Do I need a site plan for a permit in California?

Most California permit offices require a site plan for fences, decks, pools, sheds, ADUs, and commercial construction. The plan shows your lot boundaries, existing structures, setback distances, and where the proposed project will sit on the property. Check with your local building department to confirm, or contact us — we'll verify the requirements for your specific California jurisdiction before you order.

How much does a site plan cost in California?

Our flat-rate pricing covers all US locations including this area: fence and shed plans start at $129, deck and pool plans at $179, and ADU and addition plans at $249. Commercial projects are custom-quoted. These prices don't vary by location — the same flat rate applies whether your property is in a small town or a major metro area. Compare that to a licensed surveyor in your area, who typically charges $1,000–$3,000+ with a 1–3 week turnaround.

How fast can I get a site plan for my California permit application?

Standard residential plans — fence, deck, pool, shed — are delivered within 24–48 hours of order submission. ADU and addition plans take 24–72 hours. Commercial projects are quoted individually with a specific timeline. If you're on a tight deadline, contact us about rush processing. Submit your order in the morning and your plan may arrive the same business day or the next morning.

Do I need an existing survey to order a site plan?

No — most of our orders don't come with an existing survey. We pull your property's boundary data directly from county GIS systems across California, which is publicly available and covers virtually every parcel in the area. If you do have an existing survey, uploading it speeds up the drafting process and helps on irregular lots — but it's never required.

What if my permit office requests changes to the site plan?

Free revisions are always included. If your permit office reviewer requests any changes — different notation, additional dimensions, formatting adjustments — send us their comments and we'll update the plan and redeliver within 24 hours at no extra charge. This applies to every order, no exceptions.

Can you draw a site plan from just my address?

Yes. For most California properties, your address is all we need to begin. We use it to locate your parcel in the official county GIS system, which gives us your legal property boundaries and lot dimensions. We then confirm the position of existing structures using current aerial imagery. You only need to describe the project you are adding and, if you have them, provide any measurements. An existing survey is helpful on irregular lots but is never required.

Will the California permit office accept a non-certified site plan?

For the large majority of residential permits in California — fences, decks, pools, sheds, and many additions — a non-certified drafting plan like ours is accepted. Some jurisdictions or specific project types require a survey stamped by a licensed surveyor. We research your specific California permit office requirements before you order and tell you upfront if a stamped survey is needed, so you never pay for a plan that will not be accepted.

What file format do I receive, and can I print it?

Your California site plan is delivered as a high-resolution PDF sized for standard letter or tabloid paper, which you can print at home, at an office supply store, or submit digitally through your permit office portal. The PDF is fully scaled, so measurements remain accurate when printed at the correct size. If your California permit office requires a specific sheet size or additional copies, let us know and we will format accordingly at no extra charge.

How do I get started on my California site plan?

Just fill out the quote form on this page with your California property address, project type, and a short description of what you are building. You will receive a confirmation and, for custom projects, a quote within four business hours. For flat-rate residential plans, we begin drafting right away and deliver your permit-ready PDF within 24 to 48 hours. You can also email us directly at drafting@citypermitplans.com with any questions before you order.

CALIFORNIA SITE PLAN SERVICES

Permit-Ready Site Plans in California

We provide permit-focused site plan drafting across California for residential, commercial, and development projects, with typical 24–48 hour turnaround on standard scopes.

Get a Quote → View Plan Examples →

Statewide City & County Coverage
PE-Stamped Plans Available Where Required
24–48 Hour Typical Turnaround
No Routine Site Visit Required

◷24–48 HourTypical Delivery

✓99%Approval Rate

▤PE-Stamped PlansWhere Required

⌖All 50 StatesNationwide Service

Serving California

OUR CALIFORNIA SERVICES

Professional Site Plan Drafting for California Permits

We prepare clear site plans for homes, additions, ADUs, decks, pools, commercial properties, and other development work. Each project is reviewed against the information available for the applicable permit jurisdiction.

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Residential Site PlansHomes, lots, additions, accessory projects

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Building Permit Site PlansPermit-focused property and project layouts

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Deck Permit Site PlansDeck placement, stairs, dimensions, setbacks

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Fence Permit Site PlansFence lines, gates, boundaries, setbacks

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Pool Permit Site PlansPool, equipment, barriers, access, setbacks

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ADU & Addition Site PlansDetached ADUs, additions, utility context

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Garage & Accessory StructuresGarages, sheds and detached structures

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Patio, Porch & Cover PlansPatios, porches and patio-cover layouts

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Commercial Site PlansRetail, office and commercial properties

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Site Plans Without a SurveyPrepared from available property information

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Zoning & Setback Site PlansLot relationships, setbacks and zoning review support

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Site Plans for ContractorsFast drafting support for active projects

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Permit ExpeditingPermit coordination and submission support

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Site Plan RevisionsUpdates for reviewer comments and scope changes

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California P.E. Stamp ServiceState-specific engineering review for supported scopes

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California CoverageStatewide city and county coverage

Get Your California Site Plan →

COMMON PROJECTS WE SUPPORT

Site Plans for More Than Just New Construction

From small residential changes to larger commercial work, we prepare site plans around the information available for your property and the requirements of your permit jurisdiction.

