Plot Plans

A plot plan is a drawing of your property that shows its boundaries and every major feature: the house, porches, decks, sheds, swimming pools and landscaping. The building department uses it to check your fence against the code before the permit is issued. Existing plot plans can often be found at the local land records office or building department, and a mortgage survey is accepted by many communities.

Drawing your own plot plan

1. Measure the property lines with a measuring wheel. Start at a corner and roll the wheel along each property line, writing down each measurement.
2. Measure each structure on the property the same way, along with its distance from the property lines.
3. Draw the outline of the lot to scale on graph paper, with a scale in the corner (for example, 1 inch = 10 feet).
4. Draw the existing buildings and structures to scale, then the new fence, its gates and its height.
5. Add a north arrow, your name, the property address and your phone number.