How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in Burlington

If you are applying for a residential building permit in City of Burlington, the site plan is usually a scaled, dimensioned drawing that shows how the proposed work fits on your property. City of Burlington checklists refer to a site plan or property survey for accessory buildings, secondary dwelling units, decks, porches, hot tubs, swim spas, and inground pools.

This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of Burlington, what details to include for common projects, and how to use a property survey as the base for a permit-ready drawing.

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 Burlington expects on top of that.

City of Burlington checklists say drawings should be to scale, dimensioned, and provide enough information to describe the full extent of the proposed work. For pool and hot tub drawings, all measurements must be metric.

Do you need a site plan?

You usually need a site plan when your City of Burlington project adds or changes something outside the house or changes how the property is used. City of Burlington specifically refers to site plans for accessory buildings, additional or secondary dwelling units, decks, porches, hot tubs, swim spas, and inground pools, and publishes a checklist for each:

• Decks and porches checklist (PDF)
• Accessory buildings checklist (PDF)
• Additional or secondary dwelling unit checklist (PDF)

For accessory buildings, decks, porches, and secondary dwelling units, City of Burlington asks for the site plan or property survey to show the location and dimensions of the proposed work in relation to existing buildings and the dimensions or setbacks from property lines.

For hot tubs under 8 square metres, the site plan should show a north arrow, metric scale, street name, property address, labelled property lines, metric measurements, hot tub size and shape, the dwelling, and accessory buildings or structures. For hot tubs or swim spas over 8 square metres and inground pools, the site plan requirements are more detailed.

Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Burlington. Get started

Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of Burlington

The exact City of Burlington requirements depend on the project, but a useful site plan usually includes:

• Property survey as the base when the checklist asks for one
• North arrow, metric scale, scale bar, street name, and property address when required
• Labelled property lines
• Location and dimensions of existing buildings and structures
• Location and dimensions of the proposed work
• Setbacks or dimensions from property lines
• Easements on the property when applicable
• Overhead hydro wires on or adjacent to the property when applicable
• Pool, hot tub, swim spa, equipment, fence, gate, and septic details when applicable
• Tree locations, tree inventory, tree protection zones, protective hoarding, and construction disturbance areas when required

City of Burlington notes a maximum digital paper size of 36 by 48 inches, or 914 mm by 1219 mm. Keep the drawing scaled, dimensioned, and readable inside that limit.

Accessory buildings

For sheds, detached garages, pool houses, gazebos, and similar accessory buildings, City of Burlington asks for the site plan or property survey to show the location and dimensions of the structure in relation to existing buildings, plus dimensions or setbacks from property lines.

Decks and porches

For decks and porches, show the deck or porch location and dimensions in relation to existing buildings. Add dimensions or setbacks from property lines.

Additional or secondary dwelling units

For additional or secondary dwelling units, show the location and dimensions of the dwelling units in relation to existing buildings and dimensions or setbacks from property lines.

Hot tubs under 8 square metres

For a hot tub under 8 square metres, provide a full site plan with a north arrow, metric scale, street name, property address, labelled property lines, metric measurements, the size and shape of the hot tub, and the dwelling and accessory structures on the property.

Also show either the hot tub with a lockable lid, or the fencing and gate requirements, including fence materials, fence height, and self-latching or self-closing gate details.

Hot tubs, swim spas, and inground pools

For hot tubs or swim spas over 8 square metres, or an inground pool, City of Burlington asks for a more detailed site plan. Include the standard drawing elements, zoning-related details, building-related details, and forestry-related details that apply.

Show the pool or swim spa size, shape, location, setbacks to property lines, height above grade for on-ground or above-ground pools, pool heater and filter location and setbacks, fence and gate details, septic system location and setback if applicable, easements, overhead hydro wires, tree locations, tree protection zones, and construction disturbance areas.

Pool site plan example in City of Burlington

How to draw your City of Burlington 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 Burlington's checklists ask for "a site plan or property survey", so a survey is not strictly mandatory — but whatever you submit has to be to scale and dimensioned. If you have a survey, the survey method is the shortest path, because the survey already carries the property lines, existing building location, and easements you need to show setbacks accurately. If you do not, the hand-drawn method is fine for a simple accessory building, deck, or porch as long as the measurements are real ones taken on site rather than estimates off an aerial photo.

If you do not have a survey, check your closing documents, ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company, or submit a Building Services application for routine disclosure to the City of Burlington. Our guide to getting a property survey in Ontario covers the cheaper options before paying for a new one.

For a pool, swim spa, or hot tub over 8 square metres, City of Burlington also wants the construction side of the project on the drawing, not just the finished structure: the construction access route, material storage areas, excavation limits, trenching or servicing locations, and any fill or grade changes, alongside the tree protection zones and pool equipment locations.

Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Burlington. Get started

Site plan examples for permit for City of Burlington

City of Burlington provides a detailed pool site plan example. Use it as the format guide for pool, swim spa, and larger hot tub projects, especially where tree and construction-disturbance details apply.

Pool site plan example in City of Burlington

For accessory buildings, decks, porches, and secondary dwelling units, use the same basic structure: property survey, labelled property lines, existing buildings, proposed work, dimensions, and setbacks from property lines.

Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of Burlington

Most site plan delays come from missing scale, missing metric dimensions, missing survey information, or missing project-specific details.

Missing scale or metric measurements

City of Burlington asks for drawings to be to scale and dimensioned. For hot tub, swim spa, and pool drawings, all measurements must be metric. Add a metric scale or scale bar where required.

Missing setbacks

Show dimensions or setbacks from the proposed work to the property lines. For accessory buildings, decks, porches, and secondary dwelling units, this is one of the main items City of Burlington asks for.

Missing existing buildings and structures

Show the dwelling and accessory buildings or structures on the property. For pool and hot tub projects, include existing patios, decks, retaining walls, hard surfaces, and other structures when they affect the review.

Missing pool, hot tub, or forestry details

For pools, swim spas, and larger hot tubs, add easements, hydro wires, equipment, fence and gate details, septic separation if applicable, trees, tree inventory, tree protection zones, protective hoarding, root protection, and construction disturbance areas when they apply.

Frequently asked questions about site plans

Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Burlington?

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 Burlington can still require scaled, dimensioned drawings and property survey information for permit review.

What if City of Burlington asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?

For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "porch," "shed," "secondary dwelling unit," "hot tub," or "pool."

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 Burlington?

Start with your closing documents, then ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. If those do not work, submit a Building Services application for routine disclosure to the City of Burlington.

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 buildings, decks, patios, pools, trees, hard surfaces, and proposed work.

Can I use Google Maps for my City of Burlington site plan?

Use Google Maps only as a planning reference. City of Burlington checklists emphasize scaled, dimensioned drawings, and several permit types refer to the property survey. For the final permit drawing, use a survey-based or properly scaled site plan that includes the checklist details.

What if City of Burlington rejects my site plan?

Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one. Add missing scale information, metric measurements, setbacks, property survey details, tree information, pool equipment, fence and gate details, or existing structures as requested.

When do I need a professional drawing?

You may need professional help when the project is engineered, structurally complex, close to regulated areas, involves complex grading or tree protection, or when City of Burlington specifically requires it. For basic location and setback information, start with the property survey and the checklist for your project.

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 Burlington.

Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Burlington. Get started