What comes first, the house or the lot?

Either can come first, but the process must eventually test the complete house footprint against the actual lot and its controlling conditions.

How many placement options should I compare?

Compare enough to expose meaningful tradeoffs. Three to five distinct orientations are usually more useful than dozens of tiny variations.

Do I need contours on a flat lot?

You still need enough elevation information to understand drainage and street relationships; the appropriate detail depends on the site and decision.

Who completes the final site plan?

That depends on local law and scope. A surveyor, architect, civil engineer, designer or other qualified preparer may be required.

Residential Site Planning Process: From Lot to Buildable Concept

Follow the residential site planning process from parcel research and house footprint setup through setbacks, access, terrain, alternatives, and professional handoff.

1. Establish the parcel and project question

Confirm the address, assessor parcel number, jurisdiction and street relationships. State the actual question: whether a specific home fits, which model works best, where a driveway can connect, or whether an addition is plausible. A defined decision keeps research focused and makes missing information visible.

2. Assemble horizontal constraints

Collect available boundary geometry, setbacks, easements, rights-of-way, buffers, access restrictions and coverage rules. Identify front, side, rear and corner-side yards instead of applying one offset to every edge. Record whether each value came from an ordinance, plat, title document, agency conversation, user assumption or software default.

3. Build a truthful house model

Use the exterior ground footprint, not total living area. Confirm scale with long known dimensions and include garage, porches, patios, steps, projections and detached structures when they matter. Mark vehicle access and the intended front so rotation and mirroring preserve how the plan functions.