Site Plan for a Shed Permit
Adding a shed? Many cities require a building permit once a shed passes a certain size, and a site plan is the document that shows where the shed will sit and proves it meets your property's setback rules. This guide covers when you need a site plan for a shed permit, what it has to show, and how to get a permit-ready PDF in as little as 24 hours.
Need a shed permit site plan?
Drawn from your survey, plat, or aerial imagery — no site visit, no surveyor. From $79.
Order your shed site plan See how it worksDo you need a site plan for a shed permit?
It depends on your shed's size and where you live. Many jurisdictions exempt small sheds (often those under roughly 100–200 square feet) from a permit — but above that threshold, most require a building permit, and a site plan is one of the standard documents requested. Even when a small shed is permit-exempt, your city usually still expects it to respect setbacks and stay off easements, so a site plan can help you avoid placing it somewhere you'll later be forced to move it.
Rules vary by city and county, so confirm with your local building department. If they've asked for a "site plan," "plot plan," or "drawing showing the shed location and setbacks," this is exactly what they mean.
What a shed permit site plan must show
The reviewer needs to confirm your shed fits within your property and the setback rules. A complete shed site plan generally includes:
- Property lines with dimensions
- The existing house and any other structures, with distances to the property lines
- The proposed shed — its size and exact location
- Setback dimensions — distance from the shed to the rear and side property lines (sheds usually sit in a back or side yard)
- Easements — a shed generally can't sit on a utility or drainage easement
- A north arrow and scale
- Driveways, walkways, and the street where relevant
How to get a site plan for your shed permit
1. Draw it yourself
Free but error-prone. A wrong scale or missing setback can get your permit rejected and send you back to start.
2. Hire a surveyor
Thorough but typically $500–$1,500+ and slow — usually overkill for a residential shed.
3. Use a drafting service
A professional draws a permit-ready site plan remotely from $79, delivered as a PDF in about 24 hours.
How Jobsite Plans creates your shed site plan
- You order online and send your property address plus the shed's size and where it'll go.
- We draft the plan from your survey or plat if you have one, or county parcel records and current aerial imagery if you don't.
- You get a scaled, print-ready PDF in as little as 24 hours — property lines, existing home, your new shed, and labeled setbacks, formatted for submittal.
- Free revisions if your building department or HOA requests a change.
Get your permit-ready shed site plan
Scaled PDF in 24 hours · From $79 · All 50 states · Free revisions
Start my shed site planWhat you'll need to send us
- Your property address
- The shed's size and location (for example, "10 ft × 12 ft in the back-right corner, about 5 ft off the rear and side lines")
- If you have one: a survey, plat, or lot dimensions (photo or PDF). No survey? We'll use parcel records and aerial imagery.
- Any specific submittal requirements from your city
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a shed?
It depends on size and location. Many cities exempt small sheds (often under 100–200 sq ft) but require a permit above that. Confirm with your local building department — and if they asked for a site plan, this is what they need.
Do I need a site plan if my shed is permit-exempt?
Often yes in practice. Even exempt sheds usually must meet setback and easement rules, and a site plan shows you're placing it legally so you don't have to move it later.
How much does a shed permit site plan cost?
A surveyor typically charges $500–$1,500+. Jobsite Plans starts at $79 for a permit-ready shed site plan.
Do I need a survey to get one?
No. If you have a survey or plat we'll use it; if not, we work from county parcel records and aerial imagery.
How long does it take?
Most shed site plans are delivered as a scaled PDF in as little as 24 hours.
Is this a boundary survey?
No. Our plans are professional drafting for permit purposes and are not certified boundary surveys; field-verify dimensions before building.
More permit site plans
Ready to pull your shed permit?
Order today and have your permit-ready site plan in as little as 24 hours.
Order now — from $79 Send my project detailsJobsite Plans provides professional site-plan drafting for permit purposes. Our plans are non-certified and are not boundary surveys; always field-verify dimensions and confirm requirements with your local building department before submittal or construction.