A site plan is a scaled drawing showing a property’s layout, including the building’s placement, setbacks, driveways, utilities, and other site features.
Permitting offices require site plans to confirm a project complies with zoning setbacks and lot coverage limits.
What Does a Site Plan Show?
- Building placement and setbacks from property lines
- Driveways and parking areas
- Utility connections
- Existing and proposed structures
- Drainage and grading features
Why Is a Site Plan Important?
A homeowner adding a detached garage submits a site plan showing exactly how far the structure sits from property lines to confirm it meets setback rules. Without an accurate site plan, a permitting office has no way to verify zoning compliance before construction begins.
Site Plan vs. Floor Plan
A site plan shows the property as a whole from above, including the building’s location relative to the lot. A floor plan, by contrast, shows the interior layout of rooms within the building itself, at a much closer scale.