Driveway Permit

Residential property owners who want to construct a new driveway must apply for a permit. Driveways are usually approved when a Subdivision or Building Permit is issued by the City. Otherwise, a separate application is required.

Each single-family or duplex lot is permitted one driveway (see Corner Lots and U-Shaped Driveways below for possible exceptions). The Engineering Front Counter can provide information on the zoning of properties and the classification of roads. This information is also available on COSMOS, the City’s online mapping system.

Existing driveways must be removed and the curb, sidewalk and boulevard restored. Additionally, approval for the continued use of existing driveways is required.

How to apply for a driveway permit

Bring a good-quality, scaled drawing prepared in metric units at a scale of 1:500 to the Engineering Front Counter at City Hall. The plan must show the legal property lines and dimensions of the subject lot, address of the property, property frontage, existing and proposed driveway, sidewalk, ditch or boulevard, and all aboveground utilities and obstructions. You may wish to use COSMOS, the City’s online mapping system, to help you with this.

Review the Driveway Culverts & Ditch Enclosures page if you wish to install a driveway culvert or enclose a ditch.

Driveway design

All construction shall be completed in accordance with the Master Municipal Construction Document and the City’s Design Criteria Manual.

Excerpts from the Supplementary Standard Drawings and Design Criteria Manual are provided below. Please note that these cover typical driveways only. Certain areas or situations (e.g. if a culvert is required, or in Bridgeview or South Westminster) may require different standards and additional approvals.

• Each single-family or Small Scale Multi Unit Housing lot is permitted only one driveway to a road. (Corner lots may not have multiple driveways.)
• Lots may add access to a rear or side lane where applicable.
• U-shaped driveways are not permitted.
• Driveways shall be preferably 6.0 m wide (4.5 m wide minimum, 6.0 m maximum).
  • Maximum 8.0m width is permitted if multiple units are proposed (e.g. a secondary suite, duplex, or houseplex).
• A minimum of 1 m clearance must be provided to all obstructions, e.g. utility poles.
• A minimum of 1.4 m clearance must be provided to the side property lines (this may be relaxed in cul-de-sac bulbs to allow shared driveways within the City road allowance).
• Driveways must intersect the curb at right angles.
• Driveways must be paired for properties with less than 18 m of frontage to accommodate on-street parking.
• The minimum spacing between driveways is:
  • Local roads: 9 m (unless required to be paired)
  • Collector roads: 25 m (unless required to be paired)
  • Arterial roads: 50 m
• At intersections, the driveway offset from the intersection should also meet the minimum distance noted above. In these instances, the distance is measured between the edge of the driveway and the curb of the intersecting street.
• Driveways should be located outside of any underground utility connections.
• Driveways must be located outside the drip line of trees (consultation with an arborist may be required).
• Driveway grade for a minimum of 6 m within private property should be a maximum of 5% to avoid vehicles “hanging up” or “bottoming out” at the change in slopes.
   

Driveway location

Driveways to collector or local roads

• A driveway is only permitted to a Collector road if the property does not have lane or local road access.
• Driveways must be located a minimum of 9 m from a Local road or lane, and a minimum of 25 m from a Collector road.

Fees

The Driveway Permit fee is due at the time of your application.

Related bylaw

Zoning Bylaw No. 12000 regulates the construction of driveways. For example:

• Paved area within the front or side yard cannot exceed 33% of the total front or side yard.
• Recreational vehicle parking is permitted within the rear yard for properties with lane access.
• Recreational vehicles can be parked on the driveway or within the side yard, provided it is not closer than 1 m to the property line (screening may be required).

Contact Engineering Customer Services at frontcounterengineering@surrey.ca or 604-591-4340 for more information.