Floor Plans
Existing and proposed layouts for additions, remodels and conversions.
Site plans & plot plans
Site Plans & Plot Plans for Permits
A scaled drawing of your lot, your buildings and the work you plan, with every distance the permit office checks. Drafted from your address. No site visit.
- No site visit
- Setbacks dimensioned
- Drawn to scale
- PDF ready to upload
Example sheet
What’s on Your Site Plan
This is how a finished sheet looks for a new pool. Hover or tap a number to see what each part is and why the reviewer needs it.
- 1
Property lines and lot size
Every line dimensioned, so the reviewer can confirm the lot matches the parcel record.
- 2
Setback lines
The zone the new work must stay inside, drawn from your zoning district’s numbers.
- 3
Existing buildings and paving
House, driveway and other structures, labelled “existing”.
- 4
The new work, shaded
Size and outline of what you’re building, so it can’t be mistaken for existing work.
- 5
Project-specific details
Here, the pool barrier. For a fence it’s height and gates; for a deck, stairs and height.
- 6
Distances to each lot line
Measured from the closest edge of the new work. This is the number most reviewers check first.
- 7
Easements and utilities
Recorded easements, septic, wells or lines near the work, when the records or you show them.
- 8
North arrow and scale
So the sheet can be measured and oriented on the lot.
- 9
Title block with sources
Address, scale, date and where the lot data came from, so anyone can see what the drawing is based on.
Your sheet follows your county’s checklist, so the parts can differ from this example.
Quick answer
What Is a Site Plan for a Permit?
A site plan (often called a plot plan) is a scaled, top-down drawing of your lot showing the property lines, every building on it and the work you want to build, with the distances between them. The permit office uses it to check setbacks, lot coverage and easements. It is not a boundary survey.
- Also called
- Plot plan, plot map, site layout or lot plan, depending on the county
- Needed for
- Decks, fences, pools, sheds, garages, additions, ADUs, driveways, solar and retaining walls
- Who asks for it
- Your city or county building and zoning office; often your HOA too
- What you send
- Your address and what you’re building. A survey or sketch helps, but isn’t required
- What you get
- A PDF drawn to scale with a title block, ready to print or upload to the permit portal
- Site visit
- None. We draft from parcel records, aerial imagery and your documents
What’s included
Always on the Sheet, Plus What Your County Adds
Counties don’t all ask for the same things. The left column is on every plan we draw. The right column is added when your permit office’s checklist asks for it, and we tell you in the quote.
AlwaysOn every site plan
- Lot lines with dimensionsFrom the parcel record or your survey
- Existing structures and pavingHouse, garage, sheds, driveway, patios
- Proposed work, shaded and sizedClearly marked as new
- Setback distancesFrom the new work to every lot line
- Street names and accessFrontage, driveway and curb cut
- North arrow, scale and scale barSo the sheet can be measured
- Title blockAddress, parcel number, date and data sources
If askedAdded when your county requires it
- Lot coverage tableBuilding and impervious area, before and after
- Easements and right-of-wayFrom the plat, deed or title documents you send
- Septic, well and utility linesWhere records or your photos show them
- Flood zone noteFEMA zone for the parcel, when the permit office asks
- Drainage arrowsWhere water flows away from the new work
- Protected treesTrunk location and canopy near the work
- Parking and accessStalls and drive aisles for commercial sites
By project
What Your Site Plan Shows for Your Project
The basics are the same, but each project adds its own details. Pick yours to see what we put on the sheet.
Site plan for a deck permit
- Deck outline with length, width and height above grade
- Attached or freestanding, and where it meets the house
- Stairs and landing location
- Distance from the deck edge to the rear and side lines
Often also asked for: framing plan and footing details.
Site plan for a fence permit
- Fence line drawn along or inside the lot lines
- Height and material for each run
- Gates, with width and swing direction
- Corner sight triangle where the code limits height near the street
Often also asked for: HOA approval and a fence detail.
