Creating a site plan in Florida usually involves showing the property layout clearly enough for the local building, zoning or permitting office to understand and measure the proposed work.

Requirements can vary according to:

• City or county
• Zoning district
• Project type
• Lot configuration
• Flood zone
• Recorded subdivision documents
• Environmental or coastal conditions
• Homeowners’ association requirements

Even when local checklists differ, reviewers generally need the same basic information: what exists, what is proposed and how the project relates to the property boundaries, setbacks, easements, access and other site constraints.

What Is a Florida Site Plan?

A site plan, sometimes called a plot plan, is an overhead drawing showing how a property is arranged.

It can identify:

• Legal property boundaries
• Available lot dimensions
• The existing house
• Garages and accessory buildings
• Decks, patios and pools
• Driveways and sidewalks
• Proposed construction
• Project dimensions
• Distances to property lines
• Known easements
• Drainage and flood conditions when required

The site plan helps the reviewing authority understand where the project will be built and how it fits within the complete property.

It does not replace structural drawings, architectural plans, civil engineering, drainage design, an elevation certificate or a licensed boundary survey when those documents are required.

Core Florida Site Plan Requirements

Property Information

The title area of the site plan should identify the property and proposed project clearly.

Information may include:

• Complete street address
• City, state and ZIP code
• Parcel or folio number
• Property-owner name when requested
• Legal description when available
• Subdivision name
• Lot and block information
• Total lot area
• Project title and description

The property address and project description should agree with the permit application and other submitted drawings.

Title Block and Drawing Details

A clear title block helps the reviewer identify which project and revision is being reviewed.

It can include:

• Project name or property address
• Drawing title
• Date of preparation
• Revision date and revision number
• Drawing scale
• Sheet number when part of a larger permit set
• Name or contact information of the preparer

The drawing should also contain a visible north arrow and clearly identified measurement units.

Property Lines and Lot Dimensions

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

The site 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 property boundaries
• Recorded boundary dimensions
• Adjoining streets, canals or alleys

Do not automatically treat a fence, hedge, curb, sidewalk, seawall or edge of pavement as the legal property boundary.

Online parcel maps and aerial imagery can assist with preliminary drafting, but they do not independently establish professionally surveyed legal boundaries.

Easements, Rights-of-Way and Restricted Areas

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

Common Florida easements include:

• Utility easements
• Drainage easements
• Sewer easements
• Access easements
• Shared-driveway easements
• Stormwater easements
• Canal or water-management easements
• Public rights-of-way

The site plan should identify the easement’s location, width and purpose when that information is available.

A project can comply with the normal zoning setbacks and still conflict with an easement or recorded building restriction.

Existing Site Features

A Florida site plan should show enough of the existing property to explain the complete project context.

Relevant existing improvements may include:

• Main dwelling
• Attached and detached garages
• Carports
• Sheds and workshops
• Decks and porches
• Patios and patio covers
• Swimming pools and spas
• Pool equipment
• Driveways and parking areas
• Sidewalks and walkways
• Fences and gates
• Retaining walls and seawalls
• Utility equipment

Depending on the project and local checklist, natural or site-related features may also need to be shown:

• Trees
• Wetlands
• Water bodies or canals
• Slopes
• Drainage swales
• Low areas
• Flood-zone boundaries
• Protected vegetation

Leaving an existing structure off the drawing can make the available project area appear larger than it really is.

Proposed Work

The proposed project should be clearly distinguished from the existing property.

Use:

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

The drawing should show:

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

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

Setbacks and Property-Line Distances

Setbacks are required distances between the project and a property boundary or another regulated line.

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

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

The applicable setback can depend on:

• City or county
• Zoning district
• Structure type
• Attached or detached status
• Project height
• Lot configuration
• Recorded plat
• Overlay district

A generic required setback line is not always enough. The drawing should show the actual distance between the proposed project and the relevant property boundary.

For additional guidance, read Property Setbacks Explained for Homeowners .

Access, Driveways and Circulation

A good Florida site plan should explain how vehicles and pedestrians enter and move through the property.

The drawing may show:

• Existing driveway
• Proposed driveway widening
• Driveway width
• Driveway apron or curb cut
• Garage or carport access
• Parking spaces
• Walkways
• Sidewalks
• Gates
• Street or alley access
• Emergency or maintenance access when required

For garage, carport, driveway and parking projects, the relationship between the proposed work and the street should be especially clear.

