How to Draw a Site Plan for a Residential Building Permit in City of Markham
Ilya Tkachov
Updated
If you are preparing a residential building permit application in City of Markham, the site plan should start from a reliable property survey. City of Markham's residential guidance repeatedly connects the site plan to current-survey information: housing projects need property lines referenced to a current survey, and pool enclosure applications call for a site plan prepared using a current survey.
This guide explains how to draw a site plan for a residential building permit in City of Markham, what to show for common homeowner projects, and how to turn survey information into a clear permit drawing.
What is a site plan?
Site plan definition
A site plan is a scaled drawing of your property from above. It shows the lot lines, existing buildings, proposed work, key dimensions, and the distances between the proposed work and property lines.
For a homeowner, a site plan for property shows where the project sits on the lot. A site plan for a residential building permit helps City of Markham review the project location, zoning summary, building dimensions, finished floor elevations, pool enclosure details, gate details, septic location when applicable, and required separation between buildings.
Common site plan terminology
| Term | Plain-English meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Setbacks | The distances from a deck, porch, shed, detached garage, coach house, garden home, pool, or other structure to the property lines. |  Setback example |
| Existing buildings and structures | Buildings and site features already on the property, such as the house, garage, deck, shed, driveway, pool, or fence. |  Existing structures example |
| Proposed buildings and structures | New work you want approved, such as a proposed deck, unenclosed porch, shed, detached garage, coach house, garden home, or pool. |  Proposed structures example |
| Dimensions | Measurements written on the drawing, including building width, building length, proposed work size, and setbacks. |  Site plan dimensions example |
| Lot lines or property lines | The legal edges of the property. In City of Markham, several residential permit paths ask for these lines to be referenced to a current survey. |  Property line example |
Do you need a site plan?
You usually need a site plan for City of Markham residential projects that add, locate, or enclose work on the property. City of Markham's building permit guidance lists site plan requirements for housing projects such as decks, unenclosed porches, sheds, and detached garages, as well as for coach houses, garden homes, and pool enclosures.
For those covered project types, treat the current survey as the starting point for the final permit drawing. A map screenshot or rough yard sketch can help you think through the project, but it should not replace the survey-based site plan when City of Markham asks for property lines referenced to a current survey.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Markham. Get started
Site plan requirements for residential building permits in City of Markham
The exact site plan requirements depend on the project type, but a City of Markham residential site plan may need to include:
- Property lines referenced to a current survey
- Location of all proposed and existing buildings
- Overall dimensions of buildings, including width and length
- Zoning summary showing permitted and proposed values
- Proposed finished first floor elevations
- Proposed finished basement elevations when they apply
- Limiting distance line between the existing house and a coach house or garden home
- Proposed pool location and existing buildings for a pool enclosure
- Fence height, fence material, fence location, and gate details for a pool enclosure
- Self-closing and self-latching gate information for a pool enclosure
- Septic system location if the property has a private on-site sewage system
Decks, unenclosed porches, sheds, and detached garages
For these housing projects, prepare the site plan from a current survey. Show the property lines, the location of all existing and proposed buildings, the overall width and length of each building, and the zoning summary comparing permitted and proposed values. Add proposed finished first floor elevations and basement elevations when they apply to the project.
The drawing should let the reviewer answer the basic zoning questions quickly: where the work is going, how large it is, and how far it sits from the surveyed property lines.
Coach houses and garden homes
For an additional residential unit such as a coach house or garden home, include the site plan, zoning summary, property lines referenced to a current survey, all proposed and existing buildings, overall building dimensions, proposed finished first floor elevations, and the limiting distance line between the existing house and the coach house or garden home.
Because this project type places another residential building on the lot, the relationship between the existing house, the proposed unit, and the property lines should be especially clear.
Pool enclosures
For a pool enclosure, use a site plan prepared from a current survey. Show the property lines, existing buildings, proposed pool location, proposed fence location, fence height, fence material, gate location, and gate details. The gate notes should show that the gate is self-closing and self-latching.
If the property uses a private on-site sewage system, show the septic system location as part of the pool enclosure plan.
(With Survey) How to draw a site plan using a survey for City of Markham
For the covered City of Markham permit types, the survey is not just a helpful reference. It is the practical base for the final site plan because the local guidance asks for current-survey information.
If you do not have a survey, look through your closing documents, ask your lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company, or submit a Freedom of Information request to City of Markham. You can also read our guide for getting a property survey in Ontario before paying for a new one.
1. Print your survey, and get an extra blank piece of paper
Print the survey at a readable size. If possible, keep the scale intact. Get a blank sheet of paper, tracing paper, or a transparent digital layer if you are working on a tablet.
Do not mark up your only original copy. Work on a copy so you can start over if needed.
Example property survey to use as the base drawing
Blank paper, ruler, and pen for drawing over a survey
2. Place the paper over, and trace important details
Trace the property boundary, street, north arrow, existing house, existing accessory buildings, and any surveyed features that may affect the permit review. Include easements, rights-of-way, drainage features, private sewage system areas, or other limitations if they are shown and relevant.
