CAD Design & Drafting · New Jersey
Drafting Buddies provides 2D and 3D CAD design, architectural, structural, and MEP drafting for New Jersey architects, engineers, and contractors - delivered in clean, standards-compliant AutoCAD and Revit files, checked against New Jersey's statewide Uniform Construction Code before delivery.
NJ UCC 2021 I-CODE BASIS · STATEWIDE UNIFORM · 12 ACTIVE SUB-SERVICES
Sheet 01 - Quick Overview
Drafting Buddies provides CAD design and drafting services across New Jersey for architectural, structural, MEP, mechanical, and construction documentation - covering all 21 counties from Newark and Jersey City to Camden and Atlantic City. Every drawing is produced in AutoCAD or Revit and checked against New Jersey's statewide Uniform Construction Code (UCC), currently based on the 2021 International Building, Residential, and Mechanical Codes with New Jersey-specific edits. Founded in Austin, Texas in 2014 with an A+ BBB rating, Drafting Buddies has produced CAD drafting and design documentation for architects, engineers, and contractors in all 50 states.
Introduction
New Jersey is one of the densest, most tightly regulated construction markets in the country. The Port of New York and New Jersey moves more cargo than any port on the East Coast, roughly 80 data center facilities already sit clustered across Secaucus, Newark, and Clifton, and industrial and warehouse construction has surged nationwide alongside the AI infrastructure build-out. Every one of those projects still starts the same way: a clean, organized CAD drawing set that an architect, engineer, or permitting official can actually work from.
Drafting Buddies produces that drawing set. Our drafters work in AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, and SolidWorks to build 2D construction documentation and 3D CAD models for architectural, structural, and MEP disciplines, following consistent layer standards and file organization from the first sheet to the last. New Jersey is one of the few states where the Uniform Construction Code applies statewide with no local jurisdiction amendments, which means a drawing set that's compliant in Trenton is compliant across every township in the state - and we build every set to that standard from the start. Statewide coverage is listed on our New Jersey drafting services page.
2021
Base I-Code edition currently adopted statewide
21
NJ counties covered
#1
Port of NY & NJ - busiest on the East Coast
2014
Drafting Buddies founded, Austin TX
Sheet 02 - Sub-Services
Twelve CAD disciplines, drafted in AutoCAD or Revit and checked against New Jersey UCC requirements before delivery.
01 · 2D CAD
Floor plans, elevations, sections, and detail drawings produced in clean, layered AutoCAD files following consistent drafting standards. We build 2D construction documentation from sketches, redlines, or engineering input, formatted for permit submittal and field use, giving New Jersey architects and contractors a drawing set that's organized the way a review office actually expects to see it.
02 · 3D CAD
3D CAD models for architectural, mechanical, and product design built in Revit, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360, giving clients a visual and dimensionally accurate model before construction or fabrication begins. We support design development, coordination reviews, and rendering hand-off from a single 3D source model built for New Jersey commercial and manufacturing projects.
03 · ARCHITECTURAL
Floor plans, elevations, building sections, and construction details drafted to architectural drafting standards and cross-checked against New Jersey UCC barrier-free and life-safety requirements. We produce residential and commercial drawing sets ready for permit submittal, coordinated with structural and MEP drawings so nothing conflicts once the project reaches the field.
04 · STRUCTURAL
Framing plans, foundation drawings, and structural details drafted from engineering calculations and design intent, formatted for coordination with architectural and MEP sets. We support steel, concrete, and wood-frame structural documentation for New Jersey's multifamily, commercial, and light-industrial construction, with dimensions and callouts built for direct field and shop use.
05 · MEP
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing CAD drawings covering ductwork layouts, panel schedules, and fixture plans, drafted in AutoCAD MEP or Revit and clash-checked against architectural and structural sets. Especially valuable on New Jersey's tight multifamily floor-to-floor heights and high-load data center facilities, where undetected conflicts translate directly into field rework. MEP drafting is coordinated before the set leaves our team.
