About Small Fish Drafting:
22 Years of Arizona Design Experience
Real Talk: Why I Built a Design Firm That Handles the Messy Stuff for You
Let’s be honest—designing your dream home or a new addition is exciting. Dealing with city hall to get it permitted? Not so much. Between the confusing online portals, strict building codes, and endless electronic paperwork, the process can feel like a total headache.
That’s exactly why I started Small Fish Drafting LLC. I don’t just draw your plans; I handle the entire project from the first sketch until the city hands over the permit, saving you the stress.
Born and Raised in the Arizona Dirt
I'm an Arizona native, and architecture is practically in my DNA. My passion started at just four years old when I drew my very first floor plan. It ran in the family—my dad was a building inspector and plans examiner for the City of Scottsdale. Growing up under his wing, I learned early on exactly how city officials look at blueprints.
I spent high school drawing houses on paper before transitioning to CAD and majoring in Architecture at Glendale Community College. Today, I bring 22 years of local design and drafting experience to every single project.
No Corporate Cubicles. Just Direct Help
Early in my career, I spent a few months working for a traditional corporate architectural firm. It didn't take long to realize that sitting in a cubicle kept me way too far removed from the actual clients. In 2004, I broke away to start my own business. Back then, starting with just a handful of projects, I felt like a "small fish in a big pond"—and the name stuck.
Being an independent, specialized firm is our superpower
When you work with us, you don't get passed off to a junior assistant. You get me, my two decades of experience, and a deep, firsthand knowledge of Valley zoning laws working directly for you. [1, 2]
Ready to get your project moving without the city hall stress? Drop me a line, and let’s talk about what you’re building.
— Jeremiah Ward, Founder
Operating Hours
Mon - Fri: 8am - 4pm (Calls & Zoom Meetings)
Site visits are only available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays each week on a first-come first-serve basis. Accomodations can be made outside of these times if necessary.
Sat - Sun: Closed
Major Holidays: Closed
MY Residential Design & Permitting Process
If this is your first time managing a building project, knowing where to start or what to expect can be overwhelming. I handle this full-time so you can avoid the common pitfalls of going over budget, creeping scope, or facing a rejected city permit.
Design
Committed to Your Vision
I take this first step seriously. When designing the project you’ve been dreaming about and saving for, you shouldn't have to rush or settle for less. I work closely with you to ensure you get exactly what you want. After all, it's your investment.
permit
Handled with Care
Your plans are complete, the engineering is in, and it’s time to submit to the city. Over the last two decades, we have built strong relationships with local municipalities and are on a first-name basis with many plan reviewers. As cities transition to electronic plan reviews, we manage the entire submittal for you. This final approval phase generally takes two to six weeks, depending on the municipality's current workload.
DRAFT
Precision & Quality
Once you approve the design, we transition into creating construction drawings and technical specifications. Because every project is unique, we also coordinate any necessary engineering required to secure a permit. This phase typically takes three to five weeks.
Professional Residential Design & Permit-Ready Drawings
Custom Residential Projects
I specialize exclusively in residential architecture and drafting services. Please note that I focus solely on residential spaces; I do not provide commercial tenant improvements (TIs) or metal building layouts.
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Home Additions & Remodels – Tailored structural alterations.
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Custom Home Design – Comprehensive space planning and design for new construction and standard plans.
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Detached RV Garages & Shops – Heavy-duty secondary structures built to your exact site requirements.
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Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – Permit-ready blueprints for guest houses, mother-in-law suites, and casitas.
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State Licensure Floor Plans – Evacuation and layout floor plans specifically drafted for group homes or assisted living facilities with 1 to 5 occupants as required for State of Arizona licensing.
Specialized Technical Coordination
To ensure your project gets through city plan checks smoothly, we handle the logistics and coordinate directly with our network of licensed trade partners for all necessary specialized engineering:
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Structural & Civil Engineering
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Mechanical Engineering & HVAC Layouts
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Plumbing & Gas Line Schematics
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ResCheck Energy Compliance Reports
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Property & Land Surveys
design & Drafting Fees
Fees include one site visit, project design, Zoom meetings, construction document preparation, electronic plan submittal, and processing of plan review corrections.
New Construction: Custom Homes & ADUs
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Minimum Fee (Up to 1,000 s.f.): $5,000
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For projects over 1,000 s.f., add:
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Livable, Air-Conditioned Area: $3.00 / s.f.
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Garage Area: $1.50 / s.f.
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Covered Area (Porches, Patios): $0.75 / s.f.
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Additions & Remodels
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Minimum Fee (Up to 500 s.f.): $5,000
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For projects over 500 s.f., add:
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Additions: $3.00 / s.f.
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Remodels: $1.50 / s.f.
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RV Garages & Shops
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Detached Structures:
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Wall Height 10' & Under: $5,000
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(Structural engineering not included)
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Wall Height Over 10': $6,000
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(Includes State required structural engineering)
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Attached Structures: (Includes site visit and as-built plan)
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Wall Height 10' & Under: $5,750
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(Structural engineering not included)
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Wall Height Over 10': $6,750
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(Includes required structural engineering)
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Note: Air-conditioned spaces and/or mezzanine levels inside garages or shops will be charged at an additional $3.00 / s.f. and require additional engineering.
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Block/CMU structures: Add $1,500
Engineering & Reports (Via Trusted Trade Partners)
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Structural Engineering (Gravity, Lateral & Shear): $1.00 / s.f. under roof ($1,000 minimum)
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Mechanical: Manual J/S (Mini-Splits): $500 per unit
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Mechanical: Manual J/S/D (Ducted Systems): $750 per unit
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Electrical: (400-Amp Panel Upgrade Engineering): $1,000
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ResCheck Energy Compliance Report: $150 per report
Additional Services
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On-Site Visit / In-person Consultation: $150
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Hourly Drafting Rate: $150 / hour
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Site Plans: $500
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Architectural drawings showing your property with all structures and their relative distances from property lines and building setbacks. Includes new block wall construction layout.
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Design Consultation & Measure Package
If you are not entirely sure what you want to build or need professional layout ideas, this option includes an on-site visit, measuring the entire house, drafting an as-built floor plan, 2 hours of custom design time, one Zoom meeting and a final remodel concept plan.
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Up to 2,500 sq. ft.: $500
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2,501 – 4,000 sq. ft.: $750
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Over 4,000 sq. ft.: Call for custom pricing
State Licensure & Measure Package (1–5 Occupants)
Designed specifically for residential group homes, behavioral health, or assisted living facilities requiring compliance floorplans. This comprehensive package includes everything in our standard Design Consultation & Measure tier, plus specialized floor plans mapped out with the exact egress routes, room occupants, and life safety measures required for state licensure approval.
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Up to 2,500 sq. ft.: $1,000
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2,501 – 4,000 sq. ft.: $1,250
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Over 4,000 sq. ft.: Call for custom pricing