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Site Plans

Scaled site plans for building permits, new construction, and site design across Georgia.

What is a Site Plan?

A site plan is a scaled drawing showing both the existing and the proposed conditions on a parcel. On one sheet it presents the property boundaries, existing and proposed structures, driveways, utilities, easements, building setback lines, and drainage. Architects, engineers, builders, and permitting officials all read the same drawing, so it becomes the common reference for how a project sits on the ground.

Most Georgia counties and cities require a site plan with a building permit application. The reviewer uses it to confirm that what you intend to build fits inside the property lines, respects the setbacks and easements, and handles stormwater in a way the jurisdiction accepts. Requirements are not uniform across the state. Scale, sheet size, annotations, and level of detail differ by county, city, and zoning district, so we confirm the current standard with the local planning or permitting office before we draft.

There is a real difference between a surveyor site plan and a sketch drawn on a printed aerial or an old plat copy. A sketch shows an approximation. A site plan prepared by a licensed surveyor is built from actual field measurements, tied to located property corners and real elevations, so every dimension on the sheet can be defended when a reviewer questions a setback or a contractor stakes a corner from the drawing.

An accurate base survey is what keeps a project moving. Plans drawn on assumed property lines are a common reason permit applications come back for correction, and a foundation placed off an assumed line can force a redesign, a variance request, or relocation of the structure. We normally build a site plan on a current boundary survey for the property lines and, where grading or drainage is involved, a topographic survey for elevations. Our guide on what a topographic survey is explains how those elevations and contours are captured. S&S Land Surveying prepares site plans throughout Polk, Floyd, Bartow, Paulding, Carroll, Haralson, Douglas, and Gordon counties and the wider NW Georgia and metro Atlanta region.

Who Needs a Site Plan?

  • Homeowners and builders applying for a building permit
  • New home construction on a vacant or newly divided lot
  • Room additions, garages, and carports that change the building footprint
  • Pools, decks, barns, and other accessory structures
  • Commercial development and tenant site improvements
  • Septic system applications and driveway or access permits

Our Site Plan Process

  1. Confirm the permitting authority's requirements. We start with the county or city office that will review your application and confirm what it currently requires: scale, sheet size, annotations, certifications, and local submittal standards.
  2. Field survey the existing conditions. Our crew locates property corners, existing structures, driveways, visible utilities, easements, and grade, so the plan is built on measured data rather than assumptions.
  3. Plot the proposed improvements. We work with you, your builder, or your designer to place the proposed building or structure on the parcel and check it against setbacks and easements before anything goes to the county.
  4. Draft the scaled plan with required annotations. We produce the drawing at the required scale with dimensions to the property lines, setback callouts, north arrow, legend, and the surveyor certification.
  5. Deliver in the format the county accepts. You receive the plan in the file format and sheet size your permitting office accepts, and we respond to reviewer comments if a revision is requested.

Why Choose S&S Land Surveying

40+ Years Experience

William "Bart" Sims founded S&S at the end of 2021 after more than 40 years in land surveying.

Georgia Licensed

Site plans prepared and certified by a licensed Georgia land surveyor.

4.9 Stars, 50+ Reviews

Our current Google rating from clients across the region.

Local Coverage

Polk, Floyd, Bartow, Paulding, Carroll, Haralson, Douglas, and Gordon counties.

Site Plan FAQ

How much does a site plan cost in Georgia?

Site plan costs depend on property size and detail required. The factors that drive the price are parcel size, how much existing detail has to be located in the field, whether a current boundary survey already exists, whether elevations and drainage information are required, and what the reviewing office asks to see on the sheet. Commercial site plans may cost more. Contact S&S Land Surveying for a free estimate.

What is the difference between a plot plan, a site plan, and a boundary survey?

A boundary survey defines property lines and corners. A site plan goes further by showing topography, existing structures, easements, setbacks, and other features needed for construction planning and permitting. Plot plan is the term some Georgia permit offices use for that same drawing, so in practice plot plan and site plan often describe the same submittal. We confirm which term and which level of detail your office expects before drafting.

Does my county require a site plan for a building permit?

Most Georgia counties and municipalities require a site plan as part of the building permit application. The site plan shows the proposed construction relative to property lines, setbacks, and existing improvements. The specific requirements vary by county, city, and zoning district, so we confirm the current standard with your local planning or permitting office before we draft the plan.

How long does a site plan take?

The schedule depends on the size of the parcel, how much existing detail has to be located in the field, whether a current boundary survey is already on record, and how quickly the permitting office returns its review comments. We give you a schedule along with your estimate so you can plan your permit submittal around it.

What do I receive with a site plan?

You receive a scaled drawing showing property boundaries, existing and proposed structures with dimensions to the property lines, driveways and access, utilities and easements, setback lines, and drainage information where the project calls for it. The sheet is certified by a licensed Georgia surveyor and delivered in the format and sheet size your permitting office accepts.

Related Services

Site plans are frequently combined with these services:

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