How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in City of Richmond Hill

If you are applying for a building permit in City of Richmond Hill, the site plan should make the proposed work easy to locate on the property. City of Richmond Hill's residential checklists refer to a current property site plan or survey for projects such as decks, finished basements, and basement walkouts, and additions or alterations need property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey.

This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a building permit in City of Richmond Hill, what to show for common homeowner projects, and how to use a survey or current property site plan as the base for a clear permit drawing.

What is a site plan?

Site plan definition

A site plan is a scaled or clearly dimensioned drawing of your property from above. It shows the property lines, existing buildings, proposed work, dimensions, and setbacks from the proposed work to the property lines or nearby structures.

For a homeowner, a site plan for property shows where the work will happen. A site plan for a building permit helps City of Richmond Hill review the proposed deck, new door or window, basement walkout, garage, carport, shed, addition, or alteration against the property lines, lot area, nearby structures, and required setbacks.

Because City of Richmond Hill's residential checklists often ask for a current property site plan or survey, treat the legal property boundary as the most important part of the drawing. A planning sketch can help you think through the layout, but the permit-ready version should be tied to the survey or current site plan when the checklist asks for one.

Common site plan terminology

Do you need a site plan?

You usually need a site plan when your City of Richmond Hill building permit application changes the outside location, footprint, or openings of a building or structure. The local residential checklists mention site plan or survey requirements for decks, finished basements, basement walkouts, garages, carports, sheds, residential additions, and residential alterations.

For a deck, City of Richmond Hill asks for a current property site plan or survey showing the proposed deck and proposed setbacks to the side and rear property lines. For finished basements and basement walkouts, the site plan or survey should show the new door or window location, the house outline, and setbacks from the new door or foundation to the property lines.

For garages, carports, and sheds, the site plan should show the proposed structure and setbacks from that structure to the property lines and all other structures. For additions and alterations, the site plan needs more complete property information, including property lines, lot area referenced to a current survey, proposed addition setbacks, distances to other existing or proposed buildings, overall building dimensions, and a site data matrix.

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Site plan requirements for building permits in City of Richmond Hill

The exact City of Richmond Hill site plan requirements depend on the permit type, but a permit-ready drawing may need to include:

• Property lines
• Lot area when required for additions or alterations
• Existing house outline
• Existing and proposed buildings or structures
• Proposed deck, door, window, foundation, garage, carport, shed, addition, or alteration
• Dimensions of the proposed work
• Overall building width, height, and length when required
• Setbacks from the proposed work to the relevant property lines
• Distances between the proposed work and other existing or proposed buildings
• A site data matrix for additions and alterations
• Street name, driveway, easements, rights-of-way, grading, drainage, utilities, or other site features if they affect the project

Use City of Richmond Hill's checklist for your exact permit type first. Then make the site plan answer the basic review questions: where the work is, how large it is, how far it is from the property lines, and what existing structures are nearby.

Decks

For a deck, start from the current property site plan or survey. Draw the proposed deck in the correct location and label it as proposed. Add the deck dimensions and the proposed setbacks from the deck to the side and rear property lines.

If the deck attaches to the house, show the house wall it connects to. If stairs, landings, nearby sheds, fences, easements, or other structures affect the layout, include them so the reviewer can understand the full project area.

Finished basements and basement walkouts

For a finished basement with new exterior openings, or for a basement walkout, City of Richmond Hill asks for a current property site plan or survey showing the new door and window location. The site plan or survey must also show the house outline and the setbacks from the new door or foundation to the property lines.

Make the opening location obvious. Label each proposed door, window, foundation change, stairwell, or walkout area, then add the nearby property-line setbacks. If the walkout changes grading, drainage, or the relationship to nearby structures, include that context on the drawing or supporting drawings.

