How to Draw a Site Plan for a Residential Building Permit in Town of Ajax
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for your first residential building permit in Town of Ajax, the site plan is one of the drawings that helps the Town understand where the work will sit on your lot. Town of Ajax permit material refers to site plans and legal surveys for several residential projects, including decks, porches, accessory buildings, carports, garages, sheds, and signs.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in Town of Ajax, what details reviewers usually need to see, and how to prepare a first draft that is clear enough to submit or discuss with the Town of Ajax.
What is a site plan?
Site plan definition
A site plan is a top-down drawing of your property. It shows the lot, the existing house and structures, the proposed work, and the distances between those items and the property lines.
For a homeowner, the easiest way to think about it is this: a site plan for property explains what is already on the lot and what you want to add or change. A site plan for a residential building permit helps Town of Ajax confirm that the proposed work fits on the property and does not create obvious conflicts with setbacks, easements, drainage, utilities, or nearby structures.
For smaller residential projects, the drawing does not always need to look like an architect's plan. It does need to be readable, labelled, and dimensioned so the reviewer can understand the location and size of the work.
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, or fence. |  Existing structures example |
| Proposed buildings and structures | New items you want approval for, such as a proposed deck, shed, garage, carport, porch, or sign. |  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 |
| Right-of-way | A legal right for another person, utility, municipality, or public authority to pass over or use part of the property for access, travel, servicing, or maintenance. |  Right-of-way example |
| Lot grading | The shape and slope of the land that controls where water drains on the property. |  Lot grading example |
| Plot plan | A term often used to mean the same thing as site plan. Some municipalities use "plot plan" on forms, checklists, or permit portals. |  Plot plan example |
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your project adds or changes something outside the house. In Town of Ajax, local permit guidance specifically asks for a site plan or legal survey for decks, porches, accessory buildings, garages, carports, sheds, and signs.
For decks, porches, and accessory structures, the drawing should show the proposed location of the structure. For garages, carports, and sheds, use the Town's guide and sample drawing as the format reference. For signs, Town of Ajax asks for a site plan or legal survey showing the size and location of the proposed sign.
If your project is not listed here, a site plan is still useful for any exterior permit application because it gives the reviewer a fast way to understand where the work is happening.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in Town of Ajax. Get started
Site plan requirements for residential building permits in Town of Ajax
The exact site plan requirements in Town of Ajax depend on the type of work, but the drawing should usually include:
- Property lines
- Existing house and major structures
- Street name and driveway location
- Proposed work
- Dimensions of the proposed work
- Setbacks from the proposed work to the nearest property lines
- Nearby existing structures that could affect the project
- Easements, rights-of-way, grading, drainage features, utilities, septic areas, or wells if they apply to the property
Use the Town of Ajax checklist or guide for your project first. If the local guide only says that a site plan or legal survey is required, include the basic details above and add any project-specific details that explain whether the proposed work fits on the lot.
Decks, porches, and accessory buildings
For decks, porches, and accessory buildings, Town of Ajax asks for a site plan or legal survey showing the proposed location of the structure.
Show the existing house, the proposed deck, porch, shed, or other accessory structure, and the measurements from the proposed work to the closest property lines. If the structure is near a driveway, garage, fence, easement, drainage feature, or another building, add those nearby items too.
Garages, carports, and sheds
For garages, carports, and sheds, use the Town of Ajax guide and sample site plan as your local example. Your drawing should make the proposed building location obvious and should show enough surrounding context for a reviewer to check the lot fit.
Site plan example for Town of Ajax
Copy the level of detail from the example, not the measurements. Your own drawing needs to match your property, project size, and proposed location.
Signs
For signs, Town of Ajax asks for a site plan or legal survey showing the size and location of the proposed sign or signs. Show the property lines, existing buildings or structures near the sign, the proposed sign location, and the dimensions that explain how the sign sits on the lot.
(Without Survey) How to draw a site plan using the Google Maps method for Town of Ajax
The Google Maps method can help you make a practical first draft when you do not have a survey and the permit reviewer has not required a legal survey for your specific project. It works best for simple residential projects where the drawing needs to explain the proposed location clearly.