Home Additions

Show existing structures, proposed additions, property lines, and relevant setbacks.

Decks & Patios

Document deck or patio location, dimensions, stairs, and relationship to the home and lot.

Pools & Spas

Illustrate pool placement, equipment areas, barriers, access, and setback information.

Fences & Gates

Map proposed fence runs, gate locations, lot lines, and other permit-relevant site features.

ADUs & Garages

Show detached or attached accessory structures and their relationship to the existing property.

Commercial Improvements

Support commercial permit packages with a clear overview of structures, access, parking, and site conditions.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

Send What You Have — We’ll Review the Rest

You do not need to have every document ready before contacting us. Send the information you already have and we’ll review the project before confirming the final scope.

✓ Property address ✓ Project description ✓ Survey, if available ✓ Existing plans, if available ✓ Photos and measurements ✓ Permit comments or checklist

Send Your Project Details →

CALIFORNIA PROJECT CHECKLIST

Helpful Documents

Property SurveyIf you have one, send the latest copy.
Existing DrawingsArchitectural, site, or permit drawings can help us understand the property.
Marked-Up SketchA simple sketch showing where the proposed work will go is useful.
Permit NotesSend any correction notice, checklist, or reviewer comments.

WHY CHOOSE CITY PERMIT PLANS

A Clearer Way to Get Your Site Plan Started

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Fast Turnaround

Most standard projects are prepared within our typical 24–48 hour turnaround after scope and inputs are confirmed.

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Nationwide Coverage

We support projects across all 50 states and review each request based on its local jurisdiction.

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Permit-Focused Drafting

Plans are organized around the information needed to clearly communicate your project for permit review.

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Revision Support

If the permit office returns comments, send them to us and we can review the requested changes.

LOCAL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Every City and County Can Ask for Something Different

Site plan requirements can vary by jurisdiction, project type, zoning district, and permit reviewer. That is why we ask for any available checklist or permit comments before finalizing the scope.

SetbacksFront, side, and rear yard requirements may differ by property.

EasementsUtility, access, drainage, or other easements may need to be shown.

Lot CoverageSome projects require calculations or review of building coverage.

Additional NotesJurisdictions may request zoning, drainage, utility, or project-specific information.

OUR PROCESS

Simple Process, Fast Results

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Send Your Information

Share the property address, project details, survey if available, measurements, photos, and permit comments.

02✎

We Create Your Plan

Our team drafts a clear site plan around the agreed scope and available property information.

03✓

Review & Revisions

We review your feedback and address revisions related to the original agreed scope.

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Get Your Final Plans

Receive the finalized plan package for the next step in your permit process.

PLAN EXAMPLES

Examples of Site Plans for California Projects

See representative examples of residential, addition, deck, and commercial site plan work.

View More Plan Examples →

Residential Site PlanCalifornia

ADU / Addition Site PlanCalifornia

Commercial Site PlanCalifornia

OUR COVERAGE

Site Plans Across California

We provide site plan drafting throughout California. Permit requirements vary by city and county, so each project is reviewed individually.

✓ Residential Projects✓ Commercial Projects✓ ADUs & Additions✓ Decks & Pools✓ Fence Projects✓ Permit Revisions

Get a Quote for Your Location →

CALIFORNIA SITE PLAN SERVICES

Site Plan Drafting for California Permit Projects

California permit projects can range from simple residential improvements to larger additions, ADUs, pools, decks, fences, garages, grading work, and commercial property changes. The information required on a site plan can vary by city, county, property, and project type.

Our process starts with the property address and the proposed work. If you already have a survey, assessor information, existing plans, photographs, measurements, a permit checklist, or correction comments, send those with your request. We review the available information before confirming the drawing scope.

The goal is to prepare a clear permit-focused site plan that communicates the existing property conditions and proposed work without adding unnecessary information that is outside the agreed project scope.

CALIFORNIA PROJECT REVIEW

Start with the documents you already have

Property AddressUsed to identify the project location and reviewing jurisdiction.
Project ScopeTell us whether the work involves an ADU, addition, deck, pool, fence, garage, commercial improvement, or another project.
Existing RecordsSend surveys, existing plans, sketches, photos, measurements, or property documents if available.
Permit InformationInclude permit checklists, correction notices, or reviewer comments when you already have them.

