New Brunswick Site Plan Services

Need a site plan for a building permit in New Brunswick? Whether you are planning a new home, addition, garage, deck, shed, pool, fence, carport, retaining wall, driveway change, or other residential project, your municipality or regional service commission may ask for a clear drawing that shows how the proposed work fits on your lot.

A New Brunswick site plan helps show setbacks, lot layout, access, property lines, existing buildings, proposed construction, driveways, parking, drainage, grading, easements, trees, utilities, and other details that matter during permit review.

This guide explains what a New Brunswick permit site plan usually includes, why setbacks and lot layout matter, how access should be shown, and what homeowners should prepare before submitting drawings for municipal or regional review.

What Is a New Brunswick Site Plan?

A New Brunswick site plan is a scaled drawing of a property from above. It shows the existing site layout and the proposed project location so a reviewer can understand the work in context.

A residential site plan may show:

property 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, road access, parking, and vehicle circulation;
walkways, stairs, gates, decks, and outdoor access routes;
lot coverage or building coverage information where required;
grading and drainage direction;
swales, downspouts, culverts, ditches, and stormwater features where known;
trees, landscaping, and hard surface areas;
easements, utility corridors, and encroachments if known;
water, sewer, septic, well, gas, electrical, and other services where known;
north arrow, drawing scale, civic address, PID, and legal description.

The purpose is simple: the site plan should make the project easy to review. A reviewer should be able to see what exists now, what is proposed, how close the work is to property lines, how access works, and whether lot coverage, drainage, services, easements, or neighbouring properties may be affected.

When Do You Need a Site Plan in New Brunswick?

Permit requirements in New Brunswick depend on the local government, regional service commission, project type, zoning bylaw, property conditions, and whether the work requires development approval, building approval, or both.

New Brunswick’s Building Code Act states that a person must not construct a building in the province unless a building permit has been issued and the construction work conforms with the Code, prescribed standards, and the permit conditions.

Official source: New Brunswick Building Code Act

A site plan is commonly needed when a project changes the property layout, adds a structure, affects setbacks, changes access, changes drainage, or requires review of lot coverage and land use rules.

Common New Brunswick projects that may need a site plan include:

new homes;
home additions;
attached garages;
detached garages;
carports;
decks and patios;
sheds and accessory buildings;
pools and hot tubs;
fences and gates;
retaining walls;
driveway widening or parking changes;
projects near property lines, roads, wetlands, watercourses, easements, ditches, services, or slopes.

Building Permit vs Development Permit

In New Brunswick, some projects may involve both building review and land-use review. A building permit focuses on construction and code compliance. A development permit or planning review may focus on zoning, setbacks, lot coverage, use, access, and location on the property.

Regional service commissions and local governments often help administer planning and permitting. The Government of New Brunswick explains that land use plans are prepared and administered by local governments or regional service commissions.

Official source: Government of New Brunswick – Land Use Planning and Regulations for Property Owners

Because the permit path can vary by location, a homeowner in Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, Dieppe, Miramichi, Bathurst, Edmundston, Quispamsis, Rothesay, Riverview, or a rural district may have different submission requirements.

Why Setbacks Matter

Setbacks show how far the proposed work is from property lines, roads, rights-of-way, and other buildings. They are one of the first items many permit reviewers check because they help confirm whether the project fits under local zoning and land-use rules.

A New Brunswick site plan may need to show:

front yard setback;
rear yard setback;
side yard setbacks;
setback from a public road;
setback from a private road or access route;
distance from the proposed structure to the existing house;
distance to garages, sheds, decks, fences, pools, or retaining walls;
distance to easements, utility corridors, ditches, wetlands, or watercourses.

The City of Fredericton notes that permit approval includes review of setback distances from buildings to property lines, along with other considerations such as use of property and engineering review where applicable.

Official source: City of Fredericton – Building Permits

Because setback rules vary by municipality and zone, the site plan should show actual measured distances from the proposed work to the property lines. Reviewers should not need to guess.

Why Lot Layout Matters

Lot layout is the full arrangement of the property. It shows the relationship between the house, proposed work, driveway, parking, yard areas, services, easements, drainage paths, and neighbouring features.

A clear lot layout helps show:

where the proposed structure will be built;
how large the project is;
how close the project is to property lines;
how vehicles and people access the property;
whether parking or driveway layout is affected;
whether the project changes lot coverage;
whether drainage patterns are changing;
whether easements, utilities, wetlands, slopes, or neighbouring properties may be affected;
whether additional drawings or professional review may be needed.

