- Hiding unnecessary model elements like toposolid edges, room separators, and appliances keeps the site plan focused on relevant site information
- Property line tags and setback dimensions with descriptive text labels are essential annotations for any site plan submitted for permitting
- Repeating detail components can represent fences, water lines, sewer lines, and electrical service, adding the utility information required for permit submissions
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The site plan is one of the first sheets reviewed during a permit submission, and it needs to communicate a lot of information clearly. In Revit, setting up a site plan for a residential project involves cleaning up the view to show only relevant elements, adding property line and setback annotations, placing utility symbols, and including a legend that explains each symbol used. With the bulk of the building model already in place, the site plan is largely an annotation and drafting exercise.
Cleaning up the View
The first step is to remove elements that do not belong on a site plan. The toposolid edge boundary can be distracting, so select it (using Tab to cycle through overlapping elements) and hide it in the view. Turn off thin lines to see everything clearly, and then go through the view to hide items like stair annotations, room separator lines, washers, and dryers. These elements are useful in floor plan views but add unnecessary clutter to a site plan.
One common issue with site plan views is that doors may not be visible by default. Check the Visibility/Graphic Overrides (VV) to ensure that the door category is turned on, since door locations on the site plan help reviewers understand building access points.
Adding Building Labels
Place a text annotation over the building footprint identifying the structure. A typical label might read "New Single Family Residence" followed by "Two-Story" on a second line. Center the text within the building outline so it reads clearly on the printed sheet.
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Annotating Property Lines
Property line annotations are added using the Tag by Category tool from the Annotate tab. Click on each property line segment to place a tag that displays the bearing angle and the length of that segment. Turn off the leader option so the tag sits cleanly over the property line without an arrow. Repeat this for each segment of the property boundary to fully document the lot dimensions.
Dimensioning Setbacks
Setback dimensions document the required distance between the building and each property line. Place dimensions from the building face to the corresponding setback line on the front, sides, and rear. If a setback line has shifted during modeling, it can be adjusted back to the correct distance. To make the purpose of each dimension clear, use the "Text Below" option in the dimension properties to add the word "Setback" beneath each measurement. This eliminates any ambiguity about what the dimension represents.
Adding a Site Plan Legend
A legend view should be created to explain the symbols used on the site plan. Drag the legend onto the site plan sheet and position it near the bottom or side of the view. The legend typically includes entries for the property line, setback line, fence, utilities, and any other symbolic elements that appear on the plan.
Placing Utility and Site Symbols
Repeating detail components are used to represent linear site elements like fences, water lines, sewer lines, and electrical service runs. Each repeating detail component consists of a line with an associated symbol. To place a fence, for example, draw the repeating detail component along the property edges where the fence will run. The number of symbols displayed along the line can be adjusted to represent post spacing. This is a symbolic representation rather than a precise model element, so use your judgment to set a reasonable number of symbols for each segment.
The same approach applies to utilities. Water service might be shown running from the street to the building, sewer from the building to a manhole at the street, and electrical service from the street to the meter location behind the fence. Each utility type uses a different repeating detail component to distinguish it on the plan.
Placing the View on a Sheet
With the annotations and symbols in place, the site plan view can be placed on its designated sheet. Additional elements like slope direction indicators or field regions for hardscape can be added for more detailed submissions. As a final step, change the viewport type to "No Title" if the sheet's title block already provides a view title, avoiding duplication. The result is a clean, annotated site plan that communicates the essential information needed for a permit review.
