Site Plan Checklist for Deck, Shed, Garage, Pool, and Addition Permits

If you are applying for a deck, shed, garage, pool, or home addition permit in Canada, your municipality may ask for a clear site plan. A site plan shows the property from above and helps reviewers understand where the proposed work will be located, how far it is from property lines, what structures already exist, and whether the project affects access, drainage, utilities, easements, or open space.

This site plan checklist for deck, shed, garage, pool, and addition permits explains what homeowners should usually show before submitting a permit application. Requirements vary by municipality, but the same core items come up again and again: property lines, existing structures, proposed work, dimensions, setbacks, driveway access, easements, grading, drainage, utilities, north arrow, scale, and clear notes.

siteplans.ca prepares professional site plans for homeowners, builders, designers, and property professionals across Canada. Whether you are planning a backyard deck, garden shed, detached garage, swimming pool, or home addition, a clean site plan can help municipal reviewers understand the project faster.

What This Site Plan Checklist Covers

The image above shows a practical permit site plan checklist for common residential projects. It includes a site plan example with property lines, lot dimensions, existing house, proposed addition, deck, driveway, landscaping, setbacks, north arrow, notes, and project-specific checklist items for decks, sheds, garages, pools, and additions.

The checklist is designed to help homeowners answer the main review questions:

• Where are the property lines?
• What already exists on the lot?
• What new work is proposed?
• How large is the proposed work?
• How far is the work from property lines and existing structures?
• Will the project affect the driveway, access, drainage, utilities, or easements?
• Does the plan include enough information for municipal review?

Why a Site Plan Matters for Permit Review

A site plan helps the municipality review the project in context. A deck, shed, garage, pool, or addition is not reviewed only as a structure. Reviewers also need to understand where it sits on the property.

City of Edmonton says the site plan for a detached garage, shed, or gazebo shows the entire existing property and helps City staff understand where the proposed accessory building will be located. Edmonton lists site plan items such as a north arrow, property address, streets and avenues, property-line dimensions, proposed and existing buildings and structures, setbacks, and applicable caveats, covenants, and easements. [1]

City of Ottawa says a site plan must identify the existing house, other existing structures such as garages, sheds, and decks, and proposed additions or new structures. [2]

City of Toronto’s residential permit guidance for garages and carports says a survey or site plan should show property lines, lot area, rights-of-way or easements, existing and proposed buildings, overall dimensions, setback dimensions, and zoning information such as lot area, building area, coverage, and grade elevations. [3]

Master Site Plan Checklist

Before looking at individual project types, start with the basic site plan checklist. These are the items most commonly needed for residential permit review.

1. Property Information

Your site plan should identify the property clearly. This helps reviewers connect the drawing to the correct permit application.

Include:

• municipal address;
• city or municipality;
• province;
• legal description if available;
• lot number or plan number if available;
• project description;
• date of plan preparation;
• drawing scale where applicable.

A simple site information box can make the plan easier to review. It can include the address, lot dimensions, lot area, zoning information where known, scale, and project type.

2. Property Lines and Lot Dimensions

Property lines are the foundation of a site plan. The reviewer needs to know where the lot begins and ends before checking setbacks, lot coverage, access, and proposed work location.

Show:

• front property line;
• rear property line;
• side property lines;
• lot width;
• lot depth;
• street frontage;
• lane or alley frontage where applicable;
• corner lot conditions where applicable;
• property line dimensions where available.

If the proposed work is close to a property line, a current survey or Real Property Report may be required. A basic site plan can show available boundary information, but it does not replace a legal survey when exact boundary confirmation is needed.

3. Existing Structures

A site plan should show what already exists on the property. This helps reviewers understand the full site layout before reviewing the proposed work.

Existing structures may include:

• main house;
• attached garage;
• detached garage;
• shed;
• deck;
• porch;
• carport;
• pool or hot tub;
• patio or hard surface area;
• driveway;
• walkways;
• retaining walls;
• fences and gates.

Label existing structures clearly. Use simple labels such as “Existing House,” “Existing Deck,” “Existing Shed,” or “Existing Driveway.”

4. Proposed Work

The proposed work should be easy to identify. The reviewer should not have to guess what is new.

Show the proposed work with:

• clear label;
• outline or footprint;
• length and width dimensions;
• location on the lot;
• distance to property lines;
• distance to existing structures where relevant;
• notes explaining the project where needed.

For example, if you are applying for a garage permit, show the garage footprint, garage dimensions, driveway or lane access, and setback distances to the rear and side property lines.

