Yes, homeowners can often draw their own site plan for a permit, especially for simple residential projects such as sheds, decks, fences, patios, small garages, driveway changes, and some backyard improvements. The drawing does not always need to be fancy, but it does need to be clear, accurate, readable, and complete enough for the permit office to review.

A site plan shows your property from above. It usually includes property lines, existing structures, proposed work, setbacks, driveways, sidewalks, streets, utilities when known, easements when available, drainage direction when relevant, and a north arrow and scale.

Yes, You Can Often Draw Your Own Site Plan

For many residential projects, a homeowner-prepared site plan may be accepted if it includes the details required by the local building department, zoning office, or HOA. The key is not whether the plan was drawn by hand or on a computer. The key is whether the plan clearly shows what reviewers need to check.

The International Residential Code says construction documents submitted with a permit application should be accompanied by a site plan or plot plan showing the size and location of new construction, existing structures on the site, and distances from lot lines. Source: International Code Council – IRC Site Plan or Plot Plan.

In simple terms, your site plan should answer three basic questions:

• What already exists on the property?
• What are you proposing to build or change?
• Where is the proposed work located compared to property lines and other structures?

When a DIY Site Plan May Be Enough

A do-it-yourself site plan may be enough when the project is simple, the property lines are clear, the proposed work is not close to setbacks, and the permit office does not require a survey or stamped plan.

Common projects where a homeowner-drawn site plan may work include:

• Small sheds
• Basic decks
• Simple fences
• Patios
• Small pools or spas
• Detached garages in straightforward locations
• Driveway extensions
• Patio covers
• Minor accessory structures
• HOA layout exhibits

Permit rules vary by city, county, and project type. Always check the local permit checklist before assuming a DIY site plan will be accepted.

When You Should Get Professional Help

A DIY site plan may not be enough for every project. Some permit offices require a boundary survey, engineered drawings, architectural plans, grading plan, drainage plan, or stamped documents from a licensed professional.

Professional help may be needed when:

• The project is close to a property line
• The property boundary is uncertain
• The permit office requires a survey
• The project involves structural design
• The project changes drainage or grading
• The property has easements or utility conflicts
• The project is in a floodplain, historic district, or special review area
• The project is a major addition, ADU, retaining wall, pool, or complex garage
• The city requires stamped drawings or licensed professional documents

The City of Portland says building permit applications must have a complete and accurate site plan. Portland also explains that a site plan shows the whole property and the footprint of all structures and the driveway, and notes that this drawing is often called a plot plan. Source: City of Portland – What You Need to Apply for a Permit.

What to Include on Your Own Site Plan

If you draw your own site plan, make sure it includes the main details reviewers usually look for. Missing information is one of the most common reasons site plans get delayed.

Your site plan should usually include:

• Property lines and lot dimensions
• Existing house or main structure
• Existing garage, shed, deck, patio, pool, driveway, walkway, and other site features
• Proposed project location
• Project dimensions
• Setback distances from property lines
• Distance between proposed work and existing structures
• Driveway, sidewalk, street, alley, or access route
• Utilities when known or provided
• Easements when available
• Drainage direction when relevant
• North arrow and scale
• Clear labels for existing and proposed work

The City of Bellevue describes a residential site plan as a drawing of what is existing and what is proposed on a lot. Bellevue says property lines, setback distances, streets, rights-of-way, and easements must be verified and accurately shown. Source: City of Bellevue – Residential Site Plan.

Step 1: Start with Property Lines

Begin by showing the property boundaries. The property lines are the legal edges of your lot. Do not assume that a fence, hedge, tree row, wall, or driveway edge is the property line unless it has been verified.

Useful sources for property information include:

• Survey, if available
• Plat map
• Parcel map
• County assessor map
• Subdivision documents
• Title or closing documents
• Owner measurements, when appropriate

If exact boundary location matters, especially near a setback or neighboring property, a licensed survey may be needed.

Step 2: Add Existing Structures

Next, draw what already exists on the lot. Reviewers need to understand the current property layout before they can evaluate the proposed work.

Existing structures and site features may include:

• House
• Garage
• Shed
• Deck
• Patio
• Pool or spa
• Driveway
• Walkway
• Fence or gate
• Retaining wall
• Mechanical equipment

Label these clearly as existing. For example, use “existing house,” “existing driveway,” and “existing shed.”

Step 3: Show the Proposed Work

The proposed project should be easy to find. Use a clear label and show the project dimensions.

Examples:

• Proposed shed: 10 feet by 12 feet
• Proposed deck: 16 feet by 14 feet
• Proposed fence: 6 feet high along rear yard
• Proposed pool: 14 feet by 28 feet
• Proposed garage: 20 feet by 22 feet
• Proposed driveway extension: 8 feet by 30 feet

If the proposed project has stairs, gates, posts, roof overhangs, parking areas, equipment pads, or access paths, show those details when they affect the review.

Step 4: Add Setback Dimensions

Setbacks are one of the first things reviewers check. A setback is the required distance between a structure and a property line, street, alley, easement, or other regulated area.

