Site Plan

What is Site Plan?

A site plan is an aerial view drawing that documents how a building or group of buildings relates to its surrounding environment. This essential planning document shows property boundaries, building footprints, driveways, parking areas, walkways, landscaping, and utility connections within the context of the larger site.

Site plans are required for virtually all building permit applications and zoning approvals. They demonstrate compliance with setback requirements, lot coverage limits, parking ratios, and other land use regulations. The drawing establishes the building's orientation on the lot, which affects solar access, views, privacy, and the relationship to neighboring properties.

Beyond regulatory compliance, site plans communicate design intentions for the outdoor environment. They show the hierarchy of circulation paths, the location of outdoor gathering spaces, stormwater management features, and the preservation or removal of existing trees. Landscape architects use site plans as the basis for detailed planting plans and hardscape designs.

Site plans also document existing conditions and proposed changes to topography. Grading information shows how the site will drain, where retaining walls are needed, and how accessible routes will be achieved. Utility plans, often overlaid on site plans, show connections to water, sewer, electrical, and telecommunications infrastructure.