How to Draw a Site Plan for a Residential Building Permit in City of St. Catharines
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a residential building permit in City of St. Catharines, the site plan is the drawing that shows exactly where the proposed work sits on your lot. City of St. Catharines asks for a complete, detailed site plan for common homeowner projects such as accessory buildings, additions, decks, porches, and pool fence enclosures.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of St. Catharines, what details to include for the project types the City identifies, and how to use a property survey as the base for a clearer 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 lot, existing buildings and structures, proposed work, and the measurements between those items and the 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 St. Catharines review the proposed location, setbacks, lot dimensions, easements, street frontage, and existing structures before issuing the permit.
City of St. Catharines' residential guides repeatedly call for a complete detailed site plan with a north arrow, scale, street name, lot dimensions, setbacks, and easement information. Build those items into the first version of the drawing so the reviewer does not have to request basic site information later.
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, porch, shed, driveway, pool, patio, fence, or other structure. |  Existing structures example |
| Proposed buildings and structures | New items you want approval for, such as a proposed detached garage, storage shed, addition, deck, porch, pool, or fence enclosure. |  Proposed structures example |
| Dimensions | Measurements written directly on the drawing, including lot dimensions, the size of existing and proposed structures, and setback distances. |  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 |
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your City of St. Catharines project adds or changes something outside the house. The City's homeowner guides identify site plan requirements for detached garages, storage sheds, residential additions, decks, porches, pools, and fence enclosures.
For accessory buildings, additions, decks, and porches, the drawing should show the proposed work, the existing dwelling, setbacks to property lines, lot dimensions, street names, easements, and existing buildings or structures. For pool and fence enclosure work, the site plan should also show the pool location, fence enclosure, gates, and the square footage of buildings on the lot.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of St. Catharines. Get started
Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of St. Catharines
The exact City of St. Catharines requirements depend on the permit type, but a complete site plan usually includes:
- North arrow
- Scale
- Legal description, including lot and plan numbers when required
- Street name or street names
- Lot dimensions
- Existing dwelling location
- Proposed work location
- Setbacks to all property lines for the existing dwelling and proposed work
- Easement location or locations
- Size and location information for existing buildings and structures
- Pool fence enclosure and gate locations for pool projects
- Square footage of buildings on the lot for pool and fence enclosure projects
Use the City of St. Catharines guide for your exact project before submitting. A pool fence enclosure site plan has different details than a deck or shed site plan, even though they all start from the same property drawing.
Accessory buildings
For a detached garage or storage shed, prepare a complete detailed site plan. Show the north arrow, scale, legal description with lot and plan numbers, lot dimensions, setbacks to all property lines for the existing dwelling and proposed building or structure, easement locations, street names, and size and location information for all existing buildings and structures.
Label the proposed detached garage or storage shed clearly and write its dimensions on the drawing. If an easement runs through the rear or side yard, show it before choosing the final location for the structure.
Residential additions
For a residential addition, the site plan should show the existing house and the proposed addition together. Include the north arrow, scale, legal description, street names, lot dimensions, setbacks to all property lines for the existing dwelling and proposed addition, existing building and structure information, and easement locations.
Because an addition changes the footprint of the house, make the connection point obvious. Show which wall the addition attaches to, the addition dimensions, and the remaining setbacks after the addition is built.
Decks and porches
For a deck or porch, City of St. Catharines asks for a complete detailed site plan with a north arrow, scale, legal description, easements, street names, lot dimensions, setbacks to all property lines for the existing dwelling and proposed deck or porch, and information for existing buildings and structures.
Add stairs if they are part of the deck or porch design, because stairs can affect the footprint and setbacks. The drawing should make it clear whether the proposed work is in the front yard, side yard, rear yard, or on a corner lot.
Pool and fence enclosures
For a pool and fence enclosure, show the north arrow, scale, street names, lot dimensions, setbacks to all property lines at the proposed pool location, square footage of all buildings on the lot, fence enclosure and gate locations, and easement locations.
City of St. Catharines provides a local pool site plan example. Use it as the format guide for the level of detail expected on pool and fence enclosure submissions.
