Site Plan for Permit in Philadelphia, PA: Fast Site Plan Drawings

A Philadelphia residential site plan shows the property from above. It identifies the legal lot, existing buildings, proposed construction, yard dimensions, streets, alleys, driveways, curb cuts, parking and other features needed to understand the project location.

The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections, commonly called L&I, uses site plans during zoning and permit review to evaluate how proposed work fits within the property.

Send us your address, existing survey or property plan, project dimensions, photographs and a sketch showing the proposed location. We can organise the available information into a clean residential site plan for your Philadelphia permit package.

Why a Site Plan Matters in Philadelphia

A written project description may explain what you plan to build, but it does not show where the project will sit on the property.

A site plan allows L&I to review:

• The complete legal lot
• Existing building placement
• The proposed construction footprint
• Front, side and rear yards
• Building height and number of stories
• Decks, roof decks, balconies and access structures
• Street and alley relationships
• Driveways, curb cuts and rights of way
• Off-street parking and loading
• Easements
• Landscaping, screening and trees when applicable

A clear drawing does not guarantee permit approval, but it gives the reviewer measurable information from which to evaluate the proposal.

Official source: City of Philadelphia — Get a Zoning Permit .

When Does Philadelphia Require a Site Plan?

Philadelphia states that a site plan is required for:

• New construction
• Building additions
• Lot-line adjustments
• Parking projects
• Signs that do not qualify for an EZ permit

The city’s general zoning guidance also states that all applications, except applications using an applicable EZ standard, must provide the listed site-plan information.

The scope of the required drawing depends on the project. A small residential addition may have different supporting requirements from a new building, parking lot, roof deck or lot-line adjustment.

Philadelphia Site Plan Requirements

According to Philadelphia L&I, a zoning site plan should include the following information when applicable.

Cardinal directions

The plan should show orientation through a north arrow or other clear cardinal-direction information.

Lot lines and deed dimensions

Show the existing legal lot lines and dimensions recorded in the deed.

The drawing may include:

• Front lot line
• Side lot lines
• Rear lot line
• Party lines
• Angled or irregular boundary sections
• Lot width and depth

Do not automatically use a fence, wall, curb or edge of paving as the legal property line.

Existing and proposed structures

Show all relevant structures, including:

• Main residential building
• Existing additions
• Garages and accessory structures
• Sheds
• Decks and roof decks
• Roof-deck access structures
• Balconies
• Porches
• Carports
• Proposed construction

Philadelphia’s requirements call for exterior dimensions, building heights and number of stories.

Yards and open areas

Show the dimensions of all yards and other open areas.

This may include:

• Front yard
• Rear yard
• Side yards
• Courtyards
• Open areas between buildings
• Distance between the proposed work and lot lines

Streets, alleys and rights of way

The site plan may need to identify:

• Street names
• Alleys
• Driveways
• Easements
• Curb lines
• Curb cuts
• Right-of-way widths
• Sidewalks

Parking and loading

When parking is involved, show:

• Location of each parking space
• Parking-space dimensions
• Drive aisles
• Access from the street or alley
• Loading spaces when applicable
• Bicycle parking when required

Landscaping and trees

Some applications may need to show:

• New landscaping
• Screening
• Street trees
• Existing heritage trees
• Heritage trees proposed for removal

Philadelphia Drawing Scale and Sheet Requirements

Philadelphia’s general zoning-permit page states that plans submitted in person should:

• Be drawn to scale
• Use a sheet at least 11 inches by 17 inches
• Be limited to two plan sheets, with one supplementary sheet when needed
• Use an accepted architectural or engineering scale
• Be printed in grayscale

Accepted engineering scales listed by the city include:

• 1 inch equals 10 feet
• 1 inch equals 20 feet
• 1 inch equals 30 feet
• 1 inch equals 40 feet
• 1 inch equals 50 feet
• 1 inch equals 60 feet
• 1 inch equals 100 feet

Electronic submissions through eCLIPSE are subject to separate electronic-plan standards.

Submitting Plans Through eCLIPSE

Philadelphia accepts online permit applications through eCLIPSE.

The city’s electronic plan-submission standards state that uploaded drawing files should:

• Use PDF format
• Use a standard sheet size between 18 by 24 inches and 36 by 48 inches
• Be in landscape orientation
• Be face up
• Contain clear, unobstructed text
• Be numbered, named and dated
• Be flattened and free of PDF comments
• Remain unlocked for markups
• Be no larger than the listed file-size limit

Multi-page construction-document files may also need functioning bookmarks and an accompanying sheet index.

Requirements can differ according to the permit type, so applicants should review the current L&I plan-requirement documents before uploading.

