a)  Use Survey terms and definitions 

Azimuth
Bearing
Traverse
Deflection Angle
Benchmark

• AZIMUTH

The angular measurement that indicates the Direction of a line relative to NORTH in a Clockwise Direction

• BEARING

The Direction of a line relative to NORTH or SOUTH towards the West or East (a Bearing can never be larger than 90^o )

• TRAVERSE 

A series of lines drawn by the known length and the Azimuth (or Bearing) of each line

• DEFLECTION ANGLE

The Deflection Angle is the angle difference between Azimuths in a Traverse

• BENCHMARK

A permanent object at a known location. The Canadian Geological Survey has placed bronze disks at known locations as part of the Canadian Survey (somtimes called Old Iron Pin, or OIP).

b)  Describe contours and "cut & fill"

c)  Write a legal description 

See textbook page 13 - "Rectangular System"
(note that although the textbook describes the system in the United States a similar system is used in Canada)

The Legal Description is a locator used to describe where exactly on the earth the Building Site is located relative to longitudes and latitudes that have been determined as the Principal Meridian and Base Line.

Legal Description for our Project:

Lot 25, Plan 71999, Part SW1/4, Section 1, Township 1, New Westminister Land District.

d)  Use survey information to draw property

In order to start a project, the drafter must have the survey information of the site that the building will be built on.

The survey information will include:

• The azimuth of each boundary (length and direction)

• The elevation of each corner of the property

• Old iron pin (OIP) location or benchmark

• Surrounding streets

Click HERE to see what the survey information for our house project looks like.

To draw azimuths in Autocad, set DDUNITS as follows:

                         Click on Direction...
 

e)  Describe Working North  

When aligning the site plan to the sheet, the North Arrow indicating true North is also adjusted. The orthographic direction closest to true North is used as the Working North direction.

a)  Follow Zoning requirements 

Zoning requirements specify the limitations of the building relative to the property size:

• Site usage ratio

• Placement distance (set-back) from property line

• Maximum height above the highest point of the property

Click HERE to see the City of Surrey Zoning requirements for a single-family residence. (scroll down to section R16 at approx. page 150)

b)  Draw building footprint 

The building footprint is the outline of the building as it will sit on the property. It is usually a simple outline, hatched to show the total area occupied by the building.

The outline can represent the exterior foundation walls, or the outside of the roof eaves, depending on the City zoning by-laws.

c)  Use correct frontages (set-backs)

Frontages are the minimum distance that the building must be "set-back" from the property line on all four sides. The most important one is the set-back distance from the front of the property. If this is met, the set-back distance from the back of the property is usually easily met.

On the sides of the property, there are different distances specified, depending on whether that side of the property is neighboring on to another piece of property, or a street.

d)  Calculate site usage ratio   

The site usage ratio is the percent of the area of the property that will  be occupied by living space.

To calculate the site usage ratio:

Total finished area in square Ft²
Total area of property in Ft²

Note that the total finished area in Ft² includes all floors if the building is multi-story.

If the basement is not to be finished (drywall, flooring, ceiling tile etc) it does not have to be included in the calculation. However, if it is intended to be finished one day it must be included in the calculation or a permit application to finish the basement could be turned down if the final finished living area exceeds the site usage ratio.

The site usage ratio does not include things like a garage or shed.

a)  Draw roof slopes in plan   

b)  Draw exterior walls in roof plan   

c)  Draw garage roof plan   

a)  Draw features and landscaping

The features shown on the site plan includes the following:

• Sidewalks:   36" minimum width, 2" thick
• Drive way:   15' wide, 2" thick ashphalt

• Retaining walls

The landscaping shown on the site plan includes the following:

• Existing trees

  • (must give location to property boundaries, and diameter of the tree for any tree larger than 9" diameter at 4' above the ground)
     

• Shrubs and bushes

• Planters

• Pond

b)  Apply appropriate drawing scales  

See drawing standards

c)  Apply required dimensions 

See checklist below

d)  Add required annotation 

See checklist below

e)  Draw required symbols

See checklist below

f)  Use a checklist

Click HERE to go to Site Plan Checklist
(to make sure the drawing is complete)