Expanding your driveway or covering your front or side yard with pavement or concrete without a permit violates the Zoning Bylaw.
Paving your lawn causes problems. For the City. For your neighbours. And for you.
The City regulates the width of driveways through the Zoning Bylaw. Expanding or altering a driveway can cause major problems with drainage, increase heat-island effects and reduce on-street parking. Plus, it’s unsightly.
Permitting
Any work to expand or alter a driveway requires a permit to ensure these problems are addressed.
A Home Improvement Permit for a driveway is required when:
- Widening an existing driveway
- Constructing a new driveway
- Replacing an existing driveway with new materials
- Constructing a parking pad in the front or flanking side yard
- Widening your driveway entrance off a public road, which may also require a Curb Crossing Permit
Generally, the width of your driveway should not exceed the width of your garage.
Compliance and Enforcement
The City considers hard surfacing violations as a high priority.
Common violations include:
- Driveway expansions
- Front yard to full property paving
- The addition of a second driveway or parking area
Examples of Common Hard Surfacing Violations
There are a number of enforcement tools that can be used, including but not limited to:
- Issuance of a stop order
- Issuance of municipal and/or violation tickets
- Registration of a caveat on the land title for the property
- Remediation of the property at the expense of the property owner, which may cost more than the paving itself
- Escalating penalty fines starting at $1,000, up to and including mandatory court appearances until compliance is achieved
What You Can Do
Reach out if you are considering extending your driveway or adding additional paving (hard surfacing):
- Call 311 to reach the Service Centre
- Email hardsurfacing@edmonton.ca
- Schedule a virtual or in-person appointment on the 2nd Floor of the Edmonton Tower located at 10111 104 Avenue.
To apply for a permit and review bylaw regulations:
- Check Driveway for application requirements
- Use the Self Serve portal to submit your application