How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in Town of Newmarket

If you are applying for a building permit in Town of Newmarket, the site plan should make the location of the proposed work clear before a reviewer gets to the construction drawings. Town of Newmarket's local permit guidance refers to site plans or siting plans for common homeowner projects such as swimming pools, driveway widening and curb cuts, signs, decks, sheds, detached garages, gazebos, and pavilions.

This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a building permit in Town of Newmarket, what details to show for the local project types, and when to use a survey instead of a simple hand-drawn plan.

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 lot lines, existing buildings, proposed work, and the distances between those items and the property lines.

For a homeowner, a site plan for property shows what is already on the lot and what you want to add or change. A site plan for a building permit helps Town of Newmarket review the proposed deck, pool, driveway widening, sign, shed, garage, gazebo, pavilion, or other exterior work against the property lines, buildings, easements, nearby fixtures, and required setbacks.

Town of Newmarket uses a few related terms. Pool guidance calls for a property site plan. Deck guidance asks for a drawing of the complete property and its boundaries. Accessory structure guidance uses the term siting plan. Treat each one as a property drawing that locates the work clearly enough for zoning and permit review.

Common site plan terminology

Do you need a site plan?

You usually need a site plan when the proposed work has a fixed location on the property. In Town of Newmarket, local guidance specifically mentions property site plans, surveys, site plans, drawings, or siting plans for swimming pool enclosures, driveway widening and curb cuts, signs, decks, and residential accessory structures.

For a swimming pool enclosure, Town of Newmarket asks for a property site plan showing the proposed pool and equipment in relation to property lines, buildings, and easements. The Town notes that these plans may be hand drawn.

For driveway widening and curb cuts, Town of Newmarket tells applicants to prepare a drawing using a copy of the property survey. The survey or drawing needs to show existing and proposed driveway widths, the width between sidewalk and curb, property lines, and the location and distance in metres from the proposed driveway and property lines to nearby trees, utilities, streetlights, hydro poles, or other permanent fixtures.

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Site plan requirements for building permits in Town of Newmarket

The exact Town of Newmarket site plan requirements depend on the project type, but a permit-ready drawing usually needs to show:

• Property lines and lot dimensions in metric units when required
• Existing house and major structures
• Street name, driveway, and curb or sidewalk context when relevant
• Proposed work clearly labelled
• Dimensions of the proposed work
• Setbacks from the proposed work to the property lines
• Nearby buildings, structures, trees, utilities, streetlights, hydro poles, or other permanent fixtures when they affect the project
• Easements when they apply, especially for pool projects
• North arrow and scale when Town of Newmarket asks for them

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

Swimming pool enclosures

For a swimming pool enclosure, show the proposed location of the swimming pool and pool equipment in relation to property lines, buildings, and easements. Town of Newmarket's pool guidance says these plans may be hand drawn, but the drawing still needs to be clear enough to review.

If the pool is close to the house, deck, shed, garage, fence, easement, or another structure, include those items and add the relevant distances. Label the pool and equipment as proposed so they are not confused with existing features.

Driveway widening and curb cuts

For driveway widening or a curb cut, start with a copy of your property survey. Show the existing driveway width, proposed driveway width, width between sidewalk and curb, and property lines.

Also show the location and distance, in metres, from the proposed driveway and property lines to nearby trees, utilities, streetlights, hydro poles, or other permanent fixtures. This project type needs more street-front detail than a typical backyard deck or shed plan.

Signs

For a sign permit, prepare the survey or site plan to scale and use metric measurements. Show the proposed sign location, total frontage of the property, all boundary lines, existing signage, and all entrances and exits from buildings.

The reviewer should be able to understand both where the new sign sits on the property and how it relates to the building entrances, exits, boundaries, and existing signs.

Decks

For a deck, Town of Newmarket's homeowner deck guide asks for a drawing showing the complete property and its boundaries, plus the location of all structures in relation to those boundaries. Include the scale, north arrow, lot lines and lot dimensions in metric units, existing and proposed deck construction, and setbacks to all lot lines measured perpendicular to the lot line and to the closest point of the structure.

Deck site plan example for Town of Newmarket

If the deck connects to the house, show the wall it attaches to. If stairs, landings, nearby accessory structures, fences, easements, or other site features affect the layout, include them as well.

Sheds, detached garages, gazebos, and pavilions

For residential accessory structures such as a gazebo, pavilion, garage, or shed, Town of Newmarket's zoning information sheets refer to a siting plan. Show the proposed accessory structure, the property lines, the existing house and nearby structures, and the setbacks from the proposed structure to the lot lines.

