What Is Plan Check Correction Tracking?

Plan check correction tracking is the process of systematically managing correction items issued by a building department or reviewing agency during the plan check process. Each item represents a deficiency in the submitted construction documents that must be addressed before a permit can be issued. Tracking involves recording each correction item, assigning it to the responsible team member or consultant, monitoring its status, and verifying it was addressed in the resubmittal.

A plan check correction letter typically contains: project identification information (address, permit number, APN), the names of the reviewing agencies (building and safety, fire, public works), a numbered list of correction items each with a code reference and description, instructions for resubmittal, and contact information for the plan checker. In California, large projects often receive separate correction letters from multiple reviewing agencies simultaneously.

The number of correction items varies significantly by project type, jurisdiction, and the completeness of the original submittal. In Los Angeles (LADBS), structural submittals routinely return 20–40 correction items. A full commercial plan check across multiple departments may generate 80 or more total items. Smaller residential projects may return 5–15 items.

Without a systematic tracking process, correction items fall through the cracks, resubmittals are incomplete, and permit timelines extend unnecessarily. Each failed resubmittal cycle adds weeks to the project schedule and fees from consultants who must re-review drawings. Organized correction tracking reduces resubmittal cycles, distributes work clearly across consultants, and creates an audit trail for accountability.

Most AEC teams start with spreadsheets — a manually built table with columns for item number, description, assigned person, and status. This works for small projects but breaks down at scale. Purpose-built AEC software like Olumba can parse correction letter PDFs automatically, extract each item into a trackable task, and assign items to specific team members without manual transcription.

Olumba includes a correction letter parser (called Olumba Align) that accepts PDF correction letters from any jurisdiction. The parser extracts each correction item — including the code reference, department, and description — into a structured task list. Project managers assign items to consultants, set deadlines, and track resolution. When the resubmittal is ready, the live status view shows which items are closed and which are still open.

Plan check correction tracking applies to any jurisdiction that issues construction permits, which is virtually every municipality in the United States. In California, jurisdictions with particularly high correction rates include the City of Los Angeles (LADBS), City of San Francisco (DBI), City of San Diego (DSD), City of Long Beach, and the County of Los Angeles. Each jurisdiction has its own correction letter format, portal system, and resubmittal process.