06 · MECHANICAL
Machine design, equipment layout, and manufacturing CAD drawings drafted in AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360 for New Jersey manufacturers and fabricators. We produce detail drawings, assembly drawings, and shop-ready documentation for product design, industrial equipment, and machine shop projects across the state's manufacturing corridor. Mechanical drafting is built for fabrication, not just illustration.
07 · AUTOCAD
Dedicated AutoCAD drafting support for architectural, structural, mechanical, and civil disciplines, built to your firm's layer standards, title blocks, and drawing templates. Whether you need full-set production or overflow drafting support during peak project loads, our AutoCAD team plugs directly into your New Jersey project workflow. Pair with BIM when the set needs more than 2D.
08 · CONVERSION
Conversion of PDF, scanned, or hand-drawn documents into clean, editable CAD files with accurate layers, dimensions, and text. We rebuild legacy paper drawings and raster images into usable DWG files for New Jersey firms digitizing older project archives or working from field-marked redlines.
09 · AS-BUILT
Field-verified as-built drawings documenting actual constructed conditions, built from site measurements, photos, or laser scan data. We produce accurate existing-condition CAD sets for New Jersey renovation, addition, and facility-management projects where original drawings no longer reflect what's actually in the building.
10 · PERMIT
Permit-ready CAD drawing sets formatted to meet New Jersey UCC submittal requirements, including required plan notes, code data tables, and life-safety information. We prepare residential and commercial permit sets designed to move through your local construction official's review with minimal comment cycles.
11 · CONSTRUCTION
Full construction documentation sets covering general notes, plans, elevations, sections, schedules, and details, coordinated across architectural, structural, and MEP disciplines. Built for New Jersey contractors and GCs who need a complete, buildable drawing set rather than a partial design package.
12 · CIVIL
Site plans, grading and drainage layouts, and utility drawings drafted in Civil 3D for New Jersey site development and infrastructure projects. We produce civil CAD documentation coordinated with architectural site plans, supporting permitting and construction across the state's dense suburban and urban development sites.
Sheet 03 - New Jersey Building Codes
New Jersey is one of the few states where a single Uniform Construction Code (UCC) applies statewide with no local jurisdiction amendments - every CAD drawing set we produce is checked against the current subcode editions below.
NJ UCC · In Effect Statewide
2021 I-Code Basis
| Subcode | Current Base Edition |
|---|---|
| Building Subcode | 2021 International Building Code (IBC), NJ edits |
| Residential Subcode | 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), NJ edits |
| Mechanical Subcode | 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) |
| Fuel Gas Subcode | 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) |
| Energy Subcode | 2021 IECC (residential) / ASHRAE 90.1-2019 (commercial) |
| Electrical Subcode | 2020 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) |
| Plumbing Subcode | 2021 National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC) |
| Barrier-Free Subcode | IBC Chapter 11 & ICC A117.1-2017 |
The Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, and Energy subcodes were adopted in September 2022 on a 2021 I-code basis, with a six-month grace period allowing applications submitted before March 6, 2023 to be reviewed under the prior code. As of August 2026, this 2021-based UCC remains the code of record statewide, and every drawing set we produce is checked against it.
Sheet 04 - Industries We Serve
From Port of NY/NJ industrial corridors to North Jersey's data center cluster, we draft for the sectors driving New Jersey construction - including commercial and residential work.
Office, retail, and mixed-use fit-outs across North and Central Jersey.
Single-family, multifamily, and mid-rise residential drafting.
Logistics and distribution facilities along the Turnpike and Port corridor.
North Jersey's growing cluster of hyperscale and colocation facilities.
Machine design and product CAD for New Jersey manufacturers.
Hospital, medical office, and life-sciences facility drafting.
K-12 and higher-education campus construction and renovation.
Municipal, transit, and infrastructure-adjacent facility projects.
Sheet 05 - Project Types
Ground-up architectural, structural, and MEP drafting from design through permit set.
As-built drafting paired with new-work design integration for existing buildings.
Interior architectural and MEP CAD for commercial and retail tenant buildouts.