Site plan for a pool permit
- Pool and pool deck outline with dimensions
- Distances to lot lines, the house and any septic system
- Barrier fence and self-closing gates
- Equipment pad location
Often also asked for: barrier details and an electrical plan from your pool contractor.
Site plan for a shed permit
- Shed footprint and height
- Distance to the side and rear lines
- Distance to the house and other buildings
- Any easement the shed must stay off
Often also asked for: a floor plan and elevation for larger sheds.
Site plan for a home addition
- Existing house and the addition, clearly told apart
- Setbacks measured from the new walls
- Lot coverage before and after
- Roof overhangs where they count toward setbacks
Often also asked for: floor plans and elevations.
Site plan for an ADU
- ADU footprint and its distance from the main house
- Setbacks and lot coverage with both buildings
- Parking space and access path, where required
- Utility connection routes
Often also asked for: a full permit set with floor plans, elevations and structural sheets.
Site plan for a driveway permit
- New paved area, size and surface material
- Driveway apron and curb cut width at the street
- Total impervious area, if your code limits it
- Drainage direction away from neighbours
Often also asked for: a right-of-way permit from the road authority.
Site plan for a retaining wall
- Wall location and length
- Height at its tallest point and at each end
- Distances to lot lines and nearby buildings
- Drainage behind and around the wall
Often also asked for: a wall section, and an engineer’s stamp for taller walls.
Also: garages, carports, solar, EV chargers, patios and commercial sites. Ask about yours
Is this the right drawing?
Site Plan vs Plot Plan vs Survey
“Site plan” and “plot plan” usually mean the same sheet. A boundary survey is different: it’s a licensed field measurement. Here’s how to tell which one your permit needs.
| Question | Site plan | Plot plan | As-built site plan | Boundary survey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it shows | Lot, buildings, new work and the distances between them | The same; some counties use it for a simpler sheet | What’s on the lot today, with no new work | Measured boundary lines, corners and recorded features |
| Who prepares it | A drafter | A drafter | A drafter | A licensed land surveyor |
| Site visit | No | No | No | Yes |
| Proves where the line is | No | No | No | Yes |
| Typical use | Building permits and HOA review | Fence, shed and other simple permits | Permitting work that’s already built, refinancing records | Boundary questions, building near the line, lender or title needs |
| We draw it | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, you’ll need a local surveyor |
You need a survey instead if…
- your permit office, lender or title company asks for a sealed boundary survey
- the new work will sit right at the setback line and the line’s position is in doubt
- you and a neighbour disagree about where the line is
- the property is in California (see why)
Not sure? Send your county’s checklist with your quote request. We’ll tell you which one it asks for before you pay anything.
Plan review
What the Plan Reviewer Checks, and How We Answer It
Most site plans that get sent back are missing one of these. We draw every sheet against this list before it reaches you.
-
01
“Is the new work inside the setbacks?”
Setback lines drawn, and the distance from the new work to every lot line written on the sheet.
-
02
“Can I measure this drawing?”
A stated scale, a scale bar that still works if the sheet is resized, and a north arrow.
-
03
“What’s new and what’s already there?”
New work shaded and labelled “proposed”; everything else labelled “existing”.
-
04
“Is the lot over its coverage limit?”
A coverage table with lot area, building area and impervious area, when your code sets a limit.
-
05
“Does it sit on an easement, septic field or well?”
Recorded easements and known utilities shown near the work, from the plat, deed or your photos.
-
06
“Where did these numbers come from?”
Data sources named in the title block, with a note that the sheet is drafting, not a survey.
Already got comments back on a plan? We revise drawings to answer each reviewer comment, including plans drawn by someone else.
Permit CorrectionsWhat to send us
Two Things to Start. The Rest Just Helps.
