How do I draw a site plan for council?

You draw a site plan for council by starting from the lot’s boundaries and their lengths, adding what already stands on the lot, then placing the new structure with its size and its distance to every boundary, all to one scale with a north point. The certifier or the council reads the distances off the sheet rather than working them out, so each one they need has to be printed.

Where do the boundaries come from?

From the registered survey plan of the lot, or from the state’s map of land parcels drawn over an aerial photo. The survey plan gives the boundary lengths; the state’s map gives the shape and where the lot sits. Neither shows the buildings, which come from the photo or from measuring on site. The post on finding your lot and plan number covers the survey plan.

How do I draw a site plan to scale?

Pick one scale that fits the lot on the sheet and state it on the plan, with a scale bar so it still reads if the sheet is printed smaller. Draw the boundaries first, then the house, the sheds and the driveway already there, then the new work. By hand that means a scale rule and graph paper; in software the scale comes from the lot itself, so the lengths stay true when the sheet is printed.

What has to be on it?

the boundaries with their lengths, and the street the lot faces
every building already on the lot, and the new structure at its true size
the distance from the new work to each boundary
easements, sewer mains and anything mapped over the lot
a north point, the scale, the address and the site cover

Can I draw my own site plan?

Yes. For most patios, sheds, carports, pools and fences the council or the certifier accepts a clear site plan from the owner, as long as it is to scale and shows what they need. A surveyor comes in where the true position of a boundary matters, such as a wall on the line. The post on getting a site plan for council covers the other ways.

What gets a site plan sent back?

A distance missing on one boundary, a distance measured to the post instead of the roof edge, a plan that is not to scale, and buildings left off because they were not part of the job. Each one brings a request for more information and a wait.

Reading it for your own lot

RapidSiteplan reads the lot from its address in a minute: the boundaries from the land records over the aerial photo, the house, sheds and driveway traced, and the overlays and services where they are published. Place the new structure and the sheet prints to scale with the boundary lengths, the distances, a north point and the site cover. The shed and carport page shows the sheet, and the council pages for every state show what each council maps. Start with the address.

Common questions

How do I draw a site plan for council? Start from the lot’s boundaries and their lengths, draw what already stands on the lot, then add the new structure with its size and its distance to every boundary, all to one scale with a north point. The certifier or the council reads the distances off the sheet, so every one they need has to be printed.

How do I draw a site plan to scale? Pick one scale that fits the lot on the sheet, state it on the plan and add a scale bar, then draw the boundaries first, the buildings already there next and the new work last. In software the scale comes from the lot itself, so the lengths stay true when the sheet is printed.

Can I draw my own site plan? Yes. For most patios, sheds, carports, pools and fences the council or the certifier accepts a clear site plan from the owner, as long as it is to scale and shows what they need. A surveyor comes in where the true position of a boundary matters.