Your Plot or Site Plan

Most municipalities require a scaled plot plan when applying for permits. The purpose of the plot plan is to show its concurrence with community planning codes and property covenants. It shows that your new structure is not penetrating buffers and easements and that it will be built within the acceptable area of the property. The information below is generally considered the information required for plot plan review. Your municipality may require additional information. As someone interested in building it is important that you meet with officials to verify what they will require at the time of submittal for permits. These laws may change from year to year and from municipality to municipality.

The following items are to be included on plot plans:

Your Site Information

The Property Boundaries: Show the bearing and length of all property boundary lines. This can be found on past surveys. If a survey cannot be found, having a boundary line survey is advised to avoid costly boundary line disputes later.

Roads and Streets: Name and dimension to the center of the primary access roads. If the property abuts any other roads they should also be noted. When drawing a road show the overall width of the approved road, and then the width of each lane of the road as recorded by the municipality. Finally show and dimension public easements for drainage, sidewalks, etc…

Easements: Easements are access pathways guaranteed by law on subdivided lots and land. Easements are allowed for public services, access to private property, storm drains, curbs, etc… Wetlands buffers are also easements that you cannot build on. On a surveyed property these areas are outlined and noted. If you have any questions about easements a visit to the building department will provide you with correct information.

Setbacks: Dimension and draw the correct building setbacks on the back, sides and front of the property. The area inside setbacks is the buildable area. The structure foundation may not penetrate any easement or setback outside of this area. Roof overhangs are generally allowed to penetrate setbacks.

Show North: Show the direction of true North.

Topography: Show topographical elevation lines at regular intervals (i.e. 2’0” or 5’0”) increments, especially in the buildable area. This will help identify what will happen with the grade during construction.

Existing Structures: Your plot map should show the correct size and location of existing structures that will remain after the proposed building is finished.

Wells, Septic, and Drain Field: Show and dimension all wells and septic tanks and drain fields, decommissioned or functional. Sometimes it is almost impossible to draw drain fields exactly, so the general area is often acceptable. If you are on public water and/or sewer, it should be noted on the plan.

Your Proposed Building or Addition

The Proposed Structure: Provide an outline of the proposed building with the overall dimensions (width and depth). If the structure is not to be placed perpendicular to any of the boundary lines, you can triangulate it on the plan by measuring from each corner of the structure to its corresponding corner of the property.

Dimension To Property Line: Once you have the proposed structure located on the plot map or site plan, dimension to the property lines from the corresponding closest point of the structure.

Final Grade Elevations: Show the elevation of the grade at each corner of the proposed building. If you cannot determine the actual height from sea level, many municipalities will allow you to determine based on the center of the curb + or – (example -2’0” or +4’0”). This information will also be requested on the building plans on the elevation page.

Driveways and Walkways: Show your intended non-permeable surfaces (pavement, sidewalks, driveway).

Information Notes:
You will want to have notes for your project on the plot map or site plan.

• Builder’s name and phone number
• Owner’s name and phone number
• Site tax ID number
• Site Address and/or lot number
• Abbreviated legal description
• Overall size of the structure (W x D)
• Property Zoning

Scale of the drawing is to be shown somewhere on the page. Often this will be below the name of the drawing. Common scales to the inch for plot maps are 10’0”, 20’0”, 30’0”, 50’0.”