Permit drawings

Electrical permit drawings for Edmonton and Alberta projects: plans, single-line diagrams, panel schedules and load calculations, with engineer coordination where stamps are required.

When you need drawings

Not every electrical permit needs drawings. Many small residential jobs are permitted with a simple application. As projects grow, the permit authority usually wants to see what will be built before it is built. Commercial fit-outs, new services, larger renovations and industrial work often need a drawing package.

In Edmonton, the City reviews and issues electrical permits. Elsewhere in Alberta, the permit may come from the municipality or an accredited agency. Each sets its own submission requirements, so we check them before starting the drawings.

What goes in a drawing set

The content depends on the project. A typical commercial set might include:

• A legend and general notes explaining symbols and requirements.
• Power and lighting plans showing device and equipment locations.
• A single-line diagram showing the service, panels and major feeders.
• Panel schedules listing every circuit and its load.
• A load calculation supporting the service and feeder sizes.

Stamped drawings

Some projects need drawings sealed by a professional engineer registered with APEGA. This usually depends on the size of the service, the occupancy and the complexity of the work, and the permit authority decides. When a stamp is needed, we work with an engineer and handle the coordination, so you are not managing two separate firms.

Avoiding resubmissions

The most common reasons drawings bounce back are missing information, mismatched panel schedules and load calculations, unclear equipment ratings and notes that do not match the plans. We cross-check every sheet before submitting, and if a reviewer comments, we respond quickly and resubmit.

We also make sure the drawings match what the other trades are doing. A panel shown on a wall that the architect has since moved, or a kitchen layout that changed after the equipment was ordered, is a common cause of comments. Coordination before submission saves time on both ends.

Our drawings are also built to be useful after the permit. Installers build from them, inspectors check against them, and you keep them as a record of what is in your building. Updated as-built versions are available at the end of the job through our online system.

Cost depends on project size, the number of sheets, how much existing information is available, whether site measurements are needed and whether engineering is required. Drawings for design-build projects are usually included in the overall price.

Projects that typically need drawings

Requirements vary by authority and scope, but these projects commonly need some form of electrical drawings or plans with the permit application:

• Commercial tenant improvements and new restaurant or retail fit-outs.
• New or upgraded commercial and industrial services.
• Switchgear replacements and new distribution equipment.
• Industrial retrofits and new production lines.
• Larger solar and battery installations.
• Multi-unit residential and mixed-use buildings.

For homes, a simple sketch or description is often enough for smaller jobs. When in doubt, ask us and we will confirm what the permit authority wants before any money is spent on drawings.

Questions we hear