Add the proposed structure dimensions and label the project clearly. A blank rectangle without context is not enough; the siting plan should show how the structure fits on the whole property.

(Without Survey) How to draw a site plan by hand for Town of Newmarket

Town of Newmarket specifically allows hand-drawn property site plans for swimming pool enclosure applications. A hand drawing may also be useful as an early planning draft for other simple projects, but use the survey method below when Town of Newmarket asks for a survey, scale, metric lot dimensions, or survey-based driveway details.

Use a blank sheet of paper, a ruler, a pencil, and a dark pen. Keep the drawing simple, but make the labels and measurements easy to read.

1. Draw the footprint of your house

Start by drawing the outside shape of your house. It can be approximate for a hand-drawn pool plan, but it should be large enough to leave room for labels and measurements.

Label it "existing house" and add the property address.

House footprint drawn by hand

2. Draw your property boundary

Draw the property boundary around the house. If the lot is close to a rectangle, keep the outline simple. If the lot has an unusual shape, draw the general shape as clearly as you can.

Label each side as a property line. If the boundary is approximate, write "approximate property line" unless you are drawing from a survey.

Property boundary drawn by hand

3. Draw the main street along your property

Draw the street along the front of the property and write the street name. This helps the reviewer understand which side is the front yard and how the lot is oriented.

If the property is on a corner, draw both streets.

Main street drawn on hand site plan

4. Label the rear of your property

Label the rear yard or back of the property. The front is usually the side facing the street or driveway entrance. The rear is usually the backyard side.

This matters because setbacks can differ for front, rear, and side yards.

Rear yard labeled on hand site plan

5. Draw existing and proposed structures

Add existing structures that may affect the project, such as decks, sheds, garages, driveways, pools, fences, patios, and other hard surfaces.

Write "existing" beside each one. Draw the proposed work and label it clearly, such as "proposed pool," "proposed pool equipment," or "proposed deck."

Existing and proposed structures drawn by hand

6. Measure setbacks, proposed, and existing structures

Add the key measurements directly on the drawing. For a Town of Newmarket pool enclosure, show the proposed pool and equipment in relation to property lines, buildings, and easements. For a deck, show setbacks to all lot lines, measured perpendicular to the lot line and to the closest point of the structure.

If you are working on a driveway widening or curb cut, do not rely on a rough hand sketch as the final plan. Use a copy of the property survey and add the driveway widths, sidewalk-to-curb width, property lines, and distances to nearby trees, utilities, streetlights, hydro poles, and permanent fixtures.

Measurements added to hand-drawn site plan

(With Survey) How to draw a site plan using a survey for Town of Newmarket

If you have a property survey, use it as the base for your Town of Newmarket site plan. It is especially important for driveway widening and curb cuts, and it is useful for signs, decks, sheds, detached garages, gazebos, pavilions, and any project close to a property line or easement.

If you do not have a survey, look through your closing documents, ask your lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company, or submit a Freedom of Information request to Town of Newmarket. 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, lot dimensions, north arrow, street, existing house, driveway, and existing structures near the project. Include easements, rights-of-way, utilities, drainage features, or other surveyed items if they affect the work.

For a driveway widening or curb cut, keep the front-yard and street context clear because Town of Newmarket asks for driveway widths, sidewalk-to-curb width, and distances to nearby trees, utilities, streetlights, hydro poles, or permanent fixtures.

Survey details traced by hand

3. Draw your proposed structures and add measurements and setbacks

Draw the proposed pool, pool equipment, driveway widening, sign, deck, shed, detached garage, gazebo, pavilion, or other work on the survey copy or traced plan. Label each item as proposed.

Add the dimensions Town of Newmarket needs to review the project. For decks, include lot dimensions in metric units and setbacks to all lot lines. For signs, include the proposed sign location, property frontage, boundary lines, existing signage, and building entrances and exits. For accessory structures, show the proposed structure size and its setbacks to property lines and nearby structures.

Proposed structures drawn on traced survey

4. Add the project-specific Town of Newmarket details

Before submitting, add the notes that match your permit type:

• For swimming pool enclosures, show the proposed pool and equipment in relation to property lines, buildings, and easements.
• For driveway widening and curb cuts, show existing and proposed driveway widths, width between sidewalk and curb, property lines, and metric distances to nearby trees, utilities, streetlights, hydro poles, or permanent fixtures.
• For signs, show a scaled metric plan with the proposed sign location, total frontage, boundary lines, existing signage, and building entrances and exits.
• For decks, show scale, north arrow, lot lines, metric lot dimensions, existing and proposed deck construction, and setbacks to all lot lines.
• For sheds, detached garages, gazebos, and pavilions, show a siting plan with the proposed structure, property lines, existing structures, dimensions, and setbacks.

