How to Draw a Site Plan for a Residential Building Permit in City of Guelph
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a residential building permit in City of Guelph, the site plan is the drawing that shows how the proposed work fits on your property. City of Guelph asks for a survey or site plan for projects such as decks, porches, residential additions, accessory buildings, pools, and hot tubs.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of Guelph, what details to include for common projects, and why survey-based measurements are especially important for pools and hot tubs.
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 width and depth, existing buildings or structures, proposed work, and distances from the proposed work to property lines.
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 Guelph review the proposed location, size, setbacks, hardscaping, pool fence and gate details, and accessory structures when those details apply.
For pools and hot tubs, City of Guelph says not to use an overhead photo of the property and not to use online GIS measurements where property lines may not be accurate. Refer to your survey for accurate property line locations.
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, or fence. |  Existing structures example |
| Proposed buildings and structures | New items you want approval for, such as a proposed deck, porch, addition, detached garage, carport, shed, gazebo, pool, or hot tub. |  Proposed structures example |
| Dimensions | Measurements written directly on the drawing, including the size of the proposed work and distances to nearby 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 project adds or changes something outside the house. City of Guelph specifically asks for a survey or site plan for decks and porches, residential additions, and accessory buildings such as detached garages, detached carports, sheds, and gazebos.
For pools and hot tubs, City of Guelph asks for a drawing of the entire lot showing the location, shape, and size of the proposed pool or hot tub. All measurements must be metric, and the final drawing must be a scanned PDF document rather than a photo or photo converted to PDF.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Guelph. Get started
Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of Guelph
The exact City of Guelph requirements depend on the project, but a useful site plan usually includes:
- Width and depth of the lot
- Location of the proposed deck, porch, addition, accessory building, pool, or hot tub
- Size of the proposed work
- Distance from the proposed work to property lines
- Existing buildings or structures on the property
- Size of existing accessory buildings when required
- Pool fence and gate locations, height, and fence type when applicable
- Hardscaping and distances to property lines when applicable
- Accessory structures sketched on the survey with dimensions and distances to property lines for pool and hot tub permits
City of Guelph requires drawings for additions and accessory buildings to be drawn to a recognizable scale. For additions, single line drawings will not be accepted. For accessory buildings, walls should be shown with double lines to indicate wall thickness, and partial floor plans or photos will not be accepted.
Decks and porches
For decks and porches, submit a survey or site plan showing the lot width and depth, the proposed deck or porch location, the deck or porch size, the distance from the deck or porch to property lines, and all existing buildings or structures on the property.
Residential additions
For a residential addition, submit a survey or site plan showing lot width and depth, the location of the proposed addition, setbacks to property lines, the size of the addition, and all existing buildings or structures on the property.
All drawings must be drawn to a recognized scale and dimensioned to the outside of exterior walls.
Accessory buildings
For a detached garage, detached carport, shed, gazebo, or other residential accessory building, submit a survey or site plan showing lot width and depth, the proposed accessory building location, all existing buildings or structures including the house, the proposed accessory building size, existing accessory building sizes if applicable, and distances to property lines.
Pools and hot tubs
For a pool or hot tub, submit a drawing of the entire lot showing the proposed pool or hot tub location, shape, and size. Use metric measurements. Do not use an overhead photo of the property, and do not rely on online GIS measurements for property lines.
Indicate pool fence and gate locations where applicable, including the fence height and type. Show hardscaping with distances to property lines. Show the distance from the edge of the pool or hot tub to all property lines. Sketch accessory structures such as decks, sheds, and garages on the survey with dimensions, whether existing or proposed, and distances to property lines.
(Without Survey) How to draw a site plan by hand for City of Guelph
For non-pool projects where City of Guelph allows a survey or site plan, a carefully scaled drawing can help if you do not have a survey. Keep it to a recognizable scale and add written dimensions. Do not use this method for pools or hot tubs, where City of Guelph tells homeowners to refer to a survey and not use overhead photos or online GIS measurements.
