Get approval to construct, repair or abolish a driveway to your property
Approval is needed to connect your driveway to a road.
Project Status: When you need to do this
A permit is needed before you build, repair or modify a residential or commercial driveway.
A residential driveway provides vehicle access for a single detached house. A commercial driveway provides vehicle access for premises such as:
- townhouse developments
- small shopping centres
- large shopping complexes
- business centres
- high-rise apartments.
Vehicle access to the property must already exist or have been approved in development consent.
What you need to do
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Download and complete the form
Ensure that all fields on the form have been filled correctly before lodging the application. Fields on the form marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.
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Prepare accompanying documents and drawings
Please attach a sketch and development application information that will help us make a determination. These must be in digital form and comply with our digital requirements. Digital copies of applications must be supplied on a USB memory stick.
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Lodge your application
- Email [email protected]
- Mail: City of Sydney, GPO Box 1591, Sydney NSW 2001
- In person: customer service centres.
The application will only be accepted if the correct fee is paid. Refer to driveway charges if you are engaging a contractor to build it, or refer to the restoration section if you nominate us to build it.
Your application is not permission to start building your driveway.
Apply for approval to construct, repair or abolish a driveway to your property.
Apply for approval to paint holding lines on the road adjacent to your property’s driveway.
Before you start
Trees and utilities near driveways
You should plan the location of your driveway according to the required setbacks and clear of any utility services. Significant trees, traffic islands and stormwater pits cannot normally be moved to accommodate driveways.
You will need to contact our tree management team about whether you can remove or relocate a tree. The cost of any remedial works is at the property owners' expense.
If your driveway has been damaged by a tree or service authority trench, you can contact us and we will repair the driveway at no cost to you.
Driveway building standards
When you design your driveway you need to consider gradients, road camber and alignment levels. The Sydney streets technical specifications provides developers and our employees with the standards to design and construct driveways in the local area.
Our driveways coordinator can provide you with copies of drawings and specifications on request.
After you finish
When your driveway application is approved you can use your own contractor or accept our quote, which is supplied with the driveway application approval notice. You will also need a driveway road opening permit before work can begin. You will get a driveway road opening permit application with your quote.
If you use a contractor, the time it takes to build the driveway is negotiated between the contractor and the property owner.
If we're nominated to build the driveway, we will contact you to arrange a meeting at the property to determine the extent of works required. A quote and agreement is then sent to you and when we receive payment, it can take up to 28 days.
Public domain approvals
Public domain works
Get approval for works on public landA public domain plan assessment is required to obtain or amend consent for works that impact on civic spaces and assets.Public domain works
Get approval for levels and gradients impacted by constructionObtain approval or amend a previous approval for levels and gradients, also known as determination of alignment levels.Public domain works
Get approval for works on the public way under Section 138 of the Road Act 1993Obtain or amend approval for works like installation of street furniture, minor footpath and kerb works, and street verge and tree planting.Public domain works
Get approval to connect to the City of Sydney’s stormwater systemConnect a private stormwater drain to public infrastructure.Public domain works
Get approval to install temporary ground anchorsObtain or amend approval to install ground anchors to support structures during construction or maintenance.Public domain works
Get approval to temporarily drain water into the City of Sydney’s stormwater systemObtain or amend approval for pumping out rainwater from excavations at construction sites.Public domain works
Appoint the City of Sydney as principal certifier and notify start of public domain subdivision worksAdvise that you intend to commence public domain subdivision works excluding building works and are appointing the City of Sydney as principal certifier.
