Pervious vs. impervious, in plain terms
Impervious surfaces keep rain from soaking into the ground: roofs, concrete, asphalt, pavers set on a concrete base, and pool decks. Many cities count the pool too. Pervious surfaces let water through, like grass, planting beds and, in some cities, approved permeable pavers.
South Florida cities limit impervious area to control flooding. Every square foot of new driveway, patio or roof counts against your lot’s limit, so the first question on any project in Davie is how much allowance you have left.
Building coverage and the 10% hardscape limit
Davie’s Table 12-81A sets a maximum building coverage for each single-family district. For example: RR 0.20, AG 0.18, A-1 and R-1 0.225, and S, R-2, R-3 and R-4 0.40 (Davie Table 12-81A). On an R-3 lot, that means buildings can cover up to 40% of the lot.
Inside landscaped areas, hard surfaces like borders, sidewalks and stepping stones can’t go over 10% of the landscaped area. The Town says pervious surfaces are preferred and strongly encourages pervious paving for driveways and sidewalks (Davie Planning & Zoning).
Driveway setbacks in Davie
- Driveways and curbs are exempt from front, side and rear yard setbacks under Sec. 12-88, but they still have to meet Article VII (Davie code).
- Setbacks for the house and buildings depend on the district. For example, R-3 requires 30 ft front, 15 ft side and 25 ft rear.
Pergolas, gazebos and new structures
- Accessory structure setbacks depend on the zoning district. Many require at least 5 ft from the rear line.
- Porches 10 to 25 ft wide can extend into the front yard in AG, A-1 and R-1.
- Roofed structures like pergolas with solid roofs and additions count toward building coverage.
Artificial turf and pavers
Davie’s older code did not allow artificial turf in residential areas. After the 2025 state law, Davie staff noted the Town can regulate drainage and environmental impacts, but can’t otherwise limit the percentage or location of compliant turf on lots of 1 acre or less (Davie staff report).
Statewide, Florida now requires DEP standards for synthetic turf on single-family lots of 1 acre or less, and local governments can’t prohibit turf that meets them (Florida Statutes §125.572). The DEP rule took effect May 19, 2026 (Davie staff report). Cities can still regulate drainage, so how turf counts on your impervious calculation is still the city’s call.
A quick example
On a 12,000 sq ft R-3 lot, buildings can cover up to 4,800 sq ft. If the house covers 3,600 sq ft, a covered patio, pergola with a solid roof or addition can add up to about 1,200 sq ft.
Your numbers will be different. The Davie lot simulator runs the same math for your lot.
See how much you can add
Enter your lot size, what’s already built, and the driveway, pergola or structure you want. The simulator checks your impervious percentage, coverage and setbacks against the Davie rules above and shows the largest size that still fits.
Open the Davie lot simulator →
The simulator gives a planning estimate, not a permit approval. Rules vary by zoning district, subdivision and HOA. This guide reflects published code as of October 2026, and we confirm the current version and your survey before every submittal. Source: Davie Land Development Code.
We’re a State of Florida Certified General Contractor (CGC1527850). See our Davie service area or Davie modern concrete and turf driveway.
Frequently asked questions
Do driveways have setbacks in Davie?
Driveways and curbs are exempt from yard setbacks, but they still have to meet the Town’s parking and driveway standards.
Does Davie prefer pervious pavers?
Yes. The Town says pervious surfaces are preferred and strongly encourages pervious paving for driveways and sidewalks.
How much of my lot can buildings cover?
It depends on your district. R-2 through R-4 allow 40%, A-1 and R-1 allow 22.5%, and AG allows 18%.