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.

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.

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.

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 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.
• photographs showing measurement of the driveway formwork, including:
  • width 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 kerb crossing (kerb ramp) to the boundary line
  • length of the driveway from the block boundary to building line
  • depth of the driveway slab (minimum 100 mm)
  • 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.
• photographs of the garage from the opposite side of the street showing the full view of the driveway
• formwork complying with applicable Standards, Specifications and Standard Drawings.

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.

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.

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.