Garages, carports, and sheds

For a garage, carport, or shed, show the proposed structure and the proposed setbacks from that structure to the property lines and all other structures. Do not draw the accessory structure by itself on a blank page. The reviewer needs to see how it relates to the house, side and rear lot lines, and any other nearby buildings.

Write the proposed width and length on the drawing. If the structure is close to a fence, easement, driveway, another shed, or the main dwelling, add the distance so City of Richmond Hill does not have to estimate it.

Residential additions and alterations

For additions and alterations, the site plan is more detailed. Show the property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey, all proposed addition setbacks to the property lines, and the distance to other existing or proposed buildings.

Also show the overall dimensions of all buildings, including width, height, and length where required. Include a site data matrix with the lot and setback information City of Richmond Hill needs to compare the proposed design against the zoning requirements.

(With Survey) How to draw a site plan using a survey for City of Richmond Hill

For the City of Richmond Hill project types above, a survey or current property site plan is the best base for the final permit drawing. It gives you a reliable property outline, house location, and starting point for measuring setbacks.

If you do not have a survey, check your closing documents, ask your lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company, or submit a Routine Disclosure of Records request to City of Richmond Hill. You can also read our guide for getting a property survey in Ontario before paying for a new one.

1. Print your survey, and get an extra blank piece of paper

Print the survey at a readable size. If possible, keep the scale intact. Get a blank sheet of paper, tracing paper, or a transparent digital layer if you are working on a tablet.

Do not mark up your only original copy. Work on a copy so you can start over if needed.

Example property survey to use as the base drawing

Blank paper, ruler, and pen for drawing over a survey

2. Place the paper over, and trace important details

Trace the property boundary, street, north arrow, existing house outline, existing accessory buildings, driveway, and any surveyed features that may affect the permit review. Include easements, rights-of-way, drainage features, or utilities if they are shown and relevant to the proposed work.

For City of Richmond Hill additions and alterations, keep the property lines and lot area traceable to the current survey. For finished basements and walkouts, make sure the existing house outline is clear because the new door, window, or foundation location will be measured against the property lines.

Survey details traced by hand

3. Draw your proposed work and add measurements

Draw the proposed deck, new door, window, foundation change, walkout, garage, carport, shed, addition, or alteration on the survey copy or traced plan. Label each proposed item clearly.

Add the dimensions City of Richmond Hill needs to review the project. For decks, include setbacks to the side and rear property lines. For garages, carports, and sheds, include setbacks to property lines and all other structures. For additions and alterations, include proposed addition setbacks, distances to other buildings, and overall building dimensions.

Proposed structures drawn on traced survey

4. Add the project-specific City of Richmond Hill details

Before submitting, add the notes and tables that match your checklist:

• For decks, show the current property site plan or survey base, proposed deck, and side and rear yard setbacks.
• For finished basements or basement walkouts, show each new door or window location, the house outline, and setbacks from the new door or foundation to the property lines.
• For garages, carports, and sheds, show setbacks to the property lines and all other structures.
• For residential additions and alterations, include property lines, lot area, proposed addition setbacks, distances to existing or proposed buildings, overall building dimensions, and the site data matrix.

Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Richmond Hill. Get started

Site plan examples for permit for City of Richmond Hill

A good City of Richmond Hill site plan example is survey-based, labelled, and specific to the permit type. It should show the property outline, the existing house, nearby structures, the proposed work, dimensions, and the setbacks City of Richmond Hill asks for on the relevant checklist.

For a deck, the example should focus on the proposed deck and side and rear property-line setbacks. For a finished basement or walkout, it should make the new door, window, foundation, house outline, and property-line setbacks easy to find. For a garage, carport, or shed, it should show the proposed accessory structure, property-line setbacks, and distances to all other structures.

For an addition or alteration, the example should be more complete: property lines and lot area referenced to the current survey, proposed addition setbacks, distances to existing or proposed buildings, overall dimensions for all buildings, and the site data matrix.

