How to Draw a Site Plan for a Residential Building Permit in City of Oshawa
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a residential building permit in City of Oshawa, the site plan is the drawing that tells the reviewer where the work will sit on your property. City of Oshawa accepts a plan of survey or a site plan, and its building permit guidance says a hand-drawn likeness is acceptable when it clearly shows the property lines, driveway dimensions, and existing and proposed buildings.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of Oshawa, what to include for common homeowner projects, and when it is worth starting from a survey instead of a blank drawing.
What is a site plan?
Site plan definition
A site plan is a top-down drawing of your property. It shows the full lot, existing buildings and structures, proposed work, and the distances between the work and the property lines.
For a homeowner, a site plan for property explains what is already on the lot and what you want to build or change. A site plan for a residential building permit helps City of Oshawa review whether a deck, shed, garage, pool, hot tub, driveway-related item, or other exterior project fits on the property and has enough information for zoning and building review.
For small residential work, the drawing does not need to look like a professional architectural plan. It does need to be readable, dimensioned, and accurate enough for the City to understand the lot, the existing structures, the proposed work, setbacks, easements, rights-of-way, drainage, and septic details when those items apply.
Common site plan terminology
| Term | Plain-English meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Setbacks | The distances from an existing or proposed structure to the property lines. |  Setback example |
| Existing buildings and structures | Things already on the property, such as the house, shed, garage, deck, porch, driveway, pool, patio, fence, or other structure. |  Existing structures example |
| Proposed buildings and structures | New work you want approval for, such as a proposed shed, garage, deck, pool, hot tub, equipment pad, enclosure, or gate. |  Proposed structures example |
| Dimensions | Measurements written directly on the plan, including property dimensions, structure sizes, driveway dimensions, and setback distances. |  Site plan dimensions example |
| Lot lines or property lines | The legal edges of your property. City of Oshawa asks for property lines on site plans. |  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. |  Easement example |
| Right-of-way | A legal right for another person, utility, municipality, or public authority to pass over or use part of the property. |  Right-of-way 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 Oshawa project adds or changes something outside the house. City of Oshawa's residential guidance refers to site plans or surveys for sheds, garages, decks, pools, and hot tubs.
For a basic building permit, the site plan should show property lines, driveway dimensions, and existing and proposed buildings. For sheds, garages, and decks, City of Oshawa's guides ask for the most recent survey or site plan for the property, drawn to scale, with existing buildings and structures, proposed work, setbacks, and applicable easements, rights-of-way, or sewage system components.
For pools and hot tubs, the drawing is more detailed. City of Oshawa asks for a plan view sketch with pool and equipment details, landscaping, property lines, dimensions, drainage pattern, construction access, and the land within 0.6 m of the property line remaining undisturbed. The pool enclosure drawing should also show lot lines, buildings, the pool, enclosure, gates, dwelling access to the pool area, streets, and driveway location.
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Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of Oshawa
The exact City of Oshawa requirements depend on the project, but a strong site plan usually includes:
- The entire property with lot dimensions
- Property lines
- Street name and driveway location or driveway dimensions
- Existing house and existing buildings or structures
- Proposed building, structure, pool, hot tub, equipment pad, enclosure, or other work
- Dimensions of all existing buildings and structures that matter to the project
- Dimensions of the proposed work
- Setbacks from the proposed work to all property lines
- Setbacks to on-site sewage system components, easements, or rights-of-way when applicable
- Pool equipment, fencing, gates, door access, landscaping, drainage, construction access, and undisturbed property-line areas for pool and hot tub work when applicable
City of Oshawa puts responsibility on the owner to provide accurate site information for building permit applications, including dimensions, lot area, property line locations, easements, and rights-of-way. Start with the City's guide for your project type, then use the site plan to make those details visible.
Sheds and garages
For a shed or garage, City of Oshawa asks for a copy of the most recent survey or site plan showing the dimensions of all existing buildings and structures and their setbacks, drawn to scale. Plot the proposed garage or shed on the plan and show setback dimensions to all property lines.
