Rear deck (preset 2)
16 × 20 ft attached deck plus a 4 × 15 ft stone walk: 380 sq ft of new impervious area.
- Lot coverage
- 30.4% PASS
- New impervious
- 380 sq ft
- Setbacks
- ALL PASS
Deck and fence permit plot plan · free on screen
Deck and Fence Permit Plot Plan Maker
Size the deck, check its clearance to the rear line, run fences along your lot lines and read the new impervious area — drawn to scale as you go.
Start from
Draw the lot from
Street side & north
Click a structure on the plan (or a chip above) to edit its size, position and counting rules.
Element Area— Size & position (ft) Counts toward Utility line Fence Common shed sizes Edit- Property line
- Zoning setback
- Existing structure
- Proposed structure
- Concrete paving
- Pavers / walkway
Not a boundary survey — an owner-prepared drawing from the dimensions you enter. Confirm setbacks with your building department or HOA.
Worked examples
Deck and fence plans, ready to edit
A rear deck, a 130 ft privacy fence, a pool barrier and a corner lot with a lower front-yard fence.
Backyard privacy fence, 130 ft
Left, rear and right lines from 60 ft back — the fence helper draws it in one click.
- Fence runs
- 130.0 ft
- Lot coverage
- 30.4% PASS
- Setbacks
- ALL PASS
Pool barrier fence (Maple Court)
A 5 ft barrier around a 16 × 32 ft pool and patio on a 70 × 110 ft lot.
- Impervious
- 2,807 sq ft · 36.5%
- Fence runs
- 170.0 ft
- Setbacks
- ALL PASS
Corner lot with front-yard height note
6 ft fence behind the house, a 3 ft picket in the street-side yard and a sight-triangle note.
- Fence runs
- 259.0 ft
- Lot coverage
- 19.0% PASS
- Lot area
- 7,150 sq ft
Fence runs
Fence lengths and post counts in the examples
Computed from the drawn runs at 8 ft post spacing — one post per started 8 ft of each straight segment, plus the end post of each run.
| Plan | Fence | Length | Straight runs | Posts | Panels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard privacy fence, 130 ft | 6 ft Privacy Fence | 130.0 ft | 3 | 18 | 17 |
| Pool barrier fence (Maple Court) | 5 ft Pool Barrier Fence | 170.0 ft | 3 | 24 | 23 |
| Corner lot with front-yard height note | 6 ft Privacy Fence | 210.0 ft | 3 | 29 | 28 |
| Corner lot with front-yard height note | 3 ft Front-Yard Picket | 49.0 ft | 2 | 8 | 7 |
Corners share a post, which is why a three-sided 130 ft fence needs 18 posts rather than 19. Gate openings replace a panel; add the gate symbol where the opening goes so the inspector sees it.
Coverage rules
Deck, patio or pavers — what counts
Lot coverage and impervious surface treat outdoor surfaces differently, and towns disagree. Use this as a starting point and set each element's toggles to match your code.
| Surface | Lot coverage | Impervious | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attached deck, over ~30 in high | Usually counted | Often counted | Treated like a roofed addition by many codes |
| Ground-level deck or platform | Often exempt | Varies | Gaps between boards drain; some towns still count it |
| Poured concrete patio | Not counted | Counted | Hard surface; adds to stormwater totals |
| Permeable pavers on gravel base | Not counted | Sometimes reduced | Some codes credit 25–50 % with an engineered base |
| Gravel patio or path | Not counted | Varies | Compacted gravel is impervious in some stormwater rules |
| Fence | Not counted | Not counted | Checked for height, location and pool-barrier rules instead |
Fences are judged on location and height. A fence built exactly on the line may need the neighbour's agreement, while one set 6–12 in inside stays entirely yours. Front-yard fences are often capped at 3–4 ft, and corner lots add a clear sight triangle near the intersection.
Label for the inspector: deck size and height, the two distances to the nearest lot lines, stair location, fence height and material, and any gate.
How it works
Deck and fence plan in four steps
Open the deck preset
A 50 × 100 ft lot with the house, driveway, a 16 × 20 ft deck and a 4 × 15 ft walk is already drawn.
Size and place the deck
Type the deck width, depth and distance from the house, or drag it; it turns red if it crosses the rear setback.
Run the fence
Open Fence lines, tick the lot lines, enter how far back from the street to start and pick the height.
Read the totals
Fence length, new impervious area and the two deck dimensions are what the permit desk asks for.
Use cases
Decks, fences, pools and patios
- Rear deck permit
- Most decks need a permit when attached to the house or more than about 30 in above grade; show the rear clearance and the deck size.
- Privacy fence permit
- Fence permits want the run, the height and whether it sits on or inside the line. Fence length is the total of every run on the plan.
- Pool barrier
- Pool codes require a barrier — commonly 4–5 ft — around the pool. Draw it with the fence tool; the HOA tool covers association approval.
- Patio instead of a deck
- Swap the deck for a patio to keep coverage down; the coverage calculator compares options without drawing.
- Learning the rules
- See the how-to guide, the scale guide and the deck example with every number shown.
FAQ
Questions people ask before they submit
Is a deck counted in lot coverage?
Often yes when it is attached or more than about 30 in above grade, and often no when it is a ground-level platform. The rule varies, so the deck toggle stays editable; the default counts it.
Is a patio impervious?
A poured concrete or mortared stone patio is impervious almost everywhere. Permeable pavers and gravel may be partly exempt; switch Impervious off only if your code says so.
Do I put the fence on the property line or inside it?
Many owners set it 6–12 in inside the line so footings never cross it. If you build on the line, some towns want the neighbour's signature. Draw the fence where you will actually build it.
How tall can a fence be?
Back and side yards commonly allow 6 ft; front yards are often limited to 3–4 ft and corner lots add a sight triangle at the intersection. The fence helper starts side fences behind the front setback for this reason.
How many fence posts will I need?
At 8 ft spacing, one post per started 8 ft of run plus one at the end of each run. The table on this page lists the counts for each example fence.
What does the inspector look for on a deck plan?
Deck size, height, distance to the rear and side lines, stairs and how it attaches to the house. Label the deck size and keep the two dimension lines to the closest lot lines on the plan.
Same engine, other jobs
More site plan tools
Every tool shares the drawing engine, the units switch and the Pro export pack, so a plan started on one page opens the same way on another.
DIY Site Plan CreatorLot, setbacks, structures and live coverage on one sheet.Open tool →Plot Plan CreatorTrace a plat or aerial screenshot after a 2-point scale.Open tool →Shed Permit Site PlanShed size, distances to lot lines, accessory setbacks.Open tool →HOA Site Plan ToolArchitectural review title block and packet checklist.Open tool →Lot Coverage CalculatorTable-only coverage and impervious math with limits.Open tool →
Guides: How to draw a site plan for a building permit · Scales, sheet sizes and title blocks · Residential site plan examples.