# Dunwoody Lets You Use Your Existing Survey as a Site Plan — What That Actually Means for Your Permit
Dunwoody's Building Department made a practical call that saves homeowners money: if you have an existing survey from closing — the plat drawing your attorney gave you when you bought the house — you can use it as the foundation for your permit site plan. You draw the proposed improvement on top of the survey, label your setbacks, and submit it. No fresh survey required for most routine projects.
If you don't have that survey handy, the city's own tool — Dunwoody SmartMap — lets you print a scaled parcel boundary map to use as your base. It's not a licensed survey, but for small accessory structure permits where property lines are well-established in DeKalb County's GIS dataset, it's an accepted starting point.
Here's where people still get stuck: "use your existing survey" means annotate it with the proposed improvement and all setback dimensions — not hand it in blank with a separate sketch stapled to it. Everything has to be on one plan, showing what exists, what you're adding, and how far it sits from every property line.
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Does Your Dunwoody Project Need a Permit and Site Plan?
| Project | Permit Required? | Site Plan Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Fence under 6 feet (side/rear) | Maybe not — verify with Building Dept | If permit required: yes |
| Fence over 6 feet | Yes | Yes |
| Shed under 120 sq ft | May be exempt — verify | If permit required: yes |
| Shed over 120 sq ft | Yes | Yes |
| Deck (attached, any size) | Yes | Yes |
| Patio (covered) | Yes | Yes |
| Pool | Yes | Yes |
| Detached garage | Yes | Yes |
| Addition | Yes | Yes |
| Driveway (adjacent to ROW) | Yes | Yes — must show ROW line |
| ADU | Yes | Yes — full site plan |
The fence and shed thresholds are the most frequently misread. A fence under 6 feet may not require a permit, but it depends on location (front yard vs. rear), zoning district, and HOA overlays. The city's phone line is the fastest way to get a definitive answer for your specific lot: (678) 382-6800.
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Who Runs Into This
The neighbor fence project. Half the fence replacement jobs in Dunwoody never pull a permit — until the neighbor raises a concern during an inspection for something else. If your fence is within 6 feet of the property line (which most fences are, by definition), the Building Department may require you to show it on a site plan relative to the property boundary.
The deck contractor with a two-week calendar. Dunwoody's plan review runs one to two weeks. The contractor who assumes the permit is "fast" and starts framing before the approval comes in is the same contractor who gets a stop-work order on week one. Your site plan needs to be complete on the first submission.
The homeowner doing a pool. Pools in Dunwoody require the full site plan treatment: pool location, equipment pad, barrier dimensions, setbacks from all four property lines. DeKalb County lots near stream buffers and drainage easements — common in Dunwoody's older subdivisions — require particular attention to easement boundaries.
The renter-turned-owner building their first ADU. Georgia ADU legislation has created real opportunity in Dunwoody's established neighborhoods. ADU permits require a site plan showing the full lot, existing house, proposed ADU footprint, setbacks, parking, and the relationship of the ADU to the primary structure. An existing closing survey is a useful start — but it won't have any of the ADU details on it yet.
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What a Dunwoody Site Plan Must Show
| Element | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Property lines | All boundaries with accurate dimensions |
| Existing structures | House footprint, driveway, any outbuildings |
| Proposed improvement | Location, footprint dimensions, and placement |
| Setbacks | Measured distance from proposed structure to each property line |
| Easements | Utility, drainage, and access easements — labeled |
| North arrow | Required on all plans |
| Scale | Explicitly noted on the drawing |
| Title block | Property address, owner name, preparer, date |
One nuance specific to Dunwoody: the city explicitly names SmartMap and existing surveys as acceptable base documents. This means you can print your parcel from SmartMap, add your proposed improvement dimensions, label the setbacks, and submit — as long as everything required is on the sheet.
If you're using the site plan creator, the DeKalb County parcel data loads automatically, and the output includes all of the elements above in a scaled, titled PDF. You don't need a separate SmartMap printout.
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Dunwoody Zoning and Setback Requirements
Setbacks are governed by Dunwoody's Development Code. Values vary by district:
| Yard | Typical Setback Range |
|---|---|
| Front yard | 20 – 50 ft |
| Side yard | 5 – 10 ft |
| Rear yard | 15 – 30 ft |
| Accessory structures | 5 ft minimum from all property lines |
Dunwoody's zoning districts include residential, mixed-use, and commercial overlays. Properties along the Perimeter Center corridor and near transit have different rules than standard single-family residential lots in the interior neighborhoods. If your address is near a commercial zone boundary, verify your district before drawing.
