What Is Plan Check?
Plan check is the building department's review of your construction plans to verify they comply with building codes before a permit is issued. A plan checker goes through your drawings sheet by sheet and either approves them or returns a correction list of items to fix.
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What the reviewer looks for
Plan checkers verify structural adequacy, fire and life safety, accessibility, energy compliance, and zoning conformance. They check that your drawings show what's actually required by code — beam sizes, egress paths, electrical loads, drainage — not just that the design looks reasonable. Anything missing or non-compliant goes on the correction list.
Corrections are normal
Almost no project passes plan check on the first round with zero comments. A correction list is a routine part of the process, not a sign your engineer did bad work. Your design team addresses each comment, revises the drawings, and resubmits. Most projects clear in one to three rounds.
How long it takes
First-review times vary enormously by jurisdiction — from days in small cities to many weeks in busy ones. Each correction cycle adds another review period. This is why experienced local engineers are valuable: they know what a given city's reviewers flag and design to avoid the common corrections upfront.
The bottom line
Plan check is the city's code-compliance review, and corrections are a normal part of it. Budget time for at least one correction round, and hire people who know your jurisdiction's reviewers.