How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in Cambridge
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a building permit in City of Cambridge, the site plan is the drawing that shows where the proposed work will sit on your property. City of Cambridge asks for site plans for projects such as decks, garages, sheds, and signs.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a building permit in City of Cambridge, what details to include, and when to use a property survey as the base for a more accurate 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 Cambridge expects on top of that.
City of Cambridge reviewers use the drawing to check more than the proposed location and its setbacks. They also look for overhead electrical lines, septic features, easements, trees, and existing structures — items a basic property sketch often leaves off.
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your project adds or changes something outside the house. In City of Cambridge, site plan information is listed for deck, garage, shed, and sign applications.
For decks, garages, and sheds, City of Cambridge asks for property lines and property dimensions, the proposed project location and distance to property lines, existing structure locations and sizes, overhead electrical lines, septic tank and bed information if applicable, easements, and trees with a diameter of 20 cm or more.
For signs, City of Cambridge asks for site plan drawings showing sign location, proximity to property lines, and distances to hydro conductors if applicable.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Cambridge. Get started
Site plan requirements for building permits in City of Cambridge
The exact City of Cambridge requirements depend on the project, but a useful site plan usually includes:
- Property lines and property dimensions
- Existing house and structures, with sizes
- Proposed project location
- Dimensions of the proposed work
- Distance from the proposed work to property lines
- Location of overhead electrical lines on the property
- Septic tank and bed location, if applicable
- Distance from septic features to the proposed project, if applicable
- Easements on the property
- Trees with a diameter of 20 cm, or 8 inches, or more
- Distance from those trees to the proposed project
- Sign location and distance to property lines or hydro conductors for sign applications
City of Cambridge takes permit applications through the OnCamino portal — check the instructions there for your exact project first. If your property has septic, easements, overhead lines, or mature trees, show them directly on the site plan instead of leaving them for the reviewer to infer.
Decks, garages, and sheds
For a deck, garage, or shed, start with the property outline, then add the existing house and any existing structures. Draw the proposed deck, garage, or shed and label it clearly.
Add the property dimensions, proposed structure dimensions, setbacks to property lines, overhead electrical lines, septic tank and bed if applicable, easements, and trees that are at least 20 cm in diameter.
Signs
For a sign application, show the sign location and its proximity to property lines. If there are hydro conductors near the proposed sign, note the distance to them on the drawing.
How to draw your City of Cambridge 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 Cambridge does not insist on a survey for a straightforward deck, garage, shed, or sign, so the Google Maps method or a hand-drawn plan is usually enough. The exception is proximity: an aerial screenshot does not show legal property lines, so if the proposed work sits close to a lot line, an easement, the septic tank or bed, an overhead electrical line, or a tree 20 cm or more in diameter, work from the survey instead, or confirm the location another way before submitting.
If you do not have a survey, check your closing documents, ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company, or submit a request through City of Cambridge's access and privacy process. 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 building permit approved in City of Cambridge. Get started
Common site plan mistakes that delay your building permit in City of Cambridge
Most site plan delays come from missing nearby conditions that affect where the project can be built.
Missing existing structures
Show the existing house and existing structures on the property. City of Cambridge asks for the location and size of existing structures for deck, garage, and shed applications.
Missing setback measurements
Add distances from the proposed project to property lines. For signs, show the sign's proximity to property lines.
Missing overhead electrical lines or hydro conductors
If overhead electrical lines or hydro conductors affect the project, show them and add the relevant distances. This is especially important for signs and structures near service lines.
Missing septic, easement, or tree details
If your property has a septic tank and bed, easement, or trees with a diameter of 20 cm or more, show them on the site plan and add distances to the proposed project where City of Cambridge asks for them.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Cambridge?
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 Cambridge can still require enough detail for permit review.
What if City of Cambridge asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?
For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "garage," "shed," or "sign."
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 Cambridge?
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 Cambridge.
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 property boundaries and existing conditions. Update your site plan so it shows current structures, trees, overhead lines, septic information, and proposed work.
What if City of Cambridge rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one. Add missing property dimensions, setbacks, existing structure sizes, overhead electrical lines, septic details, easements, tree locations, or sign distances as requested.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when the project is close to a property line, easement, septic feature, tree, or overhead electrical line. You may need professional help when the project is structural, engineered, complex, or when City of Cambridge specifically requires it.
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 building permit in City of Cambridge.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Cambridge. Get started
