Site Plan for Permit in San Antonio, TX – $89, , 24-Hour Delivery, Built for the UDC
"Your property is in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Impervious cover limit applies. Site plan does not address aquifer protection requirements." That comment doesn't show up in most Texas cities. In San Antonio, it shows up often — and most homeowners have never heard of the Edwards Aquifer until the correction letter mentions it.
San Antonio’s Unified Development Code — Chapter 35 of the city code — consolidates zoning, subdivision, and site development into one framework, but it layers in considerations that don’t exist in Austin, Dallas, or Houston in the same way. Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone protections affect impervious cover limits on a meaningful share of the city’s developable land. Tree preservation requirements call for species and DBH documentation, not just a general note. And San Antonio’s ADU pathway — while it exists and has issued over 200 permits through a pilot program made permanent — runs through a conditional use permit process that can take 90 days or more, separate from the building permit itself.
None of this means San Antonio is harder than other cities. It means the checklist is different, and a site plan built for Austin’s or Dallas’s review process doesn’t automatically transfer.
We draft San Antonio site plans against the UDC’s actual requirements — aquifer zone status, tree documentation, and ADU pathway included.
- Free revisions if Development Services returns comments
- 24-hour turnaround for most residential plans
- Fixed price — $89 to $249
What Makes San Antonio's Review Different
The Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone affects impervious cover on a meaningful portion of the city. The Edwards Aquifer is a primary drinking water source for the region, and San Antonio’s UDC includes specific protections for the Recharge Zone and Contributing Zone — areas where impervious cover is limited to protect water quality and recharge capacity. A property within these zones may face a lower impervious cover limit than the general residential standard would suggest, and the site plan needs to document compliance with aquifer zone requirements specifically — not just the general lot coverage figure. Properties outside these zones don’t carry this requirement at all. The first step on any San Antonio site plan is determining which category the parcel falls into, because the answer changes what the impervious cover calculation needs to show.
Tree preservation requires species and DBH documentation, not a general note. San Antonio’s UDC tree preservation requirements call for a tree survey identifying species and diameter at breast height for significant and heritage trees on the property — particularly relevant for properties with mature oak, elm, or other native species common in South Texas landscapes. A site plan that includes a generic “tree protection note” without species-specific documentation doesn’t meet what the UDC’s tree preservation framework actually asks for. For properties with heritage trees — typically larger-diameter specimens of protected species — additional documentation requirements apply.
ADUs are allowed, but the pathway includes a conditional use permit that can take 90+ days. San Antonio has permitted accessory dwelling units since 2018, and the UDC’s accessory dwelling standards under section 35-371 address owner occupancy, unit size, setbacks, parking, and units per lot. The maximum size is generally the smaller of 50% of the primary dwelling’s square footage or 1,000 square feet, though some districts may permit up to 1,200 square feet for detached units. Height generally cannot exceed the primary residence. But — and this is the detail that catches homeowners — San Antonio’s ADU process commonly requires a conditional use permit, which is a separate approval from the building permit with its own review timeline, often 90 days or more. A site plan can be perfectly drafted and the project can still be waiting on the conditional use permit for three months before the building permit process even begins. Additionally, not every zoning district allows ADUs — verifying district eligibility is the first step, before size and setback calculations matter at all.
Accessory structure height triggers setback requirements at just 30 inches. Under the UDC’s supplemental use regulations, accessory structures exceeding 30 inches in height must maintain a minimum 5-foot distance from any side or rear property line. Thirty inches is lower than many homeowners expect — a modest shed, a raised deck, or a structure with any meaningful height profile crosses this threshold quickly. Below 30 inches, the setback requirement may not apply in the same way. We verify the proposed structure’s height against this threshold before applying setback assumptions.
Garage setbacks from alleys have their own standard. For properties with alley access — common in older San Antonio neighborhoods — garages require a minimum 2-foot setback from the alley right-of-way line. This is a different measurement than the property line setback and applies specifically to alley-facing structures.
What Real San Antonio Correction Comments Say
“Property located within Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone per current aquifer protection mapping. Impervious cover calculation does not address recharge zone limit. Resubmit with aquifer zone-specific impervious cover documentation.”