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Project-by-Project: What to Show
| Project | Key Site Plan Elements | Linked Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Fence | Property lines, fence alignment with dimensions and height, gate locations | Fence site plan |
| Shed (120+ sq ft) | Property lines, shed footprint, all setback dimensions | Shed site plan |
| Deck | Property lines, deck footprint, height above grade, setbacks | Deck site plan |
| Patio (covered) | Property lines, patio boundary, roof edge if applicable | Patio site plan |
| Pool | Property lines, pool and equipment location, barrier dimensions, setbacks | Pool site plan |
| Garage (detached) | Property lines, garage footprint, driveway, ROW line, setbacks | Garage site plan |
| Addition | Existing house footprint, addition footprint, all setbacks | Addition site plan |
| Driveway | Property lines, driveway boundaries, ROW line | Driveway site plan |
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Why Dunwoody Permit Plans Get Kicked Back
Easements not shown. Dunwoody's established neighborhoods have drainage easements running through rear yards in patterns that aren't always obvious from street level. These show up in DeKalb County parcel data. A structure placed in a drainage easement will fail inspection — not plan review, but the final inspection, which is worse. Check easements before you place anything.
SmartMap printout used as-is without annotations. The city accepts SmartMap as a base, not as a complete site plan. You still need to add the proposed improvement with dimensions, all setback measurements, and a title block. A blank parcel map printout with "deck here" written on it is not a site plan.
Front yard fence assumptions. Front yard fences in Dunwoody have specific height and opacity restrictions. A 6-foot wooden privacy fence that's perfectly fine in the rear yard becomes a code violation if it wraps around the front property corner. Confirm front yard fence rules before the posts go in.
Property line inaccuracies on old surveys. Closing surveys from the 1980s and 1990s in Dunwoody sometimes show boundary positions that have since been corrected by county GIS updates or subsequent surveys. If your closing survey doesn't match what you see in SmartMap or DeKalb County GIS, use the more current source — or commission a fresh survey.
No scale stated. You can draw the most accurate plan in the city and have it rejected because the scale notation is missing. It's one line in the title block. Don't skip it.
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How the Site Plan Creator Works for Dunwoody
- Enter your Dunwoody address. DeKalb County parcel data loads — same data underlying Dunwoody SmartMap, but with full bearings and distances, not just the boundary shape.
- Verify your lot boundary. Cross-reference with your existing closing survey if you have it. If there's a discrepancy, use the more precise source — for most established Dunwoody lots, parcel data and closing surveys agree.
- Place your proposed improvement. Drag your deck, shed, garage, or other structure into position. Setback lines generate from the property boundaries automatically.
- Mark easements. Easement data from DeKalb County appears on the plan. Verify they're accurate for your lot — older easements aren't always in the digital record.
- Export your PDF. A scaled, titled plan ready for Dunwoody Building Department submission. If the department prefers paper, print at 11″ × 17″ for readability.
If you want to adjust label positions or reformat the title block, see the label adjustment guide and title sheet editor guide.
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Where This Fits — and Where It Doesn't
| Situation | Best Route |
|---|---|
| Standard fence, shed, deck, or pool on an established Dunwoody lot | Site plan creator — DeKalb parcel data auto-loads |
| ADU or addition requiring more detail | Site plan creator for base plan; supplement with additional engineering documentation as required |
| Property with drainage easements through usable area | Extra attention on easement placement before finalizing structure location |
| Boundary dispute or old survey that doesn't match current GIS | Commission a licensed survey first |
| Prior rejection or urgent timeline | SitePlans.us done-for-you service |
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Comparison: Getting Your Dunwoody Site Plan Done
| Method | Cost | Turnaround | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existing survey (annotated by owner) | Free | Hours | Accepted if annotations show all required elements — easements and setbacks still required |
| SmartMap printout (annotated) | Free | Hours | City's designated option — same caveat on completeness |
| Site plan creator | Free (first plan) | 8 – 10 min | DeKalb parcel data auto-loads; scaled PDF output; includes bearings/distances |
| Done-for-you (SitePlans.us) | Contact for pricing | 1 – 2 business days | Human-reviewed, non-certified; best for complex or correction scenarios |
| Licensed drafter | \$250 – \$500+ | 1 – 2 weeks | Adds cost and calendar wait |
| Licensed surveyor | \$800 – \$2,500+ | 1 – 4 weeks | Required only for boundary resolution |
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Common Dunwoody Site Plan Errors
| Error | What Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| SmartMap printout submitted with no annotations | Rejected — incomplete plan | Add proposed improvement, setback dimensions, easements, title block |
| Drainage easement location missed | Structure may fail final inspection | Review DeKalb County easement layer before placing structure |
| Scale not stated | Standard rejection item | Include scale in title block (e.g., 1″ = 20′) |
| Old closing survey boundary doesn't match current GIS | Plan may show incorrect property position | Cross-reference with SmartMap or DeKalb County GIS; update if discrepant |
| Front yard fence height assumption | Fails inspection — removal may be required | Confirm front yard fence height limit with Building Dept before posting |
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What This Doesn't Replace
The site plan creator generates preliminary, conceptual drawings for residential permit projects where Dunwoody allows homeowner- or contractor-prepared plans. It is not a licensed land survey, a sealed engineering drawing, or a PE/PLS/architect-stamped document. Where the city or your project scope requires a licensed professional — structural engineering, licensed boundary resolution, or floodplain certification — that requirement remains independently of this tool. Final permit approval is at the sole discretion of the Dunwoody Building Department and zoning office.