The site plan should include the entire property with lot dimensions, the location and dimensions of the proposed building or structure, the location and dimensions of existing buildings and structures, and the setback from the proposed work to any on-site sewage system components or easements if they apply.
Site plan example for Shed/Garage in City of Oshawa
Decks
For a deck, City of Oshawa's deck guide asks for the most recent survey or site plan for the property. Show the dimensions of all existing buildings and structures, draw the plan to scale, plot the proposed deck, and add setback dimensions to all property lines.
Include the full lot, the existing house, existing decks, porches, sheds, garages, or other nearby structures, the proposed deck size and location, and any applicable easements, rights-of-way, or on-site sewage system setbacks.
Site plan example for Deck in City of Oshawa
Pools and hot tubs
For pools and hot tubs, prepare the plan view sketch and pool enclosure drawing with enough detail to show both the pool location and the enclosure layout.
The plan view sketch should indicate the proposed pool and equipment pad, proposed or existing landscaping, property lines, dimensions throughout, overland flow drainage pattern, proposed construction access, and the land within 0.6 m of the property line that will remain undisturbed.
For the pool enclosure drawing, show lot lines, buildings and their use, the proposed pool location, fencing and gate locations, door access from the dwelling to the pool area, the streets the lot faces, and the driveway location.
(Without Survey) How to draw a site plan by hand for City of Oshawa
City of Oshawa says a hand-drawn likeness is acceptable for a site plan when it clearly shows the required property and project information. Use a ruler, keep the drawing clean, and write dimensions directly on the plan. If your project guide asks for the plan to be drawn to scale, choose a simple scale before you start and keep it consistent.
1. Draw the footprint of your house
Start with the existing house. Draw the outline large enough that you have room for property lines, driveway information, setbacks, and labels around it.
Label it "existing house" and add the municipal address.
House footprint drawn by hand
2. Draw your property boundary
Draw the entire property and write the lot dimensions. Label each side as a property line.
If your lot shape is irregular, use your survey, closing documents, or other reliable property information instead of guessing. For sheds, garages, and decks, City of Oshawa expects accurate property line and setback information.
Property boundary drawn by hand
3. Draw the main street and driveway
Show the street along the front of the lot and write the street name. If the property is on a corner, show both streets.
Add the driveway and write the driveway dimensions where they matter to the permit. City of Oshawa's general site plan instructions mention driveway dimensions, so do not leave the driveway out when it helps orient the plan.
Main street drawn on hand site plan
4. Label the rear of your property
Label the rear yard or back of the property. This helps the reviewer understand side-yard and rear-yard setbacks for decks, sheds, garages, pools, hot tubs, and accessory structures.
Rear yard labeled on hand site plan
5. Draw existing and proposed structures
Add the existing buildings and structures on the property, including the house, sheds, garages, decks, porches, pools, driveways, and other structures that affect the project.
Draw the proposed work in a different line style or darker outline and label it clearly, such as "proposed deck," "proposed shed," "proposed garage," "proposed pool," or "proposed hot tub." For pools and hot tubs, add the equipment pad, enclosure, gates, door access, construction access, and landscaping notes that apply.
Existing and proposed structures drawn by hand
6. Measure setbacks, proposed, and existing structures
Write the size of the proposed work and the setbacks from the proposed work to all property lines. Add dimensions for existing buildings and structures when City of Oshawa's checklist asks for them or when they help explain the project area.
If an easement, right-of-way, on-site sewage system, drainage pattern, or property-line protection area affects the project, label it. For pool and hot tub work, show drainage direction and the land within 0.6 m of the property line that will remain undisturbed.
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 Oshawa
If you have a property survey, it is often the best base for an City of Oshawa site plan. City of Oshawa's shed, garage, and deck guides refer to the most recent survey or site plan for the property, and a survey can show legal property lines, existing buildings, easements, rights-of-way, and measurements more reliably than a rough sketch.
