Will SitePlanned create a permit-ready plan?

No. It's the early read that tells you whether to bring in a surveyor or engineer.

Do I need a survey for a building permit?

Many projects do, but the required survey type and exceptions are local questions. Confirm them with the reviewing agency.

Can an owner draw the site plan?

Some agencies allow it for limited projects; others regulate who may prepare or certify the drawing. Ask before investing in the submittal.

Why did the building move after survey?

Mapped parcel geometry and survey geometry can differ in position, shape and dimensions. Refit the concept to the authoritative base rather than forcing the old coordinates.

Site Plan for a Building Permit: From Feasibility to Submittal

Understand how a preliminary residential site plan progresses toward a building-permit submittal, including verification, professional scope, and agency review.

Begin with the agency's current checklist

Identify every authority involved: planning or zoning, building, public works, utilities, fire, floodplain and any design-review body. Download the current forms and checklists, then confirm whether a pre-application meeting is recommended. Requirements from another city or an earlier project are not a dependable substitute.

Replace preliminary sources deliberately

Compare the concept with the boundary, topographic, title and zoning information required for the submittal. Update the parcel, easements, right-of-way, setbacks and elevations while preserving a record of the prior assumptions. A changed base can move the building even when its coordinates appear unchanged.

Coordinate architecture and site geometry

The footprint, entry, garage, roof drainage, finished-floor elevations, retaining conditions and exterior equipment must agree with the architectural drawings. Changes to a floor plan or elevation can affect coverage, height, setbacks, driveway alignment and grading. Establish a revision exchange rather than treating the site sheet as a final background.