What is a Site Plan?

A Site Plan is a drawing depicting the site of a proposed or existing project. Some of the key elements of a Site Plan are property boundaries, land topography, vegetation, proposed and/or existing structures, easements, wells, and roadways. 

Why is a Site Plan Needed?

A site plan is required for most, permit applications, pre-application meetings, and submittals.  It provides a visual image of your proposal and is used to assist in determining if your project conforms to land use policies and regulations. A Site Plan submitted as part of a permit application needs to show all of the items listed below.  However, a simple sketch is fine for beginning discussion.

What Elements are required in a Site Plan?

View a sample Site Plan (pdf file)

Map Information:

• Location Map (insert, if needed)
• Property lines (show entire property and dimension)
• Existing and proposed structures/projects
• Distances between structures
• Distances from proposed structures and additions to property line (setbacks)
• 100-year floodplain, if applicable
• Slopes (30% and greater, except in North County Coastal are 25% and greater)
• Total Square Feet: existing and proposed for each floor
• Floor Area Ratio after project
• Finished floor elevations
• Non-structural features such as pools, graded pads, fences
• Location of septic tank(s), leach fields, wells, and underground storage tanks
• Contour lines (existing and proposed; suggested interval 2' or 5')
• Topographic features: streams, wetlands, cliffs
• All trees: diameter, species, and whether to remain or be removed
• Access features: roads, driveways, streets, parking areas
• All easements: drainage, access, scenic, utility, etc.
• Grading amount and location

Title Block Information:

• Assessor's Parcel Number(s)
• Name of the Project
• Address of the project, if available
• Owners' name, address, and phone
• Plan preparer's name, address, and phone
• Scale of the Site Plan, (e.g. 1" = 20')
• North Arrow
• Date of map, date of latest revision

Map information can be obtained from the County Offices listed below:

• Water Resources Agency: floodplain and drainage information. (831) 755-4860
• Department of Public Works Development Division: road design requirements, traffic, subdivision design standards.  (831) 755-4800
• Division of Environmental Health: septic tank/leach field design, well permits, water systems, hazardous materials, underground storage tanks. (831) 755-4507 or 647-7654
• Recorder's Office: recorded tract maps, parcel maps, records of survey, deeds, recorded easements. (831) 755-5041
• Assessor's Office: Assessor's Parcel Numbers, maps of parcels by Book, Page, and individual parcel number for tax and ownership data. (831) 755-5035
• Fire Agencies: information on acceptable access; width, gates, clearance, hydrants. (consult telephone directory for the station nearest you).
• Planning Department: subdivision requirements, zoning requirements, setback and height limits, permit records, maps, plans. (831) 755-5025