USA Site Plans
Residential permit plot plans across Florida
USA Site Plans prepares clear residential plot plans for Florida pools, decks, fences, sheds, garages, additions, driveways, patios and other property projects.
Order Your Florida Plot Plan Tampa Site Plan Services View PricingA Florida plot plan is an overhead property drawing showing the lot boundaries, existing structures, proposed work, project dimensions, property-line distances, access, known easements and other information requested by the city or county reviewing the permit. The exact requirements vary by jurisdiction, property and project type.
If you are planning a residential construction project in Florida, a plot plan may be one of the first drawings requested during zoning or building-permit review.
A clear plot plan helps the reviewing authority understand what already exists on the property, what you intend to build and where the proposed project will be located.
Whether you are installing a pool, building a deck, adding a fence, constructing a shed or planning a home addition, the drawing should make the proposed location measurable without requiring the reviewer to guess.
For a broader explanation of plot-plan terminology and drawing content, read our complete plot plan guide .
Need a Florida Permit Plot Plan?
Send us your property address, proposed project dimensions, intended location, photographs and any existing survey, recorded plat or previous site plan you have. We can organize the supplied information into a clear residential property drawing.
Proposed structures included • Free reasonable drafting edits • Fast weekday turnaround
Order Your Plot Plan View the Site Plan ChecklistWhat Is a Florida Plot Plan?
A Florida plot plan—also commonly called a site plan—is an overhead drawing showing how a property is arranged.
It can show:
- The complete lot boundaries
- Available property-line dimensions
- The existing house
- Existing garages and accessory structures
- Decks, patios, pools and exterior paving
- The proposed project
- Project dimensions
- Distances to property boundaries
- Driveways and pedestrian access
- Known utility or drainage easements
- Adjoining streets, alleys and sidewalks
- A north arrow and drawing scale
The plot plan helps the reviewing authority understand how the proposed construction relates to the complete property.
It does not replace structural plans, architectural drawings, engineering, flood documentation or a licensed property survey when those documents are required.
Why Florida Permit Applications May Need a Plot Plan
Florida does not use one identical residential plot-plan checklist for every city and county.
The local jurisdiction reviewing the property may use the drawing to evaluate:
- Whether the project fits within the lot
- Front, side and rear property-line distances
- Building separation
- Known easements and rights-of-way
- Driveway and parking access
- Lot coverage or impervious area
- Flood-zone conditions
- Drainage and grading
- Relationship to existing buildings
- Consistency with the remaining permit drawings
A clear plot plan cannot guarantee approval, but it can reduce correction requests caused by incomplete, unclear or inconsistent property information.
What a Florida Plot Plan Commonly Includes
Depending on the jurisdiction and project, additional information may include:
- Existing and proposed lot coverage
- Impervious-area calculations
- Flood-zone boundaries
- Existing and proposed elevations
- Drainage direction
- Stormwater facilities
- Septic system and private well locations
- Trees and protected vegetation
- Coastal or environmental restrictions
- Retaining walls and slopes
Florida Projects That Commonly Use a Plot Plan
Property Lines and Lot Dimensions
The proposed location can only be evaluated accurately when the property boundaries are understandable.
The plot plan may show:
- Front property line
- Both side property lines
- Rear property line
- Street-side boundary on a corner lot
- Curved or angled boundary sections
- Recorded lot dimensions
- Street or alley frontage
Do not automatically treat a fence, hedge, curb, sidewalk or edge of pavement as the legal property boundary.
Online parcel maps and aerial imagery can support preliminary drafting, but they do not independently establish professionally surveyed legal boundaries.
Setbacks and Proposed Property-Line Distances
Setbacks are among the most important measurements shown on a permit plot plan.
The drawing should normally identify the actual distance from the proposed project to the relevant:
- Front property boundary
- Left-side property boundary
- Right-side property boundary
- Rear property boundary
- Street-side boundary on a corner lot
- Existing house or another structure
- Known easement
The applicable setback may depend on:
- Municipality or county
- Zoning district
- Project type
- Whether the structure is attached or detached
- Structure height
- Lot configuration
- Recorded subdivision restrictions
- Flood, environmental or coastal overlays
A note such as “shed in backyard” or “pool behind house” does not provide the measurable information a reviewer may need.
