If you are applying for a residential building permit in Arizona, a plot plan may be one of the first property drawings requested by the city, town or county reviewing the project.

You may already know what you want to build and may already have contractor drawings, but the reviewing authority still needs to understand exactly where the project will be located within the property.

A clear plot plan helps answer several basic questions:

• Which property is involved?
• Where are the property boundaries?
• What buildings and improvements already exist?
• What work is proposed?
• How large will the project be?
• How far will it be from each relevant boundary?
• Does it affect an easement, driveway, alley or drainage area?
• Does the site plan agree with the construction drawings?

For homeowners building in Phoenix, see our complete Phoenix residential site plan guide for pools, fences, decks, garages, sheds, additions and other permit projects.

What Is a Plot Plan?

A plot plan—also commonly called a site plan—is an overhead drawing showing how a property is arranged and where proposed construction will be located.

A typical Arizona residential plot plan may identify:

• Property boundaries
• Available lot dimensions
• Existing house footprint
• Existing garages and accessory structures
• Decks, patios and swimming pools
• Driveways, sidewalks and walkways
• Proposed construction
• Project dimensions
• Distances to property lines
• Known easements
• Adjoining streets or alleys
• North arrow and drawing scale

The plot plan explains where the work will be located. Construction plans, floor plans, elevations and structural drawings explain how the project will be built.

For a broader explanation, read Site Plan for Permit: What the Drawing Should Show .

Why Arizona Permit Applications May Require a Plot Plan

Residential permit and zoning review is generally handled by the local jurisdiction with authority over the property.

Requirements can therefore vary between:

• Phoenix
• Mesa
• Scottsdale
• Chandler
• Glendale
• Tempe
• Gilbert
• Tucson
• County jurisdictions
• Smaller Arizona cities and towns

Even when their forms and permit portals differ, reviewers commonly use the plot plan to evaluate:

• Project placement
• Front, side and rear setbacks
• Building separation
• Known easements
• Vehicle and pedestrian access
• Lot coverage
• Hillside or grading conditions
• Drainage and flood conditions
• Relationship to existing structures
• Consistency with the remaining permit package

The project-specific checklist issued by the reviewing jurisdiction should always control.

What an Arizona Plot Plan Usually Shows

Depending on the property and project, additional information may include:

• Lot-coverage calculations
• Existing and proposed impervious area
• Grading and drainage direction
• Existing and proposed elevations
• Retaining walls
• Top and bottom of slopes
• Floodplain information
• Septic tank and disposal area
• Private well
• Wash or drainage-channel location
• Native plants or protected vegetation
• Hillside-development information

Where to Get a Plot Plan in Arizona

There are several ways to locate the information needed for an Arizona permit plot plan.

1. Start With an Existing Property Survey

An existing survey is often the most useful starting point because it may already show:

• Legal property boundaries
• Boundary dimensions
• Property corners
• Existing house and structures
• Driveways and paving
• Known easements
• Encroachments or other survey information

Homeowners may have received a survey:

• During the property purchase
• For a previous permit
• From a title or closing company
• From the previous owner
• From a land surveyor hired for earlier work

Before relying on an older survey, compare it with current photographs and property conditions. A survey prepared before a garage, pool, addition or wall was built may not show the complete existing site.

2. Look for a Recorded Subdivision Plat

A recorded subdivision plat may show:

• Subdivision name
• Lot and block number
• Recorded lot dimensions
• Street frontage
• Utility easements
• Drainage easements
• Public rights-of-way
• Recorded building lines

A subdivision plat usually does not show the current house, garage, pool, driveway or accessory structures. Those existing conditions must still be documented separately.

3. Check County Parcel and Assessor Records

County parcel records can provide preliminary information such as:

• Parcel number
• Property address
• Approximate parcel shape
• Lot area
• Aerial imagery
• Building information
• Legal-description references

Online parcel maps can be useful for preliminary drafting and research, but their displayed boundary lines should not automatically be treated as professionally surveyed legal boundaries.

A licensed survey may still be needed when:

• The project is close to a property line
• Property corners cannot be located
• Available records conflict
• The lot is irregular
• An easement location is uncertain
• Certified elevations are required
• The reviewing authority requests a survey

4. Review the Local Permit Checklist

Arizona cities and counties commonly publish permit forms, plan requirements and electronic-submission instructions online.

