How to Draw a Site Plan for a Residential Building Permit in City of Burlington
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a residential building permit in City of Burlington, the site plan is usually a scaled, dimensioned drawing that shows how the proposed work fits on your property. City of Burlington checklists refer to a site plan or property survey for accessory buildings, secondary dwelling units, decks, porches, hot tubs, swim spas, and inground pools.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of Burlington, what details to include for common projects, and how to use a property survey as the base for a permit-ready 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 and structures, proposed work, and the measurements between those items.
For a homeowner, the easiest way to think about it is this: 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 residential building permit helps City of Burlington check the proposed location, dimensions, setbacks, pool or hot tub details, easements, hydro wires, septic separation, tree protection, and nearby structures when those items apply.
City of Burlington checklists say drawings should be to scale, dimensioned, and provide enough information to describe the full extent of the proposed work. For pool and hot tub drawings, measurements must be metric.
Common site plan terminology
| Term | Plain-English meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Setbacks | The distances from a structure or proposed structure to the property lines. |  Setback example |
| Existing buildings and structures | Things already on the property, such as the house, garage, deck, shed, driveway, porch, pool, patio, hot tub, retaining wall, or fence. |  Existing structures example |
| Proposed buildings and structures | New items you want approval for, such as a proposed deck, porch, shed, detached garage, pool house, gazebo, hot tub, swim spa, or pool. |  Proposed structures example |
| Dimensions | Measurements written directly on the drawing, including the size of the proposed work and setbacks from property lines. |  Site plan dimensions example |
| Lot lines or property lines | The legal edges of your property. These are the lines reviewers use when checking setbacks. |  Property line example |
| Easement | A part of your property where another person, utility, municipality, or other party has a limited legal right to use or access the land for a specific purpose. |  Easement example |
| Lot grading | The shape and slope of the land that controls where water drains on the property. |  Lot grading example |
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your City of Burlington project adds or changes something outside the house or changes how the property is used. City of Burlington specifically refers to site plans for accessory buildings, additional or secondary dwelling units, decks, porches, hot tubs, swim spas, and inground pools.
For accessory buildings, decks, porches, and secondary dwelling units, City of Burlington asks for the site plan or property survey to show the location and dimensions of the proposed work in relation to existing buildings and the dimensions or setbacks from property lines.
For hot tubs under 8 square metres, the site plan should show a north arrow, metric scale, street name, property address, labelled property lines, metric measurements, hot tub size and shape, the dwelling, and accessory buildings or structures. For hot tubs or swim spas over 8 square metres and inground pools, the site plan requirements are more detailed.
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Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of Burlington
The exact City of Burlington requirements depend on the project, but a useful site plan usually includes:
- Property survey as the base when the checklist asks for one
- North arrow, metric scale, scale bar, street name, and property address when required
- Labelled property lines
- Location and dimensions of existing buildings and structures
- Location and dimensions of the proposed work
- Setbacks or dimensions from property lines
- Easements on the property when applicable
- Overhead hydro wires on or adjacent to the property when applicable
- Pool, hot tub, swim spa, equipment, fence, gate, and septic details when applicable
- Tree locations, tree inventory, tree protection zones, protective hoarding, and construction disturbance areas when required
City of Burlington notes a maximum digital paper size of 36 by 48 inches, or 914 mm by 1219 mm. Keep the drawing scaled, dimensioned, and readable inside that limit.
Accessory buildings
For sheds, detached garages, pool houses, gazebos, and similar accessory buildings, City of Burlington asks for the site plan or property survey to show the location and dimensions of the structure in relation to existing buildings, plus dimensions or setbacks from property lines.
Decks and porches
For decks and porches, show the deck or porch location and dimensions in relation to existing buildings. Add dimensions or setbacks from property lines.
Additional or secondary dwelling units
For additional or secondary dwelling units, show the location and dimensions of the dwelling units in relation to existing buildings and dimensions or setbacks from property lines.
Hot tubs under 8 square metres
For a hot tub under 8 square metres, provide a full site plan with a north arrow, metric scale, street name, property address, labelled property lines, metric measurements, the size and shape of the hot tub, and the dwelling and accessory structures on the property.
Also show either the hot tub with a lockable lid, or the fencing and gate requirements, including fence materials, fence height, and self-latching or self-closing gate details.
Hot tubs, swim spas, and inground pools
For hot tubs or swim spas over 8 square metres, or an inground pool, City of Burlington asks for a more detailed site plan. Include the standard drawing elements, zoning-related details, building-related details, and forestry-related details that apply.