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Site plan examples for permit for Town of Newmarket

Town of Newmarket's deck guide includes a sample deck site plan. Use it as a format reference for the level of detail, not as a source of measurements for your property.

Deck site plan example for Town of Newmarket

A strong Town of Newmarket site plan example shows the whole property, the existing house and structures, the proposed work, metric dimensions, and setbacks. For driveway widening, it also shows the driveway and street-front fixtures. For signs, it shows boundary lines, frontage, existing signs, and building entrances and exits. For pools, it shows the proposed pool and equipment in relation to property lines, buildings, and easements.

Common site plan mistakes that delay your building permit in Town of Newmarket

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 Town of Newmarket guide or form for your project type.

Missing the complete property layout

Do not draw only the proposed deck, pool, sign, driveway, or shed. Town of Newmarket deck guidance asks for the complete property and its boundaries, and the same full-property context helps with other exterior permit reviews.

Missing metric measurements

Town of Newmarket's local instructions call for metric measurements for several project types. Deck guidance asks for lot lines and lot dimensions in metric units. Driveway widening guidance asks for distances in metres. Sign permit guidance asks for measurements in metric.

Missing setbacks to all required lot lines

For decks, show setbacks to all lot lines, measured perpendicular to the lot line and to the closest point of the structure. For accessory structures, pools, signs, and driveway work, add the property-line distances that explain the proposed location.

Forgetting nearby fixtures for driveway widening

For a driveway widening or curb cut, show nearby trees, utilities, streetlights, hydro poles, and other permanent fixtures. Add the distance in metres from the proposed driveway and property lines to those items.

Leaving out easements or existing signs

Pool plans should show easements when they apply. Sign permit drawings should show existing signage and entrances and exits from buildings. These details may look secondary, but they are part of the local review.

Frequently asked questions about site plans

Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in Town of Newmarket?

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).

Town of Newmarket still needs drawings that are detailed enough for permit review. Complex, engineered, or non-prescriptive work may still require a qualified professional.

What if Town of Newmarket asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?

If you are using the Ontario homeowner exemption, the design activity is usually House. In the description, write the actual project, such as "deck," "pool enclosure," "shed," "detached garage," or "driveway widening."

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 Town of Newmarket?

Start with your closing package, then ask your lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. If you still cannot find one, submit a Freedom of Information request to Town of Newmarket. The Town's Freedom of Information and privacy process is the local route for requesting municipal records that may include property 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?

For many Ontario residential permits, the important question is whether the survey still reflects the property accurately enough to review the proposed work. If your survey is old, compare it against the property today and add current structures, proposed work, and any changed site features.

For driveway widening and curb cuts in Town of Newmarket, use the property survey as the base and add the current driveway widths, curb and sidewalk information, and nearby fixtures. If you are unsure whether an older survey is acceptable for your permit type, confirm with Town of Newmarket before submitting.

Can I use Google Maps for my Town of Newmarket site plan?

Use online maps only for private planning or a rough layout. Google Maps does not provide legal property lines, and Town of Newmarket's local guidance often asks for property boundaries, metric lot dimensions, scale, survey-based driveway information, or distances to specific fixtures.

For the final permit drawing, use a property survey when Town of Newmarket asks for one or when exact setbacks matter. A hand-drawn plan is most appropriate where Town of Newmarket allows it, such as the property site plan for a swimming pool enclosure.

What if Town of Newmarket rejects my site plan?

Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one directly. Common fixes include adding metric measurements, missing property-line setbacks, the complete property boundary, nearby structures, driveway fixture distances, easements, existing signage, entrances and exits, or clearer labels for the proposed work.

How can I verify the site plan is correct?

Compare your drawing against the Town of Newmarket permit guide for your project type before submitting. Make sure the site plan shows the property lines, existing house, proposed work, dimensions, setbacks, and the project-specific items required for pools, driveway widening and curb cuts, signs, decks, or accessory structures.

Conclusion

A good Town of Newmarket site plan starts with the property boundary and then makes the proposed work easy to review. Use a survey when the Town asks for one or when exact property-line information matters, keep measurements in metric where required, and add the project-specific details for your pool, driveway widening, sign, deck, shed, detached garage, gazebo, or pavilion.

Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in Town of Newmarket. Get started