Site Plan for Building Permit – 7 Design Mistakes to Avoid

1. Designing for Aesthetic While it can be tempting to be swayed by what looks nice, if it looks like you have decided on something from the image you could get into trouble. While it might look nice, there is no reason to incorporate something that doesn’t really help. By considering why you’re doing the build in the first place you’ll avoid issues with unnecessary reworks. For example, if you’re adding a single story garage near a side set back line. What are you changing? Depending on what you’re adding (deck, addition, new home, commercial fit out) you’ll need different documentation. On the site drawing you need to highlight where you’re working and what is being done. You’re also making it clear to whoever is reviewing why you’re doing this and how it relates to your boundaries and improvements. Don’t copy off your neighbor. With site plan for building permits you’ll want to clearly understand why you’ve made the decisions that are important. To help with this, ask yourself what issue each key element will resolve. Ask the responsible professional 'Which official requirement or document confirms this?' Write this down along with the reasons.
2. Incomplete Site Data If you haven’t documented any of the ground conditions, then the designer won’t be able to account for them. Even if there are just small misunderstandings about your slope, water flow, access or neighboring structures this can cause problems throughout your design. This can lead to reworks to your foundations, grading and access. If you have site plan for building permit then having clear decisions about your site will help in defending your decisions. Getting a reliable starting point begins with knowing your boundaries, easements and what elevation data you have. How far away are you from the lot lines? What access, services and drainage do you have? If you don’t have accurate property data, then get in a qualified surveyor. You can’t fix an incorrectly drawn site plan. If you’re doing site plan for building permits, then it’s best to know your site measurements. Try to find out the facts. Write this down along with the reasons.
3. Incorrect Sizing Often computer drawings can seem very detailed. However, rooms can look spacious when your furniture isn’t big enough or you haven’t tested your clearances. Large doors can be handy until you put in your swing and access paths. Having a practical discussion about your site plan for building permit will help you understand if you’ve considered your measurable priorities. Make sure you show the existing conditions and what you’re changing. Depending on your local requirements you’ll want to include your buildings, paving, driveways, setbacks, services, grading and drainage. Your scale, sizes, legend and references will help someone else understand your drawing. Label your drawing rather than using colors. A good way of checking your site plan for building permits is making sure your assumptions are traceable so you can avoid unnecessary reworks. Test your furniture, doors and access at scale. If there are any risks to safety or compliance, then use the appropriate licensed professional and official guidelines.
4. Putting off Technical Decisions Putting off decisions until onsite is not a way to deal with a key connection. This will mean that you’re putting a decision in your design that you don’t have much time to think about as you’ll have workers waiting. By thinking about your structural, waterproofing and servicing requirements you’ll be able to avoid issues. Having a good process in place for your site plan for building permit will help you make decisions that multiple professionals can agree on to avoid unnecessary reworks. For example, if you’re adding a porch extension that conflicts with your foundations. Your new structure needs to tie into your architectural and foundations plans. If your construction set shows one footprint but your site set shows another you won’t know what you’re going with. Make sure you know how your finished floor will relate to your stairs, access and any retaining structures. It’s better to sort this out in your design rather than after excavation. Having a good process for your site plan for building permits will help you clearly define your trade interfaces. If you’re expecting to avoid unnecessary reworks, then have a good discussion. Ask yourself what details have you not sorted. Ask the responsible 'Which official requirement or document confirms this?' Will this still make sense once occupied, maintained and owned?
5. Assuming Approval No one likes delay due to paperwork. However, it can be even worse if you find out after purchasing that you have an issue with zoning or codes. You need to make sure you’re aware of what approvals you need for the specific location and build. Just because there are similar buildings nearby doesn’t mean you’ll be approved. Before submitting your site plan for building permit documentation you need to make sure you know what your local requirements are. You may need a building permit and site approvals. This can depend on the authority, location and scale of your build. Make sure you know if you need approvals for any ground disturbance, stormwater, floodplain and/or separate agency permits. Don’t promise that a basic drawing will meet all your approval requirements. Have a good discussion about your building permit requirements. In practice, check what approvals you need. Will this still make sense once occupied, maintained and owned? A good progress isn’t how many new images you have but how many key questions you have answered to avoid conflicting instructions elsewhere. Often the fewer undefined interfaces you have the calmer your build will be.
6. Multiple Versions Just because you send someone a revised drawing doesn’t mean they’ll have the latest. One trade may be using an old section whilst another is using the latest. Having one set of current issues with dated changes can be a surprisingly powerful risk control. Having decisions in place during your build relating to your site plan for building permit will help you make sure your instructions are reaching your trades to avoid unnecessary reworks. For example, if your reviewer is asking where your storm water runoff will go. Try to see the comments as requests for evidence. Clearly state what sheet the change is on and make the change. Give a short answer stating what sheet the change is on. Keep a record of when the issue was. Don’t send mixed sheets. If you don’t know the information, then state this and who is responsible for finding out. A useful check would be to remove your outdated sets. Keeping a dated record will help someone unfamiliar understand your thought process without a long meeting.
7. Not Considering Post-Handover Once everything looks complete you’ll be focusing on getting some photos and getting occupied. However, if your records are unclear, your kit is hard to access and you haven’t considered your water details then this can cause regular issues. During your final walk through make sure your maintenance is accessible and all issues have an owner. Part of the lasting value of your work relating to your site plan for building permit will depend on how you’ve balanced your long term usability. Once you’ve got your approval your builders should be working from your approved documents. Keep track of any approved changes. If you don’t stick to your approved location/grading, you may run into issues later. Keep your permit number, signed or stamped technical documents (if required), inspections and final approvals for any future work on the property. Have a good operations and maintenance handover. Ask the responsible 'Which official requirement or document confirms this?' Keep a dated record so someone unfamiliar can understand your thought process without a long meeting.