diff --git a/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapCanvas.jsx b/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapCanvas.jsx
index c7e5d39..d42a8a8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapCanvas.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapCanvas.jsx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export default function LocationMapCanvas({
   dragState,
   editingLocked = false,
   hiddenAreaCount = 0,
+  onAddObject,
   onShowZones,
   onShowHiddenAreas,
   setDragState,
@@ -37,9 +38,11 @@ export default function LocationMapCanvas({
     ? objects.filter((object) => object.visible).length
     : 0;
   const hasNoVisibleObjects = objects.length > 0 && filters.showZones && visibleObjectCount === 0;
+  const canAddFirstArea =
+    !editingLocked && mode === "edit" && objects.length === 0 && typeof onAddObject === "function";
   const canRecoverHiddenAreas =
     mode === "edit" && hasNoVisibleObjects && hiddenAreaCount > 0 && typeof onShowHiddenAreas === "function";
-  const hasEmptyCanvasAction = hiddenByZonesLayer || canRecoverHiddenAreas;
+  const hasEmptyCanvasAction = canAddFirstArea || hiddenByZonesLayer || canRecoverHiddenAreas;
   const emptyCanvasMessage = objects.length === 0
     ? "No map areas yet"
     : hiddenByZonesLayer
@@ -160,6 +163,11 @@ export default function LocationMapCanvas({
     onShowZones?.();
   };
 
+  const handleAddObject = (event) => {
+    event.stopPropagation();
+    onAddObject?.();
+  };
+
   const handleShowHiddenAreas = (event) => {
     event.stopPropagation();
     onShowHiddenAreas?.();
@@ -406,7 +414,15 @@ export default function LocationMapCanvas({
             ].filter(Boolean).join(" ")}
           >
             <span>{emptyCanvasMessage}</span>
-            {hiddenByZonesLayer ? (
+            {canAddFirstArea ? (
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onPointerDown={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
+                onClick={handleAddObject}
+              >
+                Add Area
+              </button>
+            ) : hiddenByZonesLayer ? (
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onPointerDown={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/LocationMapManager.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/LocationMapManager.jsx
index 95ac4bf..a99506d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/LocationMapManager.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/LocationMapManager.jsx
@@ -559,6 +559,7 @@ export default function LocationMapManager() {
               dragState={dragState}
               editingLocked={saving}
               hiddenAreaCount={hiddenAreaCount}
+              onAddObject={handleAddObject}
               setDragState={setDragState}
               setSelectedObjectKey={setSelectedObjectKey}
               remember={remember}
diff --git a/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
index 4f84e3a..51e9f65 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
@@ -405,6 +405,57 @@ test("admin setup explains when no zones exist yet", async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(page.getByLabel("Map controls")).toHaveCount(0);
 });
 
+test("admin can add the first area from a blank map canvas", async ({ page }) => {
+  await mockMapShell(page);
+
+  let mapState = {
+    ...noMapState(true),
+    zones: [],
+    items: [],
+    unmapped_count: 0,
+  };
+
+  await page.route("**/households/1/locations/10/map", async (route) => {
+    await route.fulfill({
+      status: 200,
+      contentType: "application/json",
+      body: JSON.stringify(mapState),
+    });
+  });
+
+  await page.route("**/households/1/locations/10/map/blank", async (route) => {
+    mapState = {
+      ...draftMapState([], true),
+      zones: [],
+      items: [],
+      unmapped_count: 0,
+    };
+    await route.fulfill({
+      status: 201,
+      contentType: "application/json",
+      body: JSON.stringify(mapState),
+    });
+  });
+
+  await page.goto("/stores/100/locations/10/map");
+  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Create Blank Map" }).click();
+
+  await expect(page.locator(".location-map-status")).toHaveText("Draft");
+  await expect(page.getByText("No map areas yet")).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(
+    page.locator(".location-map-empty-canvas").getByRole("button", { name: "Add Area" })
+  ).toBeVisible();
+
+  await page.locator(".location-map-empty-canvas").getByRole("button", { name: "Add Area" }).click();
+
+  await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Map area New Area" })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.locator(".location-map-empty-canvas")).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(page.locator(".location-map-sheet-header strong")).toHaveText("New Area");
+  await expect(page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Label" })).toHaveValue("New Area");
+  await expect(page.locator(".location-map-status")).toHaveText("Unsaved Draft");
+  await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Save Draft" })).toBeEnabled();
+});
+
 test("admin status follows the visible map when a saved draft exists", async ({ page }) => {
   await mockMapShell(page);