Mechanical and product CAD for New Jersey manufacturing and fabrication facilities.
Deliverables
Clean, organized DWG files following consistent layer and title-block standards.
Drawing sets formatted to meet NJ UCC submittal requirements for your local AHJ.
Architectural, structural, and MEP drawings checked against each other before delivery.
Revit, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360 model to support visualization or fabrication hand-off.
Field-verified CAD documentation of actual constructed conditions.
DWG, DXF, RVT, and PDF exports delivered in the formats your team already works in.
Quality Control
Every file is checked against consistent layer, block, and title-block standards.
Architectural, structural, and MEP drawings are reviewed together, not signed off in isolation.
Every dimension string and annotation is checked for accuracy before delivery.
Drawings are checked against current NJ UCC subcode editions before final delivery.
Sheet 06 - Software & Tools
Every drawing set is delivered in formats your architect, engineer, GC, or AHJ can open, mark up, and coordinate without conversion. AutoCAD is the primary 2D platform; we bring in Revit and Civil 3D depending on the set. See our guide to AutoCAD and Revit drafting.
Sheet 07 - Our Process
We review your sketches, redlines, or existing files to scope every discipline needed.
Drafters build 2D or 3D CAD drawings in AutoCAD, Revit, or SolidWorks.
Drawings are cross-checked across disciplines for conflicts before review.
Every sheet is checked against current NJ UCC subcode requirements before release.
Final files are delivered with fast-turnaround redline and revision support.
Sheet 08 - Why Choose Us
Every drawing is cross-checked against New Jersey's current UCC subcode editions before it leaves our team, reducing submittal rejections and RFIs.
Architectural, structural, and MEP CAD drafting from a single team, coordinated against each other instead of siloed hand-offs.
Every drawing set follows organized layer names, title blocks, and file structures your team can open and use immediately.
Operating since 2014 out of Austin, Texas with an A+ BBB rating and drafting work delivered in all 50 states, including deep New Jersey project experience.
Dedicated drafters and a structured QC pipeline keep revision cycles short so your project schedule doesn't slip.
You work with the same drafting team from intake through final revisions, not a rotating queue of subcontracted drafters.
Sheet 09 - Local Expertise
Since the UCC applies statewide with no local amendments, our drawings hold up the same way whether your project sits in Newark or Cape May County. Pair CAD production with shop drawings when the project needs fabrication-ready sheets as well as design documentation.
Essex Co.
Hudson Co.
Passaic Co.
Union Co.
Middlesex Co.
Middlesex Co.
Ocean Co.
Ocean Co.
Mercer Co.
Passaic Co.
Camden Co.
Camden Co.
Mercer Co.
Hudson Co.
Atlantic Co.
Middlesex Co.
Bergen Co.
Bergen Co.
Morris Co.
Hudson Co.
Sheet 10 - Portfolio
A sample of the drawing sets our team has produced for New Jersey projects. Full case studies are shared on request - or browse our portfolio.
Full framing and foundation drawing set for a North Jersey commercial build.
Complete architectural CAD permit package for a Hudson County residential project.
Ductwork and panel schedule drawings for a Central Jersey data center facility.
Testimonials
“The permit set went through our local review office on the first pass, no comment letter. That almost never happens on the first submittal.”
Project Architect
Architecture Firm, North Jersey
“Layer standards were exactly how our office likes them. We could open the files and get straight to work without cleaning anything up.”
CAD Manager
Engineering Firm, Central Jersey
“Converted a stack of old paper drawings into usable CAD files faster than we expected, with dimensions we could actually trust.”
Facilities Manager
Commercial Property Owner, Essex County
CAD Drafting New Jersey
As of August 2026, New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code is based on the 2021 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, and Energy Codes, the 2020 NEC, and the 2021 National Standard Plumbing Code. A 2024-cycle update has been proposed but is not yet adopted statewide.
Related Searches
Sheet 11 - Get Started
Send us your sketches, redlines, or existing files and we'll scope your CAD package within 24-48 hours - architectural, structural, MEP, or all three.