Pool Site plan example in City of St. Catharines
(With Survey) How to draw a site plan using a survey for City of St. Catharines
If you have a property survey, use it as the base for your City of St. Catharines site plan. A survey is useful because it can show legal property lines, lot dimensions, existing building locations, easements, and measurements more reliably than an aerial map or 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 the City of St. Catharines. 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, lot dimensions, setback measurements, easements, and existing structures near the project area.
For an accessory building, addition, deck, or porch, include all existing buildings and structures whose size or location helps explain the proposal. For a pool and fence enclosure, also add the proposed pool location, fence enclosure, gate locations, easements, and building square footage information required by the City of St. Catharines guide.
Survey details traced by hand
3. Draw your proposed structures and add measurements and setbacks
Draw the proposed detached garage, storage shed, addition, deck, porch, pool, fence enclosure, or gate locations on the survey copy. Label each proposed item clearly and write the dimensions directly on the plan.
Add setbacks to all property lines for both the existing dwelling and the proposed work. For pool projects, add setbacks to all property lines at the proposed pool location and make sure the fence enclosure and gate locations are easy to identify.
Proposed structures drawn on traced survey
Site plan examples for permit for City of St. Catharines
City of St. Catharines provides a pool site plan example for pool and fence enclosure work. Use it to understand how the pool, enclosure, gates, street, lot, setbacks, buildings, and easements should be shown together.
Pool Site plan example in City of St. Catharines
For accessory buildings, additions, decks, and porches, use the same disciplined format: title or project label, north arrow, scale, legal description when required, street name, lot dimensions, existing dwelling, proposed work, setbacks, easements, and existing buildings or structures.
Your drawing does not need decorative detail. It needs to be scaled, readable, labelled, and complete enough for City of St. Catharines to check where the project is located on the lot.
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of St. Catharines
Most City of St. Catharines site plan delays come from missing property information, unclear setbacks, or leaving out existing structures that affect the proposed work.
Missing north arrow, scale, street name, or lot dimensions
City of St. Catharines' residential guides repeatedly ask for these core drawing elements. Put them on the site plan before adding project-specific details.
Missing legal description
Accessory building, addition, deck, and porch guidance asks for the legal description, including lot and plan numbers. Add it to the drawing when the guide for your project type requires it.
Missing setbacks to all property lines
Show setbacks to all property lines for the existing dwelling and the proposed building, addition, deck, or porch. For pool work, show setbacks to all property lines at the proposed pool location.
Missing existing buildings and structures
Do not draw only the proposed work. City of St. Catharines asks for information about existing buildings and structures, including size and location, for several residential permit types.
Missing easements, fence enclosure, or gate details
Show easement locations when they apply. For pool and fence enclosure work, clearly draw the fence enclosure and gate locations so the permit reviewer can see how the pool area will be enclosed.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of St. Catharines?
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 St. Catharines can still require the site plan to be scaled, detailed, and complete enough for permit review.
What if City of St. Catharines 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," "detached garage," "shed," "pool," or "fence enclosure."
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 St. Catharines?
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 St. Catharines through the City's records access and privacy process.
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 additions, decks, porches, sheds, garages, pools, fences, easements, and proposed work.
Can I use Google Maps for my City of St. Catharines site plan?
Use Google Maps only as a planning reference. City of St. Catharines asks for a complete detailed site plan with scale, lot dimensions, setbacks, easements, and existing structure information. A survey-based or carefully scaled site plan is a better base for the permit submission.
What if City of St. Catharines rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing item by item. Common fixes include adding the north arrow, scale, legal description, street name, lot dimensions, missing setbacks, existing structure information, easement locations, fence enclosure, gate locations, or pool-specific building square footage notes.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when exact property lines matter, when the project is close to a lot line, when an easement affects the work area, or when the existing survey gives you the cleanest way to show lot dimensions and setbacks. You may need professional help if the project is engineered, structurally complex, or beyond a typical homeowner drawing.
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 St. Catharines.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of St. Catharines. Get started