Shed for architectural review
12 × 16 ft shed with distances to the west and rear lines and an HOA title block.
- Lot coverage
- 24.8% PASS
- Setbacks
- ALL PASS
- Lot area
- 7,200 sq ft
HOA site plan drawing tool · architectural review
HOA Site Plan Drawing Tool for Architectural Review
Draw the lot, the change you are asking for and its distances to every lot line, with an HOA title block and a packet checklist that ticks itself as you draw.
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
- 6 ft Privacy Fence
- Tree canopy
Not a boundary survey — an owner-prepared drawing from the dimensions you enter. Confirm setbacks with your building department or HOA.
Worked examples
Four requests boards see every month
Each opens with the HOA title block filled in, so you only change the names and sizes.
Fence request
166 ft of 6 ft privacy fence starting behind the front of the house.
- Fence runs
- 166.0 ft
- Lot area
- 7,200 sq ft
- Impervious
- 1,896 sq ft · 26.3%
Pool and barrier
Pool, pool patio and a 5 ft barrier — the items boards check for pools.
- Impervious
- 2,807 sq ft · 36.5%
- Fence runs
- 170.0 ft
- Setbacks
- ALL PASS
Paver patio
Patio instead of a deck: no coverage, but 320 sq ft of new hard surface.
- Lot coverage
- 24.0% PASS
- New impervious
- 380 sq ft
- Impervious
- 1,780 sq ft · 35.6%
Two approvals
HOA approval vs the building department
An association approval and a building permit answer different questions. Most homeowners in an HOA need both, and neither replaces the other.
| HOA architectural review | Building department | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | Architectural review committee of the association | Building or planning department of the town or county |
| Rule book | Covenants (CC&Rs) and design guidelines | Zoning code and building code |
| Typical focus | Looks, materials, colours, placement, views | Setbacks, coverage, structure, safety, drainage |
| Drawing asked for | Site plan with distances, fence height, material samples | Scaled site plan with title block and coverage numbers |
| Typical timing | 30–45 days, often by monthly meeting | Days to weeks depending on the project |
| If you skip it | Fines or an order to remove, even with a city permit | Stop-work order, fees, failed inspection |
Avoid a resubmission
What architectural review boards reject
Boards meet monthly in many communities, so a rejected packet can cost a month. These are the gaps that come up most.
- No distances from the structure to the lot lines, or distances that do not add up to the lot width.
- Fence height or material missing — boards care whether it is 4 ft picket or 6 ft vinyl.
- Structure on an easement or in a front or side yard the covenants protect.
- No colours or material samples for siding, roofing or decking.
- Neighbour notification or signatures missing where the covenants require them.
- Contractor, start and finish dates left blank.
The checklist beside the drawing covers the first five automatically: lot lines, distances to every lot line, footprint and size labels, fence height and the north arrow. The last three need paperwork, so they stay manual ticks.
How it works
Prepare an HOA packet in four steps
Start from your plan
The page opens with the HOA title block selected; load a preset or press New and type your lot.
Fill the HOA title block
Enter the association name, lot and block, address and applicant in Title block — the preview updates as you type.
Draw and dimension
Place the shed, fence, pool or patio and press Dimension to lot lines so the distances are on the sheet.
Tick the packet
Five checklist items tick themselves from the drawing; tick materials, neighbours and contractor dates when ready.
Use cases
Common architectural review requests
- Sheds and outbuildings
- Associations often limit shed size, height and placement behind the house. Size options are on the shed permit page.
- Fences
- Boards check height, style and whether the fence crosses a common-area line. Fence runs and lengths come from the deck and fence tool.
- Pools and patios
- Pools need a barrier and often a setback from the rear line; patios change drainage. Coverage math is in the calculator.
- Then the city permit
- Switch Submission to Building permit and the same drawing becomes your permit site plan. See the how-to guide, the scale guide and examples.
FAQ
Questions people ask before they submit
Do I need HOA approval and a city permit?
Often both. The HOA enforces its covenants (looks, materials, placement), while the city enforces building and zoning codes. Approval from one does not replace the other.
What do architectural review boards usually reject?
Incomplete packets: no distances to lot lines, no fence height or material, no colour samples, or a structure on an easement or in a front yard the covenants protect.
What should the HOA title block show?
The association name, your lot and block number, the property address, the applicant and the date. The HOA submission type puts these in the title block of the Pro PDF.
Can I tick off items the drawing does not show?
Materials, neighbour sign-off and contractor dates are not drawn, so they are manual ticks. The first five items tick themselves when the plan contains what they need.
Does the HOA need a scaled drawing?
Many accept a clear dimensioned sketch, but a scaled plan with a scale bar avoids back-and-forth. The free draft proof is not to scale; the Pro PDF is.
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 →Deck & Fence Plot PlanDeck clearance, fence runs, heights and new impervious area.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.