When you submit a site plan for a building permit, the reviewer is usually trying to answer a few basic questions first: Where is the property? What already exists? What is being proposed? How close is the project to the property lines? Can people or vehicles access it safely? Are utilities, easements, drainage, and other site conditions shown clearly?

A clean site plan helps answer those questions faster. Whether you are applying for a permit for a shed, deck, fence, pool, garage, driveway, addition, patio cover, or ADU, the drawing should make the project easy to understand at first glance.

Why the First Review Matters

The first review of a site plan is often about completeness. If the plan is missing basic information, the permit office may send it back for corrections before the project can move forward.

The International Residential Code says permit construction documents 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 Residential Code – Site Plan or Plot Plan.

That is why a reviewer often starts with the most basic site details: property lines, structures, project location, and dimensions.

1. Property Lines and Lot Dimensions

Property lines are one of the first things reviewers check because they define the legal limits of the lot. Without clear property lines, the reviewer cannot confirm setbacks, project placement, or whether the proposed work fits on the property.

A strong site plan should show the front, rear, and side property lines. Lot dimensions should also be included when available. These dimensions help the reviewer compare the drawing to parcel records, surveys, plats, or other permit documents.

Do not use a fence, hedge, tree row, or driveway edge as the property line unless it has been verified. Fences and landscape features are not always located exactly on the legal boundary.

The City of Bellevue says a residential site plan must verify and accurately depict property lines, setback distances, streets, rights-of-way, and easements. Source: City of Bellevue – Residential Site Plan.

2. Existing Structures

Reviewers need to see what already exists on the property before they can evaluate the proposed work. Existing structures help explain the current layout and show how the new project relates to the rest of the lot.

Existing features may include:

• House or main residence
• Garage
• Shed or accessory structure
• Deck, porch, or patio
• Pool or spa
• Driveway and parking areas
• Walkways and stairs
• Fences, gates, or retaining walls

Use clear labels such as “existing house,” “existing garage,” “existing shed,” and “existing driveway.” This helps the reviewer quickly separate existing conditions from proposed work.

3. Proposed Work

The proposed project should be easy to find on the drawing. A reviewer should not have to guess which structure, line, or shaded area is new.

Use a clear label such as:

• Proposed shed
• Proposed deck
• Proposed fence
• Proposed pool
• Proposed garage
• Proposed addition
• Proposed driveway extension
• Proposed patio cover
• Proposed ADU

The proposed work should also include dimensions. For example, show the length and width of a shed, the footprint of a deck, the fence line and gate locations, the pool size, or the garage footprint and driveway connection.

A clear proposed-work label is one of the easiest ways to prevent confusion during permit review.

4. Setbacks

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

Your site plan should show the distance from the proposed project to the relevant property lines. For many residential projects, this means the front, side, and rear setbacks.

Examples:

• A shed may need side and rear setback dimensions.
• A deck may need distances to the house and lot lines.
• A garage may need side, rear, driveway, and separation dimensions.
• A pool may need distances to property lines, house, fence, and equipment.
• An addition may need setbacks, lot coverage, and distance to other structures.

If setback distances are missing, the reviewer may not be able to confirm whether the project meets local zoning rules.

5. Driveway and Access

Reviewers often check how people or vehicles access the property and the proposed project. This is especially important for garages, carports, ADUs, driveway changes, fences with gates, pools, and backyard structures.

A site plan may need to show:

• Driveway location
• Driveway width
• Parking area
• Garage or carport access
• Walkway to the project
• Gate location
• Alley access
• Street frontage

Access details help reviewers understand how the property functions, not just where the structure is placed.

6. Sidewalks, Streets, Alleys, and Curb Cuts

Site plans should usually show the street in front of the property. If the property has a sidewalk, alley, curb cut, or corner frontage, those features should be labeled too.

These details can matter for driveway work, garage access, carport placement, fence gates, ADUs, parking pads, and projects near the public right-of-way.

