Zoning & entitlements
Lot coverage
The maximum percentage of a lot's area that building footprint may occupy, set by the zoning district's development standards.
Definition
Lot coverage caps the share of a parcel that structures may cover — a 40% limit on a 10,000-square-foot lot allows a 4,000-square-foot footprint. What counts toward it (accessory buildings, covered porches, balconies, eaves) varies with each local ordinance's definition, so read the definition, not just the number.
Coverage works alongside setbacks and open-space minimums to fix the floor plate; like them, it is reducible by density-bonus concession and waivable where it physically precludes the bonus project under § 65915.
Why it matters in an underwrite
Once coverage and setbacks fix the plate, unit count becomes a story-count question — which drags height limits and construction type into the same equation. On small-lot infill, a few percentage points of coverage decide whether an efficient double-loaded corridor works or the plan degrades to a costlier layout. The definitional details (does a covered stoop count?) flip designs more often than the headline ratio.
Sources & related guides
See also
See the term in the law itself
Read the controlling text in the Code Library, or ask the AI how it applies to your project.
Last reviewed 2026-07-29. General information, not legal advice.