Residential & Commercial Structural Design in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia
Every building stands or fails based on its structural design — and every permit application lives or dies based on the engineering that backs it up. BOZ Engineering Group provides complete structural design services for residential and commercial projects across Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. Whether you are a homeowner adding a second story, a contractor framing a new custom home, an architect designing a mixed-use building, or a developer converting a warehouse into loft apartments, the structural engineering package starts here. We design in wood frame, steel, concrete, and masonry — sizing every beam, column, connection, and foundation element to carry the loads your project demands and satisfy the code requirements your jurisdiction enforces. Every deliverable is PE-stamped, permit-formatted, and backed by a licensed Professional Engineer. From a single load-bearing wall removal to a full commercial structural package, this is the broadest structural service BOZ offers — and the one that connects to everything else we do.
Who This Is For
Homeowners planning renovations or new construction — You are opening up a floor plan, adding a second story, finishing a basement, building a deck, converting a garage, or constructing a new home. Your permit office requires PE-stamped structural plans and you need an engineer who understands residential construction and delivers drawings your contractor can build from.
Contractors who need structural plans for permit — You have a residential or commercial project ready to build but the jurisdiction requires engineered structural drawings before they will issue the permit. You need them fast, accurate, and formatted so the plan reviewer does not send them back.
Architects coordinating multi-discipline design — You are managing a project that requires structural engineering coordinated with your architectural drawings. You need a structural partner who works from your plans, communicates clearly, and delivers PE-stamped drawings that align with the architectural intent.
Commercial developers and property owners — You are building or renovating office space, retail, restaurants, mixed-use buildings, warehouses, healthcare facilities, or educational buildings. You need a structural engineer who can handle the complexity, coordinate with MEP and civil, and deliver a permit-ready package.
Real estate investors and builders doing ADUs and conversions — You are adding an accessory dwelling unit, converting commercial to residential, or doing adaptive reuse on a historic building. These projects have unique structural challenges and you need an engineer who has done them before.
Not sure where your project falls? Call us at +1 202-998-5445 — we will scope it in a 10-minute call and tell you exactly what structural engineering you need.
Why Structural Design Is the Foundation of Every Successful Project
Structural engineering is not a box to check — it is the discipline that determines whether your building is safe, whether your permit gets approved, and whether your construction budget holds. A properly designed structural system accounts for gravity loads, lateral forces, soil conditions, material properties, and the specific code requirements of the jurisdiction where the building sits. Get it wrong, and you face failed inspections, costly field changes, or worse — structural failure that puts people at risk.
BOZ Engineering Group approaches every project — residential or commercial — with the same engineering rigor. For homeowners, that means clear drawings your contractor can follow, beam and column sizes that are right the first time, and a permit package that does not generate comment letters. For commercial projects, that means coordinated structural systems designed to work with the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil disciplines. Most of our clients bundle structural with MEP and permitting because they have seen what happens when those disciplines are designed by firms that never communicate.
This page represents the broadest structural service we offer. Whether your project is a simple deck, a full gut renovation, a new custom home, or a 50,000-square-foot commercial building, the structural design starts here. We provide a fixed, written fee proposal after reviewing your project details — so you know the cost before any work begins. Simple residential turnaround is 5 to 10 business days. Full packages take 2 to 4 weeks. Commercial timelines run 3 to 8 weeks depending on complexity.
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Our Structural Design Process
Step 1: Project Scoping & Document Review
We start with a call to understand the scope — what you are building or renovating, what jurisdiction you are submitting to, and what structural deliverables are required. We review architectural plans, surveys, and any existing structural documentation. By the end of this step, you have a clear scope, timeline, and fee.
Step 2: Structural Analysis & System Selection
Our engineers analyze the loads your building must carry — dead loads, live loads, wind, seismic, and snow where applicable. We select the appropriate structural system (wood frame, steel, concrete, or masonry) and size every member to satisfy both strength and serviceability requirements.
