Is gravel allowed for driveways in Ferndale?

No. Driveways must be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, or pervious pavement (Section 7.03.C). Gravel is not on the list of permitted surfaces. The code does allow reinforced grass strips alongside a driveway, but the driving surface itself must be one of the three approved materials.

Two related prohibitions to know:

• Parking on the lawn is prohibited (Section 7.03.B.4)
• A 1 ft lawn strip is required between the driveway and the lot lines (Section 7.03.C)

If you are weighing pervious pavement to help with drainage, note that for greenspace purposes elsewhere in the code, permeable pavers do not count as landscaped green space (Section 2.06). If you have an existing gravel driveway and are unsure how the rules apply to it, contact CED at 248-336-4370 before repaving or expanding.