Domestic driveways

Site plan

Before beginning construction or modification of a driveway, we highly recommend that you engage a suitably qualified professional to prepare a detailed site plan.

The site plan must show the verge and the driveway including:

• driveway details.
  • width of the driveway at the boundary line of the block
  • width of the driveway at the kerb where the driveway and the vehicular crossing meet
  • length of the driveway from the Vehicle Crossing (kerb) to the boundary line
  • distances from the edge of the driveway to verge trees and/or any adjoining assets such as sumps, pits, streetlights, mini-pillars, signage, manholes and the like as applicable.

• the location of street trees, foot paths, kerbs, storm water pits, street lighting and other public assets in the verge adjacent to the site and dimensions showing its clearance from the edge of the driveway
• the Tree Protection Zone and the Structural Root Zone of all the street trees
• the contours of the block and adjoining verge (using Australian Height Datum) taken from the survey
• clearly mark the slope of the vehicular crossing on the driveway layout
• show the sightlines for the proposed driveway as per AS 2890.1.

Driveway layout review and site plan approval

This is for residential developments that need a building approval (BA).

You need a driveway approval to:

• construct a new driveway or
• change the location, dimensions, layout, or material of an existing driveway.

This approval could also be used for adding a second driveway to residential developments that do not require a development application (DA).

A driveway approval is not required for a DA if the design and location of the driveway(s) have not changed since the last approval.

Please note:

Stamped building approval drawings from a certifier do not mean that the driveway is approved. Depending on your work, approval may be required.

If your DA Notice of Decision states that you must lodge a Design Review submission, the driveway and all works on public land will be reviewed as a part of the Design Review Process. Submit your Design Review through the ProjectWise portal.

How to apply

Submit your site plan, Landscape Management and Protection Plan, and a dilapidation report via the smart form.

If the proposed driveway has a grade exceeding 10%, the applicant must submit 3 cross sections of the driveway, extending from the garage to the centreline of the carriageway, to confirm compliance with slope requirements as specified in Australian Standard AS 2890.1: Off-street Car Parking

Applications must meet the planning requirements, including:

• driveway width, location and slope
• sight line and clearances from existing municipal assets and trees.

Please apply well in advance, rather than close to the project’s completion. The standard processing time for driveway layout review approvals are a minimum of 15 working days. Submission fees apply.

Formwork clearance approval

At this stage you should have one of the following documents prior to making this application:

• stamped drawings from DA process OR
• stamped drawings from driveway layout review and site plan approval process as listed above (for a building approval process).

Please note that this is a HOLD point. Formwork clearance needs to be issued PRIOR to pouring the concrete onsite.

Supporting documents

You will need the following documents for formwork clearance:

• plans from previous building approvals or development applications concerning this driveway.
• formwork complying with applicable Standards, Specifications and Standard Drawings.
• photographs showing measurement of the driveway formwork:
  • width at the boundary line of the block
  • width of the driveway at the kerb where the driveway and the Vehicle Crossing  meet
  • length of the driveway from the Vehicle Crossing (kerb)  to the boundary line
  • length of the driveway from the block boundary to building line
  • depth of the driveway slab (refer ACTSD-0701 and MIS 07 Driveways, Section 2.3.2)
  • distances from the edge of the driveway to verge trees and/or any adjoining assets such as sumps, pits, streetlights, mini-pillars, signage, manholes and the like as applicable.
• photographs fronting the garage from the opposite side of the street to get the full view of the driveway
• photographs showing the formwork complying with applicable Standards, Specifications and Standard Drawings
• photographs should show a wide photo of where the tape is placed, and a close-up photo of what the actual measurement on the tape is. Please see the sample photos below for reference.

Long shot showing the dimension at the block boundary

Close-up showing the actual measurement

Requirements

Make sure that the subbase is clean, stable, free of perishable material and compacted to the required density. Also note that polished concrete and tiled finishes are not permitted.

Make sure that expansion joints, construction joints and weakened plane joints are provided as per ACTSD-0701.

If a path crosses the driveway, it must be continuous. Provide continuity lines and consistent longitudinal grade and cross fall along the path alignment. Paths are plain, unpainted concrete, regardless of the driveway material.

How to apply

Please send all your supporting documents via smart form.

Depending on the quality of your submission, we may need to conduct a site inspection.

Please plan well in advance and allow 4-5 working days for formwork approval.

