Boundary work is regulated
Texas defines professional surveying to include locating real property boundaries, preparing related maps and descriptions, and surveying analysis tied to that work.
Read the Texas surveying act and rulesSite plan survey, explained
Is a site plan survey a site plan or a land survey?
A "site plan survey" is not one universal document. Some permit offices use the phrase for a drawing that shows the lot and proposed work. A licensed land survey is different: a Texas surveyor locates boundaries using records and field evidence.
Check my address freeCheck eligible fence, shed, and pool projects in Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, and San Antonio.
Preliminary permit plan
Permit office asks for a site plan?
Start with a preliminary site plan
Map the lot, existing improvements, and proposed work for review.
Need a custom permit set?
Hire a drafter
Bring records and measurements for a tailored drawing and revisions.
Need a boundary survey?
Hire a surveyor
Use a Texas RPLS for boundary research, field evidence, and professional surveying.
The practical difference
Compare a site plan, custom drawing, and land survey.
Choose by the job the document must do, not by its label. Permit offices sometimes use "site plan," "plot plan," and "survey" differently.
What changes
Self-service
EasySitePlan
Custom drawing
Professional drafter
Licensed work
Land surveyor
Primary job
Build an editable preliminary permit sheet
Prepare a custom site plan from supplied information
Locate real property boundaries and prepare surveying work
Field visit
No
Varies by provider and scope
Usually part of boundary-location work
Boundary certification
No
No, unless the provider is also licensed for surveying
Yes, within the agreed surveying scope
Your role
Verify and correct the drawing
Supply records, measurements, and project details
Explain the purpose and provide title or property records
Best fit
A supported permit that accepts an applicant-prepared plan
A custom permit set that needs drafting help
A boundary, monument, legal description, or certified survey is required
Where EasySitePlan fits
Use the lightest honest option that meets the requirement.
EasySitePlan is for a homeowner or small contractor who can inspect the property information and submit the permit. It starts from public records and aerial imagery, then gives you an editor to make corrections.
Current coverage is Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, and San Antonio. Eligibility is checked by address.
- Eligibility check for fence, shed, and pool projects
- Guided editing and a watermarked preview at no charge
- Clean PDF for a standard one-time price of $24
- No account, subscription, or permit-submission service
Stop and hire a surveyor
Do not guess when the boundary itself is the job.
A public parcel map is useful context, not a professional opinion on the ground. Use a Texas registered professional land surveyor when a line must be located, a corner or monument must be found or set, or a signed survey is required.
- A neighbor disputes the property line
- A fence or structure sits close to an uncertain line
- A lender or title company requests a survey
- The permit office requires signed or certified surveying work
- A legal description or easement must be prepared
- You need boundary corners marked on the ground
Texas source check
Read the requirement, then match the document.
Permit labels can be local
Austin's fence instructions, for example, ask for a "Plot Plan Survey" with specific features labeled. The exact checklist matters more than the generic name of the document.
Read Austin's current fence requirementsRequirements vary by property, project, and reviewing office. EasySitePlan does not replace a licensed survey, certify boundaries, provide engineering, submit a permit, or guarantee approval.
Site plan and survey questions
What to know before you choose
Is a site plan the same as a survey?
No. A site plan shows a property and proposed work for planning or permit review. A boundary survey is professional surveying work that locates real property boundaries using records, measurements, monuments, and other evidence.
Can I use an old survey for a permit site plan?
Sometimes. An old survey can be useful source material if it still reflects the property and the reviewing office accepts it. Add the proposed work only after checking that the survey, improvements, easements, and permit instructions are current.
When should I hire a licensed land surveyor?
Hire a registered professional land surveyor when a boundary must be located or marked, a line is uncertain or disputed, or the reviewing office, lender, title company, or another party requires a signed or certified survey.
What does a professional site plan drafter do?
A drafter prepares a permit drawing from the records, measurements, and project details you provide. A drafter may offer more custom work, but drafting alone does not certify a property boundary unless the provider is also licensed to perform that surveying work.
Is EasySitePlan a survey or professional drafting service?
Neither. EasySitePlan creates an editable preliminary permit plan from public records and aerial imagery. You inspect and correct it yourself. It does not perform field measurements, certify boundaries, provide engineering, or submit the permit.
How much does EasySitePlan cost?
The address check, guided editor, local checklist, redraws, and watermarked preview are free. The standard one-time price for the clean PDF is $24.
Start with the requirement. See the plan before you pay.
EasySitePlan checks the address and project first. If the preliminary plan fits, inspect the watermarked sheet free and buy the $24 clean PDF only when ready.
Check my address freeNeed a wider comparison? Compare all four permit-plan routes.