WHAT A SITE PLAN MAY SHOW

Common Information Included on California Site Plans

The exact contents depend on the property, project, and reviewing jurisdiction. These are common items that may be included when they are relevant to the agreed scope and reliable information is available.

Property Boundaries

Lot lines and dimensions based on the available survey or property information.

Existing Structures

Homes, garages, accessory structures, and other existing improvements.

Proposed Work

The location and dimensions of the proposed addition, ADU, deck, pool, fence, or other improvement.

Setbacks

Distances between structures, proposed work, and property boundaries when required.

Driveways & Access

Driveway, walkway, access, or circulation information where relevant to the project.

Easements

Known utility, drainage, access, or other easements when reliable information is available.

Utilities & Site Features

Relevant utilities and major site features when they form part of the permit scope.

Dimensions & Orientation

Key dimensions, labels, and orientation information needed to make the plan easy to review.

CALIFORNIA PERMIT PLANNING

Permit Requirements Can Vary by City and County

California does not have one universal site-plan checklist for every property improvement. The information requested can depend on the local permitting authority, zoning district, project type, parcel conditions, and reviewer comments.

For that reason, we do not assume that a requirement in one California city automatically applies everywhere else. If your city or county has provided a checklist or correction notice, we can review it against the proposed scope before drafting or revising the plan.

SetbacksFront, side, and rear setback requirements can depend on the property and local zoning.

Lot CoverageSome projects may require the reviewing authority to consider building or impervious coverage.

EasementsKnown utility, drainage, or access easements may affect where proposed work can be shown.

Project-Specific NotesADUs, pools, additions, decks, and commercial work can each require different information.

SURVEYS, ZONING & ENGINEERING

What May Affect Your California Site Plan

Do You Need a Survey?

A current survey can be helpful because it may provide reliable property boundaries, easements, and existing-condition information. If you do not have one, send the property address and the documents you already have so we can review whether the requested scope can be prepared from the available information.

Site Plans Without a Survey →

Zoning & Setbacks

Setbacks, lot coverage, accessory-structure placement, and other zoning requirements can vary by California jurisdiction and property. If you already have zoning notes or permit comments, include them with your request.

Zoning & Setback Plans →

PE-Stamped Plans

Not every site plan requires engineering. Some projects or reviewing authorities may require a licensed engineer for part of the work. PE-stamped plans are available for supported scopes where required, and that need is confirmed before work begins.

Ask About Your Project →

PERMIT CORRECTION SUPPORT

Already Received Comments From the Permit Office?

If your California city or county has returned a correction notice, marked-up plan, checklist, or reviewer comments, send those documents with your existing plan and project information.

We can review the requested changes against the original scope and determine what revisions are needed before updating the drawing.

Send Your Permit Comments →

✓ Correction notices✓ Reviewer comments✓ Marked-up plans ✓ Permit checklists✓ Existing site plans✓ Updated project information

GET A PROJECT QUOTE

Ready to Start Your California Site Plan?

Send us the basic project details below. We’ll review your request and follow up with the scope, pricing, and next steps.

✓ 24–48 hour typical turnaround ✓ PE-stamped options where required ✓ Residential and commercial projects ✓ Your submission is saved for follow-up

Prefer email? drafting@citypermitplans.com

Name * Email *

Phone * Project Type

Property Address

Project Details

By submitting, you agree that we may contact you about this project. See our Privacy Policy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

California Site Plan FAQs

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Do you provide site plans in California?

Yes. We provide remote site plan drafting for projects in California. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, so we review the applicable city or county requirements for each project.

What information do I need to get started?

Send the property address, project description, existing survey or plans if available, photos, measurements, sketches, and any permit comments.

Do I need a survey?

Not always. Many projects can begin using available records and measurements, but some permit offices or project types may require a current certified survey.

How much does a site plan cost?

Pricing depends on property complexity, project type, engineering needs, and jurisdiction requirements. We provide a project-specific quote after reviewing the scope.

How long does it take?

Many standard projects have a typical turnaround of 24–48 hours once the required project information is confirmed.

Will the plan be accepted by my permit office?

We prepare plans around the available permit requirements, but final acceptance is determined by the reviewing authority and revisions may sometimes be requested.

Do you provide PE-stamped plans?

PE-stamped plans are available where required and within supported engineering scope. We confirm this before work begins.

Do you handle revisions?

Yes. Send us the reviewer comments and we will assess requested changes. Added scope may require a revised quote.

GET STARTED TODAY

Ready to Get Your California Site Plan?

Fast turnaround. Professional drawings. Remote nationwide service.

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