How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in Aurora
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for your first residential building permit in Town of Aurora, the site plan is the drawing that shows where the work will be located on your property. Town of Aurora permit guidance asks for site plans for several common projects, including decks, swimming pool enclosures, hot tubs, whirlpools, and signs.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in Town of Aurora, what details the Town expects for common projects, and when to use a survey or hand-drawn plan.
New to site plans?
If this is your first one, read what a site plan is and why you need one in Ontario first. It covers how a site plan differs from a survey, a floor plan and an elevation, what setbacks and easements actually mean, and why municipalities ask for the drawing at all. Then come back here for what Town of Aurora expects on top of that.
Town of Aurora accepts hand-drawn plans for appropriate permit applications, but the drawing still needs to be readable, labelled, and detailed enough for review.
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your project changes the outside of your property or adds something with a fixed location on the lot. In Town of Aurora, local guidance specifically refers to site plans for decks, swimming pool enclosures, hot tubs, whirlpools, and signs — and the Town publishes guidance for each:
- Decks and the deck construction guide (PDF)
- Pool enclosure permit guide (PDF)
- Hot tub or whirlpool guide (PDF)
- Signs
For a deck, Town of Aurora asks for the most recent copy of the site plan for the property, with dimensions for existing buildings and structures and their setbacks. The proposed deck should be plotted on that site plan, with setback dimensions to all property lines.
For a pool enclosure, the site plan needs much more detail, including pool dimensions and location, setbacks from the water's edge, pool equipment, septic tank and bed if applicable, easements, fence and gate locations, and drainage patterns. For a hot tub or whirlpool, the site plan should show the proposed location, setbacks, and hot tub dimensions.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in Town of Aurora. Get started
Site plan requirements for residential building permits in Town of Aurora
The exact site plan requirements in Town of Aurora depend on the permit type, but a useful drawing usually includes:
- 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 all relevant property lines
- Existing and proposed construction clearly labelled
- Easements, grading, drainage patterns, septic areas, pool equipment, fences, gates, or utilities when they apply
Town of Aurora can provide the current survey it has on file if you call the building department. That survey can be a strong base for your permit site plan, especially for decks, pools, hot tubs, and work close to property lines.
Decks
For a deck, start with the most recent site plan for the property. Show the dimensions of all existing buildings and structures and their setbacks. Plot the proposed deck on the site plan, then add setback dimensions from the proposed deck to all property lines.
Deck site plan example for Town of Aurora
If the deck attaches to the house, show the house wall it connects to. If stairs, landings, or nearby structures affect the layout, include them as well.
Swimming pool enclosures
For a swimming pool enclosure, Town of Aurora's site plan requirements are detailed. Show the homeowner name and address on each page of the drawings, the pool dimensions and location, and setback dimensions from the water's edge to all property lines.
Also show setbacks from the water's edge to existing or proposed decks, accessory buildings, and the dwelling. Add the location and setbacks for pool equipment, septic tank and bed if applicable, existing and proposed construction labels, fence height and type, gate locations, easements, and property drainage patterns with the proposed pool.
Swimming pool enclosure site plan example for Town of Aurora
Hot tubs and whirlpools
For a hot tub or whirlpool, the site plan should show the proposed location, setbacks, and hot tub dimensions. If no pool enclosure is being constructed, Town of Aurora also asks for verification that the cover will be locked and can support at least 27.2 kg, or 60 pounds.
Hot tub and whirlpool site plan example for Town of Aurora
Signs
For signs, Town of Aurora asks for a fully dimensioned site plan drawn to scale. Show all property lines of the lot where the sign will be erected or altered, and show the location of all existing and proposed signs in relation to lot lines, buildings, and other structures.
How to draw your Town of Aurora site plan
The quickest route is to create a site plan with HomeCat — walk your property with your phone and get a permit-ready drawing back, free.
If you would rather draw it yourself, our DIY guide to drawing a site plan in Ontario covers all three methods step by step: from a survey, from a Google Maps screenshot, or by hand.
Town of Aurora accepts hand-drawn plans for appropriate applications, so the by-hand method is a legitimate route here. But the Town's deck guidance asks for the most recent copy of the site plan for the property, and pool enclosure work needs setbacks measured from the water's edge to property lines, decks, accessory buildings and the dwelling. For those projects, start from the survey method — a traced aerial screenshot will not give you property lines you can measure against.
Before you pay for anything, call the Town of Aurora building department and ask for the current survey it has on file for your property. Town of Aurora will provide it, which makes it the cheapest starting point for a deck, pool, hot tub, or any work close to a lot line. You can also check your closing documents or ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. Our guide to getting a property survey in Ontario covers the other options before ordering a new one.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in Town of Aurora. Get started
Site plan examples for permit for Town of Aurora
Town of Aurora provides useful examples for decks, swimming pool enclosures, and hot tubs or whirlpools. Use the example that matches your project type and copy the level of detail, not the sample measurements.
Deck site plan example for Town of Aurora
Swimming pool enclosure site plan example for Town of Aurora
Hot tub and whirlpool site plan example for Town of Aurora
For signs, focus on a fully dimensioned drawing to scale that shows property lines, existing and proposed signs, buildings, and other structures.
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in Town of Aurora
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. For a deck, show the house wall it connects to. For a pool, show nearby decks, accessory buildings, the dwelling, pool equipment, fencing, gates, and septic areas if they apply.
Missing setback measurements
Setbacks are one of the main reasons a site plan is required. Town of Aurora deck guidance asks for setback dimensions to all property lines. Pool enclosure guidance asks for setbacks from the water's edge to property lines, existing or proposed decks, accessory buildings, and the dwelling.
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, pool, hot tub, sign, shed, patio, or accessory structure. Include the dimensions, proposed location, and project-specific notes required by the Town of Aurora guide.
Missing pool enclosure details
Pool enclosure drawings need more than a pool outline. Add fence construction details, fence location, gate locations, pool equipment, drainage patterns, easements, and septic tank and bed information if applicable.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in Town of Aurora?
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).
Town of Aurora accepts hand-drawn plans for appropriate permit applications, but the drawings still need to include enough detail for review. Complex, engineered, or non-prescriptive work may still require a qualified professional.
What if Town of Aurora asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?
For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "pool enclosure," "hot tub," or "porch."
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 Aurora?
Town of Aurora can provide the current survey it has on file for your property if you call the building department. You can also check your closing documents or ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company.
Read our Ontario ultimate guide for getting a property survey before paying for a new survey.
Does my survey need to be recent?
Town of Aurora deck guidance asks for the most recent copy of the site plan for the property. If the Town has a current survey on file, use that as your starting point. Older surveys can still be useful when they accurately show property boundaries and existing conditions, but update the drawing so the permit package reflects the property as it exists today.
What if Town of Aurora rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments carefully and revise the drawing to answer each comment. Most rejections are requests for clearer labels, missing setbacks, missing dimensions, or project-specific details.
When you resubmit, make the changes easy to find. Add the missing setback, relabel the proposed work, add nearby existing structures, 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 Aurora 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 for decks, pools, hot tubs, or signs.
You can also contact the Town of Aurora 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 Town of Aurora asks for the most recent site plan, 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 setbacks must be measured carefully.
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 Aurora.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in Town of Aurora. Get started
