Paving Permit Administrative Guidelines - Accepted Materials

Effective June 22, 2018, the addition of new paving in excess of 120 square feet in yard areas requires a Paving Permit.  These paving rules help Hercules ensure public safety, protect against flooding, preserve neighborhood character and property values, and minimize impacts to the environment, including problems from run-off and storm water. To achieve these goals, residents must follow these rules for all new paving/hardscape installation and landscaping:

• Paving or hardscape materials over 120 square feet, including concrete, pavers, and semi-permeable surfaces, require a City-issued permit.
  • Asphalt of any amount is prohibited.
    
    
• Front yard coverage for paving/hardscape must not exceed 35% for driveways and 25% for walkways/patios.
  
  
• Rear and side yard coverage for paving/ hardscape must not exceed 60% combined.
  
  
• Entire residential lot generally cannot exceed more than 47% building and hardscape coverage for the whole lot.
  
  
• At least 40% of front yards and 40% of rear/side yards (combined) must be permeable landscaping.
  • “Landscaped area” means a permeable area that is permanently devoted to and maintained for the growing of shrubbery, grass, trees, and other plant material or by the use of such material as bark, crushed stone, lava rock, or similar materials to present an attractive, well-kept appearance (with permeable weed barrier); does not include hard surfaces such as brick, pavers, concrete, asphalt, or similar materials, regardless of permeability. (HMC 13-60.200)

Download the Paving Permit (PDF)

Read the full text of the City's Residential Paving Ordinance (Municipal Code Section 13-30.750)

For questions and more information, contact the Planning Division.