Can You Use Google Maps or GIS for a Site Plan in New Zealand

If you are preparing drawings for a New Zealand council application, you may be wondering:

Can Google Maps or council GIS data be used to create a site plan?

It is a reasonable question. Google Maps is easy to access, while council GIS systems may show property boundaries, planning zones, hazards, services, and other useful information.

However, neither Google Maps nor a screenshot from a GIS viewer is usually a complete site plan by itself.

These tools can provide useful reference information, but that information normally needs to be converted into a clear, measured, and properly labelled drawing before it is submitted for council review.

This guide explains the differences between Google Maps, council GIS data, surveys, and professionally prepared site plans.

What a Council Site Plan Needs to Do

A site plan should do more than display an aerial view of a property.

Depending on the project, the council may need to understand:

• Where the property boundaries are located
• The dimensions and general shape of the lot
• What buildings and structures already exist
• What work is being proposed
• The dimensions of the proposed structure
• How far the proposed work is from relevant boundaries
• Where driveways, accessways, parking areas, and vehicle crossings are located
• Whether easements or rights-of-way affect the project
• How the property is oriented
• Whether drainage, contours, levels, or other site information is relevant

A map screenshot may help identify some of these features, but it normally does not organise them into a consent-ready drawing.

Google Maps and GIS can supply useful background information. A site plan turns that information into a drawing that clearly explains the property and proposed work.

What Google Maps Can Provide

Google Maps and similar aerial-imagery services can be helpful during the early stages of preparing a site plan.

They may help identify:

• The general location of the property
• The approximate position of buildings
• Driveways and vehicle access
• Nearby roads
• Large outdoor features
• The surrounding neighbourhood

This makes aerial imagery useful as a visual reference, particularly when it is combined with council records, title information, existing plans, photographs, and measurements supplied by the property owner.

However, the image itself should not automatically be treated as survey-accurate.

Limitations of Google Maps for Site Plans

1. Property Boundaries May Be Approximate

Boundary overlays displayed on online maps may not align perfectly with fences, buildings, retaining walls, or other visible features.

Possible reasons include:

• Aerial-image distortion
• Different data sources being overlaid
• Mapping alignment differences
• Older imagery
• Structures or fences that were not built directly on the legal boundary

Aerial imagery can help explain the property layout, but it should not be assumed to establish the exact legal boundary position.

2. Measurements Are Not Automatically Survey-Accurate

Online measurement tools can provide useful estimates, but small differences may matter when a garage, deck, addition, shed, or other structure is close to a setback limit.

Where exact boundary distances are critical, title information, existing survey data, on-site measurements, or a licensed cadastral survey may be needed.

3. Proposed Work Is Not Shown

Google Maps shows what was visible when the imagery was captured. It does not show your proposed:

• Garage
• Deck
• Carport
• Swimming pool
• Home addition
• Retaining wall
• Driveway alteration
• New dwelling or accessory structure

A proper site plan must clearly distinguish existing structures from proposed work.

4. Important Site Information May Be Missing

A standard aerial image may not show:

• Easements and rights-of-way
• Underground services
• Reliable contours or spot levels
• Natural and finished ground levels
• Stormwater connections
• Flood hazards
• Planning overlays
• Accurate building dimensions

These details may need to come from other sources.

What Council GIS Data Can Provide

A council GIS viewer is generally more useful for property research than a standard aerial map because it may contain several information layers.

Depending on the council, available GIS layers may include:

• Property parcels and legal descriptions
• Aerial imagery
• Planning zones
• Flood-hazard areas
• Overland flow paths
• Contours or elevation information
• Stormwater and wastewater services
• Heritage areas
• Natural-hazard overlays
• Road and vehicle-access information

This can make council GIS data a valuable starting point when preparing a site plan.

It may help identify which features need to be shown or investigated before an application is submitted.

Limitations of GIS Data

1. GIS Is a Data Viewer, Not a Finished Site Plan

A GIS system displays information layers. It does not normally prepare a drawing showing your specific proposal.

A screenshot may not include:

• Proposed structures
• Setback dimensions
• Structure dimensions
• Existing and proposed labels
• A drawing title
• A north point
• A usable drawing scale
• Notes explaining the project

2. Accuracy Varies Between Layers

Different GIS layers may have been created for different purposes and may not all have the same accuracy.

Parcel boundaries, aerial imagery, drainage lines, contours, and planning overlays may come from separate datasets.

This can result in visible differences when several layers are displayed together.

3. Information May Need Interpretation

GIS systems can display a large amount of technical information, but the relevance of each layer depends on the project.

For example:

• A flood layer may indicate that further floor-level information is needed
• A stormwater line may affect where a structure can be positioned
• An easement may restrict building placement
• A planning overlay may trigger additional assessment
• Contours may indicate that retaining or drainage information is needed

The information still needs to be organised and presented in a way that relates directly to the proposed project.

Can Google Maps and GIS Be Used to Prepare a Site Plan?

Yes. They can often be used as reference sources when preparing a drafted site plan.

