Residential Driveway Permits

When is this permit required?

Whenever you intend to construct, widen, remove or alter any driveway or cut curbs. (cutting curbs and sidewalks is sometimes required to install a new driveway)

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This work generally requires two different permits:

Building permit to construct the parking pad/driveway

Right-of-way permit to connect the parking pad/driveway to the street or alley

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General Criteria for Approval:

Driveway must be between 10 and 35 feet wide

Will need a site plan drawn by a professional engineer

The design must be in conformance with the Baltimore City Department of Transportation’s Book of Standards

The off street parking must be used to store vehicles and bicycles

1. Can’t be used for vehicle repairs except emergencies

2. Can’t be used for services to others

3. Can’t be used for sale of vehicles or vehicles for hire

All off-street parking facilities must be located on the same lot as the structure it serves

The street or alley connecting to the driveway must be at least 10 feet wide

If an off street parking area can be accessed from an alley at least 15 feet wide, then it must be accessed from the alley and not the street.

Must be located at least 1 foot from the property line unless a neighbor’s driveway is along the lot line and both parties agree to have their driveways touching.

Driveways are generally discouraged in the front yard or corner side yard except for:

1. Detached single family homes for a driveway leading to a garage of parking pad on the side of the house

2. On streets where no public parking is permitted

3. Where no other viable alternative is available

   Addition of the parking pad or driveway must produce a net  gain in the displaced amount of on-street parking

   Parking space must be at least 162 square feet (18’x9’)

 

Required Supporting Documents:

You are required to supply a sketch/map which shows:

Where the curb is to be removed and or installed

Property boundaries

Distance between the proposed driveway and the building line

Closest existing driveway

Name and location of the nearest intersecting street

Street light poles, fire hydrants, and other utilities on the property.

Length and width of the driveway being installed, widened or relocated.

For driveways larger than 5,000 square feet, you are required to show a site plan drawn by a licensed engineer

1. Drawn to scale

2. Show to scale the size and location of new construction and existing structures on the site,

3. Show distances from lot lines, the established street grades, and the proposed finished grades,

4. Show, as applicable, Regulated Flood Hazard Areas, Floodways, and flood protection elevations.

5. Must be drawn in accordance with an accurate boundary line survey

Fees:

$15 per linear foot of curb to be removed

$20 flat fee for installation of footway and driveway apron

$55 per week to block the sidewalk

$65 per week to utilize the curb lane for the installation of driveway or driveway repairs

$250 minimum fee on the building permit

There is also a flat quarterly fee added to your taxes if impermeable pavement is installed:

Less than 820 SF - $10/Quarter

820-1500 SF - $15/Quarter

More than 1500 SF - $30/Quarter

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How to Apply:

Right-of-way permit:

Complete Baltimore City’s Department of Transportation “Application to install a Driveway/Curb Cut” form: https://transportation.baltimorecity.gov/right-way-permits

Include supporting documents

Return your application with supporting documents in person to:

Department of Transportation

Right of Way Permits Section

200 Holliday Street, Room 6

Baltimore, MD 21202

 

   4. Or submit electronically to row.permit.documents@baltimorecity.gov

 

Building permit:

Make an account on epermits: https://cels.baltimorehousing.org/permit/Account_Setup_01.aspx

Log onto your account: https://cels.baltimorehousing.org/permit/Account_Login.aspx

Click “add application”

For the permit category, select: “Residential: Interior/exterior alterations(or demolition) (drawings to scale may be required)”

Complete the online permit application and include all supporting documents as attachments and submit.

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Approval Timeline:

Right-of-way Applications: Estimated to be processed in 15 days assuming they are approved.

Building Permit Applications: Over 98% of permit applications submitted with plans are reviewed in less than 30 days

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Department Contact Info:

Department of Transportation (Right-of-way Permit)

Phone: 410-396-4508

Email: row.permit.documents@baltimorecity.gov

Baltimore City Department of Housing & Community Development (Building Permit)

Phone: 443-984-1809

Email: dhcd.permits@baltimorecity.gov

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Additional Information:

Maintenance activities such as replacement of existing landscaping, repair of existing curbing, repairs, sealing, re-striping, or placement of surface course pavement over previously paved areas Do Not require a site plan review.

For single-family detached, semi-detached, and rowhouse dwellings, driveways may be

constructed of semi-pervious materials, such as grass-crete, pervious pavers, and gravel.

Curb cutting is only allowed for:

1. Dwelling units without rear or side access, where no on-street parking is allowed along the front lot line

2. Dwelling units that are capable of securing side street access to a garage or parking space

3. In cases where the proposed private parking will provide a net gain over the displaced amount of on-street parking

The City reserves the right to deny a curb cut request regardless of the availability or unavailability of side and rear access.

 6.  For a single family house 1 parking space is required, unless:

It is a rowhouse which is placed/built/reconstructed in an existing row of attached or formally attached row house dwelling and any of the following conditions are met:

No off-street parking space existed for the previous dwelling

The lot adjoins a Street that is at least 34 feet wide

The lot is less than 85 feet deep

The alley adjoining the dwelling is less than 10 feet wide

7.  See Baltimore City Article 32 Zoning Title 16 for more  information: https://legislativereference.baltimorecity.gov/city-codes