How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in Barrie
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a residential building permit in City of Barrie, the site plan is the drawing that shows where the work will happen on your property. City of Barrie asks for site plans on several common applications, including decks, porches, sheds, detached garages, gazebos, additional residential units, second suites, and pool enclosures.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of Barrie, what details to include for common projects, and when a survey or more detailed grading information may be needed.
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 City of Barrie expects on top of that.
City of Barrie permit guidance says drawings should be to scale, dimensioned, and detailed enough to describe the full extent of the proposed work.
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your project adds or changes something outside the house, changes the use of space on the lot, or needs zoning review. City of Barrie publishes an application checklist per project type, and each lists what the site plan must show:
- Deck application checklist (PDF)
- Residential accessory structures checklist (PDF) — sheds, detached garages, gazebos
- Pool enclosure application checklist (PDF)
- Second suite building application checklist (PDF)
- New residential dwelling unit checklist (PDF)
For a deck or porch, the site plan should show the property lines, dwelling dimensions, deck or stair location, accessory structures, setbacks, and the fronting street. For sheds, detached garages, and gazebos, City of Barrie asks for the project address, property lines, streets, driveway details, existing structures, proposed structure dimensions, setbacks, distance to the dwelling, and service trench details if applicable.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Barrie. Get started
Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of Barrie
The exact City of Barrie requirements depend on the project, but a useful site plan usually includes:
- Property lines and dimensions
- Lot area or statistics table when required
- Existing house, decks, sheds, garages, pools, and other structures
- Fronting street and adjacent streets for corner lots
- Proposed work, labelled clearly
- Length, width, height, area, and other key dimensions
- Setbacks from the proposed work to property lines
- Distances to other buildings or structures
- Driveway, parking spaces, landscaped areas, access paths, and entrances when relevant
- Existing and proposed grades, elevations, swales, sump pump discharge outlets, or drainage patterns when required
- Easements, pool enclosure details, or service trench details when they apply
Use the City of Barrie checklist for your project first. If the checklist asks for grading, parking, services, or drainage information, add those items directly to the drawing instead of submitting only a simple property outline.
Decks and porches
For decks and porches, City of Barrie asks for property lines and dimensions, dwelling exterior dimensions, the uncovered deck location including stairs, all accessory structures and their area, setbacks from property lines to the deck and stairs, and the fronting street.
Deck site plan example for City of Barrie
Show the deck connection to the house, stairs, nearby accessory structures, and all setback measurements clearly.
Sheds, detached garages, and gazebos
For sheds, detached garages, and gazebos, City of Barrie asks for the project address, property lines, fronting streets, driveway and width for garages to the rear yard, existing decks, sheds, pools, and other structures, exterior dimensions for existing structures, proposed structure dimensions and area, side and rear yard setbacks, distance to the dwelling, and service trench location and type of services if applicable.
Sheds/Detached Garages site plan example for City of Barrie
Additional residential units and second suites
For an additional residential unit or second suite, the site plan may need more zoning and servicing detail. City of Barrie guidance refers to the location of the ARU, existing and proposed buildings and structures, required parking spaces with dimensions, landscaped areas, access paths, entrances, driveway length and width, and setbacks.
Where the project includes a new below grade basement entry, add existing and proposed grades or elevations, swales with direction and slope, sump pump discharge outlet location, underside of footing, top of foundation wall, high water table if known, finished floor elevations, first floor elevation, and garage floor elevation when required.
Pool enclosures
For pool enclosures, City of Barrie asks for lot lines, dwelling location, pool location relative to property lines, pool enclosure location and construction, easements, and existing and proposed grades and drainage patterns. City of Barrie notes that pools and spas or hot tubs cannot be constructed on easements.
Pool Enclosure site plan example for City of Barrie
Show the pool, fence or enclosure, drainage arrows, grades if required, and any easements before submitting.
How to draw your City of Barrie 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.
City of Barrie does not demand a survey on every application, so a hand-drawn or Google Maps draft can carry a simple deck or shed — as long as it is to scale and fully dimensioned. Use the survey method when setbacks are tight, the lot shape is unclear, an easement is involved, or the project is an additional residential unit, second suite, below grade entry, or pool enclosure. Those checklists ask for grades, elevations, swale direction and slope, sump pump discharge outlets, and dimensioned parking spaces, and a traced aerial screenshot cannot support any of it.
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 Barrie. Our guide to getting a property survey in Ontario covers the cheaper options before paying for a new one.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Barrie. Get started
Site plan examples for permit for City of Barrie
City of Barrie provides local examples for decks, accessory buildings, and pool enclosures. Use the example that matches your project type and copy the level of detail, not the sample measurements.
Deck site plan example for City of Barrie
Sheds/Detached Garages site plan example for City of Barrie
Pool Enclosure site plan example for City of Barrie
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of Barrie
Most site plan delays come from missing location, measurement, or grading information.
Missing existing structures
Show the existing house and nearby structures, not only the proposed work. For City of Barrie accessory structures, include existing decks, sheds, pools, and garages when they affect the layout.
Missing setback measurements
Add setbacks from the proposed work to the property lines. For decks, include setbacks from the deck and stairs. For sheds and detached garages, include side and rear yard setbacks and the distance to the dwelling.
Missing parking, access, or driveway details
For additional residential units and second suites, add required parking spaces with dimensions, driveway length and width, landscaped areas, access paths, and entrances when they apply.
Missing grading or drainage details
For pool enclosures, below grade entrances, and other projects where City of Barrie asks for grades or swales, show existing and proposed grades, drainage patterns, swale direction and slope, and sump pump discharge outlet location when required.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Barrie?
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 drawings still need to be to scale, dimensioned, and detailed enough for permit review.
What if City of Barrie 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," "second suite," or "pool 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 Barrie?
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 City of Barrie.
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 reflects current structures, driveways, grading, and proposed work.
What if City of Barrie rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one. Add missing setbacks, dimensions, parking details, grading notes, drainage arrows, or existing structures as requested.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when the lot shape is unclear, setbacks are tight, easements matter, or the project depends on exact property-line measurements. You may need professional help for engineered work, complex grading, high water table or foundation details, or anything City of Barrie specifically requires to be certified.
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 Barrie.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Barrie. Get started
