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Yep, there's a limit to how much you can have. It's 30 or 33%, if I remember correctly, but if you're in a subdivision you may be able to "borrow" or "buy" some shared impervious surface so that you can get above that number on your land. I've also heard stories of some folks having some of their impervious surface taken by the developer and that it was all in the plat book when they bought the house but didn't notice it until a few years later when they wanted to build a patio.
Durham's looking at spending $800 million or more to clean up Fall's Lake (a reservoir they never wanted and actively lobbied against), so they have to take this stuff seriously.
It is actually 24%. Does anyone have any experience with replacing a driveway or sidewalk with a permeable surface to allow you to add-on to your house? How easy would it be to buy/borrow impervious surface quota from a neighbor? What about buying part of a neighbor's lot?
I've also heard stories of some folks having some of their impervious surface taken by the developer and that it was all in the plat book when they bought the house but didn't notice it until a few years later when they wanted to build a patio.
I'm not sure of the exact details, but a friend of mine who lives in Durham has this problem. He has zero impervious surface available and technically couldn't even add a small patio in his backyard, let alone the screened porch he wanted. Definitely something to be aware of! Thankfully I didn't have a problem adding a porch to my house (in Cary).
I'm not sure of the exact details, but a friend of mine who lives in Durham has this problem. He has zero impervious surface available and technically couldn't even add a small patio in his backyard, let alone the screened porch he wanted. Definitely something to be aware of! Thankfully I didn't have a problem adding a porch to my house (in Cary).
<mutters under breath about Durham impervious restrictions existing solely to protect Raleigh and Cary drinking water quality...>
Does anybody know where I can read the actual laws or ordinances that govern residential impervious surface limits in Durham? I am especially interested in how impervious surfaces are defined, what happens to properties that already exceed the limit, and how allotments can be transferred between properties.
You can go here ClientListView - Municipal Code Corporation
Then select Durham and then search for impervious. I think the question has come up here before and if I remember correctly, even a gravel driveway is considered impervious.
You can go here ClientListView - Municipal Code Corporation
Then select Durham and then search for impervious. I think the question has come up here before and if I remember correctly, even a gravel driveway is considered impervious.
Some gravel driveways would be impervious, but others would not. I'm guessing this isn't clearly defined anywhere, and is left to the surveyors to decide. Any land surveyors that can weigh in on what exactly is and isn't impervious?
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