More permit site plans
Site Plan for a Deck Permit
Planning to build a deck? Before your city or county will issue a building permit, they almost always require a site plan — a scaled, overhead drawing of your property showing exactly where the new deck will go. This guide explains what a deck permit site plan needs to include, how to get one without hiring a surveyor, and how to have a permit-ready PDF in your inbox in as little as 24 hours.
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We draw it from your survey, plat, or aerial imagery — no site visit, no surveyor. From $79.
Order your deck site plan See how it worksDo you need a site plan for a deck permit?
In most jurisdictions, yes. A deck attached to your home — or a freestanding deck above a certain height — typically requires a building permit, and a site plan is one of the standard documents the building department asks for. The site plan proves your deck will sit within the required setbacks (the minimum distances a structure must keep from your property lines) and won't encroach on easements or your neighbor's land.
Requirements vary by city and county, so always confirm with your local building department. But if you've been told you need a "site plan," "plot plan," or "plan showing the deck location and setbacks," this is exactly what they mean.
What a deck permit site plan must show
A reviewer needs to see your whole property at a glance and confirm the deck fits the rules. A complete deck site plan generally includes:
- Property lines with dimensions (the full lot boundary)
- The existing house and any other structures, with their distances to the property lines
- The proposed deck — its size, shape, and exact location
- Setback dimensions — the distance from the deck to the front, rear, and side property lines
- A north arrow and scale (for example, 1" = 20')
- The street name and which side of the lot faces the road
- Driveways, walkways, and easements where relevant
How to get a site plan for your deck permit
1. Draw it yourself
Free, but slow and error-prone. If your dimensions or scale are off, the city rejects it and you start over. Works only if you're comfortable with measured drawings.
2. Hire a surveyor
The most thorough option, but usually $500–$1,500+ and can take weeks. Overkill for most residential deck permits unless your city specifically requires a stamped survey.
3. Use a drafting service
The middle path: a professional draws a clean, scaled, permit-ready site plan remotely from $79, delivered as a PDF in about 24 hours. No appointment, no site visit.
How Jobsite Plans creates your deck site plan
We're a remote site-plan drafting service for homeowners and contractors nationwide. Here's the process:
- You order online and send us your property address plus a few details about the deck (size and where it goes).
- We draft the plan using 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, showing your property lines, the existing home, your new deck, and labeled setbacks — formatted for building-department submittal.
- Free revisions if your building department or HOA asks for a change.
Get your permit-ready deck site plan
Scaled PDF in 24 hours · From $79 · All 50 states · Free revisions
Start my deck site planWhat you'll need to send us
- Your property address
- The deck's size and location (for example, "12 ft × 16 ft off the back of the house")
- If you have one: a copy of your survey, plat, or lot dimensions (a photo or PDF is fine). No survey? No problem — we work from parcel records and aerial imagery.
- Any specific submittal requirements your city lists, so we can match them
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need a site plan for a deck permit?
Most building departments require one for a deck permit so they can verify your deck meets setback rules and stays within your property. Requirements vary by location, so confirm with your local building department — but if they asked for a site plan or plot plan, this is what they need.
How much does a deck permit site plan cost?
A surveyor typically charges $500–$1,500 or more. A remote drafting service like Jobsite Plans starts at $79 for a basic permit-ready site plan, with most deck plans falling in the $79–$99 range.
Do I need a survey to get a site plan?
No. If you have a survey or plat, it makes the plan more precise and we'll use it. If you don't, we can create your site plan from county parcel records and current aerial imagery.
How long does it take?
We deliver most deck site plans as a scaled, print-ready PDF in as little as 24 hours after you send your details.
Can I just draw the site plan myself?
You can, and some homeowners do. The risk is that an inaccurate scale or missing setback dimensions gets your permit rejected. A professionally drafted plan is inexpensive insurance against a rejected application and a second trip to the permit office.
Is this the same as a boundary survey?
No. Our plans are professional drafting for permit purposes and are not certified boundary surveys. We recommend field-verifying all dimensions before construction. For most residential deck permits this level of plan is exactly what the building department asks for.
Ready to pull your deck 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.