How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in Guelph
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a residential building permit in City of Guelph, the site plan is the drawing that shows how the proposed work fits on your property. City of Guelph asks for a survey or site plan for projects such as decks, porches, residential additions, accessory buildings, pools, and hot tubs.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of Guelph, what details to include for common projects, and why survey-based measurements are especially important for pools and hot tubs.
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 Guelph expects on top of that.
One City of Guelph rule is worth knowing up front: for pools and hot tubs, the City says not to use an overhead photo of the property and not to use online GIS measurements, where property lines may not be accurate. Refer to your survey for accurate property line locations.
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your project adds or changes something outside the house. City of Guelph specifically asks for a survey or site plan for decks and porches, residential additions, and accessory buildings such as detached garages, detached carports, sheds, and gazebos — see the City's page on garages, sheds and gazebos. For a pool or hot tub, start with pools and hot tubs.
For pools and hot tubs, City of Guelph asks for a drawing of the entire lot showing the location, shape, and size of the proposed pool or hot tub. All measurements must be metric, and the final drawing must be a scanned PDF document rather than a photo or photo converted to PDF.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Guelph. Get started
Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of Guelph
The exact City of Guelph requirements depend on the project, but a useful site plan usually includes:
- Width and depth of the lot
- Location of the proposed deck, porch, addition, accessory building, pool, or hot tub
- Size of the proposed work
- Distance from the proposed work to property lines
- Existing buildings or structures on the property
- Size of existing accessory buildings when required
- Pool fence and gate locations, height, and fence type when applicable
- Hardscaping and distances to property lines when applicable
- Accessory structures sketched on the survey with dimensions and distances to property lines for pool and hot tub permits
City of Guelph requires drawings for additions and accessory buildings to be drawn to a recognizable scale. For additions, single line drawings will not be accepted. For accessory buildings, walls should be shown with double lines to indicate wall thickness, and partial floor plans or photos will not be accepted.
Decks and porches
For decks and porches, submit a survey or site plan showing the lot width and depth, the proposed deck or porch location, the deck or porch size, the distance from the deck or porch to property lines, and all existing buildings or structures on the property.
Residential additions
For a residential addition, submit a survey or site plan showing lot width and depth, the location of the proposed addition, setbacks to property lines, the size of the addition, and all existing buildings or structures on the property.
All drawings must be drawn to a recognized scale and dimensioned to the outside of exterior walls.
Accessory buildings
For a detached garage, detached carport, shed, gazebo, or other residential accessory building, submit a survey or site plan showing lot width and depth, the proposed accessory building location, all existing buildings or structures including the house, the proposed accessory building size, existing accessory building sizes if applicable, and distances to property lines.
Pools and hot tubs
For a pool or hot tub, submit a drawing of the entire lot showing the proposed pool or hot tub location, shape, and size. Use metric measurements. Do not use an overhead photo of the property, and do not rely on online GIS measurements for property lines.
Indicate pool fence and gate locations where applicable, including the fence height and type. Show hardscaping with distances to property lines. Show the distance from the edge of the pool or hot tub to all property lines. Sketch accessory structures such as decks, sheds, and garages on the survey with dimensions, whether existing or proposed, and distances to property lines.
How to draw your City of Guelph 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.
Which method you can use depends on the project. For a pool or hot tub, City of Guelph effectively requires a survey: the City tells homeowners not to use an overhead photo and not to rely on online GIS measurements for property lines, so go straight to the survey method. For decks, porches, additions, and accessory buildings, City of Guelph asks for "a survey or site plan", so a hand-drawn plan is acceptable provided it is drawn to a recognizable scale with written dimensions.
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 Guelph. Our guide to getting a property survey in Ontario covers the cheaper options before paying for a new one.
Watch the output format as well as the drawing. For pools and hot tubs, City of Guelph wants the final drawing as a scanned PDF — a photo of the drawing, or a photo converted to PDF, will not be accepted by the City's system.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Guelph. Get started
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of Guelph
Most site plan delays come from missing scale, missing dimensions, or using the wrong base information.
Using an overhead photo for a pool or hot tub
City of Guelph says not to use an overhead photo of the property for pool and hot tub drawings. Use a survey-based drawing with metric measurements instead.
Missing lot width and depth
For decks, porches, additions, and accessory buildings, add the width and depth of the lot.
Missing setback measurements
Show the distance from the proposed deck, porch, addition, accessory building, pool, or hot tub to the property lines. For pools and hot tubs, show the distance from the edge to all property lines.
Missing existing structures
Show existing buildings or structures on the property. For pools and hot tubs, sketch accessory structures such as decks, sheds, and garages on the survey with dimensions and distances to property lines.
Submitting photos instead of drawings
For pools and hot tubs, City of Guelph requires scanned PDF drawings. Photos or photos converted to PDF will not work in the City's system.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Guelph?
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 Guelph can still require scaled, dimensioned drawings that meet the permit checklist.
What if City of Guelph asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?
For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "porch," "addition," "shed," "garage," "pool," or "hot tub."
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 Guelph?
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 Guelph.
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 buildings, accessory structures, hardscaping, pools, hot tubs, fences, and proposed work.
Can I use Google Maps for my City of Guelph site plan?
Use Google Maps only as a planning reference. For pools and hot tubs, City of Guelph says not to use an overhead photo or online GIS measurements for property lines. Use your survey for accurate property line locations.
What if City of Guelph rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one. Add missing lot dimensions, scale, setbacks, existing structures, accessory building sizes, pool fence details, hardscaping distances, metric measurements, or survey-based property line information as requested.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when property line accuracy matters, especially for pools and hot tubs. You may need professional help when the project is structural, engineered, complex, or when City of Guelph 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 residential building permit in City of Guelph.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Guelph. Get started
