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I am thinking about installing a paver patio in my yard. I have about a third of an acre in an older neighborhood with a lot of open space. I was trying to get a feel for how to calculate the amount of impervious space I have left to use on my lot but my friends and neighbors have no idea what I am talking about. Is there an easy way to figure it out if I am well under the limit or is that an unnecessary step when just adding a small patio?
I am thinking about installing a paver patio in my yard. I have about a third of an acre in an older neighborhood with a lot of open space. I was trying to get a feel for how to calculate the amount of impervious space I have left to use on my lot but my friends and neighbors have no idea what I am talking about. Is there an easy way to figure it out if I am well under the limit or is that an unnecessary step when just adding a small patio?
If you have a recent survey, it should show a measured impervious surface area and percentage.
Otherwise, you may need to have a survey performed for that purpose.
Seems wake county limit is 30% impervious, so means we can't go over?
I've seen surveys that are over this amount, what does that mean?
Do they distinguish between front vs back of house?
And what's considered impervious? If I lay down some weed fabric and put rocks on top, is that now impervious?
Thanks for the link. So is this form a new requirement? When did it go into effect? No one I have talked to is aware of this.
If you go onto the Wake County Permits and Inspections forum, there is a link to it from as early as 2012.
It wouldn't surprise me if many homeowners and contractors are not bothering to comply in older neighborhoods, particularly if they are also not pulling permits.
Thanks! The lots are pretty big with smaller houses,so the impervious surface should be well under 30% if that is the limit, and most of the hardscsling was done so long ago that it probably just hasn't been an issue in the older areas.
OP, it also depends on when your neighborhood was platted. Mine was platted 15+ yrs ago and its limit is 70% instead of 30%. Here was the quote from town of Cary when I asked them the question in reference to building a screen porch:
"Cary Park was platted prior to any specific sq footage of max impervious being applied to a specific lot. The default max under this subdivision was 70% impervious. With setbacks its almost impossible to exceed this, so unless you feel like you are close, I would not bother getting a survey. We do not have any data on this lot as it pre dated specific numbers."
So different neighborhoods could have different impervious limits? How do we find out?
Contact the planning department for whatever jurisdiction your house is located in. Or if you have a survey from when you bought the house, its probably on there.
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