We will contact you by email confirming it is permissible to proceed with pouring the concrete. This email is NOT a driveway approval. You MUST have a driveway certificate before applying for the Certificate of Occupancy and Use from your certifier, or before starting the unit title process. Submission fees apply. This fee includes the cost for the driveway certificate.

Driveway certificate

Formwork clearance MUST be obtained prior to pouring the driveway to receive a driveway certificate.

How to apply

Please send the photographs showing the measurements of the finished driveway to the assigned project lead during the formwork clearance approval. If you are unsure who your project lead is, please send the photographs to tccs.dcdevelopmentcoordination@act.gov.au.

Photographs must show the measurement of the finished driveway, including:

• width at the boundary line of the block
• width of the driveway at the kerb where the driveway and the vehicular crossing meet.
• distances from the edge of the driveway to verge trees and/or any adjoining assets such as sumps, pits, streetlights, mini-pillars, signage and manholes.
• the garage from the opposite side of the street showing the full view of the driveway.
• the location of the expansion joints, construction joints and weakened plane joints as per ACTSD-0701
• the verge including evidence of replacing the topsoil, sowing of dryland grass seed mix and removal of any sleepers, stakes, fences or similar.

If satisfactory, the compliance assessment officer will issue the final verge driveway inspection certificate.

The verge driveway inspection certificates are issued for that part of the driveway which is built on the territory land. The Directorate does not issue a verge driveway inspection certificate for the vehicular crossings that are built by the estate developers and have been accepted as part of the Operational Acceptance process.

Building certifiers should make sure that the driveway(s) inside the block comply with the slope requirements as per AS 2890.1 and all other applicable standards.

Application form

Use the approval form to add a new driveway or modify an existing driveway. This form covers driveways, stormwater easements, waste management plans and Landscape Management and Protection Plans. It will step you through the required approvals based on your proposed works and prompt you to upload a site plan. You can commence the application form and save it to complete at a later time. Fees apply.

Applications can only be accepted in electronic format. If you have difficulty with the form please contact tccs.dcdevelopmentcoordination@act.gov.au.

For Early Works Submissions, please visit the Early works page for more information.

Approval is required to change the location, size or layout of the existing driveway.

If the driveway is being replaced with plain or asphaltic concrete without modifying the original shape, size, location or surface type of the driveway; approval of the design of the driveway is not required.

However, photographs of the formwork/sub-base must be submitted via tccs.dcdevelopmentcoordination@act.gov.au for assessment prior to pouring the concrete/asphalt and applying the surface finish.

A second driveway and kerb crossing over the verge may be permitted where safety and operational conditions will be improved in accordance with the criteria outlined in MIS 07 Driveways (PDF 1.1 MB), or to service an additional approved dwelling.

Refer to MIS 07 Driveways, Section 1.3 for a full list of criteria which will be considered when evaluating a second driveway for approval.

Following approval, a second driveway should be constructed subject to the conditions which are located in the Territory Plan and MIS 07 Driveways.

Assessment officers undertake a review of the formwork/sub-base photo images that must be emailed to tccs.dcdevelopmentcoordination@act.gov.au after the driveway application has been submitted.

Refer step 2 listed above.

Plain coloured or stamped concrete, bitumen or pavers are acceptable driveway materials. Concrete strength is 32 MPa for a standard domestic driveway.

Exposed aggregate driveways are generally not recommended due to the risk of the chemicals and the cement wash-off entering stormwater drains or waterways during the pressure washing process. However, this type of finish may be permitted if accompanied by an Erosion and Sediment Control Management Plan. The plan must clearly outline how you intend to manage the preparation of exposed aggregate surfaces to prevent any cement wash-off from discharging into stormwater systems or natural waterways. Please ensure the plan is submitted for review and approval prior to commencing any related works.

The maximum uphill gradient for a driveway on the verge is 17%, but gradient transitions must be in accordance with ACTSD-0703 (PDF 769.0 KB).

Variations to the design of the driveway in different situations are covered in MIS 07 Driveways (PDF 1.1 MB). These maximum grades are required for the safe operation of the driveway.

Note 1: For driveways for single dwelling unit (single car garage), refer to ACTSD-0701 (PDF 807.6 KB) to see the shape of the driveway, including the shape of the flare from 3.0 metres width at the property boundary to 4.7 metres width at the kerb line.

Note 2: Single dwelling driveways that do not meet the standard driveway widths may be supported subject to justification such as matching existing streetscape or in locations where the front boundary is less than 12.0 metres in width.

