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Driveway technical standards

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Find out what technical standards and regulations your residential or commercial driveway must meet.

Paddington streetscape showing houses and on-street parking.

Driveway regulations in Brisbane

All residential and commercial driveways must comply with specific technical standards. 

You must apply for a permit to build, modify or repair a driveway before you start building works. This will ensure your driveway meets the technical standards.

For your driveway to be functional and safe, it must be:

  • within permitted gradients
  • the same level as the verge or any footpath 
  • clear of stormwater pits and street trees
  • constructed in accordance with Council’s technical standards
  • made from a solid, non-slip material such as concrete, asphalt or pavers. You can’t use materials such as tiles, gravel and bluestone.

Driveway technical standards

Your driveway must comply with technical standards for permit approval.

Gradients

Within the property boundary, it must not exceed the maximum gradient level of 1:4.

Outside the property boundary, it must not exceed the maximum gradient level of 1:6. 

The rate of change in a driveway gradient is a maximum of 1:12 slope for a minimum length of one metre. 

For more information on recommended driveway gradients, see Brisbane Standard Drawings (BSD) BSD-2024 and BSD-2025.

Brisbane Standard Drawings

Brisbane Standard Drawings (BSD) show the recommended gradients for building a driveway, driveway load requirements and materials.

Load and materials

Driveways must also meet requirements relating to loads and materials.

Clay or concrete pavers

  • The clay or concrete pavers must be at least 40 mm-thick.
  • The compacted sub-base must be at least 100 mm-thick.
  • The pavers must be concreted to the base.
Unit complex at Halford Street, Newstead. Shows driveway to underground car park.

Asphalt

  • Permitted in non-urban areas only.
  • There must be at least 50 mm-thick compacted road base under the asphalt cover.
  • The asphalt cover must be at least 100 mm-thick.
Unit complex at Halford Street, Newstead. Shows driveway to underground car park.

Concrete surfaces

  • The N25 strength must be in accordance with Australian Standards AS1379 and AS3600.
  • Expansion joints must be 10 mm-thick, full-depth, closed-cell, cross-linked polyethylene foam (85-150 kg/m³).
  • The slab must be 125 mm-thick.
  • Preferred surface finishes: stencilled concrete or broom finished concrete.
Unit complex at Halford Street, Newstead. Shows driveway to underground car park.

Definitions of driveway terms

Learn more about driveways, footpaths and footways or verges.

Frequently asked questions