Before drafting the plot plan, confirm:

• The correct reviewing jurisdiction
• Whether the property is inside municipal limits
• Whether zoning approval is separate
• Required drawing size
• Required drawing scale
• Whether a survey is required
• Whether grading or drainage information is required
• Whether professional seals are required
• Whether the project needs separate planning approval

5. Have a Permit-Focused Plot Plan Drafted

A plot plan can often be prepared using:

• An existing survey
• A recorded subdivision plat
• County parcel records
• Aerial imagery
• Current photographs
• Customer-supplied measurements
• Contractor drawings
• A marked sketch showing the proposed location

A drafting service can organize that information into a clean and measurable drawing, but it does not independently establish legal property boundaries.

Property Boundaries and Lot Dimensions

The complete relevant property should normally be shown instead of only the immediate project area.

The plot plan may identify:

• Front property line
• Left-side property line
• Right-side property line
• Rear property line
• Street-side line on a corner lot
• Curved or angled boundaries
• Recorded boundary dimensions
• Adjoining street or alley

Do not automatically use an existing wall, fence, curb, sidewalk or edge of pavement as the legal property boundary.

Arizona properties frequently have masonry walls around side and rear yards, but the wall location may not exactly match the documented lot line.

Existing Structures and Site Features

The plot plan should show enough of the existing property to explain the project context.

Relevant improvements can include:

• Main dwelling
• Attached garage
• Detached garage
• Carport
• Shed or workshop
• Deck or raised platform
• Covered patio
• Pergola or ramada
• Swimming pool or spa
• Pool equipment
• Driveway and parking
• Walkways
• Walls and fences
• Retaining walls

Natural and site-related features may also be important:

• Slopes
• Washes
• Drainage channels
• Rock outcrops
• Large trees or native plants
• Flood-prone areas
• Existing grading

Leaving an existing structure off the plan can make the available building area or required separation appear larger than it really is.

Proposed Construction

The proposed project should be clearly distinguished from existing conditions.

Use:

• A clear “PROPOSED” label
• A distinct hatch pattern
• A heavier outline
• Selective shading
• An existing-and-proposed legend

Show:

• Complete proposed footprint
• Overall length and width
• Irregular projections
• Stairs and landings
• Roof overhangs
• Supporting posts
• Equipment pads
• Connected paving or walkways
• Structures proposed for removal

The dimensions should agree with the floor plans, elevations, structural drawings, manufacturer plans and permit application.

Setbacks and Property-Line Distances

A setback is a required distance between a building or improvement and a property boundary or another regulated line.

The plot plan should normally show the actual proposed distance to the relevant:

• Front property line
• Left-side property line
• Right-side property line
• Rear property line
• Street-side boundary on a corner lot
• Nearby buildings
• Known easements

The applicable requirement can depend on:

• Jurisdiction
• Zoning district
• Structure type
• Attached or detached status
• Project height
• Lot configuration
• Recorded subdivision restrictions
• Special planning or hillside conditions

A generic required setback line may not be enough when the actual proposed distance is missing.

For more guidance, read Property Setbacks Explained for Homeowners .

Easements and Recorded Restrictions

A project can satisfy its ordinary property-line setbacks and still conflict with a recorded easement.

Common easements affecting Arizona residential properties include:

• Utility easements
• Drainage easements
• Access easements
• Sewer easements
• Shared-driveway easements
• Public-utility easements

When an easement appears on a survey or recorded plat, show:

• Easement location
• Recorded width when available
• Stated purpose
• Relationship to the proposed project
• Distance between the project and easement

Construction within an easement may require relocation, utility approval or additional documentation.

Driveways, Streets and Alleys

The site plan should explain how vehicles and pedestrians access the property.

Relevant features may include:

• Existing driveway
• Driveway width
• Garage or carport connection
• Parking areas
• Sidewalks and walkways
• Driveway apron
• Adjoining street
• Rear or side alley
• Vehicle gates
• Pedestrian gates

Rear alleys are common in some Arizona neighborhoods. The plot plan should show how a garage, accessory structure, wall or gate relates to alley access when relevant.

Hillside Lots, Slopes and Retaining Walls

Arizona properties with steep slopes, hillside conditions or retaining walls can require more information than a basic flat-lot plot plan.

The permit package may need to show:

• Existing contours or elevations
• Top and bottom of slope
• Retaining walls
• Wall height
• Cut and fill areas
• Driveway grade
• Building-pad location
• Drainage direction
• Natural or protected hillside areas

More complex sites may require a topographic survey, grading plan, geotechnical information, civil engineering or structural design in addition to the plot plan.

