How to Draw a Site Plan for a Building Permit in Oshawa
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are applying for a residential building permit in City of Oshawa, the site plan is the drawing that tells the reviewer where the work will sit on your property. City of Oshawa accepts a plan of survey or a site plan, and its building permit guidance says a hand-drawn likeness is acceptable when it clearly shows the property lines, driveway dimensions, and existing and proposed buildings.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of Oshawa, what to include for common homeowner projects, and when it is worth starting from a survey instead of a blank 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 Oshawa expects on top of that.
City of Oshawa is more forgiving than most: for small residential work the drawing does not have to look like a professional architectural plan, as long as it is readable, dimensioned, and accurate enough for the City to see the lot, the existing structures, the proposed work, setbacks, easements, rights-of-way, drainage, and septic details where they apply.
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan when your City of Oshawa project adds or changes something outside the house. City of Oshawa's residential guidance refers to site plans or surveys for sheds, garages, decks, pools, and hot tubs. Start with the City's building permits page, the deck construction guide (PDF), or pools and hot tubs.
For a basic building permit, the site plan should show property lines, driveway dimensions, and existing and proposed buildings. For sheds, garages, and decks, City of Oshawa's guides ask for the most recent survey or site plan for the property, drawn to scale, with existing buildings and structures, proposed work, setbacks, and applicable easements, rights-of-way, or sewage system components.
For pools and hot tubs, the drawing is more detailed. City of Oshawa asks for a plan view sketch with pool and equipment details, landscaping, property lines, dimensions, drainage pattern, construction access, and the land within 0.6 m of the property line remaining undisturbed. The pool enclosure drawing should also show lot lines, buildings, the pool, enclosure, gates, dwelling access to the pool area, streets, and driveway location.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Oshawa. Get started
Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of Oshawa
The exact City of Oshawa requirements depend on the project, but a strong site plan usually includes:
- The entire property with lot dimensions
- Property lines
- Street name and driveway location or driveway dimensions
- Existing house and existing buildings or structures
- Proposed building, structure, pool, hot tub, equipment pad, enclosure, or other work
- Dimensions of all existing buildings and structures that matter to the project
- Dimensions of the proposed work
- Setbacks from the proposed work to all property lines
- Setbacks to on-site sewage system components, easements, or rights-of-way when applicable
- Pool equipment, fencing, gates, door access, landscaping, drainage, construction access, and undisturbed property-line areas for pool and hot tub work when applicable
City of Oshawa puts responsibility on the owner to provide accurate site information for building permit applications, including dimensions, lot area, property line locations, easements, and rights-of-way. Start with the City's guide for your project type, then use the site plan to make those details visible.
Sheds and garages
For a shed or garage, City of Oshawa asks for a copy of the most recent survey or site plan showing the dimensions of all existing buildings and structures and their setbacks, drawn to scale. Plot the proposed garage or shed on the plan and show setback dimensions to all property lines.
The site plan should include the entire property with lot dimensions, the location and dimensions of the proposed building or structure, the location and dimensions of existing buildings and structures, and the setback from the proposed work to any on-site sewage system components or easements if they apply.
Site plan example for Shed/Garage in City of Oshawa
Decks
For a deck, City of Oshawa's deck guide asks for the most recent survey or site plan for the property. Show the dimensions of all existing buildings and structures, draw the plan to scale, plot the proposed deck, and add setback dimensions to all property lines.
Include the full lot, the existing house, existing decks, porches, sheds, garages, or other nearby structures, the proposed deck size and location, and any applicable easements, rights-of-way, or on-site sewage system setbacks.
Site plan example for Deck in City of Oshawa
Pools and hot tubs
For pools and hot tubs, prepare the plan view sketch and pool enclosure drawing with enough detail to show both the pool location and the enclosure layout.
The plan view sketch should indicate the proposed pool and equipment pad, proposed or existing landscaping, property lines, dimensions throughout, overland flow drainage pattern, proposed construction access, and the land within 0.6 m of the property line that will remain undisturbed.
For the pool enclosure drawing, show lot lines, buildings and their use, the proposed pool location, fencing and gate locations, door access from the dwelling to the pool area, the streets the lot faces, and the driveway location.
