Every great building project starts with a clear plan.
Before construction or renovation begins, it’s important to understand the drawings that shape your vision — the site plan and the floor plan.
Each one tells a different part of your home’s story: one shows the land, the other shows the living space.
At TOV Plans and Permits, we help homeowners, builders, and designers bring these drawings to life and make sure they meet all permit requirements.
🧭 What Is a Site Plan?
A site plan is a scaled drawing of an entire property, showing how a structure sits within its surroundings — including boundaries, landscaping, and utilities.
It’s essential for zoning review, building permits, and coordination during construction.
What a Site Plan Includes
- Property lines and lot dimensions
- Existing and proposed buildings or structures
- Driveways, sidewalks, and parking
- Setbacks and easements
- Landscaping, trees, and fences
- Drainage and grading (contours or elevation points)
- Utility lines (water, sewer, electric, gas)
- North arrow, legend, and scale
Purpose: To demonstrate compliance with zoning, safety, and land-use regulations before building begins.
Example:
A typical residential site plan shows the house footprint centered on the lot, the driveway entry, nearby property boundaries, and labeled utility connections.
🏠 What Is a Floor Plan?
A floor plan is a top-down drawing of a building’s interior layout, illustrating how rooms connect and how people move through the space.
It’s used for interior design, remodeling, and communicating construction details.
What a Floor Plan Includes
- Walls, doors, and windows
- Room names and dimensions
- Fixtures (kitchen, bathroom, laundry)
- Stairs, closets, and storage areas
- Optional furniture layout
- Symbols and abbreviations like WIC (Walk-In Closet) or PAN (Pantry)
Purpose: To visualize and plan the interior arrangement for function, flow, and comfort.
Example:
A simple floor plan might show a kitchen open to a living room, with bedrooms labeled and door swings indicated for clear movement paths.
⚖️ Site Plan vs Floor Plan: The Key Differences
| Feature | Site Plan | Floor Plan |
| Focus | Entire property | Interior layout |
| Shows | Boundaries, structures, landscaping, utilities | Rooms, doors, walls, fixtures |
| Used By | Surveyors, engineers, permit officials | Architects, designers, builders |
| Scale | 1” = 20–50’ | 1/4” = 1’ |
| Purpose | Zoning, permitting, exterior coordination | Design, remodeling, interior flow |
| Perspective | Outside-in | Inside-out |
In short:
A site plan shows where your building sits on the land.
A floor plan shows how the spaces function inside that building.
🧱 What Is a Building Plan?
A building plan (or construction drawing set) combines every plan type into one cohesive document used for construction and inspection.
What a Building Plan Includes
- Site plan
- Floor plans for each level
- Elevations (front, rear, side views)
- Sections (cut-through structural views)
- Foundation and roof plans
- Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC layouts
- Door, window, and finish schedules
These plans form the complete blueprint of your project — guiding contractors and ensuring code compliance.
🧩 When You Need Each Plan
| Project Type | Site Plan | Floor Plan | Building Plan |
| New construction | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Home addition | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Interior remodel | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Landscaping project | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Permit application | ✅ | sometimes | ✅ |
| Real-estate listing | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
Most cities require a site plan drawn to scale by a licensed professional for any new structure or exterior modification.
🧰 How to Get a Site or Floor Plan
- Check local records: Many municipalities keep site plans on file for existing properties.
- Ask your builder or architect: They can often provide the original construction drawings.
- Hire a professional: A certified drafter, architect, or engineer can prepare updated, permit-ready plans to scale.
- Work with experts:
At TOV Plans and Permits, we handle the entire process for you — from creating accurate site and floor plans to preparing full building plan sets and submitting them for approval.
We ensure every drawing meets your city’s requirements and help you get all necessary permits quickly and correctly. - Use design software for concepts: Tools like Planner 5D or RoomSketcher are helpful for simple visualization, though not for official submittals.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting outdated or non-scaled drawings
- Forgetting to include setbacks or property lines
- Mixing site plan and floor plan details on one sheet
- Omitting north arrow, scale, or drainage details
- Using sketches instead of professional drawings for permits
Avoiding these errors helps prevent costly rejections or delays during permit review.
🛋️ What Is a Split Floor Plan?
A split floor plan places the main suite on one side of the home and other bedrooms on the opposite side, separated by shared living areas.
Benefits
- More privacy and noise control
- Ideal for guests, multigenerational families, or home offices
- Common in modern single-story homes
Considerations
- Slightly higher construction cost
- Longer utility runs
👗 What Does WIC Mean in a Floor Plan?
WIC stands for Walk-In Closet — a private storage space large enough to walk into, typically adjoining a bedroom or ensuite.
Typical Features
- Size of about 5’ × 7’ or larger
- Shelving and hanging rods on multiple walls
- Optional built-in drawers or islands
📘 Other Common Plan Terms
| Term | Meaning |
| Elevation | Exterior view of a building’s façade |
| Section | Vertical cut showing structure details |
| Setback | Legal distance between building and property line |
| Easement | Area reserved for utilities or access |
| Plot Plan | Simplified version of a site plan |
| As-Built Plan | Drawing showing the structure after construction |
🧩 How These Plans Work Together
- The site plan places your structure correctly on the property.
- The floor plan defines how rooms connect and function inside.
- The building plan compiles all drawings for approval and construction.
Together, they form the backbone of any successful residential or commercial project — from concept to final inspection.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the main difference between a site plan and a floor plan?
A site plan shows the property layout; a floor plan shows interior spaces and design.
What does a site plan include?
Boundaries, structures, driveways, landscaping, utilities, and grading.
What does a floor plan include?
Walls, doors, windows, room labels, and fixtures.
What does a building plan include?
All drawings needed for construction — site, floor, elevations, sections, and system layouts.
Who prepares site or floor plans?
Architects, engineers, or companies like TOV Plans and Permits, who specialize in drafting and permitting services.
Do I need a site plan for a permit?
Yes, most jurisdictions require a scaled site plan before issuing a building or remodeling permit.
How do I read a site plan?
Start by identifying the north arrow and property lines, then locate structures, setbacks, and utilities.
Can I draw my own plans?
You can sketch concepts, but official permits require professional, to-scale drawings.
What is a split floor plan?
A design separating the main suite from other bedrooms for privacy.
What is WIC in a floor plan?
Walk-In Closet — an enclosed storage space adjoining a bedroom.
🧭 Summary
| Plan Type | Focus | Used For | Includes |
| Site Plan | Property layout | Permits, zoning, landscaping | Boundaries, setbacks, utilities |
| Floor Plan | Interior layout | Design, remodeling, real estate | Walls, rooms, fixtures |
| Building Plan | Complete project | Construction, inspection | All architectural drawings |
Understanding these plans ensures your project is compliant, efficient, and well-communicated from start to finish.
And when you’re ready, TOV Plans and Permits can handle the entire process — from drawing to permit approval — saving you time, stress, and rework.
