Concrete Patios & Stairs in Covington, WA

Patios & stairs in Covington: what to know

A lot’s house and driveway generally count against its impervious surface cap, which the zoning table sets at 55 percent in R-4, 70 percent in R-6, and 75 percent in R-8. A generous patio can use up the margin, so the total comes before the layout.

Lots that back onto a stream, wetland, or steep slope add a second limit. The critical areas code keeps buildings at least 15 feet from the edge of an unbuffered critical area, and sets them back from the buffer edge where there is one. Patios and driveways can sit inside that setback if they are outside the buffer and do not send runoff toward it. Uncovered decks there must stay under 30 inches.

Permits and rules in Covington

A slab poured at grade is generally not a building permit item, but Covington has its own rules for raised work. Its amendment to the residential code exempts a detached deck of 200 square feet or less that is no more than 30 inches above grade, and any deck 18 inches or less above grade. That language covers decks, not concrete patios, so we look up how Community Development classifies a raised slab and its stairs before we quote.

Rules change and vary by parcel, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Add house, drive, shed, and patio area against the zone’s surface cap
Locate the critical area edge and buffer before laying out the slab
Pitch the slab toward lawn, away from the foundation and any buffer
Form steps to the lot’s grade with even risers and a drained landing

For the full process, see our Concrete Patios & Stairs page.

Building in the cold months? See our guide to winter concrete pours.

Our patios & stairs work, serving Covington

Examples of our work. We build patios & stairs in Covington and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Covington homeowners

Is there a limit on how big a patio I can pour in Covington?

Indirectly, yes. The patio counts toward your lot’s impervious surface cap, set by zone in the city’s table. Where a critical area is mapped, buffers and setbacks also limit where it can go. We find those lines before drawing a layout.

Can I build a patio next to the creek or wetland behind my Covington house?

Not freely. Standard stream buffers run 100 to 125 feet and wetland buffers 40 to 225 feet, with a building setback beyond. A patio outside the buffer may sit in that setback if runoff is directed away. We find the line first.

Can a raised concrete patio in Covington skip a permit?

Not automatically. The city’s amendment exempts detached decks up to 200 square feet and 30 inches high, and decks 18 inches or lower, but it says nothing about concrete patios. Height, stairs, and attachment can change the answer, so we ask Community Development.