Show the pool or swim spa size, shape, location, setbacks to property lines, height above grade for on-ground or above-ground pools, pool heater and filter location and setbacks, fence and gate details, septic system location and setback if applicable, easements, overhead hydro wires, tree locations, tree protection zones, and construction disturbance areas.
Pool site plan example in City of Burlington
(With Survey) How to draw a site plan using a survey for City of Burlington
For many City of Burlington residential permits, the property survey is the best base for the site plan. It gives you the property lines, existing building location, easements, and measurements needed to show setbacks accurately.
If you do not have a survey, check your closing documents, ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company, or submit a Building Services application for routine disclosure to the City of Burlington. 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, house footprint, north arrow, street, setback measurements, easements, existing structures, overhead hydro wires if shown, and any drainage, septic, tree, or utility details that affect the project.
For a pool, swim spa, or larger hot tub, also add tree locations, tree protection zones, construction access route, material storage areas, excavation limits, trenching or servicing locations, fill or grade changes, and pool equipment when those items apply.
Survey details traced by hand
3. Draw your proposed structures and add measurements and setbacks
Draw the proposed work on the traced survey or survey copy. Label it clearly as proposed and write the dimensions of the proposed work.
Add the setbacks from the proposed work to the property lines. For City of Burlington pool and hot tub drawings, use metric measurements. For pools and larger swim spas, add equipment setbacks, fence and gate details, septic separation if applicable, and tree-protection information.
Proposed structures drawn on traced survey
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Site plan examples for permit for City of Burlington
City of Burlington provides a detailed pool site plan example. Use it as the format guide for pool, swim spa, and larger hot tub projects, especially where tree and construction-disturbance details apply.
Pool site plan example in City of Burlington
For accessory buildings, decks, porches, and secondary dwelling units, use the same basic structure: property survey, labelled property lines, existing buildings, proposed work, dimensions, and setbacks from property lines.
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of Burlington
Most site plan delays come from missing scale, missing metric dimensions, missing survey information, or missing project-specific details.
Missing scale or metric measurements
City of Burlington asks for drawings to be to scale and dimensioned. For hot tub, swim spa, and pool drawings, all measurements must be metric. Add a metric scale or scale bar where required.
Missing setbacks
Show dimensions or setbacks from the proposed work to the property lines. For accessory buildings, decks, porches, and secondary dwelling units, this is one of the main items City of Burlington asks for.
Missing existing buildings and structures
Show the dwelling and accessory buildings or structures on the property. For pool and hot tub projects, include existing patios, decks, retaining walls, hard surfaces, and other structures when they affect the review.
Missing pool, hot tub, or forestry details
For pools, swim spas, and larger hot tubs, add easements, hydro wires, equipment, fence and gate details, septic separation if applicable, trees, tree inventory, tree protection zones, protective hoarding, root protection, and construction disturbance areas when they apply.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Burlington?
Yes. In Ontario, a homeowner 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 Burlington can still require scaled, dimensioned drawings and property survey information for permit review.
What if City of Burlington asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?
For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "porch," "shed," "secondary dwelling unit," "hot tub," or "pool."
Under the designer declaration, choose The design work is exempt from the registration and qualification requirements of the Building Code. For the basis of exemption, write Homeowner.
Where can I get a legal property survey in City of Burlington?
Start with your closing documents, then ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. If those do not work, submit a Building Services application for routine disclosure to the City of Burlington.
Read our Ontario ultimate guide for getting a property survey before paying for a new survey.
Does my survey need to be recent?
An older survey prepared by a licensed Ontario Land Surveyor can still be useful if it accurately shows the property boundaries and existing conditions. Update the site plan so it shows current buildings, decks, patios, pools, trees, hard surfaces, and proposed work.
Can I use Google Maps for my City of Burlington site plan?
Use Google Maps only as a planning reference. City of Burlington checklists emphasize scaled, dimensioned drawings, and several permit types refer to the property survey. For the final permit drawing, use a survey-based or properly scaled site plan that includes the checklist details.
What if City of Burlington rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one. Add missing scale information, metric measurements, setbacks, property survey details, tree information, pool equipment, fence and gate details, or existing structures as requested.
When do I need a professional drawing?
You may need professional help when the project is engineered, structurally complex, close to regulated areas, involves complex grading or tree protection, or when City of Burlington specifically requires it. For basic location and setback information, start with the property survey and the checklist for your project.
Conclusion
A good beginner site plan does not need to be complicated. It needs to show the property, the existing conditions, the proposed work, and the measurements that matter for your residential building permit in City of Burlington.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Burlington. Get started