Drainage, Flood Conditions and Washes

Arizona’s dry climate does not eliminate drainage concerns. Intense rainfall can produce rapid runoff through washes, channels and low areas.

Depending on the property and project, a site plan may need to show:

• Drainage direction
• Existing washes
• Drainage channels
• Low points
• Floodplain boundary
• Existing and proposed elevations
• Finished-floor elevation
• Retaining walls
• Roof drainage
• Areas of cut and fill

A standard drafted plot plan does not replace drainage calculations, floodplain analysis, grading design or professional engineering when those services are required.

Septic Systems and Private Wells

Some Arizona properties rely on private wastewater or water systems.

The site plan may need to identify:

• Septic tank
• Disposal or leach area
• Replacement area
• Private well
• Utility lines
• Distance from the project to the septic system
• Distance from the project to the well
• Access for maintenance

The applicable environmental-health or county requirements should be confirmed before finalizing the project location.

Common Arizona Projects That Use a Plot Plan

Phoenix Plot Plan and Permit Services

What Reviewers Commonly Check First

A clear plot plan cannot guarantee approval, but it can reduce correction requests caused by missing or inconsistent site information.

Read What Permit Reviewers Check First on a Site Plan .

Plot Plan vs Other Permit Documents

Project dimensions and locations should remain consistent across every submitted document.

Information to Gather Before Ordering

How the Arizona Plot Plan Process Works

Common Arizona Plot Plan Problems

• Showing only the proposed project instead of the relevant property
• Missing property boundaries
• Using a wall or fence as the assumed legal lot line
• Leaving out available lot dimensions
• Omitting the existing house
• Leaving existing garages, pools or accessory structures off the drawing
• Failing to identify proposed work clearly
• Missing project dimensions
• Missing front, side or rear property-line distances
• Showing only required setback lines without actual proposed dimensions
• Omitting known utility or access easements
• Leaving out driveways, streets or alleys
• Ignoring slopes, washes or retaining walls
• Failing to show septic or well information when applicable
• No north arrow or drawing scale
• Using small or overlapping labels
• Showing project dimensions that conflict with construction plans
• Submitting an outdated survey without current improvements
• Failing to confirm the correct reviewing jurisdiction
• Failing to review the current project checklist

A complete plot plan cannot prevent every review comment, but it can reduce avoidable corrections caused by missing, unclear or inconsistent property information.

Read Why Site Plans Get Rejected for Permits .

Arizona Plot Plan Checklist

Related Arizona and Permit Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every Arizona permit require a plot plan?

No. Requirements depend on the reviewing jurisdiction, property and project type. Exterior projects that change the property layout are more likely to require one.

Who determines the plot-plan requirements?

The city, town, county or other local authority reviewing the property determines the detailed submission requirements.

What should an Arizona plot plan show?

It commonly shows property boundaries, lot dimensions, existing structures, proposed work, project dimensions, property-line distances, access, known easements, a north arrow and drawing scale.

Can I use a county parcel map?

Parcel maps can support preliminary drafting, but they do not independently establish professionally surveyed legal property boundaries.

Do I need a licensed property survey?

A survey may be required when the boundaries are uncertain, the project is close to a lot line, certified elevations are needed or the reviewing authority requests professionally verified information.

Should easements appear on the plot plan?

Known easements should be shown when they affect the property or proposed project area.

What if the property is on a hillside?

Additional topographic, grading, drainage, geotechnical or engineering information may be required. Confirm the site-specific requirements before finalizing the project.

Can USA Site Plans establish legal property boundaries?

No. USA Site Plans provides drafting services using supplied surveys, plats, records and measurements. Legal boundary location and certification require a licensed land surveyor.

Are USA Site Plans drawings signed or sealed?

No. Licensed surveying, architecture, engineering and professional seals must be obtained separately when required.

Will a clear plot plan guarantee approval?

No. The reviewing authority controls approval and may request revisions, a survey, structural plans, grading, engineering or other supporting documentation.

Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not legal, surveying, engineering, architectural, grading, drainage, zoning or permitting advice. Arizona requirements vary according to the jurisdiction, property, zoning district, project, slopes, drainage conditions, easements and current regulations. USA Site Plans is an independent drafting service and is not affiliated with a government permit authority. A drafted plot plan does not establish legal property boundaries or replace a licensed survey, architecture, engineering, grading design or another professionally certified document when required. Confirm current requirements with the authority reviewing the application.