Construction of vehicle crossovers and driveways
Section 75 of the Local Government Act (2009) states council approval is required for work undertaken on roads including the road reserve/nature strip area.
Your driveway gives vehicles access to your property. In most cases, the driveway is formed from the kerb or edge of the road up to a garage or carport.
The crossover is the section of your driveway that crosses the verge from the kerb or road edge to the property boundary.
You may need approval to construct a new driveway or work in the verge. Basic maintenance like repairing cracks or sealing your driveway does not need council approval.
Planning your driveway
Follow these three steps to ensure you meet requirements.
Step 1: Council street or state controlled road?
Step 1: Council street or state controlled road?
If your property access is on a state controlled road you must contact the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads for approval to construct the crossover.
Visit tmr.qld.gov.au for information about State controlled roads.
Step 2: Plan the location of your crossover
Step 2: Plan the location of your crossover
The position of your crossover can affect traffic and parking in your neighbourhood. Consider your visitors and neighbours' parking needs when locating your new driveway. Read more about parking and the verge.
Locate your driveway away from verge services such as electricity poles and stormwater pits. Council have driveway standard engineering drawings to help you.
Do you have kerb and channel on your street? You need to use the rural driveway design if there is no kerb and channel where you propose to construct your driveway. Refer to standard drawings RS-049, RS-050 and RS-056 to assist you.
Industrial and commercial crossovers must have council approval.
Step 3: Checklist
Step 3: Checklist
Complete the crossover checklist (PDF, 409KB). This will tell you if your crossover plans are standard or non-standard.
Standard crossover
If you answered 'yes' to all the checklist questions, your crossover meets standard conditions and you can commence construction.
It is important that you understand your responsibilities as the owner of the property before you start construction.
Non-standard crossover
If you answered 'no' to any of the checklist questions your crossover is 'non-standard'.
You may need to apply for council approval:
- for operational work through development services
- through civil asset management services
- to access a property through a council park. Apply for a vehicle access to council open space permit (DOCX, 130KB) through parks and gardens.
This includes where you are modifying an existing crossover's profile, surface, dimensions or materials to a non-standard. Fees apply to operational works and vehicle access applications.
Construction must not start until you have the final approval notice from council.
Owner's responsibility
As the property owner, you are responsible for construction and maintenance of the whole driveway and crossover.
This includes:
- any associated drainage and kerbing
- where the crossover crosses the kerb
- any affected footpath, water course, drain or drainage easement.
Fact sheets and guidelines
- Vehicle crossovers on council controlled land fact sheet (PDF, 388KB) - standard crossover process
- Construction and maintenance of vehicle crossovers on council controlled land fact sheet (PDF, 573KB)
- Crossover checklist (PDF, 409KB)
- Standard drawings index - roads streets.
Contacts
For more information, contact council's customer service centre.