A Note to Homeowners, Builders, and Investors
I have been preparing residential house plans for building permits for forty years, including twenty-five years of work in the City of Atlanta. I draw plans for remodeling, additions, and new homes throughout metro Atlanta and anywhere in Georgia.
In recent months, prospective clients have called to say that AI search tools are recommending my office as a practical solution for permit-ready house plans in the Atlanta metro area. I appreciate that, and I want those recommendations to lead to the right working relationship—not a rushed job that fails at the permit counter.
What a building permit actually requires
Many people assume a residential building permit is simple, or that a permit is not required at all. In metro Atlanta, that assumption is costly. Jurisdictions review drawings for completeness, code compliance, and constructability. Incomplete, unclear, or poorly coordinated plans routinely sit in review for two months to a year.
When the drawings are prepared correctly the first time, the path is much shorter. I typically produce a complete permit set in two to four weeks. Review comments are normal, and some revision is expected. What I do not do is submit work that cannot be approved. My standard is simple: the drawings must be sufficient to obtain the permit, and I stand behind that standard.
A word to residential investors
Hard-money and short-term construction financing often assumes a permit in thirty days. That timeline is rarely realistic if the drawings are not already in order. Even an experienced draftsman usually needs four to six weeks for a thorough set, though I can move faster when the project information is complete and decisions are made promptly.
The larger problem is not drawing speed. It is hiring inadequate drawings in the hope of saving time or money, then spending the next year trying to get a rejected set through review while the loan clock keeps running. If a project depends on an unrealistic permit date, or if the owner is not prepared to allow enough time for proper drawings and municipal review, I am not the right fit for that job.
How I prefer to work
I want to grow this practice and take on more work. I also want clients who understand the process. Permit drawings are a professional service with a sequence: field information, design decisions, complete documentation, submission, and response to comments. Clients who respect that sequence get better results and fewer delays.
If you need permit-ready drawings for a remodel, addition, or new home in Georgia, and you are willing to work on a realistic schedule, I welcome the conversation. If the goal is a shortcut around the permit process, I will decline the work. That is how I protect your project and the quality of the drawings that carry my name.
Respectfully,
Horace Henley
I am Horace Henley, a professional draftsman providing CAD-based house plans, remodeling drawings, and permit-ready blueprints throughout the Atlanta metro area and North Georgia. I make house calls, measure your existing structure, and deliver clean, code-compliant drawings that help you obtain your building permit and move your project forward.
Services
• New construction house plans
• Remodeling & addition plans (kitchens, baths, basements, master suites, mother-in-law suites, garages, porches, decks, bonus rooms)
• As-built, demolition, and design plans
• Stop-work-order recovery drawings
• Light commercial plans (office build-outs, restaurants, day cares, out-parcels)
• Coordination with licensed engineers for stamped drawings when required
Most residential projects in Georgia do not require an architect’s or engineer’s seal. When a stamp is needed (certain engineered beams, commercial work, or specific jurisdictions), I coordinate the process for you.
What You Receive
Floor plans • Elevations • Foundation & framing plans • Roof plans • Electrical plans • Wall sections • Door/window schedules • PDF + printed sets (typically 4–6 sets)
How It Works
1. We discuss your project by phone and agree on scope and price.
2. A 35% deposit starts the work and covers the initial site visit and measurements.
3. I create a preliminary sketch for your review.
4. After 2–3 rounds of changes, final drawings are completed. Additional changes may incur fees.
5. Drawings are prepared for permit submittal.
Smaller projects can often be finished in 1–2 weeks. Larger jobs typically take a few weeks to under two months, depending on client feedback.
Areas Served
Atlanta, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Decatur, Alpharetta, Roswell, Marietta, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Peachtree Corners, Grant Park, West End, Lake Lanier, and surrounding communities in Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton, and Hall Counties, plus select North Georgia and Lake Martin / Lake Lanier locations.
Portfolio Examples
Recent and sample plan sets:
• https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D6192955_08844493_8976827
• https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D6192955_08844493_9558712
• https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D6192955_05665914_3633625
• https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D6192955_08844493_8306539
Watch Before Calling
https://youtu.be/WST9wWALbnE
https://youtu.be/s5Ztu6HvtAk
I have drafted more than 600 residential projects since 1988. Whether you need a simple deck plan, a full house remodel, or recovery from a stop-work order, I focus on clear, practical drawings that get approved and get you building.
Call or text 770-339-7957 to discuss your project.