Site plan
Also called plot plan, site drawing
A scaled overhead drawing of the property showing the lot lines, existing and proposed structures, setbacks, and access. It is the drawing zoning reviewers read first.
When it applies
In the permitting lifecycle, site plan applies during Preparation and Plan review. Documents commonly matter at more than one phase, and this one does.
- Setup: does not usually apply
- Preparation: applies at this phase
- Submission: does not usually apply
- Plan review: applies at this phase
- Permit issued: does not usually apply
- Inspections: does not usually apply
- Closeout: does not usually apply
A site plan is a scaled drawing of the property seen from above. It shows where the lot lines run, what already stands on the lot, what you propose to build, and how far everything sits from the boundaries.
It is usually the first drawing a zoning reviewer opens, because most zoning questions are answered by geometry: is the structure far enough from the property lines, does it cover too much of the lot, is there enough parking, does drainage work.
Where it applies in the lifecycle
A site plan is drafted during Preparation, as part of assembling the package. It comes back during Plan review, because setback and coverage comments are among the most common corrections, and resolving them means revising this drawing rather than the building drawings.
What it normally has to show
- Property boundaries with dimensions
- All existing structures, with the ones to be demolished identified
- The proposed work, dimensioned and located
- Setback distances from each structure to each property line
- Driveways, walkways, and other paving
- Easements, right-of-way lines, and utility locations
- Septic, well, or drainage features where present
- A north arrow and a stated scale
Common reasons it comes back
The usual failures are a missing or wrong scale, setbacks that are drawn but not dimensioned, easements omitted entirely, and a plan drawn from a tax map instead of a survey. The tax map problem is subtle and expensive: parcel geometry in an assessor's system is approximate, and a structure sited from it can end up genuinely encroaching.
Common questions
- Can I draw my own site plan?
- For simple residential work many jurisdictions accept an owner-drawn site plan as long as it is to scale, dimensioned, and accurate. For new construction, additions, or anything near a setback line, most departments want it based on a surveyed boundary, and some require a surveyor's or design professional's seal.
Related terms
In the Permit Saige app
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Rules vary by jurisdiction
This definition is general. How site plan is handled in practice is set by the building department that permits your property. Find yours in our free directory.
Last reviewed September 4, 2026