# Norcross Specifies a Metric Scale (1:100 or Greater) for Site Plans — and Wants Parking Locations on Every Drawing
If you've pulled permits in Gwinnett County before, you've probably drawn site plans at 1″=20′ or 1″=40′. Norcross uses a metric scale specification: 1:100 or greater. At 1:100, one centimeter on paper represents one hundred centimeters (one meter) in the field. This isn't how most residential permit drawings in Georgia are scaled, and it's worth confirming the format with Norcross's permits office before you print and submit.
The parking requirement adds another layer: the site plan must show parking locations and the number of spaces. For a single-family home, that's your driveway and garage — labeled clearly on the drawing, not implied.
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What 1:100 Scale Means in Practice
| Scale | What It Means | Common Paper Size |
|---|---|---|
| 1:100 metric | 1 cm = 1 m (or 1 mm = 100 mm) | A1 or A2 (metric) / Arch D equivalent |
| 1″=20′ imperial | 1 inch = 20 feet | Letter, Legal, or Arch B |
| 1″=40′ imperial | 1 inch = 40 feet | Letter or Arch B |
A 1:100 metric plan is roughly equivalent to a 1″=8′ imperial scale — much more detailed than a standard 1″=40′ residential plan. At 1:100, a 100-foot wide lot occupies roughly 30.5 cm on paper.
Confirm with Norcross Development Services whether the 1:100 requirement applies to your specific permit type and whether a paper size preference exists for counter or portal submissions.
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What a Norcross Site Plan Must Show
| Element | Norcross Requirement |
|---|---|
| Property lines | All lot boundaries with dimensions |
| Existing structures | Location, size, use |
| Proposed project | Footprint, size, height, use |
| Setback dimensions | All measurements to property lines |
| Parking locations | Number of spaces and location on the lot |
| Scale | 1:100 or greater |
| North arrow | Required |
| Title block | Address, owner, preparer, date |
| HLP notation | If required — flagged for certain lots "where particular care in locating the house or other improvements will be necessary" |
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The House Location Plan (HLP) in Norcross
Norcross may require a House Location Plan (HLP) on certain lots — specifically where the city determines that particular care in locating the house or other improvements will be necessary. This is typically triggered by:
- Unusual lot shapes (flag lots, pie-shaped lots)
- Lots with significant grade changes
- Lots near protected features (streams, wetlands, flood zones)
- Cases where standard setback compliance isn't immediately obvious from the lot geometry
If your lot has any of these characteristics, contact Norcross Development Services before finalizing your site plan to find out whether an HLP is required and what additional information it needs to contain.
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Land Disturbance: When a Development Permit is Required
| Disturbance Scenario | What's Required |
|---|---|
| Land disturbance > 5,000 sq ft | Development permit required before work begins |
| Land disturbance of any size on State Waters | Development permit required (no minimum threshold) |
| Land disturbance ≤ 5,000 sq ft (not on State Waters) | No development permit — building permit only |
State Waters in Gwinnett County include creeks, streams, and their 25-foot buffer zones. If your project involves any soil disturbance within that buffer — including grading and vegetation removal — a development permit is required regardless of total disturbed area.
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Larger Projects: Three Sets, Georgia Design Professional
For larger commercial or multi-tenant projects, Norcross requires three sets of plans drawn by a licensed Georgia design professional (licensed architect or engineer). This requirement does not apply to standard single-family residential permits, where homeowners may prepare their own plans.
If your project is a commercial renovation, change of use, or multi-tenant buildout in Norcross, engage a licensed Georgia design professional from the start.
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Project-by-Project Requirements
| Project | Key Norcross Consideration | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Deck | 1:100 scale, parking shown, setbacks | Permit required |
| Shed | 1:100 scale, footprint, setbacks | ≥120 sq ft requires permit |
| Pool | 1:100 scale, pool location, barrier, setbacks, parking | Permit required |
| Fence | Fence line, height, setbacks | Verify with city |
| Garage | Footprint, parking count + location, setbacks | Permit required |
| Addition | Existing + proposed, parking, setbacks | Permit required |
| ADU | Both units, parking for all units, utilities, setbacks | Permit required |
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Building a Norcross Site Plan with the Site Plan Creator
- Enter your Norcross address. Gwinnett County parcel data loads — lot boundaries, dimensions, and total lot area pull from county records.
