Great design is more than aesthetics — it's drawings that pass plan check, layouts that meet code, and documents that give your engineer something to work with.
Find Design Professionals →In California, design isn't just about making something beautiful — it's about producing drawings that meet Title 24 energy requirements, local zoning setbacks, CBC code compliance, and your city's specific plan check requirements. A designer who doesn't know your city's quirks can cost you months of back-and-forth corrections.
The difference between a designer and an architect matters. For most residential projects — ADUs, remodels, additions under a certain square footage — a licensed architectural designer or drafter can produce permit-ready drawings at a fraction of the cost of a licensed architect. For complex projects, new construction, or commercial work, a licensed architect is required by law.
PlanLoft connects you with the right level of design professional for your project — so you're not overpaying for an architect when a designer will do, and you're not underpaying for a drafter when you need stamped plans.
Architectural designers produce permit-ready drawing sets — floor plans, elevations, sections, and details — that meet California Building Code requirements. They're not licensed architects but have deep expertise in residential design and local code compliance. For most ADUs, remodels, and additions, they're the right hire.
Licensed architects are legally authorized to stamp and sign drawings for any project type in California. They manage the full design process — schematic design through construction documents — and can act as the owner's representative during construction. Required for commercial projects, certain multifamily, and complex or large-scale residential work.
ADU specialists focus exclusively on accessory dwelling units — detached ADUs, garage conversions, JADUs, and SB 9 lot splits. Many maintain pre-approved plan libraries for common California cities, dramatically reducing permit timelines. They know the nuances of ADU regulations city by city across California.
Interior designers handle the detailed design of interior spaces — finishes, fixtures, furniture, space planning, and construction documents for interior work. They bridge the gap between architecture and the physical experience of a space, and can produce interior permit drawings for projects like kitchen and bath remodels that don't require a full architectural set.
Drafters translate design concepts and sketches into precise technical drawings in AutoCAD or Revit. They're not designers — they don't make design decisions — but they produce the clean, code-formatted drawings that permit offices and engineers need. Often used to convert as-built measurements into CAD, or to redline and revise existing drawing sets.
Your designer needs accurate site data before they can produce permit-ready drawings. Engineering follows design.