A site plan, sometimes known as a plot plan, is a readable map or a residential diagram that shows a plot of land, including the landscape topography and any exterior features, infrastructure or structures.
These diagrams are often required by county and state governments to ensure that local building codes are adhered to as landowners make significant changes to their property.
If you’re looking for information as you construct your site plan, keep reading.
Here’s what you need to know!
1. What is a site plan?
A site plan is an architectural document that’s meant to show the proposed improvements to any given property.
It will typically include what already exists on the property as well as what you intend to add (such as landscape features or a garage).
It’s critical that a site plan shows the relationship between what exists and what you’re planning to add.
Not all site plans are created equally.
Different building authorities require different features.
For example, some jurisdictions require that you hire a land surveyor or engineer.
Other times you are allowed to draw the plan on graph paper yourself.
To determine which route you should go, check with your permitting department for clarification.
Generally speaking, a site plan is a detailed plan that presents the proposed improvements or additions to a particular tract of land.
Local governments require site plans to ensure that local and state building codes are followed when changes are made to a property.
It also helps them retain plans for historical records, especially when landowners make significant changes to the property in question.
2. What’s the purpose of a site plan?
A site plan shows the intended development of a property related to the features of the parcel and its surrounding area.
Not only will it give a general idea of how proposed structures are used, but it allows building officials to check these structures against local building and zoning codes.
A site plan guarantees that any local services (schools, sewers, roads, water, and emergency services) meet the standard for whatever you’re planning to build.
This is essential whenever you’re looking to change something on your land as you want to ensure you’re in compliance with zoning regulations to prevent penalties and issues upon sale.
Additionally, adding something without the appropriate zoning or building codes means that it likely won’t be covered by your insurance policy.
3. What’s the difference between a site plan and a floor plan?
When you first hear the term “site plan,” you may think of the term “floor plan,” but the two are different.
A floor plan describes the arrangement of rooms in one particular story of a building while a site plan describes the arrangement of the entire site.
4. Do you need a site plan?
How do you know if you need a site plan for your property?
Here’s a quick checklist that you can use to gauge whether one is necessary for your specific circumstance.
5. What does a site plan include?
Different jurisdictions have different requirements, but here are the common types of information that a site plan includes:
There are three main types of legal descriptions: metes and bounds, rectangular survey system, and lot and block.
6. How do you create a site plan?
To create a site plan, professional, computer-aided drafting software is typically used.
It produces engineered accuracy that you would not otherwise be able to find through a hand-drawn site plan diagram.
Check out this guide for How to Create a Site Plan for more information.
7. What type of guidelines should you follow?
The specific guidelines you should follow depend on the building authorities in your area.
However, here’s a list of some common guidelines:
8. Where can you get a site plan for your property?
If you’ve already made alterations to your property or if you’re planning on selling your home, you’ll need a copy of your site plan.
However, if you have never had it on hand before, then you may be confused about where to find it.
Here are a few places you can locate a copy without knowing it.
If you can’t find it in the closing documents, then contact your mortgage lender or title insurance provider.
They may have copies that they can send to you.
If it’s been years since you purchased your home, you should review the site plan sent to ensure it’s still an accurate representation of your property.
Your local government may be able to provide you with either a hard copy of your site plan or a downloadable copy that you can print.
Once again, if this is the route you go, then you’ll need to check if it’s up to date and still an accurate representation of your property.
Bear in mind that you’ll likely need to pay a service fee as well.
However, whether this is a fruitful route will typically depend on the amount of time that’s passed.
Again, if you happen to obtain one from the building company, be sure to verify its accuracy.
One is hiring a land surveyor to draw up a new site plan.
However, this can be expensive.
The other is to order a site plan from an online service that uses updated satellite imagery, country parcel maps, and other resources to create a site plan at a much lower cost.
9. What are the 11 elements of a good site plan?
Above, we listed the bare minimum of what a site plan should include.
However, if you want your site plan to include everything (not just the bare minimum), then this is a good guide to ensure your plan goes above and beyond.
This is often most relevant in urban and high-traffic areas.
A new construction site plan must include these when they are submitted for approval to the city.
This is a feature of your property that is shared by someone else for a specific purpose.
For example, if your property includes a pathway to your neighborhood park, then it should be included in your plan.
Some examples include deciduous trees, desert landscapes, or retaining walls.
10. What are the key issues to consider?
Depending on your locality and zoning regulations, your site plan may be required to include certain elements.
You’ll need to check with your local municipality before drawing up your site plan to be sure it includes what is required.
Here are some general guidelines that you should take into account as it is drawn up.