NZ SITE PLAN
An elevation plan shows the outside faces of a building. Unlike a floor plan, which shows the inside layout from above, an elevation shows what the building looks like from the front, rear, left side, and right side.
Elevation plans are often needed when a council, contractor, designer, or property owner needs to understand the exterior appearance of a building. They can be useful for consent applications, façade changes, additions, garages, sheds, decks, renovations, and other projects where the outside of a structure needs to be clearly shown.
At NZ Site Plan, our elevation plans show all four sides of the building: front, back, left side, and right side.
What Is an Elevation Plan?
An elevation plan is a straight-on exterior drawing of a building. It shows the building as if you were standing in front of each side and looking directly at it.
A typical elevation plan may show:
- Front elevation
- Rear elevation
- Left side elevation
- Right side elevation
- Windows and doors
- Roof shape and exterior walls
- Building height and general proportions
- Exterior features such as decks, stairs, garages, or additions when visible
This type of drawing helps others understand the exterior form of the building much more clearly than photos alone.
When Do You Need an Elevation Plan?
You may need an elevation plan if your project changes the outside appearance of a building or if council needs to understand the height, shape, or exterior layout of the structure.
Elevation plans are commonly used for:
- Home additions
- Garage or carport projects
- Shed or accessory building applications
- Decks or outdoor structures connected to the house
- Façade or exterior changes
- Window or door changes
- Roofline changes
- Renovation or alteration projects
- Council consent documentation
- Contractor or builder planning
If your project only needs a basic property layout, a site plan may be enough. But if the exterior appearance or building height needs to be shown, an elevation plan may also be required.
You can also order a site plan here:
NZ Site Plan.
Elevation Plan vs Floor Plan vs Site Plan
These drawings are often confused, but they show different things.
| Plan Type | What It Shows | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Elevation Plan | The outside faces of the building from the front, rear, and sides. | Exterior appearance, height, façade changes, additions, garages, sheds. |
| Floor Plan | The interior layout of rooms, walls, doors, and spaces. | Renovations, internal layouts, room planning, construction drawings. |
| Site Plan | The property from above, including boundaries, buildings, access, and proposed work. | Council consent, property layout, setbacks, driveways, decks, sheds, garages. |
For many projects, a council or contractor may ask for more than one type of drawing. For example, a garage project may need a site plan to show where the garage sits on the property and elevation plans to show what the garage looks like from each side.
What We Need to Prepare Your Elevation Plan
To prepare an elevation plan, we need clear photos of the outside of the building.
Please provide:
- Photo of the front of the building
- Photo of the rear of the building
- Photo of the left side
- Photo of the right side
- Any project details or changes you want shown
- Any measurements you already have, if available
The photos should be taken straight-on where possible. Clear photos help us produce a cleaner and more accurate elevation drawing.
Tip: If one side of the building is hard to photograph, send the best available angle and let us know what is hidden or difficult to see.
What Is Included?
Our elevation plan service includes drawings of all four exterior sides of the building.
- Front elevation
- Back/rear elevation
- Left side elevation
- Right side elevation
- Exterior wall and roof outline
- Visible doors and windows
- General exterior building form
- Clean presentation for review or planning use
If you need a specific proposed change shown, such as a new door, window, garage, addition, deck, or exterior alteration, include that information when ordering.
Turnaround Time
Typical turnaround time for an elevation plan is one business day after we receive the required photos and project information.
If the building is complex or photos are unclear, we may ask for additional information before completing the drawing.
Elevation Plan Cost
The cost to draft an elevation plan is:
$199
This includes elevation views for all four sides of the building.
Order an Elevation Plan
If you need a clear elevation plan for a building, renovation, consent application, contractor, or planning review, we can help prepare the drawing quickly.
Send us photos of all four sides of the property, and we will prepare a clean elevation plan showing the exterior views of the building.