A site plan can look simple, but small missing details can slow down a permit review. If the drawing does not clearly show property lines, existing structures, proposed work, setbacks, access, utilities, easements, drainage, north arrow, or scale, the permit office may ask for corrections before the application can move forward.

Most site plan delays are avoidable. The key is to submit a clean, readable drawing that answers the basic review questions: what exists on the property, what is being proposed, where is it located, and how far is it from the property lines and other structures?

Why Permit Reviewers Need a Clear Site Plan

A permit reviewer uses the site plan to understand how your project fits on the property. The plan helps show whether the proposed work appears to meet local requirements for setbacks, access, utilities, easements, drainage, and nearby structures.

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 R106.2 Site Plan or Plot Plan.

If the reviewer cannot confirm those details from the drawing, the permit may be delayed until the missing information is added. Reviewing a permit site plan checklist for homeowners before submitting can help catch many of these problems early.

1. Missing Property Lines

One of the biggest site plan problems is missing or unclear property lines. A reviewer needs to know where the lot begins and ends before checking setbacks or project placement.

A fence, hedge, driveway edge, or landscape border is not always the property line. If the drawing uses a fence as the property line without showing the actual lot boundary, the reviewer may not be able to confirm the project location.

To avoid delays, clearly show the front, rear, and side property lines. Include lot dimensions when available. If you have a survey, plat, or parcel map, use it as a reference.

A drafted site plan is not the same as a licensed boundary survey. Our guide to site plans versus surveys explains when more precise boundary information may be required.

2. No Setback Dimensions

Setbacks are the required distances between a structure and the property lines. Missing setback dimensions are a common reason site plans are returned for correction.

Your site plan should show how far the proposed project is from the front, side, and rear property lines. For example, a shed may need side and rear setbacks. A deck may need distances to the house and lot lines. A garage may need side, rear, and driveway access dimensions.

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

3. Existing Structures Are Not Labeled

A site plan should show what already exists on the property. This usually includes the house, garage, shed, deck, patio, pool, driveway, walkways, fences, and other important site features.

If existing structures are missing or unlabeled, the reviewer may not know how the proposed project relates to the current property layout. That can cause delays, especially for additions, garages, decks, pools, ADUs, sheds, and driveway projects.

To avoid confusion, label existing items clearly. Use labels such as “existing house,” “existing garage,” “existing shed,” “existing driveway,” and “existing patio.”

4. Proposed Work Is Unclear

The proposed project should be easy to find on the drawing. A site plan should not force the reviewer to guess what is new and what is already there.

Common problems include a proposed project that is not labeled, a project footprint that is too faint, missing project dimensions, or a drawing that does not explain the project type.

Use clear labels such as:

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

Include the proposed project size, location, and distance to nearby property lines or structures.

Project-specific requirements can vary considerably. Related guides include site plans for deck permits, garage permit site plans, and home addition site plans.

5. Driveway or Access Is Not Shown

Access can matter for many residential projects. A garage, carport, ADU, driveway, fence gate, pool, or backyard structure may need to show how people or vehicles reach the project area.

If the plan does not show the driveway, sidewalk, alley, gate, walkway, or street frontage, the reviewer may ask for more information.

A good site plan should show access details such as:

• Driveway location
• Driveway width when relevant
• Sidewalk and street frontage
• Alley access if present
• Walkway or path to the project
• Gate location if relevant
• Parking area for garage, carport, or ADU projects

When access itself is changing, review our guides on driveway permit site plans and driveway widening site plans.

6. Utilities or Easements Are Missing

Utilities and easements can affect where a project may be built. If known utility lines or easements are missing from the site plan, the permit office may ask for corrections.

Utilities may include water, sewer, gas, electric, storm drainage, wells, septic systems, or utility meters. Easements may include utility, drainage, access, sewer, or shared driveway easements.

Ellensburg’s site plan requirements say plans should show property lines, setbacks, easements, existing and proposed structures, distances to property lines and easements, and utilities such as water, sewer, gas, and electrical lines. Source: City of Ellensburg – Site Plan Requirements.

If utility locations are approximate, note that they must be verified before digging. A site plan is not a substitute for utility locating or a boundary survey.

7. No North Arrow or Scale

A site plan should include a north arrow and scale when possible. These details help reviewers understand orientation and distance.

Without a scale, it can be hard to confirm whether the drawing is accurate. Without a north arrow, the drawing may be harder to compare with maps, surveys, aerial imagery, and permit records.

The City of Portland says building permit applications must include a complete and accurate site plan and provides guidance for preparing a site plan to scale. Source: City of Portland – Drawing a Site Plan.

