The PermitsGuide Pre-Submission Checklist
Quick answer
Before any site plan goes to the building department, verify seven things: setbacks labeled, scale stated and true, existing structures shown, project dimensioned, easements clear, basics block complete, format matched to your city. Every plan we deliver arrives with the first six done; the seventh takes thirty seconds on your city's website.
Most site plan rejections are not about drawing skill. They are about one missing label that sends the whole application back into the queue. This checklist is the short list our drafters check before any plan leaves our shop, published so you can hold any drawing to the same standard, ours, your own, or anyone else's.
Print this page and check each box before you submit.
The seven checks
1. Every setback distance is labeled with a number. The distance from your project to each property line, written on the drawing, not implied by it. This is the first thing the reviewer looks for and the most common correction notice.
2. The scale is stated, and the drawing matches it. "1 inch = 20 feet" on the sheet, and measurements that genuinely hold up when the reviewer puts a scale ruler on them.
3. All existing structures are shown. The house, garage, shed, driveway, everything already on the lot. A plan that shows only the new project cannot prove lot coverage.
4. The project's own dimensions are written out. Length and width on the drawing, matching the numbers on your application form.
5. Easements are drawn, and the project stays clear. Utility and drainage easements are where avoidable rejections live. If you are not certain where they run, find out before you submit, not after.
6. The basics block is complete. North arrow, stated scale, parcel number or site address, and adjacent street names. Plans missing these often get returned unread.
7. The format matches your city's requirements. Many departments now want a PDF upload; some still want paper copies at a specific sheet size. Thirty seconds on your building department's checklist page settles it.
What we handle for you
Checks 1 through 6 are drafting work. Every plan we deliver arrives with all six done: drawn to scale from county GIS and satellite imagery, setbacks dimensioned, existing structures included, easements shown where records identify them, basics block complete. That leaves you exactly one job, check 7, matching your city's submission format, and our delivery email covers how to handle the common cases.
That is the idea behind the Permit-Ready Starter Pack: every order includes the site plan itself, this checklist, our plain-English permit guides for your project and state, and free revisions until your building department accepts the plan. See pricing and turnaround, from $89 with delivery in 24 to 48 hours.
If you are drawing your own plan
Use the checklist exactly as written, and be strict about check 2: the single most common DIY failure is a drawing that claims a scale it does not hold. Our complete guide to site plans for permits walks through when a DIY sketch is a sound choice and how reviewers read your drawing. If you get partway in and want it done for you, the drafting option is a day or two away.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before submitting a site plan?
Seven things: setback distances labeled with numbers, a stated scale the drawing actually matches, all existing structures shown, the project's dimensions written out, easements drawn with the project clear of them, a complete basics block (north arrow, scale, parcel ID, street names), and a file or sheet format matching your city's requirements. The first six are drafting work and come done on every plan we deliver; the seventh takes thirty seconds on your building department's website.
What is included in the Permit-Ready Starter Pack?
Every site plan order includes the permit-ready plan drawn to your lot, this Pre-Submission Checklist, our plain-English permit guides for your project type and state, and free revisions until your building department accepts the plan. Tiers run $89 to $259 depending on turnaround (48 down to 24 hours) and revision terms, all backed by the approval guarantee.
Why do site plans get rejected?
Almost always for checklist reasons rather than judgment calls: a missing setback dimension, a drawing not actually to scale, existing structures left off, an easement conflict, or a missing north arrow, scale note, or parcel number. Reviewers issue a correction notice, you fix the item, and the application goes back in the queue. A plan that passes all seven checks usually goes through in one pass.
Permit requirements vary by city, county, and state. The information in this guide provides general guidance based on common building codes and practices across the US. Always verify requirements with your local building department before starting your project.