How to draw your City of Oshawa 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 Oshawa explicitly accepts a hand-drawn likeness, so the by-hand method is a legitimate route here as long as the drawing clearly shows the property lines, driveway dimensions, and existing and proposed buildings. That said, the City's shed and garage guidance and its deck construction guide both ask for the most recent survey or site plan for the property, drawn to scale — so if you have a survey, start from it using the survey method.
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 City of Oshawa. Our guide to getting a property survey in Ontario covers the cheaper options before paying for a new one.
Whichever method you use, add the driveway and its dimensions — City of Oshawa's general site plan instructions call for them even on projects that do not touch the driveway. For pool and hot tub work, also show the overland flow drainage direction, the proposed construction access, and the strip of land within 0.6 m of the property line that will remain undisturbed.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Oshawa. Get started
Site plan examples for permit for City of Oshawa
City of Oshawa provides local sample site plans for sheds, garages, and decks. Use the sample that matches your project type and copy the level of detail, not the sample property's measurements.
For sheds and garages, the example shows how to place the proposed structure on the lot and dimension it against the property lines and existing structures.
Site plan example for Shed/Garage in City of Oshawa
For decks, the example is useful for showing how the proposed deck relates to the house, lot lines, and other structures on the property.
Site plan example for Deck in City of Oshawa
For pools and hot tubs, your site plan should be more detailed than a simple accessory-structure sketch. Make sure the pool, pool equipment pad, enclosure, gates, doors leading to the pool area, driveway, streets, drainage pattern, construction access, landscaping, and property-line protection area are clear.
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of Oshawa
Most City of Oshawa site plan delays come from missing dimensions, unclear property lines, or leaving out information that the local guide specifically asks for.
Missing property lines or lot dimensions
Show the entire property and write the lot dimensions. For sheds, garages, and decks, City of Oshawa asks for the entire property with lot dimensions.
Missing existing buildings and structures
Do not draw only the proposed work. Add the existing house and existing buildings or structures, including sheds, garages, decks, porches, driveways, and other nearby features that affect the permit review.
Missing setbacks to all property lines
For sheds, garages, and decks, show setback dimensions from the proposed work to all property lines. If there are easements, rights-of-way, or sewage system components, add those setbacks when applicable.
Not drawing the plan to scale when the guide asks for it
City of Oshawa's shed, garage, and deck guidance refers to a survey or site plan drawn to scale. A hand-drawn plan can still be acceptable, but the measurements and proportions need to be clear enough for review.
Incomplete pool or hot tub information
For pools and hot tubs, do not stop at the pool outline. Add the pool equipment pad, fencing, gate locations, dwelling access, driveway, streets, landscaping, drainage pattern, construction access, and the undisturbed 0.6 m area near property lines where applicable.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Oshawa?
Yes. Ontario homeowners 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 Oshawa can still require drawings that are accurate, dimensioned, drawn to scale when required, and complete enough for permit review.
What if City of Oshawa 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," "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 Oshawa?
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 City of Oshawa.
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 for property lines and existing conditions. Update the site plan so it shows current buildings, decks, sheds, garages, driveways, pools, fences, easements, rights-of-way, septic components, and the proposed work.
Can I use a hand-drawn site plan in City of Oshawa?
Yes, City of Oshawa says a hand-drawn likeness is acceptable for a site plan. Make it readable, dimensioned, and project-specific. For sheds, garages, and decks, keep the drawing to scale and include the full property, existing structures, proposed work, and setbacks.
What if City of Oshawa rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing item by item. Common fixes include adding missing lot dimensions, driveway dimensions, existing structures, proposed work dimensions, setbacks to all property lines, easements, rights-of-way, sewage system information, pool enclosure details, or drainage information.
When do I need a survey or professional drawing?
Use a survey when property line accuracy matters, when the project is close to a lot line, easement, right-of-way, or septic component, or when the permit reviewer asks for more reliable property information. You may need professional help for engineered, structural, complex, or non-standard work.
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 Oshawa.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your residential building permit approved in City of Oshawa. Get started
