Site Plan Example for Canadian Building Permits

If you are applying for a building permit in Canada, a clear site plan can make the review process much easier. A site plan shows the property from above and explains how the proposed work fits on the lot. It helps municipal reviewers check property lines, setbacks, existing buildings, proposed work, driveway access, easements, lot coverage, landscaping, and other important site details.

This guide walks through a practical site plan example for Canadian building permits. The goal is to show what a good permit site plan usually includes, why each item matters, and how homeowners can avoid common mistakes that lead to correction requests.

siteplans.ca prepares professional site plans for homeowners, builders, designers, and property professionals across Canada. Whether you need a plan for an addition, deck, shed, garage, pool, porch, carport, driveway change, or basement entrance, a clean site plan can help reviewers understand the project faster.

What This Site Plan Example Shows

The image above shows a sample residential site plan for a Canadian building permit. It includes the main details municipal reviewers often expect to see before they can approve or continue reviewing an application.

The example shows:

• property lines and lot dimensions;
• municipal address and basic site information;
• existing house footprint;
• proposed addition footprint;
• existing deck;
• driveway and hard surface area;
• front, side, and rear yard setback dimensions;
• landscaping and green space;
• north arrow;
• legend;
• site notes;
• typical permit uses;
• homeowner checklist items.

This is the type of plan that helps a reviewer answer the basic question: does the proposed work fit on the property, and is there enough information to check the permit requirements?

What Is a Site Plan for a Building Permit?

A site plan is a drawing of your property from above. It shows the lot boundaries, existing structures, proposed work, setbacks, access, and other site features that matter for permit review.

A site plan may be needed for many residential permit projects, including:

• home additions;
• new houses;
• detached garages;
• sheds and accessory buildings;
• decks and porches;
• pools and hot tubs;
• carports;
• driveway widening;
• basement entrances;
• secondary suites or garden suites;
• retaining walls;
• major exterior renovations.

The site plan does not replace every permit drawing. Many projects also need floor plans, elevations, structural drawings, sections, grading plans, or engineering. However, the site plan is often the drawing that explains the property layout first.

Why Municipal Reviewers Need a Site Plan

Municipal reviewers use the site plan to understand the relationship between the proposed work and the property. A project may look simple, but the reviewer still needs to know where it sits on the lot.

A site plan helps reviewers check:

• whether the project is inside the property lines;
• whether the proposed work meets setback rules;
• whether the project affects an easement or right-of-way;
• whether existing structures are shown correctly;
• whether the driveway or access is affected;
• whether lot coverage or landscaped area needs to be reviewed;
• whether grading or drainage information is needed;
• whether the plan matches the rest of the permit drawings.

City of Toronto’s residential permit guidance 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 and coverage. [1]

City of Edmonton says a site plan for an addition must show the entire existing property and include a north arrow, property address, streets and avenues, property-line dimensions, proposed and existing buildings and structures, setbacks, and applicable caveats, covenants, and easements. [2]

Key Part 1: Property Lines and Lot Dimensions

Property lines are the foundation of the site plan. They show the legal outline of the lot and help reviewers measure setbacks, lot coverage, access, and the location of proposed work.

A good site plan example should show:

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

In the example image, the property line is shown as a red dashed boundary around the lot. The lot dimensions are labelled along the edges of the property. This makes the plan easy to understand at a glance.

If the boundary location is uncertain, or if the proposed work is close to a lot line, a current survey or Real Property Report may be required. A permit site plan can be prepared from available property information, but it is not the same as a legal survey when exact boundary confirmation is needed.

Key Part 2: Existing Buildings and Structures

A site plan should show what already exists on the property. This helps the reviewer understand the current layout before looking at the proposed work.

Existing structures may include:

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

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. [3]

In the example image, the existing house is labelled clearly. The deck and driveway are also shown. This matters because a reviewer may need to understand how the proposed addition affects the existing site layout.

Key Part 3: Proposed Work

The proposed work should be the easiest part of the plan to identify. A reviewer should never have to guess what is new.

A strong site plan example should show the proposed work with:

• a clear label;
• a visible outline or hatch;
• length and width dimensions;
• location on the lot;
• setbacks to nearby property lines;
• distance to existing structures where relevant;
• notes explaining the work where needed.

In the image, the proposed addition is shown in a different colour and labelled as “Proposed Addition.” It also includes dimensions. That makes the new work easy to separate from the existing house.

City of Calgary’s drawing standards say plans should include relevant existing structures and spaces plus all new construction, and that labels and dimensions should be included for buildings and spaces. [4]

Key Part 4: Setbacks

Setbacks are one of the most important parts of a permit site plan. A setback is the distance between a building or structure and the property line.

A site plan may need to show:

• front yard setback;
• rear yard setback;
• interior side yard setback;
• exterior side yard setback for corner lots;
• distance from proposed work to the existing house;
• distance from proposed work to another structure;
• distance from proposed work to an easement or right-of-way.

The example image shows a rear yard setback, front yard setback, and interior side yard setbacks. These labels help the reviewer check whether the proposed addition and existing structures meet the applicable zoning requirements.

Missing setbacks are one of the easiest ways to slow down a permit application. Even if the project is allowed, the reviewer may still need the setback dimensions shown clearly before moving forward.

Key Part 5: Driveway and Access

Driveway and access details are important when a project affects parking, vehicle movement, garage access, carport access, driveway width, or hard surface coverage.

A site plan may show:

• existing driveway location;
• driveway width;
• garage or carport access;
• vehicle parking area;
• walkway to the house;
• lane or alley access where applicable;
• curb cut or driveway apron where relevant.

In the example image, the driveway