A rough sketch may not show enough information. A clear, scaled site plan gives homeowners, contractors, designers, and permit reviewers a shared layout to work from.

Why Access Matters

Access is another major part of a New Brunswick site plan. A reviewer may need to understand how vehicles, pedestrians, service providers, and emergency access reach the proposed project.

Access information may include:

road name or street frontage;
driveway location;
driveway width if known;
garage or carport access;
parking space location;
vehicle turning or circulation area if relevant;
walkways and pedestrian paths;
gate locations;
culvert or ditch crossing if relevant;
private road, shared access, or right-of-way if applicable.

Access is especially important for garages, carports, driveway changes, rural properties, accessory buildings, and projects near public roads or shared driveways.

Why Lot Coverage Matters

Lot coverage refers to the amount of a lot covered by buildings or structures. Some zoning bylaws limit the maximum amount of building coverage allowed on a property.

A site plan can help show lot coverage by identifying:

lot area;
existing house footprint;
attached garage footprint;
detached garage footprint;
existing shed or accessory building area;
proposed addition area;
covered deck or porch area where applicable;
carport or roofed parking area;
other roofed or permanent structures that may count toward coverage.

The Greater Miramichi site plan requirements guide explains that a site plan helps determine setback and lot coverage, and that the plan should show existing buildings, proposed improvements, dimensions, and property information.

Official source: Greater Miramichi Regional Service Commission – Site Plan Requirements

Property Lines and Survey Information

Property lines are the foundation of a site plan. Setbacks, lot coverage, fence location, driveway placement, drainage, and easements all depend on knowing where the legal boundaries are.

Do not assume an existing fence, hedge, tree line, driveway edge, ditch, or old landscaping border is the legal property line.

Service New Brunswick explains that only a licensed New Brunswick Land Surveyor is authorized to survey and locate property boundaries in New Brunswick.

Official source: Service New Brunswick – Property Mapping and Surveys FAQ

A survey can be very helpful 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 rights-of-way;
a public road setback may apply;
the municipality asks for boundary information;
an addition, garage, deck, or accessory building is being reviewed;
lot coverage needs to be calculated accurately;
neighbouring properties may be affected.

The Association of New Brunswick Land Surveyors regulates the practice of land surveying in the province and provides public information about qualified surveyors.

Official source: Association of New Brunswick Land Surveyors

What Should a New Brunswick Permit Site Plan Include?

The exact requirements depend on the local government, regional service commission, zoning bylaw, project type, and site conditions. Still, most New Brunswick residential site plans include a similar set of core details.

1. Civic Address and PID

The site plan should identify the property clearly. Helpful information includes:

civic address;
PID, or Property Identification Number, if available;
municipality or regional service commission area;
legal description if available;
drawing date;
drawing scale;
north arrow.

Including the civic address and PID helps match the drawing to the correct property and permit application.

2. Property Lines and Lot Dimensions

The full property boundary should be shown clearly. Lot width, lot depth, and irregular boundary dimensions should be included where available.

This is especially important for:

corner lots;
narrow lots;
irregular rural parcels;
waterfront or watercourse-adjacent properties;
lots with easements or rights-of-way;
projects near fences or neighbouring properties.

3. Existing House and Structures

The existing house should be shown and labelled. Other existing 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 Addition;
Proposed Garage;
Proposed Deck;
Proposed Shed;
Proposed Carport;
Proposed Pool;
Proposed Fence;
Proposed Retaining Wall;
Proposed Dwelling.

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 property line.

Show setbacks from the proposed work to:

front property line;
rear property line;
side property lines;
public road or private road boundary;
existing house;
detached garage or accessory structures;
easement or right-of-way boundary;
watercourse, wetland, or buffer area if applicable.

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 if known;
public road access;
private road or shared access if applicable;
garage or carport door location;
parking space location;
walkways and pedestrian paths;
gate locations;
culvert, ditch, or access crossing where relevant.

7. Lot Coverage and Building Area

Lot coverage should be shown or calculated when required. This is especially important for additions, garages, sheds, carports, covered decks, and other roofed structures.

Lot coverage information may include:

lot area;
existing house footprint;
existing accessory building area;
proposed project area;
total building footprint after construction;
percentage of lot covered by buildings;
maximum lot coverage allowed if known.

