NC site plan permits
Start with the right documents.
A practical homeowner guide to project types, drawing content, source information and North Carolina local permit review.
What is a permit site plan?
North Carolina General Statute 160D-102 defines a site plan as a scaled drawing and supporting information showing lot lines in relation to existing or proposed uses, buildings and structures.
For a residential project, a site plan commonly helps a reviewer understand where a house, deck, driveway, pool, garage or addition is located relative to the property and other site features.
The law does not turn one standard drawing into a universal permit checklist. Local ordinances, project type, zoning and source documents determine which details are relevant.
Read the North Carolina General Assembly site-plan definition ↗.
What to do before ordering.
Identify the reviewer
Confirm the property address and whether the city, county or both handle the relevant application.
Describe the project
List the improvement type, approximate length, width and proposed location.
Gather site records
Find your survey, recorded plat, earlier approved drawings or other reliable property information.
Review the checklist
Ask about site dimensions, setbacks, coverage, drainage, construction sheets and required seals.
Final step: review the prepared draft against the project dimensions and the local application checklist before filing. Incorrect lot or footprint information can cause avoidable corrections.
Common items the drawing may need.
Property and existing work
- Property outline, orientation and source notes
- Existing house and relevant accessory structures
- Driveways, walks and other relevant improvements
- North arrow and drawing scale
- Identified access and easements where applicable
Proposed work and application notes
- Clearly labeled new construction footprint
- Distances and setbacks where required
- Site area and coverage schedules where applicable
- Notes requested by the permit checklist
- Other supporting sheet references where required
Do not assume that all items are mandatory for every project. Required drawing content varies by jurisdiction, application category and circumstances.
Different work, different supporting documents.
Decks and porches
The site plan can show the new footprint, but a building permit may separately require framing, footing and anchorage details.
Garages, sheds and carports
Proposed placement and property-line relationships matter, but construction details can require separate sheets.
Home additions and new houses
The building footprint may be only one part of a larger architectural, structural and utility documentation package.
What a site plan cannot solve on its own.
- Assuming an online aerial photograph provides certified boundary dimensions
- Submitting a floor plan without showing where the proposed work is located on the lot
- Ignoring written zoning, drainage, easement or impervious surface review notes
- Assuming site-plan drafting includes engineering, professional seals or city permit fees
- Using a generic city’s checklist for a different reviewing jurisdiction
If a reviewer requests a signed survey or engineering drawings, those must be handled through appropriately licensed professionals and authorized firms.
What to send us.
Share your property address, the intended project, existing survey or plot plan if available, and any city or county checklist. We can assess the site-drawing scope and tell you what needs separate review.
Next: Site plan vs. certified survey ↗Have an actual site-plan request?
Tell us the city or county, project size and what property documents you have. We’ll clarify the right drawing scope.