Private Road Entrance Permit - Driveways and Curb Cuts

Before you apply for a private entrance permit, verify that your request meets the following minimum requirements (bottom of the nearest taper used as reference for measurement):

• Must not create a hazard to pedestrians or vehicular traffic as determined by the Municipality
• Must not reduce the soft landscaping within the boulevard to less then 40 per cent
• To maintain on-street parking space, the minimum distance between driveways is seven metres
• Minimum one metre away from the projection of the property line to the curb or road edge
• Minimum one metre away from any utility or traffic sign
• Minimum two metres away from tree trunks, and driveway grading must not negatively impact any tree (roots)
• Minimum three metres away from a hydrant or hydro transformer
• Minimum one metre away from a transit stop with a concrete pad, three metres without a concrete pad
• Maximum width of the driveway is as follows (from bottom of taper to bottom of taper) unless otherwise restricted by the Zoning By-Law 84-63:
  • Single-detached: 4.5 to six metres, depending on lot size and garage width
  • Semi-detached: 4.5 to six metres, depending on lot size and garage width
  • Townhome: three to four metres, depending on lot size and garage width
• Minimum length of driveway is 5.75 metres from the nearest face of the dwelling to the property line
• Driveways on corner lots (those closest to the curb radius) must follow the requirements and figure shown in Zoning By-Law 84-63, Section 3.28 Visibility Triangles

• The proposed location of the curb cut must be visibly marked or staked out before inspection.
• The proposed extent of a driveway entrance widening must be visibly marked to staked out before inspection.
• Curb cuts are performed by a third-party contractor. Timelines cannot be guaranteed.
• Due to snow cover and cold temperatures, curb cuts may not be inspected or completed from October 1 to March 31, weather permitting. 
• Please refer to our Zoning By-Law 84-63 regarding parking area regulations
• Any curb cuts or driveway entrance widenings completed without a permit are deemed illegal and will be dealt with accordingly by our Municipal Law Enforcement Office. To file a complaint regarding a possible by-law violation, please contact Municipal Law Enforcement Office.

• The use of the entrance changes from temporary to permanent.
• Entrances that need to be widened or modified in any way. (See Use of Roads and Boulevards By-law for exemptions).
• A new building is to be constructed on vacant land.
• An entrance is desired to a vacant property where no entrance exists.
• An existing land use changes to another land use.
• A site alteration permit has been issued by the Municipality, or a permit under Ont. Reg. 168/06 has been issued by the Conservation Authority.
• Temporary access is required.

• Requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Entrance culverts may not be available for installation from October 1 to April 30 due to ground frost, snow cover and spring weight restriction season. Requests not completed before winter conditions begin will be rescheduled after spring weight restrictions end. For more information, please refer to By-law 2015-040.
• Property owners requesting a road entrance off a Regional road must apply to the Region of Durham.