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Building Code Reference

Got a CBC 2303.4 correction?

Truss deferred submittal notes

For builders in California, Greater Seattle, the Las Vegas area, the Denver area and Kansas City · CrossBeam Permits

What this code requires, how to fix it, and how cities and counties review it

What this code requires

CBC 2303.4 is the California Building Code section that requires structural plans to include a deferred submittal note whenever wood trusses are used. The note must state that the truss manufacturer will provide stamped engineering drawings, and it must specify the design loads, bearing conditions, and connection requirements the truss engineer must design to. Without that note, plan checkers have no basis to accept the truss package later, so they flag the omission upfront.

How to fix it

  1. Add a deferred submittal note to the structural general notes

    On the structural general notes sheet (typically S0.0 or S1.0), add a paragraph explicitly identifying wood trusses as a deferred submittal item. The note should state that truss design drawings will be prepared by the truss manufacturer's engineer, submitted to the Engineer of Record for review prior to fabrication, and then forwarded to the building department for approval before installation. Reference CBC 107.3.4.1 (deferred submittals) and 2303.4.1.1 (truss design drawings) directly in the note so the plan checker can confirm the intent without hunting for the authority. Keep the language clear: state who prepares the drawings, who reviews them, and when approval must happen relative to installation.

  2. Publish the design loads the truss engineer must meet

    Include a truss design criteria table on the structural plans. At minimum, list: top chord live load (roof live load per CBC 1607 or ground snow load where applicable), top chord dead load (roofing weight plus sheathing plus any MEP loads hung from the top chord), bottom chord dead load (ceiling finish), bottom chord live load (including attic storage per CBC Table 1607.1), and design wind speed or seismic design data if the truss connects to lateral resisting elements. Also state the load duration factor (CD) you used in the structural design. Without a complete table, the truss manufacturer has no defined targets and the building department can't verify that the deferred package will match your structural assumptions.

  3. Specify bearing widths at each support location

    Show the required minimum bearing width at each truss bearing point on the framing plan or a bearing detail. Standard minimum bearing on wood framing is 3 inches, but your specific span and load may require more. If trusses bear on a beam or header, call out the header size and the minimum seat width so the truss manufacturer can design the bottom chord accordingly. For long-span girder trusses, a separate bearing detail showing the seat plate, post cap, and any required hold-down hardware is the clearest way to communicate these requirements. Mismatched bearing assumptions between the EOR's design and the truss manufacturer's calculations are a leading cause of field revisions.

  4. Define connection and restraint requirements

    The structural plans must identify what connections the truss engineer is responsible for. This includes hurricane ties or rafter ties at bearing walls, any drag strut or diaphragm chord forces transferred through the top chord, and whether permanent individual truss member restraint (PITMR) will be required for long web members that could buckle under load. If your lateral system relies on the roof as a diaphragm, note the in-plane design load per linear foot so the truss engineer can confirm the top chord sheathing attachment will carry it. Vague notes like "provide adequate lateral bracing" don't satisfy 2303.4 and will get flagged.

  5. Spell out the EOR review step in the note

    CBC 107.3.4.1 requires deferred submittal documents, including the truss package, to be reviewed by the registered design professional in responsible charge before they go to the building department. Your note should name this step explicitly: the truss manufacturer submits to the EOR, the EOR reviews it and notes that it is in general conformance with the building design, then the package is forwarded to the city. Some plan checkers will ask for a deferred submittal log sheet that tracks each item, the submittal date, and the EOR approval date. Adding a blank log table to the general notes up front eliminates a common follow-up comment and shows the reviewer your team understands the full process.

  6. Note that a truss placement diagram will be in the deferred package

    Add a note that a truss placement diagram will be included in the deferred submittal. The placement diagram shows which truss type goes in which bay, orientation of non-symmetric trusses (such as hip sets or piggyback girders), and the spacing dimension. Plan checkers look for this because it tells them the manufacturer will provide installation guidance alongside the engineering calculations. If the framing plan already shows a truss layout, note that the manufacturer's placement diagram will confirm and supersede it for fabrication purposes.

  7. Submit a clear correction response letter calling out each change

    When you resubmit, write a correction response letter that addresses CBC 2303.4 specifically. For each change you made, point to the sheet number, detail number, and general note number where it appears. A response that says 'Deferred submittal note added at S0.0 General Note 12; design criteria table added at S1.0 Table 1; bearing details added at S3.0 Details 5A and 5B' gets your set approved faster than making the checker hunt for the revisions. Checkers work through high volumes; the easier you make it to confirm your fix, the less likely you are to get a second cycle on the same correction.