Note 3: For maximum allowable driveway widths, refer to MIS 07 driveways (PDF 1.1 MB), Table 7-3. The maximum width at the property boundary and kerb line will only be supported where the driveway is serving multiple dwellings and there is a need for two vehicles to pass each in opposite directions; in all other cases the maximum is to be as per the standard driveway type R.

For a double car garage, the standard driveway width at the property boundary and at the kerb is 4.7 metres, providing all clearance requirements are met.

Industrial strength driveways are for:

• residential dwellings of 4 or more units, and
• commercial or industrial dwellings.

Industrial driveways are assessed in a Design Acceptance submission.

In normal circumstances an industrial driveway should have a development application lodged. The Directorate requests a Design Acceptance for any off site works including driveways in accordance with the approved Notice of Decision of the development application.

We encourages retaining the footpath when constructing a new driveway. However, the footpath can be removed and then reconstructed as long as the new footpath section is constructed in accordance with MIS 07 Driveways (PDF 1.1 MB).

Incorrect footpath priority

Correct footpath priority

For newly planted trees, the driveway must be located at sufficient distance away from the centre of the tree trunk such that it enables minimum required sight distance to oncoming traffic to be achieved, and such that the tree roots of the tree will not damage the driveway pavement. The minimum distance from the centre of the tree trunk to the edge of driveway is to be in accordance with MIS 07 Driveways (PDF 1.1 MB), Section 2.2.3.

For existing mature trees, the driveway must be located outside the greater of:

• canopy drip line
• minimum clearance requirements in MIS 07 Driveways, Section 2.2.3.

A Landscape management and protection plan will be required for any driveway works proposed within the Tree Protection Zone (edge of canopy plus 2 metres) of a tree located on the verge.

No. Ideally, your building designer must work with the existing driveway levels and set a driveway slope to comply with AS 2890.1 and ACTSD-0703 (PDF 769.0 KB). Transitions must be provided as per AS 2890.1 Figure 2.10 for slopes more than 1 in 8 for summit grade changes and 1 in 6.7 for sag grade changes. If building height constraints are driving the need for a lower garage level, please note that solar envelope and building envelope encroachments can be considered through an exemption declaration application process.

No. The Directorate does not support changes to the existing verge levels for the following reasons:

• Stormwater Management Risks:
  • Altering verge levels may disrupt existing stormwater flow patterns. Depending on the driveway’s location, upstream surface runoff may naturally flow through the nature strip. If verge levels are modified, this runoff could be redirected, potentially entering your property or garage.
• Non-compliance with Section 2.1.2 of MIS 06 Verges: (PDF 1.2 MB) crossfalls on the verge must be graded towards the carriageway unless the verge has been designed to convey run-off into open space areas.

• Pedestrian and cyclist safety: Altering verge levels poses a significant safety risk to pedestrians and cyclists using the adjacent path.
• Trip hazard from retaining walls, ground cuts: Installing retaining walls to support ground cuts on the verge or keeping the ground cuts alongside the driveway introduces a trip hazard for the public, further increasing safety concerns.
• Urban Design Impact: Modifying verge levels would not align with the intended urban design outcomes for the area.

Ideally, the garages and the driveways leading to it must be designed to suit the existing driveway levels and provide transitions as per AS 2890.1, Figure 2.10.

Below is a list of definitions used on this page.

Driveway: The driveway is defined as the section of concrete between Vehicle Crossing (kerb) and the property boundary.

Road reserve: The section of land that includes the carriageway and nature strips on both sides of the carriageway, usually measured from property boundary to property boundary.

Vehicle Crossing: The section of the kerb that has been removed and replaced in concrete to allow easy vehicle access. Refer to ACTSD-0103 (PDF 524.9 KB) .

32 MPa: Concrete strength, in megapascal, after 28 days in accordance with AS 1379.

Cross fall: The slope at right angles to the alignment given to the surface of any part of the carriageway – usually expressed as a percentage

Grade (gradient): The rate of longitudinal rise or fall of a driveway – usually expressed as a percentage.

Formwork: Wooden (sometimes steel) boards used as a mould to contain fresh concrete in the correct position. The formwork is removed once the concrete has cured (hardened).

Road base: A graded rock material used to create a base for roads and driveways.

Nature strip: The area of the road reserve between the kerb and the property boundary.

Tangent point: Generally, the point along the kerb line near an intersection where it transitions from curved to a straight section of kerb.

Exposed aggregate: A type of decorative concrete or cement finish; which includes but is not limited to rocks, sand, pebbles, stones and granite.