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 City of Oshawa. 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, driveway, setback measurements, easements, rights-of-way, existing buildings, existing structures, and any septic or drainage features that affect the project.
For a pool or hot tub, also add or trace the pool location, equipment pad, fencing and gates, access from the dwelling, landscaping, construction access, drainage direction, and the area within 0.6 m of the property line that will remain undisturbed.
Survey details traced by hand
3. Draw your proposed structures and add measurements and setbacks
Draw the proposed shed, garage, deck, pool, hot tub, equipment pad, enclosure, or related work on the survey copy. Label it as proposed and write the dimensions.
Add setbacks from the proposed work to all property lines. If the project is near an easement, right-of-way, sewage system component, existing structure, driveway, drainage feature, or pool enclosure element, add the distance or label needed to make the relationship clear.
Proposed structures drawn on traced survey
Site plan examples for permit for City of Oshawa
City of Oshawa provides local sample site plans for sheds, garages, and decks. Use the sample that matches your project type and copy the level of detail, not the sample property's measurements.
For sheds and garages, the example shows how to place the proposed structure on the lot and dimension it against the property lines and existing structures.
Site plan example for Shed/Garage in City of Oshawa
For decks, the example is useful for showing how the proposed deck relates to the house, lot lines, and other structures on the property.
Site plan example for Deck in City of Oshawa
For pools and hot tubs, your site plan should be more detailed than a simple accessory-structure sketch. Make sure the pool, pool equipment pad, enclosure, gates, doors leading to the pool area, driveway, streets, drainage pattern, construction access, landscaping, and property-line protection area are clear.
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of Oshawa
Most City of Oshawa site plan delays come from missing dimensions, unclear property lines, or leaving out information that the local guide specifically asks for.
Missing property lines or lot dimensions
Show the entire property and write the lot dimensions. For sheds, garages, and decks, City of Oshawa asks for the entire property with lot dimensions.
Missing existing buildings and structures
Do not draw only the proposed work. Add the existing house and existing buildings or structures, including sheds, garages, decks, porches, driveways, and other nearby features that affect the permit review.
Missing setbacks to all property lines
For sheds, garages, and decks, show setback dimensions from the proposed work to all property lines. If there are easements, rights-of-way, or sewage system components, add those setbacks when applicable.
Not drawing the plan to scale when the guide asks for it
City of Oshawa's shed, garage, and deck guidance refers to a survey or site plan drawn to scale. A hand-drawn plan can still be acceptable, but the measurements and proportions need to be clear enough for review.
Incomplete pool or hot tub information
For pools and hot tubs, do not stop at the pool outline. Add the pool equipment pad, fencing, gate locations, dwelling access, driveway, streets, landscaping, drainage pattern, construction access, and the undisturbed 0.6 m area near property lines where applicable.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Oshawa?
Yes. 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 Oshawa can still require drawings that are accurate, dimensioned, drawn to scale when required, and complete enough for permit review.
What if City of Oshawa asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?
For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "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 Oshawa?
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 City of Oshawa.
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 for property lines and existing conditions. Update the site plan so it shows current buildings, decks, sheds, garages, driveways, pools, fences, easements, rights-of-way, septic components, and the proposed work.
Can I use a hand-drawn site plan in City of Oshawa?
Yes, City of Oshawa says a hand-drawn likeness is acceptable for a site plan. Make it readable, dimensioned, and project-specific. For sheds, garages, and decks, keep the drawing to scale and include the full property, existing structures, proposed work, and setbacks.
What if City of Oshawa rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing item by item. Common fixes include adding missing lot dimensions, driveway dimensions, existing structures, proposed work dimensions, setbacks to all property lines, easements, rights-of-way, sewage system information, pool enclosure details, or drainage information.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when property line accuracy matters, when the project is close to a lot line, easement, right-of-way, or septic component, or when the permit reviewer asks for more reliable property information. You may need professional help for engineered, structural, complex, or non-standard work.
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 Oshawa.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Oshawa. Get started