The City of Portland says building permit applications must have a complete and accurate site plan and explains that certain projects must show dedication and street or sidewalk improvement requirements before a permit can be issued. Source: City of Portland – Drawing a Site Plan.

7. Utilities and Easements

Utilities and easements can affect whether a project can be built in a proposed location. Reviewers may check for known utility lines, utility easements, drainage easements, access easements, sewer lines, wells, septic systems, or other restrictions.

Utilities may include:

• Water service
• Sewer line
• Gas line
• Electric service
• Storm drainage
• Septic system or drainfield
• Well location
• Utility meters

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.

If utility locations are approximate, label them as approximate and verify them before digging. A site plan is not a substitute for utility locating or a boundary survey.

8. North Arrow and Scale

A north arrow and scale help reviewers understand the orientation and size of the drawing. They also make the plan easier to compare with surveys, parcel maps, aerial imagery, and permit records.

A site plan without a north arrow or scale may be harder to review. If the plan is not drawn to scale, the reviewer may not be able to rely on the distances shown.

At minimum, a homeowner site plan should be clean, readable, and organized. Include a north arrow, scale, and clear dimensions whenever possible.

Other Things Reviewers May Look For

After checking the basics, reviewers may look for additional details depending on the project. Not every site plan needs every item, but these details can be important for certain permits.

Drainage Direction

Drainage may matter when a project changes hard surfaces, roof runoff, grading, or water flow. Driveways, additions, patios, pools, retaining walls, garages, ADUs, carports, and patio covers may need drainage arrows or notes.

Trees and Site Features

Large trees, retaining walls, fences, gates, slopes, drainage swales, mechanical equipment, patios, and other site features may need to be shown if they affect the proposed work.

Distance Between Structures

Some projects need distance labels between the proposed work and existing structures. This is common for detached garages, sheds, pools, ADUs, additions, and mechanical equipment.

Clear Labels and Dimensions

Reviewers need to understand the plan quickly. Clear labels and readable dimensions make the drawing easier to check and reduce the chance of correction requests.

Common Reasons for Site Plan Delays

Many site plan delays come from missing or unclear information. Common issues include:

• Missing property lines or lot dimensions
• No setback distances shown
• Existing structures not labeled
• Proposed work not clearly identified
• Driveway, street, or access details missing
• Utilities, easements, or drainage not shown when relevant
• No north arrow or scale
• Blurry, cropped, or incomplete drawings
• Measurements that do not match

Most of these problems are avoidable with a clear, well-labeled site plan.

How to Make Your Site Plan Easier to Review

Before submitting your site plan, check that it answers the main review questions:

• Where are the property lines?
• What existing structures are on the lot?
• What is being proposed?
• How large is the proposed project?
• How far is the proposed work from the property lines?
• How far is it from nearby structures?
• How is the project accessed?
• Are streets, sidewalks, alleys, or driveways shown?
• Are known utilities and easements shown?
• Is drainage direction shown if relevant?
• Is there a north arrow and scale?
• Is the drawing clean and easy to read?

When Reviewers May Ask for More Than a Site Plan

A site plan is helpful for many residential projects, but it does not replace every professional document. Depending on the project and local requirements, the permit office may also ask for:

• Boundary survey
• Architectural drawings
• Structural plans
• Engineering calculations
• Grading or drainage plan
• Energy compliance documents
• Floodplain information
• Septic or well documentation
• HOA approval forms

If your local permit office requires a licensed survey, engineer stamp, or architect-prepared drawings, a basic site plan cannot replace that requirement.

Final Thoughts

Permit reviewers often check the same basic information first: property lines, existing structures, proposed work, setbacks, driveway and access, sidewalks and streets, utilities and easements, north arrow, and scale. If those items are missing or unclear, the site plan may be delayed or returned for corrections.

A strong site plan should make the project easy to understand. It should show the property layout, proposed work, key distances, access, and site conditions in a clean, readable format.

Sources

• International Residential Code – Site Plan or Plot Plan
• City of Bellevue – Residential Site Plan
• City of Portland – Drawing a Site Plan
• Kittitas County Code – Building and Construction