A site plan is a top-down drawing that shows your land and the exact location of your construction project in relation to surrounding structures, roads, and natural features. It is a crucial document when applying for a building permit or prior declaration—legal approvals needed for construction in many regions. This plan must clearly show property boundaries, existing and future buildings, access points, utilities, and other relevant details. It helps local authorities ensure that the project complies with urban planning rules, such as minimum distances from roads and neighbors, building height, and rainwater management. To create a compliant site plan, you must choose a readable scale, typically between 1/200 and 1/500, and take accurate measurements of your land and any structures. Use different colors, hatches, or a legend to distinguish between the current state of the property and the proposed changes. Include important elements like property lines, neighboring plots, public roads, existing and future buildings, access points, parking areas, terraces, pools, fences, and significant trees. Also, mark the connections to utilities such as water, electricity, and sanitation, as well as any rainwater management systems. Use resources like the cadastre (land registry) and Géoportail (a French geographic information website) to start preparing your plan. On cadastre.gouv.fr, you can search for your property by address or parcel number to get cadastral boundaries and references. On Géoportail, activate aerial views and cadastral layers to see the layout of buildings, roads, and surroundings. While these tools provide a good base, they should not replace a professional survey by a geometer if there are disputes or uncertainties about boundaries. Before submitting your plan to the town hall, ensure that all elements are clearly marked, dimensioned, and easy to understand without needing additional explanation. Include the date, land address, cadastral references, and a table of surface areas if necessary. A poorly prepared plan can lead to delays or requests for more information. For complex projects, unclear boundaries, or significant elevation changes, it may be wise to consult a geometer, architect, or draftsman. A clear and complete site plan helps ensure your application is processed efficiently and that your project is built in accordance with local regulations.