Driveways and Curbs

The City's By-law 20-2010 regulates the expansion of driveways and provides specifications for driveways and adjacent curbs on home properties.

Driveways

A driveway means a single passageway or series of interconnected passageways, for exclusive or shared private use, providing access between a highway or condominium or common roadway and an area used for the parking, loading or storage of a vehicle.

Unless work is subject to a site plan approval, no new driveway can be constructed or an existing driveway widened without a driveway permit from the City's Capital Works Department.

Driveways must generally be perpendicular to the street.
For all detached homes, semi-detached, duplex, triplex, fourplex, street townhouse or townhouse, driveways should not be less than 2.7 metres in width.
The width of a driveway may exceed 2.7 metres to the maximum width permitted by By-law 20-2010, the City's zoning by-law and a Niagara Escarpment Development Permit.
Driveways should be finished with a material such as asphalt, paving stones, impressed concrete or other durable hard surface to the satisfaction of the Director of Capital Works.
Driveways should not obstruct or interfere with City approved on-street parking spaces.

Visit snow removal for information regarding clearing snow from residential driveways.

Curbs

For lots equal to or greater than 12 metres in width, the maximum width of a curb cut is 6.8 metres.
For lots less than 12 metres in width, the maximum width of a curb cut is 3.5 metres.
For lots equal to or greater than 10 metres in width, a 6.8 metre driveway apron may be permitted without a corresponding 6.0 metre driveway on private property, subject to the approval of the Director of Capital Works.

The Capital Works Department produces standard drawings that specify City approved curb cuts and heights. Contact the City's Capital Works Department for additional information.