Google Maps does not show legal property lines. If your project is close to a lot line, easement, right-of-way, drainage feature, or utility corridor, use a survey or confirm the location another way before submitting.
1. Look up your address
Open Google Maps and search for your property address.
Google Maps search bar
Switch to the satellite view so you can see the house, driveway, yard, fences, and nearby streets. Click Layers, then open the additional map options.
Click Layers and More in Google Maps
Select Satellite as the map type.
Select Satellite in Google Maps
Zoom in far enough that the house and the work area are clear, but leave enough space around the property to show the street and lot shape.
2. Take a screenshot
Take a screenshot of the map view.
- On Windows, use
Windows + Shift + S. - On macOS, use
Command + Shift + 4. - On iPhone/iPad/Android, use the device screenshot buttons.
Save the screenshot somewhere easy to find.
Screenshot of property from Google Maps
3. Open the screenshot in paint
Open the screenshot in a simple drawing tool. Microsoft Paint, Preview on macOS, a tablet markup tool, or any basic image editor can work. You do not need professional drafting software for a first draft.
4. Trace the footprint of your house
Trace the outside shape of the house. Keep the line simple. You are trying to show Town of Ajax where the house sits on the property, not every small roof detail.
Label the house with the property address or the words "existing house."
House footprint traced on site plan
5. Trace your property boundary
Draw the approximate property boundary around the lot. If you can see fences, road edges, lot shape, or other clues, use them as a guide. If the property is a simple rectangular lot, keep the boundary simple.
Label the lines as "approximate property line" unless you are working from a legal survey.
Approximate property boundary traced on site plan
6. Trace and label existing structures
Trace the existing structures that matter to the project. Include items like a detached garage, deck, shed, driveway, porch, patio, fence, or other structure near the proposed work.
Label each item as existing. If an existing item is not relevant to the project, you do not need to draw every detail, but do include enough context for the reviewer to understand the work area.
Existing structures added to site plan
7. Draw proposed structures
Draw the proposed work on top of the screenshot. Use a different color, dashed line, or bold outline so it stands out from the existing structures.
Label the proposed work clearly, such as "proposed deck," "proposed shed," "proposed garage," "proposed carport," "proposed porch," or "proposed sign."
Proposed structures added to site plan
8. Measure setbacks, proposed, and existing structures
Add the key measurements. Start with the size of the proposed work. Then measure from the proposed work to the closest property lines. If the proposed work is near the house, driveway, garage, easement, or another structure, add those distances too.
The reviewer needs to understand how close the project is to the property line and whether it conflicts with other parts of the property. If your measurements are approximate, label them as approximate.
Canada-based metric example:
Canada-based site plan measurements
(Without Survey) How to draw a site plan by hand for Town of Ajax
You can also draw a simple site plan by hand when a legal survey is not required for the project. Use a blank sheet of paper, a ruler, a pencil, and a dark pen. Keep the drawing clean and readable.
1. Draw the footprint of your house
Start by drawing the outside shape of your house. It can be approximate if you do not have a survey or exact house dimensions. Draw it large enough that you have room to add measurements and labels around it.
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, a simple rectangular boundary is usually easiest for a first draft. 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."
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 property 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 setback rules can be different 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, porches, garages, driveways, fences, patios, retaining walls, and other hard surfaces.
Write "existing" beside each one. Then draw the structure or work area you want to get approved and label it as proposed.
Existing and proposed structures drawn by hand
6. Measure setbacks, proposed, and existing structures
The most important measurements are usually the setbacks from the proposed work to the property lines. Your goal is to show Town of Ajax that the proposed work fits on the property and is not too close to the lot line, neighboring property, easement, or another regulated area.
Measure the proposed structure itself. If it is a garage, shed, carport, porch, deck, or sign, write the dimensions directly on the drawing.
Measurements added to hand-drawn site plan
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in Town of Ajax. Get started
(With Survey) How to draw a site plan using a survey for Town of Ajax
If you have a legal property survey, use it as the base for your Town of Ajax site plan. A survey is useful because it can show property lines, existing buildings, easements, rights-of-way, and measurements that are more reliable than a map screenshot.
