What Is Impervious Cover?
What Is Impervious Cover—and Why Does It Matter in Real Estate?
You found your buyer the perfect home. They’re already dreaming of adding a pool, building a huge deck, or setting up a large backyard shed. But there’s one thing that could throw a wrench in those plans:
Impervious Cover!
Impervious cover refers to any surface that doesn’t allow water to pass through—like concrete, pavement, or rooftops. In certain San Antonio subdivisions, there are restrictions on how much impervious cover can be added to a property in order to protect water flow into the aquifer.
If your buyer is planning to build anything additional, these restrictions could stop them—even if there’s space on the lot and a survey shows no issues.
Why This Matters
If you don’t catch this early, your clients could close on their home and only discover the restriction afterward. That means the dream pool, deck, or guesthouse might never happen.
Even if an area appears buildable, you must check:
If the neighborhood has impervious cover limitations
How much of the lot is already covered
If the HOA enforces additional rules
What Should You Do?
Use the Interactive Map
Check the City of San Antonio’s map to see if the property falls under impervious cover restrictions: Impervious Cover MapTalk to the HOA & Listing Agent
Even if the map doesn’t show a restriction, it’s still smart to verify with the listing agent and the HOA in case there are localized rules not reflected in city data.Educate Your Buyer Early
Let them know that just because a lot looks open doesn’t always mean it can be built on.
The Bottom Line
Impervious cover might not be a term your clients are familiar with—but it can seriously impact their homeownership plans.
By taking a few minutes to research and ask the right questions, you can help protect your buyer and prevent unpleasant surprises after closing.
– Ara Fesperman
M. Stagers Realty Partners