What is a site plan for a building permit?

The plain definition

A site plan is a drawing of your lot as if you looked down from above. It shows the lot, the house and the new work, and how far the new work sits from the property lines. Think of it as a map of your lot with the project drawn in.

A building plan is different. It shows the structure itself: walls, rooms, framing. Most permits for new space need both.

What Manatee County asks for

The county's FAQ says these permit categories need a site plan or survey:

• Residential: building plans and a site plan or survey.
• Fence: building plans and a site plan or survey, every time.
• Concrete: building plans, a site plan or survey, and an erosion form.

The county's wording is "site plan or survey". It does not say, on the pages we read, which one is better for your job, or give a checklist of what the drawing must show. Ask the Permitting Section: 941-748-4501 ext. 3800, permitting@mymanatee.org.

What a site plan usually shows

Offices differ, and we did not find Manatee County's own checklist for additions, so use this only as a guide. A site plan usually shows:

• Your property lines and their lengths.
• The existing house and other buildings.
• The new work, drawn to scale.
• The distance from the new work to each property line.
• Easements and drainage swales, if any.

The county says pools and screen enclosures need a 5 foot setback from side and rear lines and cannot encroach on easements or drainage swales. That is one reason the office wants to see your lot lines.

Site plan or survey: which one

A survey is a drawing made by a licensed surveyor that shows your lot lines. The county accepts a site plan or a survey. Ask the office whether the survey from your closing papers works for your project, or whether it wants something newer. We cannot answer that for the county.

Where you will use one

You will need a site plan for jobs such as a room addition, a fence and a concrete patio. For the full process, see our Manatee County permit guide. Cities have their own rules, so see Bradenton and Palmetto.

How to get one

Ask the Permitting Section what it accepts, then choose from these:

• Your existing survey. Many owners have one from their closing papers. Ask if it is current enough.
• A new survey from a licensed surveyor.
• A drawing prepared with your contractor. At our free in-home visit we look at your lot and talk through what the office will ask for.

We could not confirm from official county text which of these the office accepts for each permit type, so ask first.

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming an old survey is enough without asking.
• Forgetting an easement or drainage swale, which the county says pools and screen enclosures cannot encroach on.
• Drawing the new work without measuring the distance to the property line.
• Sending plans that do not match what the contractor will build.

How Hildebrand handles this

Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling pulls every required permit and meets Florida Building Code inspections. At the free in-home visit we look at your lot and your plan and talk through what the permit office will ask for. If you have an HOA, you file the application and we provide specs and drawings.

See our home additions and our process. Call or text (941) 284-2218, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

Questions homeowners ask