For additional guidance, read Property Setbacks Explained for Homeowners .
Easements and Recorded Restrictions
A proposed project can comply with the ordinary property-line setbacks and still conflict with a recorded easement.
Common Florida easements include:
- Utility easements
- Drainage easements
- Sewer easements
- Access easements
- Shared-driveway easements
- Stormwater easements
- Canal or water-management easements
When an easement appears on a survey, plat or recorded property document, the plot plan should identify:
- Its location
- Its width when available
- Its stated purpose
- The relationship between the easement and proposed construction
Building inside an easement can require relocation, approval from the easement holder or other supporting documentation.
Flood Zones and Elevation Information
Flood conditions are an important consideration for many Florida properties.
Depending on the project and location, the permit package may need:
- Flood-zone designation
- Flood-zone boundary on the property
- Base flood elevation
- Existing ground elevations
- Proposed finished elevations
- Finished-floor elevation
- Elevation certificate
- Flood-resistant construction details
- Professional surveying or engineering
A standard drafted plot plan does not replace an elevation certificate, topographic survey, floodplain analysis or engineering when those services are required.
Drainage and Impervious Area
Roofed structures, concrete, pavers, driveways and other improvements can change the amount of impervious surface on a property.
Some Florida jurisdictions may request:
- Total lot area
- Existing impervious area
- Proposed additional impervious area
- Total proposed impervious percentage
- Drainage direction
- Existing swales
- Stormwater structures
- Downspout discharge
- Grading or elevation information
The requirements can be particularly important for pools, additions, large patios, driveways and properties with drainage constraints.
Pools and Spas
A Florida pool plot plan may need to show:
- Pool or spa outline
- Pool dimensions
- Distance to property boundaries
- Distance to the house
- Pool decking
- Equipment pad
- Fence and gate locations
- Known utility and drainage easements
- Septic system or private well when applicable
- Drainage and flood information when required
Read our Florida plot plan guide for pool permits for additional project-specific information.
Driveways and Parking Expansions
Driveway projects can involve more than the area of new paving.
The plot plan may need to identify:
- Existing driveway
- Proposed driveway widening
- Total driveway width
- Property boundaries
- Street and sidewalk
- Curb cut or driveway apron
- Parking spaces
- Side-yard relationship
- Impervious-area calculations
- Drainage direction
For more information, read Site Plan Requirements for Driveway Widening Permits in Florida .
Tampa Plot Plan Services
Residential Site Plans for Tampa Permit Projects
Tampa projects can involve zoning setbacks, flood-zone conditions, drainage easements, pools, accessory buildings, driveway access and other property-specific constraints.
Our Tampa guide covers residential decks, pools, sheds, garages, additions, fences, driveways and other common permit projects.
View Tampa Site Plan Services Order Your Site PlanLocal Requirements Vary Across Florida
Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee and Florida’s smaller municipalities and counties can use different:
- Application forms
- Submission portals
- Drawing scales
- Sheet-size requirements
- Setback rules
- Lot-coverage definitions
- Flood documentation
- Drainage requirements
- Survey requirements
- Tree-protection standards
- Review procedures
Before ordering or submitting a plot plan, confirm:
- The correct reviewing jurisdiction
- Whether the property is inside city limits or unincorporated county territory
- The current project-specific permit checklist
- Whether zoning approval is separate from the building permit
- Whether a certified survey is required
- Whether flood, drainage or environmental documents are needed
For a step-by-step overview, read How to Get a Plot Plan in Florida for a Permit .
Site Plan vs Licensed Survey
| Document | Primary purpose |
|---|---|
| Drafted plot plan | Organizes supplied property records, photographs, measurements and project information into a clear permit drawing. |
| Licensed property survey | Uses legal records and professional field measurements to locate or certify property boundaries, corners, structures and elevations. |
| Construction drawings | Explain how the proposed project will be built, including foundations, framing, floor plans and elevations. |
| Engineering or drainage plan | Provides technical design, calculations and professional certification where required. |
A licensed surveyor may be needed when:
- No reliable property survey is available
- Property corners cannot be located
- The project is close to a property boundary
- The lot has an irregular shape
- Available property records conflict
- Certified elevations are required
- An easement location is uncertain
- The reviewing authority requests professionally verified information
Important service distinction
USA Site Plans provides drafting services. Standard drawings do not establish legal property boundaries and are not signed or sealed by a licensed land surveyor, architect or engineer. Professionally certified documents must be obtained separately when required.