Official sources: Philadelphia L&I Plan Requirements and Electronic Plan Upload Standards .

Zoning Permit vs Building Permit

Philadelphia zoning and building permits address different parts of a project.

New buildings and additions need zoning approval before a building permit can be issued.

For smaller projects, such as certain single-family additions, Philadelphia may review zoning and building-code requirements at the same time when both applications are filed.

Official source: City of Philadelphia — Zoning Permit for New Construction or Additions .

Can a Project Qualify for an EZ Permit Without Plans?

Some Philadelphia construction and renovation projects can qualify for an EZ permit.

EZ permits do not require plans, but the proposed work must satisfy the exact applicable EZ standard.

Projects that may qualify include:

• Certain residential decks up to 216 square feet, excluding roof decks
• Some above-ground and in-ground pools and spas
• Certain retaining walls
• Some nonstructural residential alterations
• Roof-covering replacement
• Some exterior wall, window or door work

A project does not qualify simply because it is small. The scope must comply with the published EZ standard, and other zoning or historical requirements may still apply.

Official source: City of Philadelphia — EZ Permits Without Plans .

Small Sheds and Accessory Structures

Philadelphia states that a shed or similar accessory structure serving an existing one- or two-family dwelling may not need zoning approval when all of the following apply:

• The area is less than 130 square feet
• The height is less than 15 feet
• The structure is located in the rear yard
• The structure will not store motor vehicles

That zoning exemption does not necessarily remove every building, floodplain, historical, deed or private-property requirement.

A larger shed, garage or vehicle-storage structure may require zoning approval and a site plan showing the structure’s dimensions, location and relationship to the lot.

Common Philadelphia Projects That Use Site Plans

Home Addition Site Plans

A Philadelphia addition site plan commonly shows:

• The complete existing building
• The proposed addition footprint
• Exterior building dimensions
• Building height and number of stories
• Front, rear and side yards
• Lot lines and deed dimensions
• Existing decks and balconies
• Structures proposed for demolition
• Street and alley relationships

Read our related page: Philadelphia Addition Site Plans .

Deck and Roof-Deck Site Plans

Philadelphia specifically requires site plans to identify decks, roof decks, access structures and balconies.

A deck or roof-deck drawing may show:

• Deck footprint
• Roof-deck location
• Pilot house or access structure
• Stairs
• Exterior dimensions
• Building and access-structure height
• Yard dimensions
• Relationship to property lines

Roof decks are excluded from the residential-deck EZ permit standard referenced by Philadelphia, so they generally require plans and normal review.

Read: Philadelphia Deck Permit Plot Plan .

Garage and Parking Site Plans

A residential garage or parking project may need to show:

• Garage footprint and dimensions
• Garage height and stories
• Driveway or alley access
• Curb cuts
• Parking-space dimensions
• Drive-aisle dimensions
• Distance from the garage to lot lines
• Distance from the garage to the house
• Right-of-way information

New or modified off-street parking, loading or curb cuts may require a Department of Streets review in addition to L&I review.

Read: Philadelphia Garage Site Plans .

Driveway and Paving Site Plans

A driveway or paving plan may need to show:

• Existing and proposed driveway
• Curb line
• Existing or proposed curb cut
• Street or alley access
• Right-of-way width
• Parking-space dimensions
• Sidewalk relationship
• Existing buildings
• Property boundaries

Read: Philadelphia Driveway Site Plans .

Fence Site Plans

A Philadelphia fence site plan may identify:

• Complete fence alignment
• Fence height
• Gate locations
• Front, rear and side yards
• Property lines
• Street and sidewalk
• Driveway and curb-cut relationship
• Retaining walls when relevant

Read: Philadelphia Fence Site Plans .

Site Plan vs Survey

A drafted site plan and licensed property survey are different documents.

A survey or sealed professional plan may be required when:

• Deed dimensions are unclear
• The property boundaries are disputed
• Lot lines are being adjusted
• The project is close to a property line
• Accurate grades or topography are needed
• A special review requires a licensed survey
• L&I or another city department specifically requests certified information

For lot-line changes, Philadelphia City Planning Commission guidance requires a survey plan drawn by a licensed surveyor or engineer, along with the related legal documents.

Projects Requiring Philadelphia City Planning Commission Review

Certain zoning applications need a site-plan review from the Philadelphia City Planning Commission before or as part of the L&I process.

Examples include:

• Lot-line changes
• Open-air parking lots and landscaping
• Wissahickon watershed reviews
• Steep-slope overlay reviews
• Primary-street determinations for properties touching multiple streets

These reviews may require substantially more information than a basic residential site plan.

