Property records · House plans · October 12, 2026
How to Find Blueprints of My House: 7 Places to Look
How to find blueprints of my house: check building permit files, the builder, past owners, the assessor sketch, HOA records and archives, or redraw them.
Original house plans come in handy more often than people expect: planning an addition, moving a wall, finishing a basement, chasing a leak, applying for a permit or just settling an argument about where the ductwork runs. The catch is that blueprints for most houses are not filed in one central place. They may sit in a building department's permit file, in a builder's archive, with a previous owner, or nowhere at all. This guide covers how to find blueprints of my house step by step, starting with the sources most likely to have them and ending with what to do when the originals are gone. Office names, record retention and copy rules differ by city and county, so expect some local variation.
Before you start: what to have on hand
- The address and parcel number. Look up the parcel on the Platbookmapper land map by choosing the state and county and opening the county viewer. Our guide on finding a parcel number on a map walks through it.
- The year the house was built. It tells you which offices and archives are worth trying. See how to find out when a house was built.
- The subdivision name and builder, if it is in a development. Plat records and old deeds often name the developer.
- Proof that you own it. Some offices only release plans to the owner of record, so bring a deed, tax bill or ID that matches the name on file.
1. The local building department
This is the best first stop for most houses built in the last few decades. When a house is built or remodeled with a permit, the builder usually submits drawings for plan review, and the department keeps a permit file for the address. Depending on the town, that is the city building department, the county permit office or a state agency in areas with no local code office.
- Search permits by address. Many departments have an online permit portal. Our guide on how to find building permits for a property explains how to search.
- Ask specifically for plans. A permit list shows dates and job descriptions. Plans, if kept, may be in a separate archive, on microfilm or in scanned files you have to request.
- Expect gaps. Retention rules vary. Some departments keep residential plans for many years, others discard them after the final inspection or after a set period, and older homes may predate local permits entirely.
- Expect limits on copies. Some offices let anyone view a file but only let the owner copy plans, or require permission from the designer, because architectural plans can be protected by copyright. Fees for scans or prints are common.
If nothing turns up online, call or email the records clerk with the address and parcel number. In many places you can also file a written public records request.
2. The builder or developer
Houses in subdivisions are often one of a handful of models a production builder offered. If the builder is still in business, its customer service or warranty team may be able to send the floor plan for your model, or at least a brochure with room dimensions. Custom homes are a different story: the architect or designer who drew them may still keep the drawings on file. Look for a name on old permit paperwork, a plan stamp in the attic or on the back of a closet door, or in the original sales documents.
3. Previous owners and the closing file
Original owners sometimes keep a full set of blueprints, and some leave them in a drawer, the garage or the attic. Check your own closing package and ask your agent whether the seller handed over any documents. To trace earlier owners you can reach out to, see how to find previous owners of a house. A polite letter or message explaining what you need gets a surprising number of replies.
4. The assessor's property record card
The county assessor does not keep blueprints, but its property record card often includes a building sketch: an outline of the house with exterior measurements, square footage by floor, porches, garages and additions. It is not a floor plan, but it gives you the footprint and dimensions to start a drawing. Many counties show the sketch in the online parcel record; others will print it on request.
5. The HOA or architectural review committee
In a community with an HOA, owners usually have to submit plans before building an addition, deck or major exterior change. The architectural review committee may keep those submittals, and some keep the builder's original model plans. Ask the management company.
6. Appraisals, inspections and old listings
- Appraisal reports. A mortgage appraisal includes a sketch of the house with room layout or exterior dimensions. Lenders must give borrowers a copy of the appraisal for a first-lien home loan, so check your loan papers.
- Home inspection reports from when you bought the house sometimes include a rough layout and photos of each room.
- Old real estate listings. Listing sites and brokerage archives sometimes keep the floor plan graphic from an earlier sale. Search the address and look through the photos.
- Survey and plot plan. A survey shows where the house sits on the lot, not the interior, but it is useful for additions and setbacks. See how to find a survey of my property online.
7. Older and historic homes
For houses built before local permits were common, the original drawings may never have been filed anywhere. A few places still worth checking:
- The local historical society, library or preservation office, which may hold architect collections, building records or files on notable homes.
- Fire insurance maps. Sanborn maps, many of which are digitized by the Library of Congress, show building footprints, number of stories and construction materials for many towns.
- Plan books and kit homes. Many early twentieth century houses were built from catalog plans or kits, including Sears Modern Homes. If your house matches a known model, the catalog floor plan may still be findable.
- Historic aerial photos help date additions and outbuildings. See how to find historic aerial photos.
If the blueprints are gone
Plenty of houses have no surviving plans. You can still get accurate drawings:
- Measure it yourself with a tape or laser measure and draw it on graph paper or in free floor plan software. Start with the assessor's exterior sketch so the outline is right.
- Use a phone scanning app. Some phones and apps can scan rooms and produce a floor plan. These are fine for planning furniture or a rough remodel budget, not for permit drawings.
- Hire a drafter or architect to produce measured as-built drawings. For permit work this is often the cleanest route. Do not confuse these with an as-built survey, which a surveyor prepares to show improvements on the lot.
How to find blueprints of my house: FAQ
Are house blueprints public records?
Sometimes. Plans submitted with a building permit may be kept in the permit file and available to view, but many departments limit copies to the owner or require the designer's permission, and many older plans were never kept.
How can I find blueprints of my house online for free?
Start with your city or county permit portal and search the address. Also check the assessor's online parcel record for a building sketch, and search old real estate listings for a floor plan image.
Does the county have the floor plan of my house?
The assessor usually has an exterior sketch with dimensions and square footage, not an interior floor plan. The building department is more likely to hold actual plans, if any were kept.
Can a builder give me the original plans?
If the builder is still in business, its customer service or warranty team may be able to share the floor plan for your model. For custom homes, ask the architect or designer named on old permit records.
What if my house is too old to have blueprints?
Try the local historical society, library or preservation office, fire insurance maps and old plan books. If nothing exists, measure the house yourself or hire a drafter to create as-built drawings.
Do I need original blueprints to remodel?
Not usually. Many permit offices accept new measured drawings of the existing house plus the proposed changes. Ask your building department what it requires for your project.