What is Lot Coverage? Zoning Definition

How Lot Coverage Works

Lot coverage measures the portion of your lot that is covered by the footprint of buildings and roofed structures. If your lot is 8,000 square feet and the maximum lot coverage is 40%, your buildings can cover no more than 3,200 square feet of ground. This is different from FAR (Floor Area Ratio), which counts all floors -- lot coverage only looks at the ground-level footprint, viewed from above.

Why Lot Coverage Matters for Property Buyers

Lot coverage limits directly affect how large a home you can build and whether you can add structures like a detached garage, workshop, or ADU. If a property is already near its lot coverage maximum, adding any new structure would require removing an existing one or obtaining a variance. When shopping for property, compare the current coverage to the allowed maximum to understand your expansion potential.

Key Details

• What counts varies by city. Most jurisdictions count the main house, garage, carport, and any covered porches or decks. Some also count pergolas, large overhangs, or accessory buildings.
• Lot coverage is different from impervious surface coverage. Impervious surface rules also count driveways, patios, and walkways -- areas that prevent water from soaking into the ground.
• Uncovered decks and open patios are usually excluded from lot coverage calculations, but check your local code.
• Properties in flood-prone or environmentally sensitive areas may have stricter lot coverage limits to manage stormwater runoff.