USA Site Plans
Residential permit drawings across Pennsylvania
A clear Pennsylvania site plan can show the complete property, existing structures, proposed construction, setbacks, easements, access and other information used during local zoning and building-permit review.
Order Your Site Plan Pittsburgh Site Plan Services View PricingPennsylvania residential site-plan requirements are generally administered by the municipality reviewing the project. A permit-focused drawing commonly shows property boundaries, lot dimensions, existing buildings, proposed work, setbacks, easements, driveways, sidewalks, adjoining streets, a north arrow and a measurable drawing scale.
If you are applying for a residential permit in Pennsylvania, a clear site plan can help the local building or zoning office understand the property and proposed project without having to interpret an incomplete sketch.
A site plan shows the property from above. It can identify the existing house, proposed work, property lines, setbacks, easements, driveway, sidewalk and other important site features.
USA Site Plans prepares residential drawings for homeowners, contractors and property owners across Pennsylvania. Common projects include garages, decks, sheds, fences, pools, driveways, patios, carports and home additions.
Need a Pennsylvania Permit Site Plan?
Send us your property address, project dimensions, intended location, photographs and any survey, recorded plat or previous site plan you have. We can organize the supplied information into a clear residential site drawing.
Proposed structures included • Free reasonable drafting edits • Fast weekday turnaround
Order Your Site Plan View the Site Plan ChecklistWhat Is a Site Plan?
A site plan is an overhead drawing showing how a property is arranged and where proposed construction will be located.
It helps permit reviewers understand:
- Which property is being developed
- What buildings and improvements already exist
- What work is proposed
- The proposed project dimensions
- How far the project is from property boundaries
- Whether the project conflicts with a known easement
- How vehicles and pedestrians access the property
- How the site plan relates to the remaining permit drawings
Pennsylvania’s statewide construction-code framework is the Uniform Construction Code, commonly called the UCC. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry explains that the UCC regulates construction codes and standards within the Commonwealth and that a UCC building permit must be obtained before qualifying construction begins.
Official source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry — Apply for a UCC Building Permit .
Why Pennsylvania Permit Applications May Need a Site Plan
Pennsylvania permit requirements can vary from one municipality to another.
Cities, boroughs and townships may administer zoning, land development and building-permit review locally, even though the UCC provides the statewide construction-code framework.
The Pennsylvania Housing Research Center notes that more than 90% of Pennsylvania municipalities have elected to administer and enforce the UCC locally.
Source: Pennsylvania Housing Research Center — Uniform Construction Code .
A site plan may be requested because the reviewing municipality needs to evaluate:
- Structure placement
- Front, side and rear setbacks
- Building separation
- Lot coverage
- Parking and driveway access
- Known utility or drainage easements
- Floodplain or stormwater conditions
- Relationship to streets and alleys
- Consistency with floor plans and elevations
The permit checklist issued by the municipality reviewing the project should always control.
Residential Projects That Commonly Use a Site Plan
What Should Be Included on a Pennsylvania Site Plan?
A strong Pennsylvania site plan should show the complete relevant property rather than only the proposed project.
Reviewers generally need enough information to understand how the proposed work relates to the house, property boundaries, access and other site conditions.
Depending on the property and municipality, additional information may include:
- Lot coverage calculations
- Impervious-area calculations
- Existing and proposed grading
- Drainage direction
- Stormwater facilities
- Floodplain information
- Private well and septic locations
- Trees or environmental buffers
- Retaining walls and slopes
- Utility-service information
A basic drafted site plan does not replace civil engineering, drainage design, structural plans or a licensed survey when those documents are required.
Setbacks: One of the First Things Reviewers Check
Setbacks are required distances between a structure and the property boundaries, right-of-way or another regulated line.
In Pennsylvania, setbacks are generally controlled through local zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, recorded plats, zoning overlays and property-specific approvals.
A permit-focused site plan should show the actual proposed distances from the project to:
- The front property boundary
- Both side property boundaries when relevant
- The rear property boundary
- The street-side boundary on a corner lot
- Nearby structures
- Known easements
A note such as “garage behind house” or “deck in backyard” does not provide the measurable information a zoning reviewer may need.
