Driveway Permits and Regulations in Alabama

Driveway Permits and Regulations in Alabama: What Every Homeowner Must Know

Building or upgrading a driveway in Alabama is more than picking the right pavers or concrete color. State law, county ordinances, and municipal codes all have a say in where you can place a driveway, how wide it can be, and even what it’s made of. Overlooking a single permit can trigger stop-work orders, fines, or forced removal—costing you thousands.

The good news? Alabama’s permit process is straightforward once you know the steps. Below, we break down every rule you need, share insider tips to speed up approvals, and show you how to avoid the five most common (and expensive) mistakes homeowners make.

State Rules vs. Local Rules: Who Actually Controls Your Driveway?

Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Jurisdiction

If your property touches a state-maintained road—look for route numbers like AL-21, US-31, or I-65—you must secure an ALDOT Driveway Permit before breaking ground. ALDOT’s primary concern is highway safety and traffic flow, so they regulate:

• Number of driveways per lot
• Minimum distance from intersections (usually 150 ft, but can be 300 ft on high-speed routes)
• Maximum slope at the road edge (typically 8 %)
• Vision clearance triangles (no shrubs, walls, or fences blocking sight lines)

City and County Authority

Local governments control everything else: setbacks from side property lines, sidewalk crossovers, storm-water management, and construction details like concrete thickness. In unincorporated areas, the county engineer’s office usually issues the permit; inside city limits, it’s the planning or public works department.

Pro tip: Call both ALDOT and your local office. Overlapping jurisdiction is common on county roads that later become state routes. Getting both permits up-front prevents red tape later.

Do You Need a Driveway Permit in Alabama? The Quick Checklist

Answer “yes” to any item below, and you need a permit before the first shovel hits dirt.

1. Creating a new access point from a public road.
2. Widening an existing apron by more than 2 ft total.
3. Converting gravel to hard surface (asphalt, concrete, brick) within the public right-of-way.
4. Adding a circular or “Y” driveway that touches the road twice.
5. Installing a pipe culvert or modifying an existing drainage structure.

Repaving in-kind (same width, same material) generally does not require a permit, but you still must match current ADA sidewalk standards if you touch a crosswalk or handicap ramp.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply for a Driveway Permit in Alabama

Gather the Paperwork

• Certified boundary survey or property plat showing proposed driveway location.
• Site plan drawn to scale: outline of house, setbacks, sidewalks, utilities, and distances to nearest intersections.
• Driveway profile (side-view drawing) indicating slope percentages and drainage direction.
• Proof of erosion control (silt fence, inlet protection) if disturbance exceeds 1 acre.
• Contractor’s license number and insurance certificate—many counties require a $500K–$1M general liability policy.

Submit the Application

Most ALDOT districts accept online submittal through the ALDOT Driveway Permit Portal. Cities like Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile use Citizen Access portals. Rural counties still prefer paper: two sets of plans plus the fee.

Wait for Field Review

An ALDOT area manager or county engineer will visit the site within 5–10 business days. Be present to discuss sight-distance concerns; moving the driveway 5 ft can shave a week off approval.

Receive Encroachment Permit & Conditions

If approved, you’ll get an encroachment permit listing conditions: depth of base rock, pipe gauge, apron radius, and inspection checkpoints. Keep this document on-site—inspectors ask for it.

Typical Driveway Permit Costs Across Alabama

Hidden cost alert: ALDOT charges a $250 re-inspection fee if you fail to call for the mandatory final walk-through. Schedule inspections 48 hours in advance to avoid surprise charges.

Design Rules You Can’t Ignore

Width & Radius

• Single-family residential: 10–12 ft min paved width, 14 ft max at property line.
• Turn-around radius where driveway meets road: 25 ft minimum on local roads, 35 ft on collectors.

Spacing Between Driveways

ALDOT won’t allow two residential driveways closer than 25 ft on low-speed roads or 100 ft on 55-mph routes. Corner lots get one driveway per road frontage unless traffic counts exceed 6,000 vehicles/day.

Drainage & Culvert Pipe

Alabama’s frequent flash floods mean proper pipe sizing. The standard rule: 15-inch diameter minimum for drainage areas under 1 acre, 18–24 inch for larger. Use corrugated metal or reinforced concrete; plastic pipe is prohibited in state right-of-way.

Vision Clearance Triangle

Nothing taller than 30 inches (including grass) within the triangle formed by extending both road edges 20 ft down the street. Fences must be 50 % open (chain-link or decorative rail) to maintain sight lines.

HOA Covenants & Historic District Overlay

Even with state and city approval, your homeowners association can impose stricter rules—brick pavers only, no turnaround wider than 60 ft, or specific color palettes. Historic districts in cities like Mobile and Montgomery require a Certificate of Appropriateness before you alter “street-facing materials.” Submit photos and material samples to the historic commission at the same time you file for the driveway permit to keep timelines aligned.

5 Costly Mistakes Homeowners Make (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Installing culvert pipe before inspection. ALDOT requires you to “wet-set” the pipe in the presence of an inspector. Bury it early and you’ll dig it up on your dime.
2. Ignoring utility easements. Water and gas lines often run 10–15 ft behind the sidewalk. Call 811, then verify depths with a private locator if you’re adding retaining walls.
3. Matching neighbor’s driveway slope. Your lot grade may differ; follow the approved profile drawing instead of “eyeballing” it.
4. Forgetting sidewalk restoration. Cities will withhold your bond until the new sidewalk section passes a slump test and meets 4-ft minimum width.
5. Skipping erosion control on small jobs. Even a 900-sq-ft drive can generate enough silt to clog storm drains. A $30 silt fence prevents a $500 fine.

Contractor Checklist: Questions to Ask Before You Hire

• Do you pull the permit or do I? (Most reputable companies handle it.)
• Will you schedule inspections and meet the inspector on-site?
• What thickness of base rock and asphalt/concrete do you use? (ALDOT minimum: 6-inch compacted base, 4-inch concrete or 2.5-inch asphalt.)
• Can you provide a certificate of insurance naming me as additional insured?
• How do you handle unexpected rock or soft soils? (Get a unit price per cubic yard for over-excavation.)

Get three written estimates and verify licenses at albha.alabama.gov.

Realistic Timeline from Permit to Parking

Plan for 4–6 weeks total:

1. Survey & site plan: 3–5 days
2. Permit approval: 7–14 days (state roads take longer)
3. Material delivery & base prep: 2–3 days
4. Inspection #1 (pipe set & base): 1 day
5. Pour asphalt or concrete: 1 day
6. Cure & final inspection: 3–7 days

Weather delays are common in Alabama’s spring storm season. Add a 10-day buffer when scheduling movers or landscapers.

Frequently Asked Questions