If a city or county is asking you for a site plan before they’ll issue a building permit, this guide walks you through the complete process — from understanding what you need to submitting a permit-ready drawing.
I’m Engineer Wasim of Site Plans Online USA. My team prepares permit site plans for homeowners, contractors, and developers across all 50 states. Here’s the exact process.
Step 1: Understand What Your Jurisdiction Requires
Before ordering anything, find out what your building department specifically needs. The fastest way: look up your city or county building department’s permit application checklist. Most post it on their website.
Look for:
- What they call the document (“site plan,” “plot plan,” “property drawing”)
- Whether they require a PE stamp or a non-certified plan
- Scale requirements (usually 1″=20′ for residential)
- File format for submission (usually PDF)
- The specific portal where you submit
If you can’t find this information: use our Permit Requirements Checker or contact us with your address and project type — we’ll confirm at no charge.
Step 2: Gather Your Information
You don’t need technical drawings to order a site plan. Here’s what helps:
Required from you:
- Property address (we pull all data from here)
- Project type: pool, fence, shed, deck, addition, ADU, garage, commercial — what are you building?
Very helpful:
- Your building department’s permit checklist or application comments
- Survey or plat map if you have one (improves accuracy — not required)
- Approximate dimensions of the project (pool size, fence line, addition square footage)
- Photos or sketches
Not required:
- A site visit
- Technical skills
- A licensed surveyor (for most residential permits)
Step 3: Choose How to Get Your Site Plan
Option A — Online Site Plan Service (What We Do)
We prepare your site plan remotely using GIS data, county parcel records, and zoning databases. No site visit, no scheduling. Delivered as a permit-ready PDF within 12–24 hours for most residential projects.
This is sufficient for the large majority of residential permits: pools, fences, sheds, decks, additions, garages, ADUs, and driveways. Building departments across all 50 states accept professionally prepared site plans from GIS data every day.
Option B — Local Drafter or Architect
More expensive. Requires scheduling and in-person meetings. Takes longer. Often adds unnecessary overhead for straightforward residential permits. Consider this if your project requires full architectural drawings, not just a site plan.
Option C — DIY
Technically permitted for simple projects in some jurisdictions. In practice, homeowner-drawn plans have a high rejection rate because of missing elements, wrong scale, or incomplete notation. The delay from a rejection typically costs more than ordering a professional plan.
Read: DIY vs Professional Site Plan
Step 4: Review the Plan Before Submitting
Before uploading to your building department portal, confirm:
- All four setbacks are labeled
- Scale is stated AND a graphic scale bar is shown
- North arrow is present
- All existing structures are shown
- Impervious surface is calculated (if required for your project type)
- Title block is complete
Use our Site Plans Checker for a guided pre-submission review.
Step 5: Submit to Your Building Department
Most cities and counties now accept digital PDF submissions through an online permit portal. Some still require physical copies. Confirm your building department’s preference.
Tip: After submitting, note your permit number and check the portal regularly. Review timelines vary significantly: some small-town jurisdictions respond same week; large cities like LA and Miami can take 3–6 weeks.
Step 6: Respond to Any Corrections
If the building department sends back a correction notice:
- Read every item carefully
- Use our Permit Rejection Analyzer to understand what each comment means
- Submit corrected drawings before the deadline
In Florida: 10 business days to respond (F.S. 553.792 / HB 267). In most other states: 30–90 days.
If you ordered from Site Plans Online USA, corrections are free — forward the notice and we update within 12 hours.
How Fast Is “Fast”?
| Project Type | Our Turnaround |
|---|---|
| Fence, shed, basic residential | 12 hours |
| Pool, deck, addition | 12–24 hours |
| ADU, garage | 24–48 hours |
| Commercial | 24–48 hours |
| PE-stamped | 2–5 business days |
Related articles:
- Site Plan for Permit — Complete Guide
- How to Get a Site Plan Online
- Site Plan Drawing Requirements for Building Permits
- Why Site Plans Get Rejected
- Fast Site Plans — 12–24 Hour Turnaround
Ready to start? Get My Site Plan
Take the Next Step With Confidence
Avoid unnecessary delays and prepare for your permit application with greater confidence. Use our free tools to review your project and understand the next steps before moving forward.
ADU Feasibility Checker
Check whether your property may be suitable for an accessory dwelling unit.
Check ADU Feasibility 02Site Plan Checker
Review your drawing for common missing details and potential submission issues.
Review Your Site Plan 03Permit Requirements Checker
Identify the likely permit requirements for your location and project type.
Check Requirements 04Site Plan Cost Calculator
Get a quick site plan cost estimate based on your project requirements.
Calculate Your CostGet Your Permit Drawing Scope Reviewed
Send us the property address and project details. We’ll help identify the likely drawing scope and next step.
Engineer Wasim
Civil/Structural Engineer and founder behind Site Plans Online USA. His permit-drafting experience dates back to 2015, supporting residential, commercial, structural and site-development projects.
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