Residential driveway permits

Self-assessment

A self-assessment permit enables you to assess your own compliance against Council requirements. Your assessment of the driveway should be accurate and have no negative impacts on the environment, Council's infrastructure or the community. To apply for a self-assessment permit, the proposed driveway must comply with the following requirements:

• must not result in the creation of a secondary driveway on any property frontage
• must not be located within two metres of the trunk of a street tree of cylindrical form
• must not be located within the canopy dripline or within five metres of the trunk of a buttress street tree
• must not be located within 10 metres of a minor intersection or 20 metres of a major intersection
• must conform to the requirements of Council Standard Drawings
• must not result in a driveway crossover wider than three metres on a small lot (area less than 450m²)
• must not result in a driveway crossover wider than four metres for a single garage or five metres for a double garage or greater on a standard lot (450m² or larger)
• must not involve the removal, relocation or modification of a Council asset (such as street trees, parking meters, traffic signs and lines, traffic calming devices and bus stops)
• Must not be located within 600mm of another organisation’s asset (such as hydrants, utility manholes, utility pits or water meters).
• Must not be located within 20 metres of the approach to a bus stop and 10 metres within the departure side of the bus stop.
• Must not be located within 500 mm of a street sign.
• Must not be located within 600 mm of a stormwater drain.
• Must not be located within 500 mm of an electrical pillar.
• Must not be located within one metre of a light pole or power pole.
• Must not be located within one metre of a parking meter.
• Must not have a property frontage of 10m or less.

You cannot apply for a self-assessment if you:

• require an additional driveway.
• require a driveway wider than five metres on large lots and wider than three metres on small lots.
• require a driveway where you require removal or relocation of Council assets (such as parking meters, water meters, traffic islands and bus stops).
• require a driveway within 10 metres of a minor intersection or 20 metres of a major intersection.
• cannot comply with Council's standard drawings.
• require a driveway permit if your street frontage is 10m or less.
• require a driveway permit if located within two metres of the trunk of a street tree of cylindrical form.
• require a driveway permit if located within the canopy dripline or within five metres of the trunk of a buttress street tree.

If you do not meet any of the self-assessment requirements, you must apply for a full assessment and an onsite inspection and assessment by a Council officer.

Apply for a self-assessment permit

To apply for a self-assessment permit, complete the permit to construct a residential driveway online form. You may also need to upload any supporting documents such as photos of existing damage to kerb, channel, footpath and/or road surface.

An immediate permit will be available for download if:

• your driveway meets all the requirements
• you have submitted your application, and
• paid the relevant application fee.

You may require other driveway approvals if there are obstacles in the way of the proposed driveway site.

Full assessment 

For full assessment you must:

• prepare a site plan with the location of the proposed driveway. You do not need to have a plan drawn professionally, however an appropriately detailed plan will assist officers to assess your application. Your plan should include the following:
  • location of the proposed driveway relevant to the frontage or frontages of the property, including the street name/s
  • location of any existing driveways, if you are applying for a secondary driveway or replacing an existing driveway
  • north point
  • proposed width of the driveway
  • proposed location in relation to other assets i.e. street trees, utility infrastructure, bus stops etc.
  • proposed finish i.e. broomed finished concrete, exposed aggregate etc.
• to enable Council to assess your application, you will also need to provide current photographs showing the location of the proposed or existing driveway; and the area surrounding the location of the proposed or existing driveway
• complete an Application/notice to work on Council property online form:
  • upload the supporting documents above
  • pay the relevant fee with Visa or Mastercard.

Council aims to assess all well-made applications within 20 working days. You may require other driveway approvals if there are obstacles in the way of the proposed driveway site.

Council may refuse a residential driveway permit if your proposed driveway cannot meet the standards.

Alternatively, you can complete a hard copy of Application/notice to work on Council property and submit your application along with the supporting documents.

Permit expiry

Your driveway permit is valid for 12 months from the issue date. If your permit expires and construction has not been carried out within the 12 month period, a new application must be submitted.