We check Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and Contributing Zone status for every San Antonio parcel and apply the applicable impervious cover limit — which may be more restrictive than the general residential standard — before the calculation is finalized.
“Tree preservation documentation insufficient. General tree protection note provided; UDC requires tree survey identifying species and diameter at breast height for significant trees within disturbance area. Resubmit with species-specific tree documentation.”
We identify trees within the disturbance area by species and DBH where the UDC’s tree preservation framework requires it — not a generic preservation note.
“Proposed accessory dwelling unit zoning district eligibility not confirmed. ADUs not permitted by right in all residential districts. Verify district eligibility prior to resubmittal. If conditional use permit required, building permit application cannot proceed until CUP approved.”
We verify ADU eligibility for the specific zoning district before drafting size and setback details — and flag the conditional use permit requirement and its separate, often 90-day-plus timeline, so it doesn’t surface as a surprise after the site plan is otherwise complete.
“Accessory structure height exceeds 30 inches. Five-foot setback from side and rear property lines required per UDC supplemental use regulations. Setback shown does not meet minimum. Resubmit.”
We check proposed structure height against the 30-inch threshold and apply the 5-foot setback when it’s triggered — a requirement that’s easy to miss because 30 inches is a lower bar than most accessory structure rules in other cities.
“Garage setback from alley right-of-way shown at 0 feet. Minimum 2-foot setback from alley right-of-way required for alley-accessed garage structures. Resubmit with corrected dimension.”
For alley-accessed properties, we apply the 2-foot alley setback in addition to standard property line setbacks — a San Antonio-specific requirement tied to alley right-of-way.
“Zero lot line configuration shown without required 5-foot maintenance easement denoted on plan per subdivision plat requirements.”
For zero lot line lots — where the structure sits directly on one side property line — we add the required 5-foot maintenance easement notation on the adjacent lot side per UDC requirements.
What Every San Antonio Site Plan We Deliver Includes
| Element | Why San Antonio’s UDC Requires It |
|---|---|
| Property lines from Bexar County recorded plat | Legal dimensions, not GIS approximations |
| Zoning district and applicable UDC Table 35-310 setbacks | Setback standards verified for the specific zoning district — San Antonio has 35+ UDC districts |
| Edwards Aquifer Recharge/Contributing Zone status | Checked for every parcel; applicable impervious cover limit determined before calculation |
| Impervious cover calculation | Existing and proposed hardscape totaled against the applicable limit — general residential or aquifer zone-specific |
| Tree survey with species and DBH | Significant and heritage trees within disturbance area identified by species and diameter per UDC tree preservation framework |
| ADU zoning eligibility and CUP flag | District eligibility confirmed; conditional use permit requirement and timeline flagged where applicable |
| Accessory structure height vs. 30-inch threshold | Structures over 30 inches checked against 5-foot side/rear setback requirement |
| Alley setback (where applicable) | 2-foot minimum from alley right-of-way for alley-accessed garages |
| Zero lot line / maintenance easement notation | 5-foot maintenance easement shown where zero lot line configuration applies |
| Parking per Section 35-526 | Required parking, including ADU-specific parking standards where relevant |
| North arrow, engineering scale, legal description | Required on every sheet |
San Antonio ADUs — What the Timeline Actually Looks Like
San Antonio’s ADU framework allows internal, attached, and detached accessory dwelling units by right in multiple residential and rural districts — but “by right” in the zoning sense doesn’t mean the process is a single-step building permit application.
The typical sequence: first, a pre-application review with Development Services confirms zoning eligibility and project scope — this step exists specifically because not every district allows ADUs, and finding out before investing in plans matters. Second, if a conditional use permit is required for the specific district and configuration, that application is submitted and reviewed separately — commonly a 90-day-or-longer process. Only once the CUP is approved does the building permit application — with its site plan, floor plans, and elevations — move into substantive review against the International Residential Code and UDC section 35-371 standards for size, setbacks, and required amenities.