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Local Resources
- City of Dunwoody Building Department — (678) 382-6800
- Dunwoody SmartMap GIS Viewer
- DeKalb County GIS Parcel Viewer
- Georgia DCA — State Building Codes
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Nearby Cities in DeKalb and Fulton Counties
Working a project in the North DeKalb or North Fulton corridor? These adjacent cities have related permit pages:
County-level context: Georgia permit site plan requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Dunwoody accept Dunwoody SmartMap as a site plan?
Yes — SmartMap is explicitly named by the city as an acceptable base document for residential permit site plans. However, SmartMap alone is not a complete site plan. You must annotate it with your proposed improvement (with dimensions), all setback measurements from the improvement to each property line, easements, a north arrow, a stated scale, and a title block. Submit the annotated version, not the blank printout.
2. Can I use my closing survey from when I bought the house?
Yes. An existing survey showing your property boundaries is acceptable as the base. Annotate it with the proposed improvement, label setbacks from the improvement to all property lines, and add any easements visible in DeKalb County records. If the survey is old, cross-reference the boundary positions with Dunwoody SmartMap or DeKalb County GIS — older surveys occasionally show boundary positions that have since been updated.
3. Do I need a permit for a fence in Dunwoody?
Fences under 6 feet in side and rear yards may be exempt from permits in some situations — but this depends on your zoning district and the specific fence configuration. The Building Department at (678) 382-6800 will give you a definitive answer for your lot. Front yard fences have stricter rules regardless of height. Don't assume no permit is needed; confirm before you start.
4. What is the shed exemption in Dunwoody?
Sheds under 120 square feet may be exempt from building permits — verify the specific threshold with the Dunwoody Building Department. Even exempt sheds are subject to zoning setback rules: a shed placed too close to the property line may not be exempt from a setback violation even if it doesn't need a building permit.
5. How long does Dunwoody plan review take?
Residential plan review in Dunwoody typically runs one to two weeks. Incomplete submissions — missing setback dimensions, no scale, no easements — restart the review clock. A complete first submission is the fastest path to approval.
6. What is the setback for a shed or detached garage in Dunwoody?
A minimum 5-foot setback applies to accessory structures from all property lines under Dunwoody's typical residential code. Your specific zoning district may require more. Confirm with the Building Department before drawing.
7. Does Dunwoody require drainage plan documentation for small residential projects?
Not for most simple accessory structure permits. Pools and additions sometimes require drainage notation depending on lot conditions. DeKalb County's established subdivisions often have engineered drainage easements that already handle stormwater — the Building Department will let you know if additional documentation is required for your specific project.
8. What if my property lines in the site plan creator don't match my closing survey?
Start with Dunwoody SmartMap to triangulate — it's the city's own reference. If SmartMap and your closing survey disagree, use the more recent and precise source. For meaningful discrepancies (more than a few inches), commission a licensed survey before submitting a permit application.
9. Do I need a licensed surveyor for a deck permit in Dunwoody?
Not for most standard deck permits. Dunwoody accepts homeowner-prepared plans, and existing surveys annotated by the owner are acceptable. A licensed survey is required when property boundaries are genuinely in dispute or when the project scope triggers it (e.g., some land disturbance permits).
10. Can a contractor submit the Dunwoody permit application on my behalf?
Yes. Licensed Georgia contractors can submit permit applications and site plans on behalf of property owners. Owner-builders can also pull their own permits with appropriate documentation. Either way, the site plan requirement applies and must be met on first submission.
11. What areas of Dunwoody have the most complex permit situations?
Properties near Perimeter Center with mixed-use or commercial zoning overlays, lots adjacent to stream buffers or drainage easements, and parcels in Dunwoody's older interior neighborhoods with mid-20th-century plats tend to have the most complexity. If your address falls in one of these areas, a call to the Building Department before drawing is worth the time.
12. Does the site plan creator guarantee my Dunwoody permit will be approved?
No. The tool generates preliminary, conceptual drawings. Final approval is entirely at the discretion of the Dunwoody Building Department and zoning office. HOA overlay requirements, easement positions, and district-specific rules may affect your project independently of your site plan accuracy.
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Generate Your Dunwoody Site Plan From Your Address
Your existing survey or SmartMap printout is the starting point — but your permit application needs the whole picture: proposed improvement, setback dimensions, easements, scale, and title block. Enter your Dunwoody address, let DeKalb County parcel data load your property boundary, place your project, and export a scaled PDF. First plan is free.
Complex project, drainage complications, or dealing with a correction letter?
SitePlans.us delivers a human-reviewed, permit-style plan — non-certified but prepared with attention to the elements Dunwoody's Building Department reviews. One to two business days.