Drawing a Plot Plan

QUESTION

How do I create a plot plan using survey information?

ANSWER

A plot plan can easily be created in Home Designer, however the process will vary depending on the version and product you're using. 

In Home Designer 2026 and newer, as well as in Home Designer Pro 2025 and prior, use the Input Line tool to add survey information. In addition, these products can easily and quickly display bearing information and create setback lines.

If you're using a Home Designer Suite or Home Designer Architectural legacy product, use the Draw Line (CAD) tool, then input the length and angle after creation to match the survey's information. 

For the purposes of this example, we will be utilizing the following survey data to create a basic plot plan:

• Line 1: Distance = 122.22', Angle = N82° 49'E
• Line 2: Distance = 98.75', Angle = N2° 17'W 
• Line 3: Distance = 143.56', Angle = N87° 47'W 
• Line 4: Distance = 122.33', Angle = S12° 20'E

We will discuss the following topics in this resource while utilizing the data above:

• To input coordinates to create property lines in Home Designer 2026 and newer or in Home Designer Pro 2025 and prior
• To input coordinates to create property lines in Home Designer Suite or Home Designer Architectural (Legacy)
• To display length and angle information on your property lines
• To create setback lines
• To view the plot perimeter in 3D in Home Designer 2026 and newer or in Home Designer Pro 2025 and prior 
• To view the plot perimeter in 3D in Home Designer Suite or Home Designer Architectural (Legacy)

To input coordinates to create property lines in Home Designer 2026 and newer or in Home Designer Pro 2025 and prior

1. In the file you'd like to create your plot plan in, select CAD> North Pointer , then click and drag a north arrow straight up in your floor plan view.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Select CAD> Lines> Input Line  to display the New CAD Line dialog.
   
   
   
3. In the New CAD Line dialog, click on the Number Style button to display the Dialog Number/Angle Style dialog.
   
   

   Note: These settings only apply to numbers displayed in the specification dialogs and status bar. They do not apply to objects that display in plan and other view windows.

   
   
   
   
   • Under Number Style, move the radio button to Decimal Feet.
     
     
   • Under Angle Style, move the radio button to Quadrant Bearing.
     
     You can also choose Azimuth Bearing if you desire.
     
     
   • Click OK.
   
   
   
4. In the End Point section of the New CAD Line dialog:
   
   
   
   
   • The X and Y Position is the start point for the first line of the property that will be drawn.
     
     By default, this will be set to 0 for both, unless you placed a CAD point in the plan prior to opening this dialog.
     
     
   • Click the radio button beside Relative to Start Point.
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   • Check the Polar box.
     
   
   
   
5. Enter the listed information to define the property. Once one line is specified, click the Next button, then enter the values listed on the following line. Proceed until each edge of the property is defined.
   
   
   • Distance = 122.22', Angle = N82° 49'E
   • Distance = 98.75', Angle = N2° 17'W 
   • Distance = 143.56', Angle = N87° 47'W 
   • Distance = 122.33', Angle = S12° 20'E
     
   
   

   The above coordinates serve as an example only. Use these coordinates to learn how to create a plot plan. Once you understand the process, you can substitute in your own coordinates.

   
   
6. Click OK after entering in the last value to close the dialog and return to floor plan view, where we can see the polyline we created.
   
   
   
   

   Straight property lines can also be converted to curved property lines by selecting the desired edge and clicking on the Change Line/Arc edit button.
   

To input coordinates to create property lines in Home Designer Suite or Home Designer Architectural (Legacy)

1. From the menu, select Terrain> Create Terrain Perimeter  to create a basic rectangular terrain.
   
   
   
2. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on one of the Terrain Perimeter's edges to select it, then click the Open Object  edit button.
   
   
   
3. At the bottom of the Terrain Specification dialog, click the Angle Style button.
   
   
   
4. In the Angle Style dialog, which opens next, select the Bearing radio button, then click OK twice to close both dialogs and apply the change.
   
   
   
5. Use the Select Objects tool to select the Terrain Perimeter and Delete  it.
   
   
   
6. Select CAD> Draw Line   and click to begin drawing the first CAD line, starting from the bottom of the screen and dragging upwards.
   
   
   
7. Once the first line has been created, use the Select Objects  tool to select the line, then click the Open Object  edit button.
   
   
   
8. In the Line Specification dialog:
   
   
   
   
   • Enter the Length information for Line 1, which can be located at the top of this resource and is referred to as Distance.
     