Show the distance from the proposed project to the relevant property lines. For example:

• Distance from shed to rear property line
• Distance from shed to side property line
• Distance from deck to rear yard line
• Distance from garage to side and rear lot lines
• Distance from pool to house, fence, and property lines
• Distance from addition to side and rear property lines

If the project is close to a setback, double-check your measurements. When in doubt, ask the permit office whether a survey is required.

Step 5: Show Driveway, Access, Sidewalk, and Street

A site plan should usually show how the property is accessed. This may include the driveway, sidewalk, street, alley, walkway, gate, or parking area.

Access is especially important for:

• Garages
• Carports
• Driveways
• ADUs
• Fences with gates
• Backyard projects
• Pool projects

If your project changes the driveway, curb cut, sidewalk, alley, or parking layout, show those details clearly.

Step 6: Show Utilities and Easements When Known

Known utilities and easements should be shown when they affect the project. These details are important because they can limit where you build or dig.

Utilities may include:

• Water line
• Sewer line
• Gas line
• Electric service
• Storm drain
• Septic system
• Well location

Easements may include utility easements, drainage easements, access easements, sewer easements, or shared driveway easements.

Kittitas County lists property lines and dimensions, existing and proposed development, roads, sewer and water lines, wells, utilities, easements, water bodies, floodplains, critical areas, drainage facilities, and on-site sewage disposal and drainfield areas among site plan-related permit items. Source: Kittitas County Code – Building and Construction.

Step 7: Add North Arrow and Scale

A north arrow shows orientation. A scale helps reviewers understand distance. These details make your site plan easier to read and compare with maps, parcel records, surveys, and aerial images.

Your site plan can be drawn by hand or digitally, but it should be neat and legible. If your city requires a specific scale, follow that requirement. Portland notes that 1 inch equals 10 feet is the minimum scale accepted for site plans in its permit guidance. Source: City of Portland – Permit Plans.

Common Reasons DIY Site Plans Get Rejected or Delayed

Many DIY site plans are delayed because they are missing basic information. Before submitting, check for these common issues:

• Missing property lines
• No setback dimensions
• Existing structures not labeled
• Proposed work not clearly shown
• Driveway, access, sidewalk, or street missing
• Utilities or easements missing when relevant
• No north arrow or scale
• Blurry or incomplete drawing
• Measurements that do not match
• Plan does not follow the local permit checklist

Can You Use Google Maps or an Aerial Image?

An aerial image can be useful as a reference, but it may not be enough by itself. A permit site plan usually needs clear labels, dimensions, property lines, setbacks, and proposed work. A screenshot without measurements or labels may be returned for corrections.

If you use aerial imagery, make sure the final plan still includes accurate dimensions, project location, property lines, setbacks, access, and other required details. Public map data may not replace a survey when exact boundary information is required.

Can a DIY Site Plan Replace a Survey?

No, a DIY site plan is not the same as a boundary survey. A survey is prepared by a licensed land surveyor and is used to verify legal property boundaries, corners, easements, and other field-measured property information.

A DIY site plan may work for a permit when the permit office only needs a project layout. But if the permit office asks for a survey, or if the project is close to a property line, you may need a licensed surveyor.

Can a DIY Site Plan Replace Engineering or Stamped Plans?

No. Some projects require engineering, architectural drawings, structural details, grading plans, drainage plans, or stamped documents. A basic homeowner site plan does not replace those requirements.

Projects that may need additional professional documents include:

• Major additions
• ADUs
• Retaining walls
• Large decks
• Pools
• Garages with structural requirements
• Projects in floodplains or steep slopes
• Projects with drainage or grading changes

DIY Site Plan Checklist

Before submitting your site plan, make sure it includes:

• Property address
• Property lines
• Lot dimensions when available
• Existing structures
• Proposed project
• Project dimensions
• Setback distances
• Distances between structures when needed
• Driveway and access
• Sidewalk, street, or alley
• Utilities when known
• Easements when available
• Drainage direction when relevant
• North arrow
• Scale
• Clear labels and readable text

When to Order a Professional Site Plan Instead

A professional site plan can save time when you do not want to struggle with scaling, formatting, measurements, labels, and permit presentation. It can also help reduce avoidable mistakes before you submit.

Ordering a professional site plan may be a good idea if:

• You need the drawing quickly
• You are not comfortable drawing to scale
• Your permit office rejected your first sketch
• You need clearer labels and dimensions
• Your project has multiple structures or site features
• You want a cleaner drawing for a contractor, HOA, or permit office

Final Thoughts

Homeowners can often draw their own site plan for a permit, especially for simple residential projects. The plan must be clear, accurate, and complete enough to show the property lines, existing structures, proposed work, setbacks, access, utilities or easements when known, drainage when relevant, north arrow, and scale.

A DIY site plan may be enough for some projects, but it does not replace a survey, engineering, stamped drawings, or other professional documents when those are required. The safest approach is to check your local permit checklist first, then submit a clean site plan that answers the reviewer’s main questions.

Sources

• International Code Council – IRC Site Plan or Plot Plan
• City of Portland – What You Need to Apply for a Permit
• City of Bellevue – Residential Site Plan
• Kittitas County Code – Building and Construction