Alberta Site Plan Services

Need a site plan for a building permit in Alberta? Whether you are planning a garage, deck, shed, addition, carport, pool, fence, retaining wall, garden suite, driveway change, or new home project, your municipality may ask for a clear drawing that shows how the work fits on your property.

An Alberta site plan helps show lot lines, existing structures, proposed construction, setbacks, driveway or lane access, parking, drainage, grading, trees, easements, utilities, and other site details that matter during permit review.

This guide explains what an Alberta permit site plan usually includes, why lot lines and access matter, how survey information can help, and what homeowners should prepare before submitting permit drawings to a city, town, county, village, or accredited permitting agency.

What Is an Alberta Site Plan?

An Alberta site plan is a scaled drawing of a property from above. It shows the existing site layout and the proposed project location so the reviewing authority can understand the work in context.

A residential site plan may show:

lot lines and lot dimensions;
existing house footprint;
existing garage, shed, deck, patio, driveway, fence, or retaining wall;
proposed project footprint;
front, side, and rear yard setbacks;
driveway, lane access, parking, and vehicle circulation;
walkways, stairs, gates, and pedestrian access routes;
grading and drainage direction;
downspouts, swales, catch basins, and stormwater features if known;
trees, landscaping, and tree protection areas;
easements, utility rights-of-way, and encroachments if known;
water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, gas, hydro, and other services where known;
north arrow, drawing scale, address, and legal description.

The purpose is simple: the site plan should make the proposed work easy to understand. A reviewer should be able to see what exists now, what is being proposed, how close it is to the lot lines, how the site is accessed, and whether drainage, utilities, easements, or neighbouring properties may be affected.

When Do You Need a Site Plan in Alberta?

Alberta permit requirements depend on the project type, municipality, county, zoning, land use district, and property conditions. Alberta’s safety codes system requires appropriate permits for projects covered by the Safety Codes Act before work starts.

Official source: Government of Alberta – Permits and Alberta’s Safety Code System

Permits are available through accredited municipalities and agencies that provide inspection services in areas where the province administers safety codes through the Alberta Safety Codes Authority.

Official source: Safety Codes Council – Where to Get a Permit

A site plan is commonly needed when a project changes the property layout, adds a structure, affects setbacks, changes driveway or parking access, or requires grading and drainage review.

Common Alberta projects that may need a site plan include:

new homes;
home additions;
detached garages;
carports;
decks and patios;
sheds and accessory buildings;
pools and hot tubs;
fences and gates;
retaining walls;
garden suites or laneway homes;
driveway widening or parking changes;
projects near lot lines, easements, utilities, slopes, trees, or drainage features.

Every local government can have different submission requirements. A site plan for Calgary may not be identical to a site plan for Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, St. Albert, Airdrie, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Wood Buffalo, Strathcona County, or a rural municipality.

Why Lot Lines Matter

Lot lines are the foundation of a permit site plan. Setbacks, building placement, fence location, parking, access, easements, and lot coverage all depend on the legal boundary of the property.

A site plan may show:

front lot line;
rear lot line;
interior side lot lines;
corner lot or flanking street lot line;
lane boundary if the property has rear lane access;
irregular or angled lot lines;
easement or utility right-of-way lines;
fence lines if different from the legal lot line.

Do not assume an existing fence, hedge, retaining wall, driveway edge, or landscaping border is the legal property line. The Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association explains that land surveyors use technology, legal information, historical information, and evidence to identify property boundaries.

Official source: Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association

If your project is close to a lot line, a current Real Property Report or other survey information may be needed before finalizing the layout.

Site Plan vs Real Property Report in Alberta

A site plan and a Real Property Report are related, but they are not the same thing.

Real Property Report

A Real Property Report, often called an RPR, is a legal survey document prepared by an Alberta Land Surveyor. It can show the boundaries of the parcel and the location of visible improvements, such as the house, garage, deck, shed, driveway, fences, and other structures.

Official source: Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association – Real Property Reports

Site Plan

A site plan uses available property information to show the proposed project layout. It explains where the work will go and how it relates to lot lines, existing buildings, setbacks, access, grading, drainage, easements, services, and nearby structures.

An RPR can be very helpful when preparing a site plan, especially when:

the project is close to a property line;
the lot is irregular;
the fence line may not match the legal boundary;
there are easements or utility rights-of-way;
the municipality asks for survey information;
an addition, garage, deck, or accessory building is being reviewed;
grading or drainage information is needed;
neighbouring properties may be affected.