Common site plan mistakes that delay your building permit in City of Richmond Hill

Most site plan delays happen when the drawing does not answer the reviewer's basic location questions. Before submitting, compare the site plan against the City of Richmond Hill checklist for your project type.

Using a rough property outline when a current site plan or survey is expected

For decks, finished basements, basement walkouts, additions, and alterations, City of Richmond Hill's checklist language points to a current property site plan or survey. Use that as the base for the final drawing instead of relying on an online map or approximate lot shape.

Missing setbacks to the correct property lines

Add the setbacks City of Richmond Hill asks for. Decks need proposed setbacks to the side and rear property lines. Finished basements and walkouts need setbacks from the new door or foundation to the property lines. Garages, carports, and sheds need setbacks to the property lines and all other structures.

Leaving out nearby structures

For accessory structures, do not show only the proposed garage, carport, or shed. Add the house and other structures near the work so the distance to all other structures is clear.

Missing addition and alteration site data

For additions and alterations, the site plan should carry more than a simple footprint. Include property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey, proposed setbacks, distances to other buildings, overall building dimensions, and the site data matrix.

Not matching the site plan to the rest of the permit package

The site plan, application form, floor plans, elevations, and construction drawings should describe the same project. If the deck size, shed dimensions, door location, addition footprint, or setback values differ between drawings, City of Richmond Hill may ask for revisions.

Frequently asked questions about site plans

Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Richmond Hill?

Yes. In Ontario, homeowners can generally prepare drawings for a house they own because the Ontario Building Code exempts design work for "a house owned by the person" from the usual designer qualification requirements under Division C, Article 3.2.5.1.(3)(b)(i). City of Richmond Hill can still require complete drawings, survey-based site information, zoning data, or professional input for work that needs it.

What if City of Richmond Hill asks me to fill out a Schedule 1: Designer Information form?

If you are using the Ontario homeowner exemption, the design activity is usually House. In the description, write the actual project, such as "deck," "basement walkout," "shed," "garage," "addition," or "alteration."

Under the designer declaration, choose the option stating that the design work is exempt from registration and qualification requirements of the Building Code. For the basis of exemption, enter Homeowner.

Where can I get a legal property survey in City of Richmond Hill?

Start with your closing package, then ask your lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. If you still cannot find one, submit a Routine Disclosure of Records request to City of Richmond Hill. The city uses that records request process for property records that may include survey information when available.

Read our Ontario ultimate guide for getting a property survey before paying for a new survey.

Does my survey need to be recent?

City of Richmond Hill's residential checklists use wording such as "current property Site plan or survey" and, for additions or alterations, property lines and lot area referenced to a current survey. If your survey is older, compare it against the property as it exists today, add current structures and proposed work, and confirm with City of Richmond Hill if you are unsure whether it is acceptable for your permit type.

Can I use Google Maps for my City of Richmond Hill site plan?

Use online maps only for private planning or a rough layout. For the City of Richmond Hill permit types covered here, prepare the final submission from a current property site plan or survey when the checklist asks for one. Google Maps does not provide legal property lines, so it should not replace the survey-based drawing.

What if City of Richmond Hill rejects my site plan?

Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one directly. Common fixes include adding the current site plan or survey base, missing property-line setbacks, distance to other structures, overall building dimensions, lot area, site data matrix, or clearer labels for the proposed work.

How can I verify the site plan is correct?

Compare the drawing against the City of Richmond Hill residential checklist for your project type before submitting. Make sure the site plan shows the property lines, existing house, proposed work, dimensions, setbacks, and any project-specific items required for decks, finished basements, walkouts, garages, carports, sheds, additions, or alterations.

Conclusion

A good City of Richmond Hill site plan starts with reliable property information and then adds the proposed work clearly. Use the current property site plan or survey when the checklist asks for it, label the existing and proposed structures, write the dimensions and setbacks directly on the drawing, and include the site data needed for your specific building permit.

Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Richmond Hill. Get started