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Why you got flagged

Plan checkers flag CBC 2303.4 when structural plans show truss framing but don't include a deferred submittal note. The correction doesn't mean your trusses are wrong. It means the structural sheets didn't tell the reviewer how the truss design will be handled later. Most residential plan sets show roof framing as a truss layout with a generic note like "trusses by manufacturer" — and that's exactly what triggers the correction.

The most common specific cause is a missing design parameter table. When a structural engineer of record (EOR) stamps the plans, CBC 2303.4 expects the EOR to publish the loads the truss designer must meet: top chord live load, top chord dead load, bottom chord dead load, duration factors, and the bearing width at each support. If that table isn't on the structural plans or on a truss specification sheet attached to the set, the plan checker can't verify that the deferred truss engineering will match what the EOR assumed.

A second frequent issue is incomplete bearing and connection callouts. Plan checkers look for the seat dimensions at each bearing wall or header, and for the hold-down or hurricane-strap schedule the truss engineer will be required to satisfy. If those details are absent, the checker flags 2303.4 even if a deferred note is present — because the note is there but lacks the reference data the truss engineer needs.

A third scenario shows up on tenant improvement and re-roof projects that swap an older stick-frame roof for trusses. The original plans may have been permitted with rafter sizing; the revision set shows trusses but the structural notes weren't updated to add a proper deferred submittal section. The plan checker sees a truss layout without the deferred submittal protocol and writes the correction.

The official code

2025 California Building Code Chapter 23 — Wood, Section 2303.4 Trusses

Read the source →

Common questions

Does CBC 2303.4 apply to residential projects or just commercial?
CBC 2303.4 applies to commercial and multi-family residential projects governed by the California Building Code. Single-family and duplex residential work uses the California Residential Code, where CRC R802.10 covers the truss deferred submittal requirement. The language is similar but the section numbers differ. If your project is three stories or more, or is a multifamily building, you're under CBC 2303.4. Single-family homes and duplexes fall under CRC R802.10. Mixed-use buildings with residential above commercial use CBC throughout.
What loads need to be in the truss design criteria table?
At minimum: top chord live load (typically 20 psf for standard roof live, but verify your jurisdiction's adopted value), top chord dead load (roofing material, sheathing, and any equipment hung from the top chord), bottom chord dead load (ceiling finish and any attic storage loads), and applicable wind uplift per CBC 1609. If your roof framing doubles as a lateral diaphragm, include the in-plane diaphragm design load. Also state the load duration factor (CD) and the moisture service condition (dry or wet). Leaving out the bottom chord dead load is a common oversight, especially on projects with suspended ceilings or HVAC ductwork in the attic space.
Can the truss manufacturer's engineer stamp the deferred submittal, or does the project EOR also need to sign?
Both stamps are typically required. The truss manufacturer's in-house engineer stamps the truss design drawings, covering member sizing, connector plates, and bearing details. The project's structural engineer of record reviews those drawings to confirm they meet the design parameters listed on the structural plans, then stamps an approval cover sheet before the package goes to the building department. The building department won't accept truss drawings that only have the manufacturer's stamp without EOR review. Some jurisdictions explicitly require the EOR to write a transmittal letter stating the truss drawings conform to the design criteria on the permitted plans.
What happens if we order trusses before the deferred submittal is approved?
Ordering before approval is a scheduling risk the contractor takes, not a code violation by itself. But if the approved truss drawings differ from what was manufactured, you're facing re-fabrication costs and schedule delay. More practically, the framing inspector won't sign off if the deferred submittal isn't in the permit file. Some jurisdictions will red-tag the project and stop work until the deferred package is approved. If you need to order early to hit a fabrication schedule, get the manufacturer's preliminary drawings reviewed by the EOR first so you know any changes before steel goes to the press.
Our structural engineer already stamped the plans — why do we still need a deferred submittal note?
The EOR's stamp on the structural plans covers the overall gravity and lateral design assumptions: load paths, shear walls, diaphragm sizing. It doesn't cover the individual truss member design, which is performed by the truss manufacturer's engineer based on the loads the EOR specified. CBC 2303.4 exists because those are two separate engineering scopes performed by two different licensed engineers. The EOR sets the design criteria; the manufacturer's engineer designs the truss members to meet them. The deferred submittal process is how the building department verifies that handoff actually happened and was reviewed.
How long does truss deferred submittal review typically take?
The EOR review of the truss package typically takes one to two weeks, depending on project size and EOR availability. Building department review after EOR approval can add another one to three weeks in most Orange County jurisdictions. Factoring in the time for the manufacturer to produce design drawings after permit issuance, total elapsed time from permit issuance to an approved truss package in the permit file is commonly four to eight weeks. This is why experienced structural engineers recommend placing a preliminary truss order and requesting manufacturer drawings early in the permit process, so the deferred submittal is queued before you need to break ground.

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