SitePlans.ca can prepare a clear site plan from available property information, survey documents, sketches, municipal comments, and project details. If a legal boundary must be established or confirmed, that work should be done by an Alberta Land Surveyor.

Why Setbacks Matter on an Alberta Site Plan

Setbacks show how far the proposed work is from lot lines, lanes, streets, and other buildings. They are one of the first items many reviewers check because they help confirm whether a project fits under local land use rules.

A site plan may need to show:

front yard setback;
rear yard setback;
interior side yard setback;
exterior side yard setback on a corner lot;
setback from a rear lane;
distance from the proposed structure to the existing house;
distance to garages, sheds, decks, pools, fences, or retaining walls;
distance to easements, utility corridors, or right-of-ways.

Setback rules vary by municipality and land use district. For example, Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw includes detailed rules for accessory residential buildings, projections, and building placement. Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Airdrie, St. Albert, and other Alberta municipalities also have their own zoning or land use rules.

Official source: City of Calgary – Land Use Bylaw

Because every municipality is different, the site plan should show actual distances from the proposed work to the lot lines. Reviewers should not have to guess.

Why Access Matters

Access is another major site-plan issue. Alberta properties may use front driveways, rear lanes, shared access, rural approaches, alley access, or attached garage access. A site plan should clearly show how vehicles and people reach the project area.

Access information may include:

front street name;
rear lane location if present;
driveway location and width;
garage or carport access;
parking pad location;
vehicle turning or circulation area if relevant;
sidewalks and walkways;
gate locations;
pedestrian access to the proposed structure.

Access is especially important for garages, carports, driveway widening, garden suites, laneway homes, rural accessory buildings, and projects that affect existing parking.

Permit Drawings: What Makes a Site Plan Useful?

A permit drawing should be clear, scaled, labelled, and specific to the project. Calgary’s project drawing standards say detailed plans should include relevant existing structures and spaces, all new construction, labels, dimensions, and clear identification of proposed changes.

Official source: City of Calgary – Project Drawing Standards

A useful Alberta site plan should not look like a rough napkin sketch. It should show the property layout in a way that homeowners, contractors, designers, and permit reviewers can all understand.

Strong permit drawings usually include:

clear property boundary lines;
accurate project footprint;
existing and proposed structures;
important dimensions;
setback labels;
access and parking labels;
drainage or grading arrows when needed;
north arrow and scale;
notes that explain what is existing and what is proposed.

What Municipal Reviewers May Check

Municipal review varies across Alberta, but many reviewers look for the same basic site information. The goal is to confirm that the project location, land use, access, grading, drainage, and safety details are clear enough for review.

Reviewers may check:

lot lines and lot dimensions;
existing and proposed building footprints;
project dimensions;
front, side, and rear yard setbacks;
driveway, lane, and parking access;
lot coverage or site coverage;
easements and utility rights-of-way;
grading and drainage direction;
trees and landscaping where required;
retaining walls and slope conditions;
service and utility locations where relevant;
whether additional drawings or professional documents are needed.

For example, the City of Edmonton says an infill lot grading plan is required for proposed development in mature neighbourhoods to support development and building permit applications.

Official source: City of Edmonton – Lot Grading Plan for Infill

What Should an Alberta Permit Site Plan Include?

The exact requirements depend on the municipality, project type, land use district, and site conditions. Still, most Alberta residential site plans include a similar set of core details.

1. Address and Legal Description

The site plan should include the property address and legal description if available. This helps match the drawing to the correct lot and permit application.

Helpful details include:

municipality or county;
street address;
legal land description or plan/block/lot if available;
roll number if requested;
drawing date;
drawing scale;
north arrow.

2. Lot Lines and Lot Dimensions

The site plan should show the full lot boundary and lot dimensions. This is especially important for corner lots, pie-shaped lots, rural parcels, lane lots, and properties with irregular boundaries.

If the project is near a property line, use reliable survey information.

3. Existing House and Structures

The existing house should be shown and labelled. Other structures should also be shown when they affect the project.

These may include:

garage;
shed;
carport;
deck;
porch;
patio;
pool;
retaining wall;
fence or gate;
driveway or parking pad;
walkways, stairs, and ramps.