Pittsburgh’s zoning information explains that many building projects require zoning approval and that projects such as additions, parking changes and mechanical equipment may require a site plan.
Official source: City of Pittsburgh — Zoning FAQ .
For more general guidance, read Property Setbacks Explained for Homeowners .
Pittsburgh Site Plan Services
Residential Site Plans for Pittsburgh Permit Projects
Pittsburgh properties can involve narrow lots, rear alleys, retaining walls, sloping yards, rowhouses and closely spaced structures. A clear local site plan can show the proposed work in relation to property lines, setbacks, access and existing improvements.
Our Pittsburgh service guide covers residential additions, garages, decks, sheds, pools, fences, driveways and other common permit projects.
View Pittsburgh Site Plan Services Order Your Site PlanEasements and Drainage Areas
An easement is an area where another party may have a recorded right to use or access part of the property.
Common examples include:
- Utility easements
- Drainage easements
- Sewer easements
- Access easements
- Shared-driveway easements
- Stormwater easements
A homeowner may own the underlying land, but construction within or near an easement can still create permit, access or maintenance problems.
When an easement appears on a survey, plat, deed or subdivision plan, the site plan should identify:
- The easement location
- Its recorded width when available
- Its stated purpose
- The relationship between the easement and proposed project
This is especially important for garages, sheds, fences, pools, patios and additions placed near side or rear lot lines.
Driveways, Sidewalks and Site Access
Driveways and sidewalks can be important parts of the permit site plan, particularly when the project changes vehicle access or parking.
The drawing may need to show:
- Existing driveway location
- Proposed driveway widening
- Driveway width
- Garage or carport connection
- Parking areas
- Street or alley access
- Sidewalk location
- Curb cut or driveway apron
- Pedestrian access
- Nearby gates and fences
Pittsburgh’s curb-cut guidance identifies an 11-inch by 17-inch site-plan PDF as a required document for curb-cut applications.
Official source: City of Pittsburgh — Curb Cuts .
For detached garages or parking-related projects, the relationship between the structure, driveway, street and alley should be especially clear.
Local Review Varies Across Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania permit review is not identical in every municipality.
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, Scranton, Lancaster, Harrisburg, York, Bethlehem and smaller boroughs or townships can each use different:
- Application forms
- Submission portals
- Drawing scales
- Sheet-size requirements
- Zoning tables
- Setback requirements
- Lot-coverage definitions
- Stormwater requirements
- Survey requirements
- Review procedures
Philadelphia’s building-permit guidance explains that a zoning permit is generally obtained before applying for a building permit. It also notes that certain EZ Permit projects may not require plans, while other projects require a complete drawing package.
Official source: City of Philadelphia — Get a Building Permit .
Even when local procedures differ, permit reviewers commonly need the same core information: property boundaries, existing structures, proposed work, dimensions, setbacks, access, easements and site constraints.
Site Plan vs Survey
A drafted site plan and a licensed property survey serve different purposes.
| Document | Primary purpose |
|---|---|
| Drafted site plan | Organizes supplied property records, measurements, photographs and project information into a clear permit drawing. |
| Licensed boundary survey | Uses legal records and professional field measurements to locate or certify property boundaries, corners and other survey information. |
| Construction drawings | Show how the proposed project will be built, including foundations, framing, floor plans and elevations. |
A licensed surveyor may be needed when:
- No reliable property survey is available
- Property corners cannot be located
- The project is close to a boundary
- The lot is irregular
- Available property records conflict
- An easement location is uncertain
- A boundary dispute exists
- The reviewing municipality requires certified information
Important service distinction
USA Site Plans provides drafting services. Standard plans are not legal boundary surveys and are not signed or sealed by a licensed land surveyor, architect or engineer. Professionally certified documents must be obtained separately when required.
