the home, materials used, and local rates for goods and labor. Our Cost to Build report is a great way to get some basic costs dialed in before you order your plans. Just plug in your postal code, select your desired construction quality, and we'll calculate for you. Learn more here

Due to the copyright protections for plan design, all sales on house plans and modification services are final. This helps prevent fraud and makes sure our plan designers are paid for their work. We understand that circumstances may change, so in the event a plan will not work for you, we can often find a replacement plan at a discount. Just give us a call for help.

Digital plans (PDF and CAD) typically are sent within 1-2 business days. Printed plan sets are usually shipped out within 1-2 business days, then will arrive depending on the shipping option that you select. Please note that add-on options like alternate framing or foundations, material lists, or reversing the plan may take longer to create. Timeframes for plan modifications will be provided with your estimate.

Yes! Ground shipping is free within the continental US. The fastest way to get your plans is in a digital PDF or CAD format, which can be emailed or delivered quickly through a file sharing service.

Yes, you are guaranteed to get the lowest price with the Houseplans Low Price Guarantee. If you find an identical plan on another site, Houseplans will match and beat the price by 5% (some limitations apply).

The experienced team of plan advisors at Houseplans is ready to answer your questions. Whether you're just getting started and want to talk through the process or you have a specific question about a plan you're considering, get it answered. Talk to an advisor any day of the week (even weekends) via phone, email, webforms, or here.

Houseplans is proud to be owned by Zonda, the market leader in construction data [link to zondahome.com]. Zonda also runs NewHomeSource, a premier listings site where you can search for and find your new home. One more thing to brag about: Zonda publishes BUILDER and Architect magazines.

Founded in 2004, Houseplans works with hundreds of architects and designers to offer their plans at a fraction of the price of custom design. Houseplans has an "Excellent" rating on TrustPilot.

See reviews for Houseplans.com on Trustpilot, where the site has earned an "Excellent" rating.

Yes, check out Real Building Stories on the Houseplans blog.