8. Blurry, Cropped, or Incomplete Drawing

A blurry screenshot, cropped image, or rough sketch can delay a permit review. If the reviewer cannot read the labels, dimensions, or property layout, they may ask for a clearer version.

Common presentation problems include:

• Low-resolution screenshots
• Missing parts of the lot
• Hard-to-read text
• Overlapping labels
• No title or project description
• Unclear existing vs proposed work
• Drawing not scaled or not dimensioned

A clean, readable site plan is easier to review and easier for a contractor or homeowner to follow.

9. Drainage Details Are Missing

Drainage details are not required for every small project, but they can matter when a project changes hard surfaces, roof runoff, grading, slopes, or water flow.

Projects that may need drainage information include:

• Driveways
• Patios
• Patio covers
• Carports
• Pools
• Garages
• Additions
• ADUs
• Retaining walls

If drainage is relevant, show simple arrows or notes explaining where water will flow. Avoid directing runoff toward the house foundation, a neighboring property, a sidewalk, an alley, or an area where water can pool or create erosion.

Drainage becomes particularly important for retaining wall permits, driveway widening, roofed additions and other projects that change site grades or impervious surfaces.

10. Measurements Do Not Match

Site plans can get delayed when measurements conflict. For example, the lot width may not match the parcel information, the setback dimensions may not add up, or the proposed project may be drawn in one location but labeled with different measurements.

Before submitting, check that the drawing is consistent. Make sure the project dimensions, lot dimensions, setback distances, and distances between structures make sense together.

If the property boundary is uncertain or the project is close to a property line, a survey may be required by the permit office or strongly recommended before construction.

Other Reasons a Site Plan May Be Delayed

Some delays are not caused by the drawing itself. A permit office may ask for additional documents depending on the project and location.

You may need more than a basic site plan if the project involves:

• Structural work
• New foundation or footings
• Drainage or grading changes
• Retaining walls
• Floodplain areas
• Septic or well systems
• Historic district review
• HOA approval
• Utility conflicts
• Building close to a property line

In those cases, the permit office may request a survey, engineered drawings, architectural plans, grading plan, drainage report, structural details, or other supporting documents.

More complex projects such as an ADU, screened porch, or sunroom addition commonly need construction drawings in addition to the site plan.

How to Avoid Site Plan Rejections and Delays

The best way to avoid delays is to submit a clear, complete drawing the first time. Before submitting, check that your site plan includes the details your permit office asks for.

A stronger site plan usually includes:

• Property lines and lot dimensions
• Existing house and structures
• Proposed project clearly labeled
• Project dimensions
• Setback distances from property lines
• Distance to nearby structures
• Driveway, sidewalk, street, or alley access
• Utilities when known
• Easements when available
• Drainage direction when relevant
• North arrow and scale
• Readable labels and clean presentation

Projects That Often Need Clear Site Plans

Many residential projects may require a site plan, depending on the local permit rules and project size.

• Sheds
• Decks
• Fences
• Pools and spas
• Garages
• Additions
• Driveways
• Carports
• Patio covers
• ADUs
• Retaining walls
• Mechanical equipment pads

Small projects may only need a basic site plan. Larger or more complex projects may require extra details, survey information, or construction drawings. Site Plan Pros also has detailed guides for carports and patio covers and pergolas.

What to Check Before You Submit

Before sending your site plan to the permit office, use this quick review list:

• Can someone clearly see the property lines?
• Is the existing house labeled?
• Is the proposed project labeled?
• Are project dimensions included?
• Are setback distances shown?
• Are driveways, sidewalks, streets, or alleys shown?
• Are known easements included?
• Are known utilities included when relevant?
• Is drainage direction shown if the project affects runoff?
• Is there a north arrow and scale?
• Is the drawing clean and readable?

Final Thoughts

Site plans usually get rejected or delayed because important details are missing, unclear, inconsistent, or hard to read. The most common problems include missing property lines, missing setbacks, unlabeled existing structures, unclear proposed work, missing driveway or access details, missing utilities or easements, no north arrow or scale, incomplete drainage information, and measurements that do not match.

A good site plan should make the project easy to understand. It should clearly show the property layout, existing structures, proposed work, setbacks, distances, access, utilities when known, easements when available, drainage when relevant, and a clean orientation with north arrow and scale.

Sources

• International Code Council – IRC R106.2 Site Plan or Plot Plan
• City of Bellevue – Residential Site Plan
• City of Ellensburg – Site Plan Requirements
• City of Portland – Drawing a Site Plan