How to create a site plan for a building permit #
In this article we go through, step by step, how a site plan comes together using the online tool Drawblueprint.com.
Drawblueprint is a tool that lets you draw simple building documents directly in your browser. It is easier to use than CAD and more capable than drawing tools that are not made for building documents.
What is a site plan #
A site plan is a drawing, based on a map, that shows the work you want to carry out seen from above. It is one of the documents that is usually part of a building permit application, but it also appears in other contexts, such as simpler notifications to your local authority.
Site plans can look different from one another. Many projects need a site plan, and what has to be included depends on the type of project. Your local authority regulates what may and may not be built, so it is the authority that decides what it wants to see on the site plan.
It is important to understand the rules that apply where you live. Keep a good dialogue with your local building officer and pay attention to their comments. Having correct and complete documents from the start makes your project run more smoothly and avoids the requests for corrections, and the delays that follow.
What you need #
To create our site plan we need the following:
- A base map from your local authority
- An account on Drawblueprint.com
A base map from your local authority #
The site plan is built on top of an official base map. A screenshot from Google Maps is not enough; such maps are not intended for building documents. Your local authority normally provides maps for building projects, and often you can order or download a suitable map through its website or e-service.
What we want is a printed map that shows the property boundaries, is drawn to a known scale, and where that scale is stated on the map. A3 in landscape orientation at scale 1:400 is a common choice for site plans.
Import the base map into Drawblueprint #
Create an account on https://app.drawblueprint.com/sign-up and press the New drawing button.
Fill in:
- The drawing's name
- The drawing type — Site plan
- The drawing's scale — choose the same scale as the base map, for example 1:400
- The drawing's format — choose the same format as the base map, for example landscape A3
It is important to choose the same format and scale as the base map. Otherwise the scale and measurements will not match.
To import the base map, open settings & base map in the top left, browse for the exported map file on your computer, and select it. You now have a base map imported, with a matching scale, ready to draw on.
Draw the site plan #
Now we draw the building and add all the details required for a correct site plan.
Use the rectangle tool to draw the outline of the building, then select it and type in the exact measurements. Rotate and move the rectangle into position on the property.
For the building in a site plan, measurements should be drawn that describe the building's position on the property. Use the dimension line tool, starting at right angles (90°) from the property boundary and ending at a corner of the building. Add the dimension lines your local authority asks for, typically to two boundaries and to the main house.
Finally, use the text tool to label the building, its height and its total area.
Fill in the drawing details #
In the drawing's title block, the information box in the bottom right, fill in the information about the drawing, such as project name, drawing number, scale and date.
Export the drawing #
Export the drawing by clicking the Export to PDF button in the top right. The drawing is then downloaded as a PDF, ready to submit to your local authority.