For a homeowner planning an ADU timeline around a contractor’s availability, the CUP step is the one most likely to be missed in early planning — because it doesn’t appear on a generic “ADU permit checklist” the way setback and size requirements do.
We verify zoning eligibility and flag the CUP requirement at the outset, so the timeline reflects San Antonio’s actual process rather than a generic ADU timeline borrowed from a by-right city.
Pricing
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic Site Plan — property lines, UDC setbacks, existing/proposed structures, north arrow, scale | $89 |
| Enhanced Plan — adds impervious cover calculation, tree survey notation, easements, alley setback if applicable | $149 |
| Premium Plan — adds Edwards Aquifer zone-specific impervious cover documentation, ADU zoning eligibility and CUP flagging, heritage tree documentation, complex lot configurations | $249+ |
✅ Free revisions if Development Services returns comments ✅ 24-hour turnaround for most residential plans
✅ No survey required for most projects — we use Bexar County recorded plats and GIS
✅ Edwards Aquifer zone status checked on every order
FAQs — San Antonio Site Plans
We check current Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and Contributing Zone mapping for every San Antonio parcel as part of the drafting process. Properties within these zones face impervious cover limits specifically tied to aquifer protection, which may be more restrictive than the general residential lot coverage standard. If your property falls within either zone, the site plan documents compliance with the applicable aquifer-specific limit rather than just the general figure.
It depends on your zoning district — ADUs are permitted in multiple residential and rural districts under the UDC, but not universally, and San Antonio is generally more restrictive on ADUs than cities like Austin or Dallas. The first step is confirming district eligibility through a pre-application review with Development Services. If your district allows ADUs, the typical size limit is the smaller of 50% of your primary dwelling’s square footage or 1,000 square feet (up to 1,200 in some districts for detached units), with height generally capped at the primary residence’s height.
San Antonio’s ADU pathway commonly requires a conditional use permit (CUP) — a separate approval process from the building permit, often taking 90 days or longer. This isn’t a site plan issue; it’s a zoning approval that has to be obtained before the building permit application with its site plan and construction documents can move into substantive review. We flag the CUP requirement when it applies to your property so the timeline reflects this step from the start, rather than discovering it partway through the process.
If your shed exceeds 30 inches in height — which most sheds, even modest ones, typically do — the UDC’s supplemental use regulations require a minimum 5-foot setback from side and rear property lines for the structure. Below 30 inches, this specific setback trigger generally doesn’t apply, though other requirements may still be relevant depending on the structure type. We verify your proposed structure’s height against this threshold before applying setback dimensions.
San Antonio’s UDC tree preservation requirements call for documentation of significant and heritage trees within the project’s disturbance area — identified by species and diameter at breast height (DBH), not just a general “trees present” note. Native species common in San Antonio, including various oak species, are frequently subject to this documentation requirement. We identify qualifying trees by species and DBH where the disturbance area requires it.
Yes. In addition to standard side and rear property line setbacks, garages accessed from an alley require a minimum 2-foot setback from the alley right-of-way line — a separate dimension from the property line setback. This is common in older San Antonio neighborhoods with alley access. We apply the alley setback for alley-accessed structures in addition to the standard property line setbacks.
Fixed Pricing
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Official San Antonio Permit Resources
- City of San Antonio Development Services Department — Permits, zoning applications, inspections. Phone: (210) 207-1111
- San Antonio Unified Development Code (Chapter 35) — Full text via Municode, including zoning districts, setback tables (35-310), accessory dwelling standards (35-371), and supplemental use regulations
- San Antonio Interactive Zoning Map (GIS) — Zoning, overlay districts, and aquifer zone status by address
- Edwards Aquifer Authority — Recharge Zone and Contributing Zone mapping and protections: edwardsaquifer.org
- Bexar County Property Records — Recorded plats and legal descriptions
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center — Flood zone and panel lookups: msc.fema.gov
A Plan Built for San Antonio's Layers — Aquifer, Trees, and the ADU Pathway Included
Based on San Antonio Unified Development Code (Chapter 35), Edwards Aquifer Authority protections, and Development Services Department submittal standards as of June 2026.