Additional information can include:

• Licensed survey plans
• Legal descriptions
• Landscape plans
• Curb cuts and drive-aisle widths
• Impervious-coverage calculations
• Stream or swale distances
• Slope calculations
• Topographic surveys at specified intervals
• Earthmoving plans
• Street widths and legal street status

Official source: Philadelphia City Planning Commission — Site Plan Review .

What Information Should You Send With Your Order?

Providing complete information can reduce drafting questions and help the plan move forward efficiently.

• Complete Philadelphia property address
• Project description
• Project length and width
• Proposed location
• Existing survey or deed plan
• Photographs of the property
• A hand sketch or marked aerial image
• Contractor or manufacturer drawings
• Known easements
• Parking or driveway dimensions
• Permit-office instructions
• Any L&I correction comments already received

How Our Philadelphia Site Plan Service Works

1. Place your order. Select the site-plan option matching the required level of detail.
2. Provide the property address. Available mapping and property information can be reviewed.
3. Upload your documents. Send a survey, deed plan, previous site plan or permit comments when available.
4. Describe the project. Provide the project dimensions and scope.
5. Mark the proposed location. Send a sketch, photograph or marked aerial image.
6. Review the completed plan. Check the project position, dimensions and labels.
7. Request reasonable edits. Drawing changes can be made when a reviewer requests site-plan corrections.

The accuracy of a remotely prepared site plan depends on the accuracy and completeness of the deeds, surveys, measurements, photographs and project information provided.

Common Philadelphia Site Plan Problems

• No cardinal directions or north arrow
• Lot dimensions do not match the deed
• Existing buildings are incomplete
• Building heights or number of stories are missing
• Decks, roof decks or access structures are omitted
• Proposed work is not clearly labelled
• Exterior project dimensions are missing
• Yard dimensions are missing
• Street or alley information is incomplete
• Curb cuts and right-of-way widths are omitted
• Parking spaces are not dimensioned
• Known easements are ignored
• Landscaping or heritage-tree information is missing when required
• The site plan conflicts with elevations or other permit drawings
• The uploaded PDF does not meet eCLIPSE standards

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a site plan for a Philadelphia zoning permit?

Philadelphia requires a site plan for new construction, additions, lot-line adjustments, parking and signs that do not qualify for an EZ permit. The city’s general guidance also states that applications not using an EZ standard must provide the required site-plan information.

Do I need zoning approval before a building permit?

New buildings and additions require zoning approval before a building permit can be issued. Certain smaller projects may receive concurrent zoning and building review when both applications are filed.

Can a small shed avoid zoning approval?

A shed or similar accessory structure for an existing one- or two-family dwelling may avoid zoning approval when it is under 130 square feet, under 15 feet high, located in the rear yard and not used to store motor vehicles.

Can I get an EZ permit without plans?

Some qualifying projects can use an EZ permit without submitting plans. The project must comply fully with the applicable Philadelphia EZ standard.

Can I use an existing survey?

Yes. An existing survey, deed plan or previous approved site plan can provide useful source information. It should accurately reflect the legal property and current conditions.

Can you prepare a site plan for a roof deck?

Yes. A roof-deck site plan can show the deck, access structure, stairs, building footprint, height information, yards and property relationships. Architectural or structural plans are separate when required.

Can you prepare a garage or driveway plan?

Yes. The site plan can show the garage, driveway or alley access, curb cut, parking spaces, lot boundaries and available yard dimensions.

Are your Philadelphia site plans stamped?

No. USA Site Plans provides residential drafting services. Licensed surveying, Pennsylvania professional seals, structural engineering, architectural drawings and other certified documents must be obtained separately when required.

Can a Philadelphia site plan be prepared online?

Many straightforward residential site plans can be prepared remotely using an existing survey or deed plan, property records, aerial imagery, photographs and customer-supplied measurements.

Will the site plan guarantee permit approval?

No. Philadelphia L&I and any other reviewing departments control approval and may request revisions, certified surveys, professional plans or additional supporting documents.

Official Philadelphia Sources

• City of Philadelphia — Get a Zoning Permit
• City of Philadelphia — Zoning Permit for New Construction or Additions
• City of Philadelphia — Get a Building Permit
• City of Philadelphia — EZ Permits Without Plans
• Philadelphia City Planning Commission — Site Plan Review
• Philadelphia L&I — Plan Requirements
• Philadelphia L&I — Electronic Plan Upload Standards

Disclaimer: This article provides general educational information and is not legal, surveying, engineering, architectural, zoning or permitting advice. Philadelphia requirements vary according to the property, zoning district, project and current city regulations. A drafted site plan does not establish legal property boundaries or replace a licensed survey, architectural plan, engineering or another certified professional document when required. Confirm current requirements with Philadelphia L&I and any other reviewing department before submitting an application.