Draw your own site plan
A site plan is a drawing produced for a new build or a change to an existing building. It shows the building in relation to other buildings and the property boundaries.
Create a site plan right here on the website in a few steps #
Drawblueprint is a simple tool for anyone who needs to produce a simple building document, such as a site plan.
- Upload map data — Upload a PDF or PNG to use as a base.
- Fill in the details — The drawing details you enter appear on the drawing in a correct title block.
- Draw what you need — Draw using the tool.
- Export a finished drawing — Download the drawing as a PDF, ready to send off.
What is a site plan, really? #
A site plan looks like a map showing your plot and its surroundings. The change you are applying for is drawn onto it. It is your local permit authority that approves your planned change. If the drawing is done correctly, the review will go faster and your chances of approval increase.
A site plan should include the building that is new or being changed, other buildings, the property boundaries, and the distance to the property boundary marked and dimensioned. It should also carry the relevant information in a title block, a scale indication, and a north arrow.
How do you create a site plan? #
To create a site plan yourself, use drawblueprint.com and make the site plan directly in your browser.
For the exact requirements that apply to a site plan where you live, check with your local building authority. Requirements vary between countries and municipalities — what has to be shown, which scale is accepted, and what kind of map base is required.
Hire a consultant or draw the site plan yourself #
You can either hire a consultant to produce a site plan, or you can make one yourself. A suitable consultant could be an architect or building engineer who has the right tools to produce a site plan. Many site plans are simple, though, and it can feel unnecessarily expensive to pay for just a few lines. That is why many people are interested in creating their own site plan.
Map data as a base for your drawing #
A site plan starts from a map base. For it to be correct, a screenshot of Google Maps or similar is not good enough — you need an official map of your property, showing the property boundaries accurately and at a known scale.
Where you get that map, and which type is required, differs from place to place. For larger projects such as a new build, many authorities require a surveyed map produced specifically for the project, which can be costly. For simpler projects, a basic property map is often enough, and it can frequently be ordered online. Ask your local building authority which map base they require before you start drawing.
Different ways to create a site plan yourself #
There are a few different strategies for creating a site plan yourself. You can use pen and paper, a professional CAD program, or Drawblueprint.com.
Pen and paper has the advantage that most people are familiar with the tools. You might think graph paper is preferable, but authorities often ask for plain white paper. So get a ruler, a mechanical pencil, an eraser, and good paper in A3 format, and then you are ready to start. You also need a map base to work from. Finally, mind the scale; you need to work out the correct scale for every line you draw. At a scale of 1:400, one cm on the paper corresponds to 400 cm in reality.
A professional CAD program has its advantages for professionals. For beginners there are plenty of courses available. After a couple of days of training, anyone comfortable with computers is ready to put together their first site plan.
Drawblueprint.com is a simple program that is easy to get started with. You can import your map data, draw what you need and fill in the right details.
Drawblueprint.com — draw simple building documents yourself #
With Drawblueprint, you can draw simple building permit documents yourself. Drawblueprint is a tool that's easier to use than CAD and more powerful than drawing programs that aren't adapted for building documents.
In Drawblueprint, you draw at the correct scale and get help using the right symbols and notations on your drawing.
To use Drawblueprint, go to https://app.drawblueprint.com/sign-up and follow the instructions. Drawblueprint is free to try.