How Our Florida Plot Plan Process Works
Information to Gather Before Ordering
- Complete Florida property address
- Name of the city or county reviewing the permit
- Project type and description
- Proposed length and width
- Proposed height when relevant
- Preferred project location
- Existing property survey
- Recorded subdivision plat
- Previous approved plot plan
- Contractor or architectural drawings
- Manufacturer plans when applicable
- A marked survey or hand sketch
- Measurements to nearby property boundaries
- Measurements to existing structures
- Photographs of the complete property
- Photographs of the project area
- Driveway, sidewalk, street or alley information
- Known easement information
- Flood-zone information when available
- Elevation certificate when applicable
- Well and septic information when applicable
- Drainage, slope or retaining-wall information
- Permit comments already received
Common Florida Plot Plan Mistakes
- Showing only the proposed project instead of the relevant property
- Missing property boundaries
- Using a fence as the assumed legal property line
- Leaving out available lot dimensions
- Omitting the existing house
- Leaving existing sheds, garages, pools or decks 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 measurements
- Omitting known utility or drainage easements
- Leaving out driveways, sidewalks or access routes
- Ignoring flood-zone requirements
- Ignoring drainage or impervious-area requirements
- Submitting a rough sketch without a scale
- Using small or overlapping labels
- Showing information that conflicts with construction drawings
- 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 or confusing site information.
Read What Permit Reviewers Check First and Why Site Plans Get Rejected .
Florida Plot Plan Checklist
- Correct reviewing jurisdiction confirmed
- Current permit checklist reviewed
- Correct property address included
- Complete relevant property boundaries shown
- Available lot dimensions included
- Existing house footprint shown
- Existing garages and accessory structures shown
- Existing decks, patios, pools and paving shown when relevant
- Proposed work clearly identified
- Project length and width included
- Project height included when relevant
- Front property-line distance shown
- Both side property-line distances shown when applicable
- Rear property-line distance shown
- Distance between buildings shown when relevant
- Known easements identified
- Adjoining street or alley labeled
- Driveway and parking shown
- Sidewalk and pedestrian access shown
- Lot coverage included when required
- Impervious area included when required
- Flood information included when required
- Drainage information included when required
- Well and septic systems shown when applicable
- North arrow included
- Drawing scale identified
- Existing and proposed work distinguished
- Plot plan agrees with construction drawings
- Licensed survey or professional plans obtained when required
Related Florida and Permit Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Florida 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, county or other local authority reviewing the property generally determines the detailed submission requirements.
What should a Florida plot plan show?
It commonly shows property boundaries, lot dimensions, existing structures, proposed work, project dimensions, property-line distances, access, easements, adjoining streets, a north arrow and drawing scale.
Do I need a property survey?
Not for every project. A licensed survey may be required when property boundaries are uncertain, the project is close to a lot line or the reviewing authority requests certified information.
Should easements appear on the plot plan?
Known easements should be shown when they affect the property or proposed project location.
Does the complete property need to be shown?
The drawing should normally show enough of the complete property for reviewers to understand the relevant boundaries, structures, access areas and restrictions.
What if the property is in a flood zone?
Additional elevation, surveying, engineering or flood documentation may be required. Confirm the current floodplain requirements with the reviewing jurisdiction.
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 permit approval?
No. The authority reviewing the application controls approval and may request revisions, a survey, engineering, architectural plans, flood documentation or other supporting materials.
Order Your Florida Plot Plan
Send us your property address, proposed project dimensions, intended location, photographs and any existing survey or recorded plat. We will prepare a clear residential site drawing based on the information supplied.
Order Your Plot Plan Tampa Site Plan GuideDisclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not legal, surveying, engineering, architectural, zoning, floodplain, environmental or permitting advice. Florida requirements vary according to the jurisdiction, zoning district, property, project, recorded documents, flood conditions 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, flood documentation or another professionally certified document when required. Confirm current requirements with the authority reviewing the application.