- RequiredProperty addressOr the parcel number (APN) if there’s no address yet
- RequiredWhat you’re buildingRough size and where on the lot. A phone photo of a sketch is fine
- HelpfulOld survey, plat or closing papersThe best source for exact lot lines
- HelpfulYour county’s checklistOr the reviewer’s comment letter, if you have one
- HelpfulPhotos of the yardShows fences, sheds and trees the aerial may miss
- HelpfulHOA rulesIf your HOA has its own review
No survey? That’s common. We start from the county parcel map and recent aerial imagery, and name both as sources on the sheet.
How it works
-
1
Send the basics
Use the quote form or WhatsApp. Two minutes.
-
2
Approve your price
We check your county’s requirements and reply with the price and turnaround. Nothing starts until you approve.
-
3
Get your PDF
Drawn to scale and checked against the reviewer list above, ready to upload.
Deliverables & pricing
What You Receive, and What Sets the Price
We quote each plan because lots and county rules differ a lot. Here’s exactly what you get, and what moves the price up or down.
- File
- Vector PDF, print-ready. Other formats on request
- Sheet size
- Matched to your permit office, usually 11 × 17 or 24 × 36
- Scale
- Engineer’s scale that fits your lot, such as 1" = 20'
- Title block
- Address, parcel number, project, date and data sources
- Revisions
- Revision terms are written in your quote
- Turnaround
- Stated in your quote. Rush can be requested
What affects the price
- Lot size and shapeIrregular or very large lots take longer
- How much is on the lotMore buildings, more to draw
- County extrasCoverage tables, easements, flood notes
- Source documentsA recent survey saves time
- Rush deliveryWhen you need it sooner
- Add-on sheetsFloor plans, elevations, a stamp
Free quote. You see the price before we start.
Where we work
Site Plans in 49 States and DC
We draft to the rules of your city or county, wherever you are. State pages list the drawings local offices usually ask for.
Not in California. California law counts locating property lines as land surveying (Bus. & Prof. Code §8726), so a licensed surveyor must prepare those plans. What to do instead.
Engineer stamp
Does a Site Plan Need a Stamp?
Usually not for homeowner projects like decks, fences and sheds. Some permits ask for one, often for grading, drainage or taller retaining walls.
When yours does, our licensed engineer partner reviews and seals eligible plans in the states where they hold a licence. We confirm this in your quote.
Engineer-Stamped PlansOften ordered together
Need More Than a Site Plan?
Additions, garages and ADUs usually need more sheets. Order them together and they’re drawn to match each other.
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-
Elevation Drawings
Building heights, roof pitch and materials, for permits and HOA review.
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Full Permit Drawing Sets
Every sheet your project needs, drawn by one team so they agree.
Site plan FAQ
Site Plan Questions
Short answers to what people ask before ordering. Ask anything else in your quote request.
Get Price QuoteCan you use my old survey or plat?
Yes, and it’s the best starting point. We draw the lot lines from it and name it as a source on the sheet. An old survey still works if the lot hasn’t been split or merged since.
What if I don’t have a survey?
We start from the county parcel map and recent aerial imagery. Most residential permits accept that. If your county insists on a sealed survey, we tell you in the quote, before you pay.
Do you show the setbacks?
Yes. We draw the setback lines for your zoning district and write the distance from the new work to every lot line. If your county sent you its own numbers, we use those.
Will my HOA accept the site plan?
Most HOA review committees accept a scaled site plan. Some also want elevations, colours or a rendering. Send their checklist and we’ll match it.
My lot doesn’t have an address yet. Can you still draw it?
Yes. Send the parcel number (APN) from your tax bill or the county map, or drop a pin on a map. That’s enough to find the lot.
Can you draw something that’s already built?
Yes. That’s an as-built site plan: it shows what’s on the lot today, with no new work. People use it to permit existing structures or update records.
Why don’t you draw site plans in California?
California treats locating property lines as land surveying, which needs a licensed surveyor. We’d rather say so up front than sell a plan the county may reject.
What file will I get?
A vector PDF sized for your permit office, ready to print or upload. If you need another format, ask in your quote.