Step 3: Design Development & Coordination
We develop the structural design in coordination with architectural plans and, when BOZ is handling MEP or civil, with those disciplines as well. Framing plans, foundation plans, and connection details are produced with full load path continuity from roof to footing.
Step 4: Drawing Production & PE Stamp
We produce PE-stamped structural drawings — framing plans, foundation plans, details, and schedules — formatted for the jurisdiction where you are submitting. DC, Fairfax County, Arlington, Montgomery County, and Florida jurisdictions each have different submission requirements, and we deliver accordingly.
Step 5: Permit Support & Review Response
We support your permit submission and respond to any plan reviewer comments on the structural scope. If the reviewer asks for additional calculations, revised details, or code clarifications, we handle them directly so your permit moves forward without delay.
What Your Structural Design Package Includes
Complete structural analysis for gravity and lateral loads
Beam, column, and header sizing with connection details
Foundation design coordinated with geotechnical data when available
Floor and roof framing plans with member sizes and spacing
Shear wall and lateral force resisting system design
Load path analysis from roof to foundation
Structural calculations package for plan review
Material specifications for wood, steel, concrete, or masonry systems
PE-stamped structural drawings formatted for your jurisdiction
Plan reviewer response support if comments are issued
Ready to Start Your Structural Design?
Request A Structural Design Quote
Tell us what you are building, and we will tell you exactly what structural engineering you need, what it costs, and when you will have it. Licensed in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. From foundation to final permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Structural Engineering Questions — Answered by Our Team
Whether you are a homeowner planning a kitchen renovation, a contractor waiting on stamped plans, or a developer coordinating a multi-story build — we have got the answers you need to move forward with confidence.
How much does residential structural design cost in the DC area?
Residential structural design fees depend on the scope. A simple beam design or load-bearing wall analysis requires less engineering than a full structural package for a new home, addition, or major renovation. We provide a fixed fee after reviewing your project scope — call +1 202-998-5445.
How much does commercial structural design cost?
Commercial structural design fees depend on building size, structural system, and complexity. Tenant fit-outs and small commercial renovations require less engineering than new multi-story buildings and complex adaptive reuse projects. We provide a detailed fee proposal after scoping the project.
How long does structural design take?
Simple residential projects take 5 to 10 business days. Full residential packages with framing and foundation plans take 2 to 4 weeks. Commercial projects take 3 to 8 weeks depending on complexity. Rush service is available for qualifying projects.
Do I need a structural engineer for my project?
If your project involves removing or modifying load-bearing walls, adding a second story, building an addition, constructing a new home, or doing any commercial renovation, the answer is almost certainly yes. Most jurisdictions in DC, Maryland, and Virginia require PE-stamped structural plans for permit.
What structural system is best for my project?
Most residential projects in the DMV use wood frame construction. Steel is used when spans are long or loads are heavy. Concrete is common for commercial foundations and parking structures. Masonry is used for commercial and institutional buildings. We recommend the system that best fits your project's structural requirements and budget.
Can BOZ handle both the residential and commercial parts of a mixed-use project?
Yes. We design structural systems for mixed-use buildings that combine residential, commercial, and retail occupancies under one structural package. We also coordinate with MEP, civil, and architectural disciplines when BOZ is handling those scopes.
Do you coordinate structural with MEP and civil?
Yes, and this is our primary advantage. When BOZ handles structural and MEP under one contract, we coordinate framing plans with duct routes, pipe penetrations, and electrical panel locations during the design phase — not after construction starts. The same applies to civil coordination with foundation elevations and site grading.
What jurisdictions do you submit to?
We are licensed to stamp and submit in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. We regularly submit to DC DCRA, Fairfax County, Arlington County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, City of Alexandria, and Florida jurisdictions.
BOZ Engineering Group
From Feasibility to Final Permit.
Licensed in DC | Maryland | Virginia | Florida
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 202-998-5445
Business hours
monday: 8am - 5pm
tuesday: 8am - 5pm
wednesday: 8am - 5pm
thursday: 8am - 5pm
friday: 8am - 5pm
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