8. Drainage and Grading

Drainage and grading show how water moves across the property. This is important because new roofs, driveways, patios, pools, retaining walls, and grade changes can redirect water.

A site plan may show:

surface drainage arrows;
roof drainage direction;
downspout locations;
swales;
ditches or culverts where relevant;
driveway slope;
stormwater feature location if known;
retaining wall drainage if applicable;
areas where water should not discharge.

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

9. Easements and Utility Corridors

Easements and utility corridors 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;
sewer or water easements;
access rights-of-way;
shared driveways;
overland drainage routes;
registered encroachments;
service corridors.

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 if applicable;
shrubs and landscaped areas;
garden beds;
grass or permeable areas;
hard surface areas such as patios, driveways, and walkways.

11. Services and Utilities

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

The site plan may show known:

water service;
sanitary sewer or septic system;
stormwater service or ditching;
well location if applicable;
gas service;
power or electrical service;
utility poles and overhead wires;
culverts, catch basins, and manholes;
proposed service trenches.

New Brunswick Projects That Commonly Need Site Plans

New Home Site Plans

A new home site plan should show the proposed dwelling, property lines, setbacks, driveway access, grading, drainage, services, easements, and existing or proposed accessory structures.

Garage Site Plans

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

Pool Site Plans

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

Fence Site Plans

A fence site plan should show property lines, fence alignment, fence height, gates, corner-lot conditions, driveway visibility, sidewalks, streets, and rights-of-way 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.

Why New Brunswick Permit Requirements Vary

New Brunswick has provincial building code legislation, but local governments and regional service commissions often manage planning, zoning, development permits, building permits, inspections, setbacks, lot coverage, access, drainage, and application requirements.

This means a site plan for Fredericton may not be the same as a site plan for Moncton, Saint John, Dieppe, Miramichi, Bathurst, Edmundston, Riverview, Quispamsis, Rothesay, Grand Falls, or a rural district.

For example:

Fredericton reviews setback distances and other property-related permit issues;
regional service commissions may request site plans, scaled drawings, and project details;
some projects require development permits before building permits;
some properties may need a setback certificate near public roads;
rural properties may involve wells, septic systems, private roads, ditches, culverts, and larger setback questions;
some sites may involve wetlands, watercourses, easements, steep slopes, or drainage constraints.

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

Common New Brunswick 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 property boundary;
assuming the fence is the legal property line;
not showing lot dimensions;
not including the civic address or PID when requested;
not labelling the existing house;
not identifying the proposed project clearly;
forgetting project dimensions;
not showing setback distances;
not showing driveway or access location;
missing parking information;
not showing lot coverage when required;
not showing easements or utility corridors;
not showing drainage direction;
forgetting ditches, culverts, downspouts, or grading notes when needed;
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 a New Brunswick Site Plan

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

Helpful items include:

property civic address;
PID or parcel number if available;
legal description if available;
survey plan or real property information if available;
municipal or regional permit comments if already received;
photos of the property;
sketch of the proposed project;
project dimensions;
distance from proposed work to property lines if known;
location of existing house, garage, shed, deck, patio, driveway, pool, fences, and retaining walls;
driveway, road, private road, culvert, or rural access information;
tree and landscaping locations if relevant;
known easements or rights-of-way;
wetland, watercourse, ditch, culvert, or drainage information if relevant;
well, septic, water, sewer, or utility information if relevant;
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 New Brunswick Homeowners

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

Depending on your project, your New Brunswick site plan can show:

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

A site plan is not a substitute for a legal survey, engineering, architectural design, zoning approval, development permit, building code review, wetland approval, septic approval, 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 a New Brunswick Site Plan for a Building Permit?

If your municipality or regional service commission 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 New Brunswick projects such as new homes, garages, additions, decks, sheds, pools, fences, carports, retaining walls, driveway changes, and other residential improvements.

Order your New Brunswick site plan from SitePlans.ca

Final Thoughts

A New Brunswick site plan is one of the most useful drawings for many residential building permit projects. It shows how the proposed work fits on the property and helps reviewers understand setbacks, lot layout, access, lot coverage, property lines, drainage, services, easements, parking, and existing structures.

Setbacks matter because they help confirm whether the project fits under local land-use rules. Lot layout matters because reviewers need to see the full property context. Access matters because garages, driveways, parking areas, rural buildings, and backyard structures need a clear route.

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

New Brunswick Site Plan Services for Building Permits: Setbacks, Lot Layout, and Access