The best way to understand what a site plan example for a permit should look like is to walk through the required elements one by one. This guide covers the most common permit types, what each drawing needs to show, and a complete checklist to verify before you submit.
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What Makes a Site Plan “Permit-Ready”?
A permit-ready site plan is not just any overhead drawing of a property. It must:
- Be drawn to the exact scale required by your jurisdiction
- Include every required element from the submittal checklist
- Have a properly formatted title block
- Accurately reflect current site conditions
- Label all setback dimensions with actual numbers
Site Plan Example: Fence Permit
Property: 80′ × 120′ rectangular residential lot. Proposed: 6-foot privacy fence along rear and side property lines.
What the drawing shows:
- Property boundary rectangle with all four sides dimensioned (80′, 120′, 80′, 120′)
- House footprint (50′ × 30′) labeled “EXISTING RESIDENCE”
- Driveway labeled “EXISTING DRIVEWAY”
- Proposed fence as dashed line along rear and side boundaries, labeled “PROPOSED 6′ FENCE”
- Setback distance labeled at each property line: “0 FT SETBACK” (rear and sides)
- North arrow pointing up, bar scale “0—20—40 FEET”
- Title block: address, APN, legal description, Scale: 1″=20′, date, preparer
Site Plan Example: Pool Permit
Property: 75′ × 110′ lot in Broward County, FL. Proposed: 15′ × 30′ inground pool in rear yard.
What the drawing shows:
- Lot boundary with all sides dimensioned; street labeled on front
- House (50′ × 35′) and existing patio labeled
- Pool labeled “PROPOSED INGROUND POOL” — 15′ × 30′
- Setback from pool to rear property line: “10 FT” (Broward minimum)
- Setback from pool to each side: “7.5 FT”
- Setback from pool to house: “5 FT”
- Pool barrier/enclosure fence shown as dashed rectangle
- Gate locations and equipment pad labeled
For pool permits, see our site plan services and pricing page.
Site Plan Example: ADU Permit
Property: 60′ × 100′ lot in Phoenix, AZ. Proposed: 400 sq ft detached ADU in rear yard.
What the drawing shows:
- Both primary residence and proposed ADU footprints shown
- ADU labeled “PROPOSED ADU — 20′ × 20′”
- Setbacks from ADU to all property lines
- Setback from ADU to primary house
- Utility connections noted (gas, electric, sewer)
- Parking space shown (required in many jurisdictions for ADUs)
For ADU plans, check our services or our FAQs.
Complete Site Plan Checklist
Universal (all permit types):
- ☐ Drawn to the correct scale for your jurisdiction
- ☐ Bar scale (graphic) on the drawing
- ☐ North arrow present
- ☐ All property lines drawn and dimensioned
- ☐ Adjacent street name(s) labeled
- ☐ All existing structures shown and labeled
- ☐ Proposed improvement labeled “PROPOSED”
- ☐ All setback distances labeled with numbers
- ☐ Parcel ID / APN in title block
- ☐ Property address in title block
- ☐ Legal description in title block
- ☐ Preparer name and date in title block
Use our Free Permit Submission Checklist Generator for a jurisdiction-specific checklist.
What Separates Approved Plans from Rejected Ones
In 58,000+ plans delivered, the pattern is consistent. Approved plans: exact scale, numbered setback dimensions, complete title block. Rejected plans: “approximately” to scale, visual setbacks without numbers, missing parcel ID or legal description.
If your plan has been rejected, use our Permit Rejection Fix Tool to identify the fix. Or read our client reviews to see how we’ve helped others get approved.
Get a Permit-Ready Site Plan — Built to Pass. $79 · 24 Hours · All 50 States.
Professional, permit-ready site plans starting at $79. Delivered in 24 hours. Accepted by building departments in all 50 states.
✅ 98% first-time approval rate | ✅ Unlimited free revisions | ✅ Money-back guarantee
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a site plan for a permit look like?
A permit site plan should be a clean, to-scale CAD drawing showing property lines with dimensions, all existing structures, the proposed improvement labeled “PROPOSED,” setback distances with numbers, a north arrow, bar scale, and a complete title block with parcel ID and legal description.
Where can I see an example of a site plan for a permit?
Permit For SitePlan provides examples for each permit type. Your local building department’s website may also have sample drawings. The key is that the example must match your jurisdiction’s specific requirements — not just a generic template.
Can I copy a site plan example and edit it for my property?
Not recommended. Even if the format is correct, copying an example means filling in dimensions and data specific to your lot — which still requires gathering parcel records, GIS data, and knowing your jurisdiction’s setback rules. A professional drafting service does all of this for $79.
What does "drawn to scale" mean on a site plan?
It means every distance on the drawing represents a consistent real-world measurement. At 1″=20′ scale, 1 inch on paper = 20 feet of actual property. Buildings, setbacks, and property lines must all follow this ratio exactly.
What is a title block on a site plan example?
The title block is the information box (usually bottom-right) showing the property address, parcel ID, legal description, scale, north arrow, preparer name, and date. Every jurisdiction requires this — and missing elements here cause immediate rejection.
Do site plan examples differ by permit type?
Yes. A fence permit site plan is simpler than a pool permit plan, which is simpler than a commercial site plan. Each permit type has different required elements. We produce the right version for your specific permit and jurisdiction.