How the Pennsylvania Site Plan Process Works
Information to Gather Before Ordering
- Complete Pennsylvania property address
- Name of the reviewing municipality
- Project type and description
- Proposed length and width
- Proposed height when relevant
- Preferred project location
- Existing property survey
- Recorded subdivision plat
- Previous approved site 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 proposed work area
- Driveway, street, sidewalk or alley information
- Known easement information
- Retaining-wall or slope information
- Well and septic information when applicable
- Floodplain or drainage information when applicable
- Permit comments already received
Common Pennsylvania Site Plan Mistakes
- Showing only the project area instead of the relevant property
- Missing property boundaries
- Leaving out available lot dimensions
- Using a fence as the assumed legal property line
- Omitting the existing house
- Leaving existing garages, sheds or decks off the plan
- Failing to label the proposed project clearly
- Missing project dimensions
- Missing front, side or rear setback dimensions
- Omitting a known easement or drainage area
- Leaving out the driveway, sidewalk or alley
- Submitting a rough sketch with no measurable scale
- Using labels or dimensions that are difficult to read
- Showing information that conflicts with the construction drawings
- Using an approximate online parcel line as a surveyed boundary
- Failing to review the current municipal checklist
A complete site plan cannot guarantee approval, but it can reduce correction requests caused by missing, unclear or inconsistent property information.
Read What Permit Reviewers Check First and Why Site Plans Get Rejected .
Pennsylvania Site Plan Checklist
- Correct reviewing municipality confirmed
- Current zoning and 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
- Decks, patios, pools and paving shown when relevant
- Proposed work clearly identified
- Project length and width included
- Project height included when relevant
- Front setback shown
- Both side setbacks shown when applicable
- Rear setback 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
- Drainage information included when required
- Floodplain information included when required
- North arrow included
- Drawing scale identified
- Existing and proposed work visually distinguished
- Site plan agrees with construction drawings
- Licensed survey or professional plans obtained when required
Who Uses Pennsylvania Site Plan Services?
Pennsylvania site-plan services can help:
- Homeowners
- Residential contractors
- Deck and patio builders
- Pool installers
- Garage and shed contractors
- Fence companies
- Property managers
- Real estate professionals
- Permit applicants
- Design professionals needing a clear site reference
Common uses include:
- Residential building permits
- Zoning permit applications
- Accessory-structure permits
- Garage and carport permits
- Deck and porch permits
- Fence permits
- Pool permits
- Driveway and curb-cut permits
- Home-addition permits
- Permit correction responses
Related Site Plan Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Pennsylvania permit require a site plan?
No. Requirements depend on the municipality, property and project type. Exterior projects that change the location, size or use of improvements are more likely to require a site plan.
Who determines the site-plan requirements?
The city, borough, township or other municipality reviewing the application generally determines the detailed submission requirements.
What should a Pennsylvania site plan show?
It commonly shows property boundaries, lot dimensions, existing structures, proposed work, project dimensions, setbacks, access, easements, adjoining streets, a north arrow and a drawing scale.
Do I need a 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 municipality requests certified information.
Should easements appear on the site plan?
Known easements should be shown when they affect the property or proposed project area.
Should the complete property be shown?
Usually, the drawing should show enough of the complete lot for reviewers to understand all relevant boundaries, structures, access areas and restrictions.
Does the site plan need drainage information?
Not for every project. Drainage, grading or stormwater information may be required when the project changes ground elevations, adds substantial impervious area or affects a drainage feature.
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 municipality reviewing the application controls approval and may request corrections, a survey, engineering, architectural plans or other supporting documents.
Order Your Pennsylvania Site Plan
Send us your property address, 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 Site Plan Pittsburgh Site Plan GuideSources
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry — Apply for a Uniform Construction Code Building Permit
- Pennsylvania Housing Research Center — Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code
- City of Philadelphia — Get a Building Permit
- City of Pittsburgh — Zoning FAQ
- City of Pittsburgh — Curb Cuts
Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not legal, surveying, engineering, architectural, zoning or permitting advice. Pennsylvania requirements vary according to the municipality, zoning district, property, project, recorded documents and current regulations. USA Site Plans is an independent drafting service and is not affiliated with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any local permit authority. A drafted site plan does not establish legal property boundaries or replace a licensed survey, architecture, engineering or another professionally certified document when required. Confirm current requirements with the municipality reviewing the application.