What does 'for plan check only' or 'not for construction' mean on my plans?

It means the set is an interim document, prepared for review rather than for building. California's Professional Engineers Act requires interim engineering documents to state their intended purpose, with examples such as "preliminary," "not for construction," "for plan check only" or "for review only." Once the building department approves the plans and issues the permit, the approved set is the one your contractor builds from.

Where the labels come from

Business and Professions Code sections 6735.3 (electrical) and 6735.4 (mechanical) say documents prepared by a licensed engineer must include the engineer's name and license number, and that interim documents must note their purpose. Plans that are permitted or released for construction must bear the engineer's signature, seal and date of signing. Section 6735 sets the same rule for civil, structural and geotechnical documents. Designers working under the wood-frame exemption are not covered by those sections, but they may use similar labels.

How the labels track a project

• Preliminary or for review. Early drafts for you, your architect or a contractor's budget pricing. Expect changes.
• For plan check. The set submitted to the city. Corrections may still change it.
• Approved set. After plan check, the department approves the plans and issues the permit. Los Angeles's homeowner guide describes this step: once corrections and clearances are complete, permits are issued, plans are stamped approved, and construction can begin.
• Revisions after issuance. Later changes go back to the department for approval. San Diego and Yorba Linda, for example, require revised work to be clouded and marked with a delta symbol.

Why it matters to you

• A contractor who prices from a preliminary or plan-check set may need to reprice if corrections change equipment, panel size or pipe routing.
• Subcontractors should install from the approved set, not an earlier PDF in their inbox. Inspectors compare the work to the approved plans.
• If the set someone is about to build from still says "for plan check only," confirm whether an approved version exists before work starts.
• Keep a simple log of which version went to the city and when, so you can match it to the comments that come back.

What this means for your MEP plans

Keep one current set and retire the old ones. When MEP Plans USA revises sheets for city corrections, which are included with every order along with two revisions, you receive updated PDFs to resubmit. After approval, distribute the city-approved version to your trades. See permit-ready vs. design drawings and how MEP plans are delivered. Labeling practices vary, so confirm what your building department expects.

Sources: bpelsg.ca.gov, dbs.lacity.gov, sandiego.gov, yorbalindaca.gov.