1. Draw the footprint of your house
Start by drawing the outside shape of your house. 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. Add the lot width and depth. If the boundary is approximate, write "approximate property line."
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. If the property is on a corner, show 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 so the drawing is easy to orient.
Rear yard labeled on hand site plan
5. Draw existing and proposed structures
Add all existing buildings or structures on the property. Then draw the proposed deck, porch, addition, detached garage, detached carport, shed, or gazebo.
Existing and proposed structures drawn by hand
6. Measure setbacks, proposed, and existing structures
Write the proposed work size and distances to property lines directly on the drawing. For accessory buildings, add the size of existing accessory buildings when applicable.
Measurements added to hand-drawn site plan
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(With Survey) How to draw a site plan using a survey for City of Guelph
If you have a property survey, use it as the base for your City of Guelph site plan. This is especially important for pools and hot tubs because City of Guelph tells homeowners to refer to the survey for accurate property line locations and not to use online GIS measurements.
If you do not have a survey, check your closing documents, ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company, or submit a Freedom of Information request to the City of Guelph. 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 width and depth, house footprint, north arrow, street, setback measurements, existing buildings, and accessory structures.
For a pool or hot tub, trace or add the entire lot, accessory structures, hardscaping, pool fence and gate locations, and anything needed to show distances from the pool or hot tub edge to every property line.
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.
For decks, porches, additions, and accessory buildings, add the size of the proposed work and distances to property lines. For pools and hot tubs, use metric measurements and show the location, shape, size, fence and gate details where applicable, hardscaping distances, accessory structures, and edge-to-property-line distances.
Proposed structures drawn on traced survey
Site plan examples for permit for City of Guelph
The best City of Guelph site plan example is the checklist for your exact project. For decks, porches, additions, and accessory buildings, focus on lot width and depth, proposed work location and size, distances to property lines, and existing buildings or structures.
For pools and hot tubs, the final drawing should cover the entire lot and use survey-based property line locations. Include metric dimensions, pool or hot tub shape and size, fence and gate details where applicable, hardscaping, accessory structures, and distances to all property lines.
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of Guelph
Most site plan delays come from missing scale, missing dimensions, or using the wrong base information.
Using an overhead photo for a pool or hot tub
City of Guelph says not to use an overhead photo of the property for pool and hot tub drawings. Use a survey-based drawing with metric measurements instead.
Missing lot width and depth
For decks, porches, additions, and accessory buildings, add the width and depth of the lot.
Missing setback measurements
Show the distance from the proposed deck, porch, addition, accessory building, pool, or hot tub to the property lines. For pools and hot tubs, show the distance from the edge to all property lines.
Missing existing structures
Show existing buildings or structures on the property. For pools and hot tubs, sketch accessory structures such as decks, sheds, and garages on the survey with dimensions and distances to property lines.
Submitting photos instead of drawings
For pools and hot tubs, City of Guelph requires scanned PDF drawings. Photos or photos converted to PDF will not work in the City's system.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Guelph?
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 Guelph can still require scaled, dimensioned drawings that meet the permit checklist.
What if City of Guelph asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?
For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "porch," "addition," "shed," "garage," "pool," or "hot tub."
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 Guelph?
Start with your closing documents, then ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. If those do not work, submit a Freedom of Information request to the City of Guelph.
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 property boundaries and existing conditions. Update your site plan so it shows current buildings, accessory structures, hardscaping, pools, hot tubs, fences, and proposed work.
Can I use Google Maps for my City of Guelph site plan?
Use Google Maps only as a planning reference. For pools and hot tubs, City of Guelph says not to use an overhead photo or online GIS measurements for property lines. Use your survey for accurate property line locations.
What if City of Guelph rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one. Add missing lot dimensions, scale, setbacks, existing structures, accessory building sizes, pool fence details, hardscaping distances, metric measurements, or survey-based property line information as requested.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when property line accuracy matters, especially for pools and hot tubs. You may need professional help when the project is structural, engineered, complex, or when City of Guelph specifically requires it.
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 Guelph.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Guelph. Get started