     For ease of access, Line 1's value is: 122.22'.
     
     
   • Press the Tab key on your keyboard to update the dialog and move to the Angle  field.
     
     

     When you press the Tab key, your Length information will automatically convert to inches.

   • Enter the Angle information for Line 1. 
     
     Bearing information can be entered in this format: N82 49E, which is equal to  N82° 49'E.
     
     
   • Click OK.
   
   
   
9. Repeat these steps to create Line 2, Line 3 and Line 4, with each additional line starting at the end point of the previously drawn line.
   
   Length, Angle, and other line properties can be adjusted on the Selected Line panel of the Polyline Specification dialog when creating Lines 2, 3, and 4.
   
   

   Straight property lines can also be converted to curved property lines by selecting the desired edge and clicking on the Change Line/Arc edit button. 

   Keep in mind when you go to create your own plot plan, that if you have received the plot plan information from a surveyor, the direction of any given line can be described in two ways using Quadrant Bearings, and not all surveyors will describe the lines of a given plot in the same direction, i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise. If the lines are not described in the same direction, your result will not be a closed polyline.

   
   
10. Once your plot plan has been completed, repeat Steps 1-4 to return to Degrees.
    
    

To display length and angle information on your property lines*

*Applies to Home Designer 2026 and newer, as well as Home Designer Pro 2025 and prior. Although this section is not compatible with the Home Designer Suite and Home Designer Architectural legacy products, length and angle information can be added to your property lines manually using the Text tools. 

1. Next, use the Select Objects  tool to select the polyline you created, and click on the Open Object  edit button.
   
   
   
2. On the Line Style panel of the Polyline Specification dialog that opens, check the Show Length and Show Angle boxes, then click OK to return to your floor plan view.
   
   Note that it defaults to having lengths of inches and angles in regular degrees. Most property lines are shown in bearings and decimal feet. 
   
   
   
   
   
3. To change the values to bearings and decimal feet select Edit> Default Settings .
   
   
   
4. Expand the CAD category, select General CAD, then click Edit.
   
   
   
   
   
5. In the CAD Defaults dialog:
   
   
   
   
   • Under Display Line Angle as, select Quadrant Bearing.
     
     You can also choose Azimuth Bearing if you desire.
     
     
   • Under Display Line Length as, move the radio button to Decimal Feet.
     
     
   • Click OK.
     
   
   
   
6. To adjust the size of the Length and Angle displayed on your plot plan polyline, stay within the Default Settings, expand the Text, Callouts and Markers category, select Text Styles, then click Edit.
   
   
   
7. Select the Plot Plan Text Style, then click Edit.
   
   
   
   
   
8. In the Text Style Defaults dialog that displays next, specify your desired value in the Character Height field.
   
   

   Note: Other properties relating to the Length and Angle text can be adjusted here, such as the Font style and formatting characteristics.

   
   
   
   
   
9. Click OK, OK, and Done to close out of all of the dialog boxes.
   
   
   
10. Next, select Tools> Display Options .
    
    
    
11. Locate and select the "CAD, Default" layer, use the Text Style drop-down menu to select the Plot Plan Text Style, then click OK.
    
    
    
    
    The plot plan polyline should now look similar to the image below. 
    
    
    
    

If you want to add details such as the property offset, now is the time to make these changes.

To create setback lines*

*Applies to Home Designer 2026 and newer, as well as Home Designer Pro 2025 and prior. Although this section is not compatible with the Home Designer Suite and Home Designer Architectural legacy products, setback lines can be created manually using lines, polylines, and arcs.

1. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on the plot plan polyline to select it, then navigate to Edit> Copy and Paste in Place from the menu.
   
   
   
2. With the copied polyline selected, click the Concentric Resize  edit tool.
   
   
   
3. On the Edit toolbar, select Set Concentric Jump  to display the Set Concentric Jump Distance dialog.
   
   
   
4. In the Set Concentric Jump Distance dialog type in the setback distance required by your local planning department, then click OK. 
   
   In this example, a value of 10' is specified.
   
   
   
5. Place your cursor over a corner edit handle, then click and drag towards the center of the polyline until a copy of the polyline appears inside. Each edge of the inner polyline will be 10' apart from the outside polyline.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Select the inner polyline and click the Open Object  edit button.
   
   
   
7. On the Line Style panel, select a dashed line style from the drop-down list, uncheck Show Length and Show Angle, then click OK.
   
   
   
8. Finally, select CAD> Points> Delete Temporary Points to remove any temporary points.