4. Proposed Project Footprint

The proposed work should be clearly labelled. Use simple labels such as:

Proposed Garage;
Proposed Addition;
Proposed Deck;
Proposed Shed;
Proposed Carport;
Proposed Pool;
Proposed Fence;
Proposed Retaining Wall;
Proposed Garden Suite.

The drawing should show the project’s length, width, footprint, and relationship to the rest of the property.

5. Setback Dimensions

Setbacks should be labelled clearly. A reviewer should be able to see the distance from the proposed project to each relevant lot line.

Show setbacks from the proposed work to:

front lot line;
rear lot line;
side lot lines;
lane boundary;
flanking street on corner lots;
existing house;
detached garage or accessory buildings;
easement or utility right-of-way boundary.

6. Access and Parking

The site plan should show how vehicles and people access the property and the proposed structure.

Access details may include:

driveway location;
driveway width;
front street access;
rear lane access;
parking space location;
garage or carport door location;
walkways and pedestrian paths;
gate locations;
access to garden suites or secondary suites where relevant.

7. Lot Coverage and Hard Surfaces

Some Alberta municipalities review lot coverage, site coverage, building coverage, or hard surface area. This can be important for additions, garages, sheds, decks, carports, patio covers, pools, and garden suites.

Coverage-related items may include:

existing house footprint;
proposed addition footprint;
garage or shed area;
carport or patio cover roof area;
driveways and parking pads;
walkways and patios;
pool decks and hardscape;
landscaped or permeable areas.

8. Grading and Drainage

Grading and drainage show how water moves across the property. This is important because new buildings, roofs, hard surfaces, and grade changes can redirect water.

A site plan may show:

surface drainage arrows;
roof drainage direction;
downspout locations;
swales;
catch basins;
storm service route if known;
existing and proposed grades where available;
retaining wall drainage if applicable;
areas where water should not discharge.

Water should not be directed toward the house foundation, neighbouring properties, sidewalks, driveways, retaining walls, or low areas where ponding may occur.

9. Easements and Utility Rights-of-Way

Easements and utility rights-of-way can affect where buildings, fences, decks, pools, sheds, walls, driveways, and service trenches can be placed.

Known site constraints should be shown, including:

utility easements;
drainage easements;
sanitary sewer easements;
access rights-of-way;
shared driveways;
overland drainage routes;
registered encroachments;
service corridors.

These details are often found on survey documents, title documents, municipal records, or utility information.

10. Trees and Landscaping

Trees and landscaping can affect project placement, excavation, grading, service routes, and municipal review. A site plan may show:

existing trees on the property;
trees near the proposed work;
trees proposed for removal;
tree protection fencing where required;
shrubs and landscaped areas;
garden beds and retaining walls;
grass or permeable areas.

11. Services and Utilities

Some permit projects need utility information. This is common for additions, new homes, pools, detached garages with power, garden suites, secondary suites, and projects involving excavation or trenching.

The site plan may show known:

water service;
sanitary sewer;
storm sewer;
gas service;
hydro or electrical service;
utility poles and overhead wires;
catch basins and manholes;
proposed service trenches.

Alberta Projects That Commonly Need Site Plans

Garage Site Plans

A garage site plan should show the proposed garage footprint, existing house, driveway or lane access, parking layout, setbacks, lot coverage, drainage, trees, easements, and lot lines.

Addition Site Plans

An addition site plan should show the existing house, proposed addition, setbacks, lot coverage, services, grading, drainage, trees, and nearby structures.

Deck Site Plans

A deck site plan should show deck size, stairs, height if known, setbacks, property lines, doors, existing house, and nearby patios, fences, trees, or retaining walls.

Shed Site Plans

A shed site plan should show shed placement, side and rear setbacks, lot lines, existing house, trees, drainage, easements, and backyard access.

Carport Site Plans

A carport site plan should show roof area, support posts, parking layout, driveway access, setbacks, roof drainage, existing house, and lot lines.

Pool Site Plans

A pool site plan should show the pool location, safety barrier, gates, equipment pad, setbacks, drainage, pool deck, trees, overhead wires, and nearby structures.

Fence Site Plans

A fence site plan should show lot lines, fence alignment, fence height, gates, corner-lot conditions, driveway visibility, sidewalks, streets, and lanes where relevant.

Retaining Wall Site Plans

A retaining wall site plan should show wall location, wall height, slopes, top and bottom wall elevations, drainage direction, boundaries, trees, and nearby structures.