- Set your scale. The tool generates plans at standard residential scales. For the 1:100 metric requirement, verify with Norcross Development Services whether the standard scale output is acceptable or whether they need a strictly metric 1:100 PDF. Use the adjust labels tool to modify scale notation if needed.
- Place your project and parking. After adding the proposed structure, add a parking notation showing the number of parking spaces and their location on the lot. For most single-family homes, this is the driveway and garage labeled as parking.
- Check setbacks. Verify all setback dimensions from proposed and existing structures to all property lines are visible and labeled.
- Export and submit. Confirm submission method (counter, portal, or mail) with the city before submitting.
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What This Doesn't Replace
The site plan creator produces preliminary, conceptual drawings for residential permit applications where Norcross allows homeowner-prepared plans. It is not a licensed land survey, a certified engineering drawing, or a development permit application. Projects requiring a development permit — land disturbance over 5,000 sq ft or disturbance on State Waters — need additional documentation beyond the site plan. Final permit approval is at the sole discretion of the City of Norcross.
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Local Resources
- City of Norcross Development Services
- Gwinnett County Land Disturbance Permits
- Gwinnett County GIS
- Georgia DCA Building Codes
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Nearby Cities in Gwinnett
County overview: Gwinnett County permit site plan requirements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does "1:100 or greater" scale mean for a Norcross site plan?
1:100 is a metric ratio scale — one unit on paper equals one hundred of the same units in the field. "Or greater" means a more detailed scale (1:50, 1:25) is also acceptable. A less detailed scale (1:200, 1:500) is not. This is different from the inch-to-foot imperial scales typically used in Georgia residential permit drawings.
2. Why does Norcross require parking to be shown on a residential site plan?
Norcross reviews parking and vehicle access as part of site planning for all permit types. For residential projects, this typically means labeling your driveway and garage as parking spaces and counting them. The city wants to verify that off-street parking exists and is adequate before issuing a permit.
3. What is an HLP and when does Norcross require one?
A House Location Plan (HLP) is a drawing showing where a structure is specifically positioned on a lot, with precise measurements to all property lines. Norcross may require it "when particular care in locating the house or other improvements will be necessary" — typically for irregular lots, graded lots, or lots near protected features. Contact the city before finalizing your plan if your lot has unusual characteristics.
4. When does a project in Norcross need a development permit?
Any project disturbing more than 5,000 square feet of land, or disturbing any amount of land within a State Waters buffer zone, requires a development permit from Gwinnett County before work begins. Standard residential building permits for structures on already-disturbed lots often don't trigger this — but any grading, landscaping grub-out, or drainage work that adds up to 5,000+ sq ft does.
5. What counts as State Waters in Norcross?
State Waters include any creek, stream, or waterbody regulated under Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Act. A 25-foot undisturbed buffer is required on each side of State Waters. Any land disturbance within that buffer requires a development permit regardless of size.
6. Do homeowners in Norcross need a Georgia design professional to draw their site plan?
Not for standard single-family residential permits. The three-sets/Georgia-design-professional requirement applies to commercial and multi-tenant projects. Homeowners pulling permits for decks, sheds, pools, and similar residential work can prepare their own site plans.
7. How do I show parking on the site plan?
Draw the driveway and garage as labeled areas on the plan. Add a note or label indicating "2 off-street parking spaces" (or whatever the count is) and show their location relative to the lot boundaries. For commercial projects, include a parking stall layout with dimensions.
8. Does the site plan creator export at 1:100 metric scale?
The tool generates plans at standard residential scales. For 1:100 metric output, verify with Norcross Development Services whether a standard-scale PDF is acceptable or whether they need a metric 1:100 file specifically. The scale notation on the title block can be adjusted using the adjust labels tool.
9. Can I submit my Norcross permit application online?
Contact Norcross Development Services to confirm the current submission method. Online permit portals, counter submission, and mail acceptance vary by city and project type.
10. What happens if my land disturbance triggers a development permit and I don't get one?
Working without a required development permit in Georgia can result in a stop-work order, fines, and a requirement to restore disturbed areas at your expense. Gwinnett County enforces erosion and sedimentation control requirements actively. Confirm your project scope with the city before breaking ground.
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Start Your Norcross Site Plan
1:100 scale. Parking labeled. Setbacks measured. Enter your Norcross address, pull Gwinnett County parcel data, add your project and parking notation, and export. First plan is free.
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SitePlans.us delivers a reviewed, non-certified permit-style plan within one to two business days.