Why Site Plans Matter in British Columbia
If you’re planning to build or renovate in British Columbia, one of the first documents you’ll need is a site plan. This drawing shows how your project fits on the property, where services connect, and whether it complies with zoning bylaws.
In BC, a site plan is always part of the building permit application. For some properties, additional approvals such as development permits may also apply. Knowing what’s required up front can save you costly delays.
When Do You Need a Site Plan in BC?
Single-Family Homes
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A site plan drawing is always required with a building permit application, even for detached homes on existing lots.
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It must include property boundaries, the building footprint, setbacks, driveway, and drainage.
Accessory Buildings
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Garages, laneway houses, garden suites, and sheds typically require site plans to confirm lot coverage and setbacks.
Development Permit Areas (DPAs)
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Some properties fall within Development Permit Areas, established by municipalities under the Local Government Act.
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If your site is in a DPA (such as a heritage area, environmentally sensitive zone, or wildfire interface area), you’ll need extra drawings and a development permit before the building permit is issued.
Subdivisions
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Creating new lots requires a subdivision plan prepared by a BC land surveyor. This goes beyond a simple site plan and involves servicing, legal descriptions, and municipal approvals.
What to Include in a Site Plan
Most BC municipalities require the following details:
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Property lines and lot dimensions
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North arrow and scale
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Existing and proposed buildings with dimensions
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Setbacks from all lot lines
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Driveway location and width
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Parking spaces, patios, decks, and walkways
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Drainage flow and lot grading
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Service connections (water, sanitary, storm)
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Easements or rights-of-way
Additional requirements may include:
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Tree protection plans
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Topographic details for sloped sites
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Stormwater management drawings for larger projects
The Approval Process
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Preparation
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Homeowners can draft basic site plans using digital tools.
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Complex projects often need a surveyor, engineer, or architect.
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Submission
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Site plans are submitted with your building permit application, either online or in person.
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Municipal Review
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Staff confirm compliance with zoning, lot coverage, setbacks, and servicing.
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If your property is in a DPA, planning staff review it against local guidelines.
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Revisions
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Updates may be required to bring the plan into compliance.
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Approval
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Once accepted, the site plan is attached to your building permit.
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In DPAs, a development permit must be issued before the building permit is granted.
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Timelines You Can Expect
Single-Family Homes (Existing Lot)
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Preparation: A straightforward site plan can be drafted within a few days to a week.
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Municipal Review: Building permit applications for houses must be reviewed within 10 business days once complete, per the BC Building Code.
Multi-Unit Developments or Properties in DPAs
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Preparation: Full site plan packages, surveys, and reports may take several weeks to months.
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Municipal Review: Development permit plus building permit reviews often take 2–6 months, depending on complexity.
Subdivisions
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Preparation: Subdivision plans by a BC land surveyor can take several weeks.
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Municipal Review: Approvals may take 3–12 months, given servicing and legal requirements.
Costs
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Basic residential site plan drawing: $200–$1,000 if prepared by a designer or surveyor.
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Development permit fees: $1,000–$10,000+, depending on project size and municipality.
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Subdivision approvals: Several thousand dollars in municipal fees, plus survey and engineering costs.
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DIY option with software: Presite.com offers subscriptions starting at $98 per month, allowing you to create up to 10 professional site plans — an affordable option for homeowners, builders, and contractors.
Using Digital Tools Like Presite.com
Traditionally, site plans required a surveyor or architect, even for small projects. Now, platforms like Presite.com give homeowners and developers a flexible, affordable way to prepare preliminary site plans.
With Presite, you can:
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Create up to 10 site plans per month under the $98 starter plan
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Draw accurate, scaled layouts of your property
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Add house footprints, driveways, trees, and landscaping
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Export professional PDFs for municipal submission or pre-consultation
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Share plans with builders or planners for early feedback
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Test multiple designs before investing in costly surveys
For smaller projects, Presite is often enough to get through the early stages of the building permit process — saving both time and money.
Key Takeaways
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A site plan drawing is always required with building permits in British Columbia.
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Development permits may also apply if your property is within a designated DPA.
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Subdivision projects require formal subdivision plans by surveyors.