Use existing drawings without treating them as certainty

Record the title, author, date and revision where available. Distinguish an original plan, a proposed renovation drawing, a survey and a sketch prepared for an enquiry. Keep the original file unchanged and make annotations on a separate copy.

If you have several versions, identify the one currently being used for planning. Do not delete an older drawing that explains existing construction, but label it clearly so it cannot be mistaken for the latest proposal. A dated folder is easier to use than a message thread containing unnamed images.

Note visible differences between the drawing and the property, such as an extra partition or a changed doorway. Photograph the discrepancy from a safe accessible position. Do not use a drawing to conclude that a hidden service is absent or that an element can be removed.

Ontario’s permit guidance requires approved plans to remain available on site and changes to be brought to the municipality. The authority-facing drawing requirements belong with the relevant permit process; an enquiry sketch is not a substitute.

Give YAK the pages that explain the requested work and retain the document index for reference. Ask which missing views or professional assessments would affect the scope. Redact unrelated personal information, while keeping dimensions, revision notes and other project details needed for review.