Utilities

Utility information is not required on every residential site plan, but it may be important when the proposed work is near existing services.

The drawing may need to identify:

• Water service
• Sanitary sewer
• Septic tank and drainfield
• Private well
• Electrical service
• Gas service
• Utility meters
• Underground service routes
• Utility easements

Pool, addition, accessory dwelling unit and detached-building projects may require additional utility information.

Drainage, Stormwater and Impervious Surface

Florida reviewers may pay close attention to drainage and stormwater when a project adds roofing, concrete, pavers or another hard surface.

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

• Existing drainage direction
• Proposed drainage direction
• Swales
• Retention or detention areas
• Storm drains
• Drainage structures
• Downspout discharge
• Existing and proposed ground elevations
• Total impervious area
• Existing impervious percentage
• Proposed impervious percentage

Drainage information can be particularly important for:

• Swimming pools
• Home additions
• Large patios
• Driveway widening
• Detached garages
• Low-lying properties
• Projects near drainage easements

A standard drafted site plan does not replace civil engineering, drainage calculations or grading design when those services are required.

Flood Zones and Elevation Requirements

Many Florida properties are located within or near regulated flood areas.

The permit package may require:

• Flood-zone designation
• Flood-zone boundary
• Base flood elevation
• Existing ground elevations
• Proposed finished elevations
• Finished-floor elevation
• Elevation certificate
• Flood-resistant construction details
• Licensed surveying or engineering

A drafted site plan does not replace an elevation certificate, topographic survey, floodplain analysis or professionally certified flood documentation.

Zoning and Code Information

Depending on the project, a Florida site plan may need to include zoning or development data such as:

• Zoning district
• Future land-use designation when requested
• Required setbacks
• Actual proposed setbacks
• Maximum building height
• Existing and proposed lot coverage
• Impervious-surface calculations
• Required parking
• Flood-zone information
• Overlay or special-district requirements

More complex projects may also require architectural, engineering, environmental, accessibility or professional surveying information.

Scale, Symbols and Legend

The site plan should be easy to read and measure.

The drawing commonly includes:

• A written drawing scale
• A graphic scale bar when useful
• North arrow
• Readable dimensions
• Clearly identified units
• Consistent line weights
• Existing-versus-proposed legend
• Symbols for easements, fences and utilities

Existing and proposed features should not look identical.

The reviewer should be able to identify the project without searching through overlapping labels or interpreting an unclear sketch.

Requirements by Common Florida Project Type

Tampa Site Plan Requirements

Florida Cities We Help With

USA Site Plans prepares residential site plans and plot plans for homeowners, contractors and property owners throughout Florida, including:

• Boca Raton
• Coral Springs
• Fort Lauderdale
• Gainesville
• Hialeah
• Jacksonville
• Miami
• Orlando
• Pompano Beach
• Port St. Lucie
• Tallahassee
• Tampa

Service is also available for residential properties in many smaller Florida cities, towns and unincorporated county areas.

The city or county with jurisdiction over the property determines the exact submission requirements.

Site Plan vs Licensed Survey

A licensed land surveyor may be needed when:

• No reliable survey is available
• Property corners cannot be located
• The project is close to a property boundary
• The lot has an irregular shape
• Available records conflict
• Certified elevations are required
• An easement location is uncertain
• The reviewing authority requests professionally verified information

How to Prepare a Florida Site Plan

Information to Gather Before Ordering

Common Florida Site 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 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 drainage easements
• Leaving out driveways, sidewalks or access routes
• Ignoring flood-zone requirements
• Ignoring drainage or impervious-area requirements
• No north arrow or drawing scale
• Using overlapping or unreadable labels
• Showing information that conflicts with the construction drawings
• Failing to confirm the correct reviewing jurisdiction
• Failing to review the current permit checklist

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

Read What Permit Reviewers Check First and Why Site Plans Get Rejected .

Florida Site Plan Checklist

Related Florida and Permit Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required on a Florida site plan?

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

Does every Florida permit require a site plan?

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

Who determines the requirements?

The city, county or other authority reviewing the property determines the detailed site-plan and permit submission requirements.

Should the complete property be shown?

The drawing should normally show enough of the complete property for reviewers to understand all relevant boundaries, structures, access areas and restrictions.

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 be shown?

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

Does the site plan need drainage information?

Not for every project. Drainage, grading or stormwater information may be required when the work adds substantial impervious area, changes ground elevations or affects a drainage feature.

What happens when 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 site 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.

Disclaimer: 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 site 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.