Depending on the property and project, a site plan may be prepared using a combination of:

• Council GIS information
• Aerial imagery
• Property-title information
• Existing surveys or plans
• Building floor plans
• Measurements supplied by the owner
• Photographs of the property
• Project sketches and proposed dimensions

The important distinction is that these sources are used to produce a new drawing. They are not simply copied and submitted as unexplained screenshots.

For many straightforward residential projects, available mapping and owner-supplied information may be enough to prepare a useful site plan.

For projects very close to a boundary, involving legal disputes, or requiring survey-level accuracy, additional survey information may be necessary.

You can also read:
Do You Need a Survey Before a Site Plan in New Zealand?.

Google Maps, GIS, Site Plans, and Surveys: What Is the Difference?

Google Maps or Aerial Imagery

Best used for understanding the general property layout, road access, visible buildings, and surrounding features.

Council GIS

Best used for researching property parcels, planning zones, services, contours, hazards, overlays, and other council-held information.

Drafted Site Plan

A drawing that combines relevant property information with the proposed project and presents it using measurements, labels, boundaries, setbacks, scale, orientation, and other application details.

Cadastral or Boundary Survey

A survey prepared by a licensed cadastral surveyor to determine or confirm legal property boundaries.

These are different tools serving different purposes. A drafted site plan does not become a legal boundary survey simply because it uses GIS or aerial information.

When Mapping Data May Be Enough

Available mapping, property records, and owner-supplied measurements may be suitable for preparing a site plan when:

• The property layout is straightforward
• The proposed work is not extremely close to a boundary
• The project does not involve a boundary dispute
• Existing dimensions and plans are available
• The council does not require survey-certified information
• The application mainly needs a clear representation of the proposed layout

Even in these cases, the final drawing should clearly identify the information used and avoid presenting approximate data as a certified survey.

When a Survey May Be Needed

A licensed cadastral surveyor may be needed when:

• The proposed structure is very close to a property boundary
• The exact boundary position is uncertain
• Boundary pegs cannot be located
• A fence does not appear to follow the legal boundary
• A boundary dispute exists
• The property contains complicated easements or rights-of-way
• The council specifically requests survey-accurate information
• Small measurement differences could determine whether the project complies

A site plan can then use the survey information as an accurate base for showing the proposed work.

Common Problems With Map-Based Submissions

Problems may arise when an applicant submits a map screenshot without converting it into a proper drawing.

Common issues include:

• No proposed structure shown
• No setback measurements
• No building dimensions
• Unclear or approximate property boundaries
• No distinction between existing and proposed work
• No scale or north point
• No project title or property address
• Important GIS layers missing
• Low-resolution or blurry imagery
• Measurements that do not match other drawings

These issues can lead to a request for further information or revised drawings.

You can also read:
Site Plan Rejection Fixes in New Zealand.

What a Complete Site Plan Should Include

Depending on the project, a professionally drafted site plan may include:

• The property address
• Property boundaries and lot dimensions
• Existing buildings and structures
• Proposed work clearly identified
• Dimensions of the proposed structure
• Setbacks from relevant boundaries
• Driveways, paths, parking areas, and vehicle crossings
• Easements and rights-of-way when relevant
• A north arrow and site orientation
• The drawing scale or clear measurements
• Contours, levels, or drainage information when required
• Clear notes distinguishing the source and status of the information shown

Not every project requires every item. The correct level of detail depends on the property and the type of consent application.

The Best Way to Use Google Maps and GIS

The most practical approach is to use these tools as information sources rather than treating them as finished plans.

A sensible workflow is:

1. Use aerial imagery to understand the visible property layout
2. Review council GIS layers for parcel, zoning, service, hazard, and contour information
3. Check existing surveys, titles, floor plans, and property records
4. Confirm proposed dimensions and placement
5. Add measurements, setbacks, labels, scale, and orientation
6. Prepare a clean drawing showing existing and proposed work
7. Obtain survey or engineering information where the project requires greater accuracy

This turns scattered mapping information into a site plan that is much easier for a council reviewer to understand.

Order a Professionally Drafted New Zealand Site Plan

At NZ Site Plan, we prepare clear site plans using available property records, mapping information, existing plans, photographs, measurements, and the project details supplied by the customer.

• Property boundaries and dimensions shown
• Existing and proposed structures identified
• Setback measurements clearly labelled
• Driveways, accessways, parking, and site features included
• Clean, easy-to-read drawing layouts
• Fast turnaround

Final Takeaway

Google Maps and council GIS systems can be valuable tools when preparing a New Zealand site plan.

Google Maps can help explain the visible property layout, while GIS systems may provide parcel, planning, infrastructure, hazard, and terrain information.

However, a screenshot from either system is not automatically a complete site plan.

The information normally needs to be organised into a clear drawing showing the proposed work, dimensions, setbacks, access, boundaries, scale, and other relevant site details.

Where precise legal boundary information is critical, a cadastral survey may still be required.

Use maps and GIS as useful inputs—but submit a clear site plan that explains the project properly.