Free site plan maker for building permits
Draw a to-scale site plan in your browser with property lines, setbacks, the house, additions, pools and solar panels, then export a print-ready PDF for your permit. Free, no download, no account needed.
Open the site plan makerAnswer a correction letter
What a permit site plan needs to show
Requirements vary by city and county, but most building departments ask a residential site plan to show:
- All property lines with their lengths, and the street name.
- A north arrow and the drawing scale.
- Every existing and proposed structure, labeled (E) or (N), with its dimensions.
- Setbacks: the distance from each structure to each property line, and the required setback lines.
- The distance between buildings.
- Easements, driveways, walkways, patios and other hardscape.
- Pools, spas and equipment locations.
- Utilities like the electric meter, main panel, gas meter, water meter and sewer cleanout or septic system.
- The project address, APN, owner and scope of work, and lot coverage if your zoning limits it.
Missing setbacks, dimensions and north arrows are some of the most common site plan corrections. The site plan maker puts them on the sheet for you.
How it works
1. Start with the lot
Load an aerial photo of the address and trace the property lines, type the lot's dimensions, click the corners, or trace over an existing plot plan.
2. Add what's there and what's new
Pick houses, garages, additions, ADUs, patio covers, pools, spas, solar panels, fences, utility lines, meters and trees from the library. Type the sizes and they're drawn to scale. Any-shape tools handle L-shaped buildings and free-form pools.
3. Check setbacks and distances
Enter the setbacks from your zoning rules. The plan draws the setback lines, shows exact distances to every property line, and flags anything proposed that crosses into a setback.
4. Export a print-ready PDF
Pick the paper and it shows the standard scales that fit. The PDF comes out at that exact scale with a north arrow and scale bar, plus a title block and legend if you want them. You can turn labels off, or drop the title block so the drawing uses the whole sheet.
Need a site plan for the permit?Draw one to scale in your browser and export a print-ready PDF. Free, no download.
Open the site plan makerCommon site plan scales
| Scale | 1 inch on paper equals | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8" = 1'-0" | 8 feet | Small lots and close-up plans |
| 1" = 10' | 10 feet | Typical residential lots on 11 x 17 |
| 1" = 20' | 20 feet | Larger residential lots |
| 1" = 30' to 1" = 50' | 30 to 50 feet | Large lots and rural parcels |
Print the PDF at 100% or "actual size," not "fit to page," and check the printout against the scale bar with a ruler.
Who it's for
Solar and pool contractors who need a quick site plan for every permit, general contractors and remodelers, ADU and addition designers, and homeowners pulling their own owner-builder permits.
Frequently asked questions
Is the site plan maker really free?
Yes. It's free during early access, runs in your web browser and doesn't need an account. Your drawings are saved in your browser on your device.
Is it accurate enough for a permit?
It draws exactly the dimensions you enter, at a true scale. It's a drafting aid, not a survey, so use property line lengths from your deed, recorded map or survey, and measure existing buildings on site. Aerial photos and traced plans are approximate.
What paper size should I use?
Many building departments accept 11 x 17 inch (tabloid) sheets for residential site plans, and larger projects often use 18 x 24 or 24 x 36. The PDF export offers Letter, Legal, Tabloid, ARCH C and ARCH D. Check your department's submittal requirements.
Can I hide the labels or the title block?
Yes. You can turn labels off for the whole plan or for single shapes and lines, and you can export with your title block filled in, blank for filling in by hand, or with no title block so the drawing uses the whole sheet.
Can I start from an aerial photo?
Yes. Type the address to load an aerial photo at the right scale, then trace the property lines and buildings over it. You can also trace over an existing plot plan image after setting its scale.