How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in Kingston
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a building permit in City of Kingston, the site plan or plot plan is the drawing that connects your project to the actual lot. City of Kingston's deck guidance says the site plan can be hand drawn, but it must be clear, concise, and drawn to scale. Pool enclosure projects need a more detailed plot plan with distances to the pool, fence, gates, equipment, septic features, easements, and nearby structures.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a building permit in City of Kingston, what details to include for decks, porches, pools, and accessory structures, and how to use a survey when exact property-line information matters.
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, easements and rights-of-way actually mean, and why municipalities ask for the drawing at all. Then come back here for what City of Kingston expects on top of that.
One local wrinkle: City of Kingston uses both "site plan" and "plot plan" in its permit guidance — plot plan is the wording it uses for pool enclosure permits. They mean the same kind of drawing, so focus less on the label and more on making it scaled, readable, and complete for your project type.
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your City of Kingston project changes the outside of the property or adds a structure that must be located on the lot. City of Kingston specifically asks for a site plan for deck and porch permits. It also asks for a plot plan for pool enclosure permits, and accessory structure checklist material refers to a plot plan.
For a deck or porch, the site plan should show property lines, structures, septic bed and tank location where applicable, the deck, deck dimensions, and dimensions from the edge of the deck or stairs to each property line. City of Kingston says this can be hand drawn as long as it is clear, concise, and drawn to scale.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Kingston. Get started
Site plan requirements for building permits in City of Kingston
Start with the City's own building permit application checklist (PDF), and the permit page for your project type — deck permits or pool permits.
The exact City of Kingston requirements depend on the project, but a useful site plan usually includes:
- Property lines
- Existing structures on the property
- Proposed deck, porch, pool, shed, gazebo, or accessory structure
- Dimensions of the proposed work
- Dimensions from the edge of the proposed work to each property line
- Septic bed and tank location where applicable
- Existing and proposed fences when a pool enclosure is involved
- Self-closing and self-latching gate locations for pool enclosures
- Pool equipment location and equipment setbacks
- Easements, rights-of-way, and retaining walls when applicable
- Nearby buildings, decks, access doors, and climbable objects when they affect a pool enclosure
Use the City of Kingston checklist for your exact permit type. A deck site plan can stay focused on the deck, stairs, property lines, structures, and septic details. A pool enclosure plot plan needs more measurement and safety information.
Decks and porches
For a deck or porch, draw the property lines, existing structures, septic bed and tank location where applicable, the deck or porch, and the deck dimensions. Add dimensions from the edge of the deck or stairs to each property line.
City of Kingston allows this drawing to be hand drawn, but it must be clear, concise, and drawn to scale. Use written measurements rather than relying on visual proportions alone.
Pool enclosures
For a pool enclosure, include elevation drawings of the proposed and existing fence enclosures, plus a plot plan showing the pool and enclosure details.
Show measurements from property lines to the pool water's edge, pool decking distance to property lines, distance from the pool enclosure to the pool water's edge, distance from buildings, decks, and access doors to the pool edge, existing and proposed fences, self-closing and self-latching gates, mechanical pool equipment, climbable objects within 1.2 m outside the pool enclosure, easements, rights-of-way, retaining walls, and septic beds and tanks where applicable.
Accessory structures
For a shed, gazebo, or similar accessory structure, prepare a plot plan that locates the proposed structure on the property. If site plan approval or variance documents apply, include them with the permit package.
At minimum, show the property lines, existing structures, proposed structure location, proposed structure dimensions, distances to property lines, and septic features if they apply to the property.
How to draw your City of Kingston 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 Kingston does not insist on a survey for every project. The City's deck permit guidance expressly allows a hand-drawn site plan as long as it is clear, concise, and drawn to scale, so the by-hand method is a legitimate route for decks, porches, and simple accessory structures. Pool enclosure work is the exception — pick a scale you can hold and start from the survey method when exact distances to pool edges, decking, equipment, fences, gates, and property lines are part of the review.
If you do not have a survey, check your closing documents, ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company, or submit an MFIPPA Access/Correction request to the City of Kingston. Our guide to getting a property survey in Ontario covers the cheaper options before paying for a new one.
Whichever method you use, City of Kingston measures decks from the edge of the deck or the stairs to each property line, so draw the stairs if they are part of the project. Add the septic bed and tank location when your property is on septic, and for a pool enclosure include the climbable objects within 1.2 m outside the enclosure.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Kingston. Get started
Common site plan mistakes that delay your building permit in City of Kingston
Most City of Kingston site plan delays come from drawings that are not to scale, missing property-line dimensions, or incomplete pool enclosure information.
Not drawing the plan to scale
City of Kingston's deck guidance says a hand-drawn site plan can work, but it must be drawn to scale. Pick a scale before you start and keep the house, property lines, deck, stairs, and other structures proportional.
Missing dimensions from the deck or stairs to property lines
For decks and porches, show the distance from the edge of the deck or stairs to each property line. Do not include only the deck size.
Missing septic details
If your property has a septic bed or tank, show the location. City of Kingston's deck and pool guidance both reference septic details where applicable.
Missing pool enclosure clearances
For a pool enclosure, include the distances from property lines to the pool water's edge, from pool decking to property lines, from the enclosure to the pool water's edge, from buildings, decks, and access doors to the pool edge, and from mechanical pool equipment to lot lines.
Missing gates, fences, or climbable objects
Show existing and proposed fences, self-closing and self-latching gates, and climbable objects within 1.2 m outside the pool enclosure. These details are part of the enclosure review, not optional decoration.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Kingston?
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 Kingston also says a deck site plan can be hand drawn if it is clear, concise, and drawn to scale.
What if City of Kingston asks me to fill out Schedule 1: Designer Information?
For the design activities section, select House and describe the project, such as "deck," "porch," "pool enclosure," "shed," or "gazebo."
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 Kingston?
Start with your closing documents, then ask your real estate lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. If those do not work, submit an MFIPPA Access/Correction request to the City of Kingston.
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 the site plan or plot plan so it shows current decks, stairs, pools, fences, gates, accessory structures, septic features, retaining walls, and proposed work.
Can I use Google Maps for my City of Kingston site plan?
Use Google Maps only as a planning reference. City of Kingston's deck guidance calls for a clear, concise drawing that is drawn to scale, and pool enclosure work needs specific measured clearances. A survey or carefully scaled drawing is a better base for the permit submission.
What if City of Kingston rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one. Add the missing scale, property-line dimensions, deck or stair setbacks, septic details, pool equipment distances, fence and gate information, easements, rights-of-way, retaining walls, or climbable-object notes that the reviewer requested.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when exact property lines matter, when the project is close to a lot line, when septic features affect the location, or when a pool enclosure requires detailed measured clearances. You may need professional help if the project is engineered, structurally complex, or outside the typical homeowner drawing scope.
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 Kingston.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Kingston. Get started