For City of Markham housing projects, make sure the property lines remain traceable to the current survey. For a pool enclosure, keep enough survey context to show the proposed pool, fence, gates, existing buildings, and septic location if applicable.
Survey details traced by hand
3. Draw your proposed structures and add measurements and setbacks
Draw the proposed deck, unenclosed porch, shed, detached garage, coach house, garden home, or pool on the survey copy or traced plan. Label each item as proposed.
Add the dimensions City of Markham needs to review the project. For buildings, include overall width and length. For zoning review, add setbacks from the proposed work to the nearest property lines. If the survey already shows distances from the house to the property lines, use those measurements to calculate the remaining distance after the proposed work is added.
Proposed structures drawn on traced survey
4. Add the project-specific City of Markham details
Before submitting, add the details that match your permit type:
- For decks, porches, sheds, and detached garages, add the zoning summary and finished floor or basement elevations when required.
- For coach houses and garden homes, add the limiting distance line between the existing house and the proposed unit.
- For pool enclosures, add fence height, fence material, fence location, gate location, self-closing and self-latching gate notes, and septic system location when applicable.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Markham. Get started
Site plan examples for permit for City of Markham
A strong City of Markham site plan example is survey-based and easy to check. The property lines are clear, existing and proposed buildings are labelled, dimensions are written directly on the drawing, and the zoning summary compares the proposed design against the permitted values.
For a deck, porch, shed, or detached garage, the example should focus on the surveyed lot, the proposed structure, overall dimensions, setbacks, and required elevations. For a coach house or garden home, it should also show the limiting distance line to the existing house. For a pool enclosure, it should make the pool, fence, gates, existing buildings, and septic system location easy to review without hunting through the rest of the package.
Common site plan mistakes that delay your residential building permit in City of Markham
Most delays happen when the site plan does not answer the reviewer's basic location and zoning questions. Before submitting, check the drawing against the City of Markham permit guide for your project type.
Using a drawing that is not tied to a current survey
For the covered City of Markham project types, do not rely on an online map or approximate property outline as the final permit drawing. Use a current survey as the base so the property lines and existing building locations are reliable.
Leaving out the zoning summary
Housing projects, coach houses, and garden homes need a zoning summary showing permitted and proposed values. The site plan and zoning summary should match each other.
Missing overall building dimensions
Write the width and length of the existing and proposed buildings. A drawn rectangle without dimensions forces the reviewer to guess, which can lead to comments or resubmission.
Missing elevations or limiting distance information
Where City of Markham asks for proposed finished floor elevations, basement elevations, or a limiting distance line, show them clearly. These notes are part of the permit review, not optional decoration.
Incomplete pool enclosure details
For pool enclosures, show the proposed pool, fence height, fence material, fence location, gate location, and self-closing and self-latching gate details. If the property has private sewage servicing, add the septic system location.
Frequently asked questions about site plans
Can homeowners prepare and submit their own drawings in City of Markham?
Yes. In 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 Markham can still require complete permit drawings, current-survey information, zoning details, elevations, or professional input for work that needs it.
What if City of Markham asks me to fill out a Schedule 1: Designer Information form?
If you are using the Ontario homeowner exemption, the Schedule 1 form usually identifies the design activity as House. In the project description, use the actual work, such as "deck," "porch," "shed," or "pool enclosure."
Under the designer declaration, choose the option stating that the design work is exempt from registration and qualification requirements of the Building Code. For the basis of exemption, enter "Homeowner."
Where can I get a legal property survey in City of Markham?
Start with your closing package, then ask your lawyer, closing agent, or mortgage company. If you still cannot find one, submit a Freedom of Information request to City of Markham. The city's FOI process is the local route for requesting records such as property survey information when available.
Does my survey need to be recent?
City of Markham's guidance uses the phrase "current survey" for the covered site plan requirements. If your survey is old, compare it against the property today. Add current structures and proposed work to the site plan, and confirm with City of Markham if you are unsure whether the survey is acceptable for your permit type.
Can I use Google Maps for my City of Markham site plan?
Use online maps only for private planning or early layout discussions. For the covered City of Markham residential projects, prepare the final submission from a current survey because the permit guidance asks for survey-based property line information.
What if City of Markham rejects my site plan?
Read the review comments and revise the drawing to answer each one directly. Common fixes include adding the current-survey reference, zoning summary, property-line setbacks, building width and length, finished floor elevations, basement elevations, limiting distance line, pool fence details, gate notes, or septic system location.
Conclusion
A good beginner site plan does not need to look complicated, but in City of Markham it does need to be grounded in the current survey requirements for the covered residential permit types. Start with the surveyed property lines, add the existing and proposed work, then label the dimensions, zoning details, elevations, pool enclosure details, and other project-specific information City of Markham asks to review.
Create a site plan for free using HomeCat that gets your building permit approved in City of Markham. Get started