Garden Suite or Laneway Home Site Plans

A garden suite or laneway home site plan should show the existing house, proposed dwelling, access, parking, setbacks, services, drainage, trees, grades, easements, and relationship to the rear yard or lane.

Why Alberta Municipal Requirements Vary

Alberta has provincial safety codes, but local governments and accredited agencies administer permit and inspection services. Municipalities also have their own land use bylaws, grading requirements, driveway rules, parking standards, development permit processes, and application checklists.

This means a site plan for Calgary may not be the same as a site plan for Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, St. Albert, Airdrie, Medicine Hat, Cochrane, Okotoks, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, or a rural county.

For example:

Calgary provides drawing standards and project-specific permit pages;
Edmonton has lot grading requirements for infill development;
some municipalities require development permits before building permits;
some projects require grading plans or Real Property Reports;
rural parcels may involve access approaches, septic systems, wells, utility rights-of-way, and larger setback questions;
some lots have easements, restrictive covenants, or drainage obligations that affect site layout.

The best site plan is property-specific and local-review-focused.

Common Alberta Site Plan Mistakes That Delay Permits

Many permit delays happen because the site plan is missing basic information. Avoid these common mistakes:

not showing the full lot boundary;
assuming the fence is the legal lot line;
not showing lot dimensions;
not labelling the existing house;
not identifying the proposed project clearly;
forgetting project dimensions;
not showing setback distances;
not showing driveway or lane access;
missing parking information;
not showing easements or utility rights-of-way;
not showing drainage direction;
forgetting trees or landscaped areas when required;
not showing existing accessory buildings;
not showing services when they affect the project;
using a rough sketch that is not scaled or labelled.

What to Gather Before Ordering an Alberta Site Plan

Before preparing a site plan, gather as much property and project information as possible.

Helpful items include:

property address;
legal description if available;
Real Property Report or survey plan if available;
municipal roll number if available;
photos of the property;
sketch of the proposed project;
project dimensions;
distance from proposed work to lot lines if known;
location of existing house, garage, shed, deck, patio, driveway, pool, fences, and retaining walls;
lane, alley, driveway, or rural access information;
tree and landscaping locations if relevant;
known easements or utility rights-of-way;
service or utility information if relevant;
municipal comments or correction notes if already received;
contractor, designer, engineer, or survey documents if available.

The more accurate the starting information, the more useful the finished site plan can be.

How SitePlans.ca Helps Alberta Homeowners

SitePlans.ca prepares clear, easy-to-read site plans for residential permit projects across Alberta and Canada. Our goal is to help homeowners, contractors, designers, and permit applicants organize the site information into a clean drawing that supports municipal review.

Depending on your project, your Alberta site plan can show:

existing house and structures;
proposed project footprint;
lot lines and lot dimensions;
front, side, and rear setbacks;
driveway, lane, parking, and access layout;
lot coverage and hard surfaces;
grading and drainage direction;
trees and landscaping;
services and utility routes where known;
easements, utility rights-of-way, and nearby constraints.

A site plan is not a substitute for a legal survey, engineering, architectural design, zoning approval, development permit, safety codes review, or municipal review when those are required. But it is often the drawing that helps everyone understand the property layout before the more technical parts of the permit package are reviewed.

Need an Alberta Site Plan for a Building Permit?

If your municipality has asked for a site plan, or if you are preparing a permit package for a residential project, SitePlans.ca can help create a clear, permit-ready drawing based on your property information and project details.

We can help with site plans for Alberta projects such as garages, additions, decks, sheds, pools, fences, carports, retaining walls, garden suites, driveway changes, new homes, and other residential improvements.

Order your Alberta site plan from SitePlans.ca

Final Thoughts

An Alberta site plan is one of the most important drawings for many residential building permit projects. It shows how the proposed work fits on the property and helps reviewers understand lot lines, setbacks, access, parking, drainage, grading, utilities, easements, and existing structures.

Lot lines matter because they control where setbacks are measured. Access matters because garages, carports, garden suites, driveways, and parking areas need a clear route. Permit drawings matter because reviewers need a scaled, labelled, and understandable layout before they can properly review the project.

Before submitting a permit application in Alberta, confirm the local checklist, verify property information, show the proposed work clearly, and prepare a site plan that makes the project easy to review.

Alberta Site Plan Services for Building Permits: Lot Lines, Access, and Permit Drawings