How to Read a Site Plan + Example

Even home improvement projects that seem relatively minor, like installing a fence around your property, usually involve a fair amount of planning and preparation. You need to ensure that the fence is on your property and that it complies with the zoning laws of your area. If you have an HOA, you might need its approval before moving forward with a new fence.

One element that's a crucial part of your fence installation project is the site plan. Learn more about what a site plan is and how to read one.

What Is a Site Plan?

A site plan is a map of your property depicting all the features on your property, from your home to the trees. The plan will show the property lines, your driveway, and other structures like a shed.

Site plans offer a bird's eye view of your property, meaning they look down on it. The plan needs to be drawn to scale, or else it won't accurately show you the interaction between existing structures, like your home, and new installations, like a new fence. Site plans are often made using GIS mapping.

You can hire a professional to create a certified site plan for your project, or you can put together an uncertified plan for free. A non-certified plan can be perfect if you just need basic details about your property before starting a project.

What's on a Site Plan?

The contents of a site plan vary based on how detailed it is and how many structures are on the property. A site plan can contain just the property lines and an outline of your home, for example. If you have more features on your property, such as a shed, a swimming pool, or extensive landscaping, those should appear on your plan, too.

Along with outlines of property lines and structures, the plan should contain information that helps you decipher it. Some of the key information you'll find on the plan includes:

• Scale reference: The scale reference lets you determine how the plan measures up to real life. For example, a one-inch line on the plan might be the equivalent of 25 feet in real life.
• Orientation: The plan should have a little arrow somewhere that shows you which side of the plan is facing north.
• Latitude and longitude coordinates: The latitude and longitude coordinates, or GPS coordinates, show you exactly where your property lines and the structures of your home and other buildings are located.
• Distance between structures: The site plan should also show you how much space there is between the house, other structures, and the property line.
• Title block: The title block is a text box, usually in the corner of the site plan. It contains the plan's details, such as the date it was created or approved, the name of the project or client, the address, and project information.

How To Read a Site Plan

If you get your hands on a site plan before your fence installation project begins, here's how to make sense of it:

• Identify the property lines: There should be a key telling you what color the property lines are, compared to the color used for the eaves lines and lines marketing other structures. Finding the property lines lets you see the space between them and any structures or natural features on the property.
• Look for the scale: The scale measurement lets you know how the plan compares to the actual measurements. It also lets you know if the plan is to scale and is an accurate representation of your property.
• Find north: The plan should have a little arrow or compass that points north. Finding the compass helps you orient the plan.
• Find natural features: If your property has natural features, they'll be marked on the plan. Any hills or slopes will be shown using contoured lines, while trees are usually represented as green circles.
• Look for utilities: The site plan might include information on the location of utility hookup points. You might not need these for a fence project, but it's good to know where they are.
• Find setbacks and easements: An easement is an area of the property that needs to be left alone, usually for drainage or ease of passage. Setbacks are the distance required between property lines and structures.

Example Site Plan

The best way to learn how to read a site plan is to look at an example plan. HOA Affordable Fence Company offers free, non-certified site plans for customers looking to install a fence. We have two examples of site plans on our site. One shows just the property lines and eaves lines, while the other includes a satellite image overtop. Both give you an idea of what to expect when you order a site plan.