Wake County UDO §5-21 caps impervious surface coverage in residential districts: R-30 (¾-acre) typically 30% max, R-40 (1-acre) 25% max, R-80 (2-acre) 15% max. Falls Lake and Neuse buffers further restrict. Driveways, patios, and roofs all count.
Impervious surface limits under Wake UDO §5-21 are designed to control stormwater runoff per the Neuse Stormwater Rule. Coverage includes the principal building footprint, accessory structures, driveways, walkways, patios, and any non-permeable surface. Pervious pavers and gravel can reduce the calculation. Falls Lake Watershed adds an additional layer of restriction (15A NCAC 02B .0277). Exceeding the cap requires a Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) such as a bioretention cell or infiltration trench. The Wake County GIS calculates coverage during permit review.
Exceeding cap: stop-work, possible SCM mitigation order, civil penalty under UDO Art. 22. Repeat or willful: zoning violation may convert to misdemeanor under NCGS §160D-404.
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Wake County, NC
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See how Wake County's lot coverage limits rules stack up against other locations.
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