Town of Ajax permit guidance sometimes asks for a "site plan/legal survey." If the Town asks for a legal survey for your project, submit the survey and draw the proposed work on a clear copy. If you do not have a survey, you can look through your closing documents, ask your lawyer or mortgage company, or submit a Freedom of Information request to the Town of Ajax.
If you do not have a survey, see 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
You will want to trace the following:
- Property boundary
- House footprint
- North arrow
- Street
- Setback measurements
- Easements and rights-of-way
- Existing structures near the project
- Wells, septic areas, drainage features, or utilities if they are shown and relevant
Keep the tracing clean. You do not need to copy every note from the survey if it does not affect the permit review, but do include anything that may limit where work can happen.
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 closest property lines. If the survey already shows distances from the house to the property lines, use those measurements to help calculate the remaining distance after the proposed work is added.
For example, if the back wall of the house is 9 metres from the rear property line and you are adding a 3 metre deep deck, the remaining rear setback from the deck to the rear property line is about 6 metres. Write that setback directly on the site plan.
If the survey has a scale, you can use the scale to place the proposed work more accurately. If you are not drawing perfectly to scale, make sure the written measurements are clear.
Proposed structures drawn on traced survey
Site plan examples for permit for Town of Ajax
The most useful local example is the Town of Ajax garage, carport, and shed site plan sample. Use it to understand the expected layout and the amount of information to show.
Site plan example for Town of Ajax
For other residential projects, keep the same basic structure: property outline, street name, existing house, existing structures near the work, proposed work, dimensions, and setbacks to nearby property lines. Add easements, rights-of-way, utilities, drainage features, septic areas, or wells if they affect the project.
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in Town of Ajax
Most site plan delays come from missing context. The reviewer is trying to answer basic questions: Where is the work? How big is it? How far is it from the property lines? What is already nearby?
Missing existing structures
Do not draw only the proposed work. Show the existing house and any nearby existing structures that help explain the project area. A proposed deck should show the house wall it connects to. A proposed shed, garage, or carport should show nearby buildings, driveway areas, and property lines.
Missing setback measurements
Setbacks are one of the main reasons a site plan is required. Add measurements from the proposed work to the closest property lines. If the project is near another structure, a right-of-way, easement, septic area, drainage feature, or utility area, add those distances too.
Not enough detail about your proposed work
Label the proposed work and write its size. Do not make the reviewer guess whether a rectangle is a deck, shed, garage, carport, porch, sign, or other structure. Include the dimensions, the proposed location, and any project-specific notes required by the Town of Ajax guide.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in Town of Ajax?
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).
The drawing still needs to be clear enough for permit review. Town of Ajax may still require a qualified professional for engineered, complex, or non-prescriptive work.
What if Town of Ajax asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?
For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "porch," "garage," or "shed."
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 Town of Ajax?
Start with your closing documents, then ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. If those do not work, you can submit a Freedom of Information request to the Town of Ajax through its access to information process.
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 residential permits, an older survey prepared by a licensed Ontario Land Surveyor can still be useful if it accurately shows the property boundaries and existing conditions. The key issue is whether it gives Town of Ajax enough reliable information to verify your site plan. If the property has changed, update the drawing so the permit package reflects current conditions.
What if Town of Ajax rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments carefully and revise the drawing to answer each comment. Most rejections are requests for more information, clearer labels, missing dimensions, or a correction to the permit package.
When you resubmit, make the changes easy to find. Add the missing setback, relabel the proposed work, add the existing structure, or update the drawing so it matches the permit form.
How can I verify the site plan is correct?
Compare your drawing against the Town of Ajax permit checklist or guide for your project type. Make sure the site plan shows the property lines, existing house, proposed work, dimensions, setbacks, and any special items listed in the local instructions.
You can also contact the Town of Ajax before submitting and ask whether your site plan includes enough information for review.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when the proposed work is close to a property line, when the lot shape is unclear, when easements or rights-of-way matter, or when Town of Ajax specifically asks for one.
You may need a professional drawing when the project is complex, structural, engineered, close to regulated areas, or when the local checklist requires a licensed professional.
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 Town of Ajax.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in Town of Ajax. Get started