Cost · permit · scope
Driveway planning guide
Plan a driveway with a slab and base calculator, surface comparisons, right-of-way approach checkpoints, and a contractor-ready scope.
Permit complexity
Medium
Compare quotes per
square foot
| Percentile | U.S. | California | Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $22.60 | $24.73 | $19.53 |
| Median | $27.41 | $30.15 | $22.84 |
| 75th percentile | $32.15 | $40.42 | $26.73 |
Driveway buying path
Half of it is yours. The other half belongs to the road.
The apron that meets the street is reviewed by whoever owns that street, which is why two identical-looking driveways can face completely different approvals.
01 · Own
Find the property line
Mark where your lot ends and the public right-of-way begins. Paving on your side is private work; the apron beyond it is permitted by a road authority on its terms, not yours.
02 · Ask
Clear the approach first
Location, width and angle of the connection are set by the agency that owns the frontage. Settle that geometry before anyone quotes square footage, because it can move the whole layout.
03 · Carry
Build for the load
A driveway carries vehicles, not foot traffic. Subgrade, base depth, slab thickness and reinforcement decide whether it cracks in the wheel paths within a few winters.
Decision matrix
Compare one specification at a time
Poured concrete
A rigid surface under repeated vehicle loads
Specify slab thickness, base depth, reinforcement, jointing plan and apron detail.
Asphalt
A flexible surface that can be resurfaced
Specify compacted base, binder and surface course depths, edge support and resurfacing interval.
Gravel
The lowest entry cost on a long run
Specify excavation, geotextile, aggregate gradation, compacted depth and edge containment.
Quote controls
Keep every bid comparable
- Same paved area, apron dimensions and finished elevations
- Subgrade preparation, base depth and compaction stated as line items
- Slab thickness, reinforcement and joint layout specified
- Right-of-way permit, licensing and bonding responsibility assigned
- Demolition, spoil removal and drainage across the apron shown separately
Next best action
Calculate, then lock the scope.
Size the slab and its base in the concrete calculator, then have every bidder price the drive on your lot and the apron in the right-of-way as two lines.
Start with two separate questions
Common for new curb cuts and widening. In-kind replacement may be lighter — locally.
Width caps and distance from intersections are typical zoning controls.
What usually decides the scope
- Same footprint or expansion
- Curb cut / apron in the ROW
- Material (asphalt, concrete, paver)
- Drainage across the sidewalk
- HOA appearance rules
Right-of-way
From the sidewalk toward the street is often city property. Work there is a public-works permit, not a backyard project.