A site grading plan is a civil drawing that shows proposed elevations, slopes and drainage directions across a property. It demonstrates how the site connects to buildings, roads and adjacent lands while directing runoff to accepted collection points or outlets.
Typical information
The plan commonly identifies existing and proposed grades, contours, finished-floor elevations, building entrances, road and parking elevations, swales, catchbasins, retaining walls and drainage arrows. It may also show surface ponding limits, high points, spill elevations and the major overland flow route.
Notes and details depend on the municipality and submission stage. A preliminary plan proves the concept; a detailed plan provides the elevations needed for approval and construction coordination.
More than drainage arrows
Grading must work with architectural thresholds, service depths, landscape soil, tree planting, accessible routes and neighbouring conditions. A low point may collect water successfully but still be unacceptable if it blocks a fire route or entrance.
Park grading adds fields, courts, play areas, dog off-leash surfaces and public paths. These uses need positive drainage and accessible connections, and they should not be assigned as uncontrolled overflow areas by accident.
Bous Engineering prepares coordinated site grading plans for municipal submissions. The related explanations of why grading matters early and what a major storm route does help connect the drawing to the design process.
Key takeaway
A grading plan is the site’s vertical coordination drawing. It should show that water moves safely and that buildings, access, landscape and services can be constructed at compatible elevations.
Bous Engineering supports servicing, stormwater, grading and municipal approval assignments across Eastern Ontario.