Do I need an encroachment permit for my driveway?
A driveway that connects to a county road needs an encroachment permit. Any work in the county right-of-way, like the apron or a culvert, needs one. A new or replacement home also means upgrading the entrance to current standards.
The apron where your driveway meets the street, new culverts under the approach, and any work within the road right-of-way are the usual triggers for an encroachment permit.
“Any work where your driveway meets a county road needs an encroachment permit, even the apron.”
North Bay Grading and PavingSonoma County
When you need one
The county right-of-way includes the strip along the public road. Any work there, an apron, a culvert, a new connection, needs an encroachment permit. Building a new or replacement home triggers a required upgrade of the existing driveway entrance to current county standards before the building permit clears.
The standard you build to
The county entrance spec calls for 2 inches of asphalt over 6 inches of packed gravel base, with the culvert set so it does not block the roadside ditch. We build the entrance to that standard, set the culvert so drainage keeps flowing, and coordinate the permit so the connection is done right.
- Right-of-way work needs a permit
- New homes must upgrade the entrance
- We build and handle the permit
Tying into a public road without the right permit can mean removal and rework. We will tell you during your estimate whether your project needs one.