5. Setbacks

Setbacks are the distances from structures to property lines. They are one of the first things reviewers check because zoning rules often control how close a structure can be to the front, side, and rear lot lines.

Show:

• front yard setback;
• rear yard setback;
• interior side yard setbacks;
• exterior side yard setback for corner lots;
• distance from proposed work to existing house;
• distance from proposed work to other structures;
• distance to easements or rights-of-way where relevant.

City of Toronto explains that setbacks are minimum distances from the property or lot line to the building wall, and that there are setback distances for rear yard, side yard, and front yard areas. [4]

6. Driveway, Parking, and Access

Driveway and access details matter for garages, carports, additions, basement entrances, driveway widening, pool equipment access, and construction access.

Show:

• existing driveway;
• driveway width;
• proposed driveway changes;
• garage or carport access;
• parking spaces where required;
• walkways and entrances;
• rear lane or alley access where applicable;
• site access route where relevant.

If the project changes the driveway, parking, or curb access, the municipality may require additional approval or a separate driveway permit.

7. Easements and Rights-of-Way

Easements and rights-of-way can affect where you are allowed to build. They may be used for utilities, drainage, access, sewer lines, shared driveways, or maintenance access.

Show known:

• utility easements;
• drainage easements;
• sewer easements;
• stormwater easements;
• access easements;
• laneway rights-of-way;
• restrictive covenants where known;
• areas that must remain clear.

If your survey, Real Property Report, title documents, or municipal records show an easement, include it on the site plan. A proposed shed, pool, garage, addition, or deck inside an easement can create review delays.

8. Landscaping, Trees, and Open Space

Landscaping and open space may be relevant when the project affects lot coverage, landscaped area, trees, drainage, privacy, or outdoor living space.

Show where relevant:

• lawn or landscaped area;
• trees and shrubs;
• garden beds;
• patios and hard surfaces;
• decks and outdoor living areas;
• pool surrounds;
• private open space;
• trees to be retained or removed where applicable.

This is especially useful for additions, pool projects, large decks, driveway widening, and projects that increase hard surface area.

9. Grading and Drainage

Some projects need grading or drainage information. This is more likely when the work changes roof area, hard surfaces, site levels, runoff direction, or stormwater flow.

Show where required:

• surface drainage direction;
• existing and proposed grade direction;
• swales or drainage paths;
• downspout direction;
• retaining walls;
• pool drainage or equipment area where relevant;
• stormwater connection points where known;
• areas where water must not drain toward neighbours.

City of Edmonton notes that a lot grading plan may be required as part of detailed engineering drawings for certain development servicing agreements and as a surface drainage plan under other requirements. [5]

10. Utilities and Services

Utilities and services may affect where structures can be located. This is especially important for garages, additions, pools, sheds, and projects near easements.

Show known:

• water service;
• sanitary sewer;
• storm sewer;
• hydro or electrical service;
• gas service;
• utility meters;
• pool equipment service locations;
• service easements.

If exact service locations are unknown, they should be verified before construction. A site plan can show known or approximate information, but utility locates, survey information, engineering, or municipal records may be required for exact locations.

11. North Arrow, Scale, Legend, and Notes

A professional site plan should be easy to read. The north arrow, scale, legend, and notes help reviewers understand the drawing quickly.

Include:

• north arrow;
• scale or scale bar;
• clear dimensions;
• legend explaining line types and symbols;
• notes about measurements and assumptions;
• date and project label;
• plan revision date if updated.

Common notes may include that dimensions are in metres, setbacks are measured to the closest point of construction, measurements should be verified on site, and the plan is prepared for permit submission purposes.

Deck Permit Site Plan Checklist

A deck site plan should show where the deck will be located, how large it will be, and how it relates to property lines, the house, stairs, doors, fences, and other structures.

For a deck permit, show:

• deck location;
• deck length and width;
• deck height where required;
• stairs and landing location;
• distance to property lines;
• distance to the existing house;
• distance to sheds, garages, pools, or other structures;
• privacy screens or guards where relevant;
• existing patios, walkways, and hard surfaces;
• grading or drainage direction where needed.

City of Toronto has a specific permit guide for decks and porches, and Edmonton has separate guidance for uncovered deck permits. [6] [7]

Deck drawings may also need construction details, guard details, stairs, framing information, elevations, or structural information. The site plan only shows where the deck sits on the property.

Shed Permit Site Plan Checklist

A shed site plan should show the shed size, backyard location, setbacks, access, and relationship to other structures. This is important because sheds are often placed close to rear or side lot lines.

For a shed permit, show: