Curb Cut and Driveway Regulations in the City of Concord
In the City of Concord, properties with a street frontage of less than 100 feet are generally limited to one curb cut or driveway per frontage. Properties with more than 100 feet of frontage may be permitted one additional driveway for every additional 1,000 feet of frontage. Exceptions for uses with greater circulation requirements, such as gas stations or drive-through facilities, may be approved via a use permit or minor use permit.
General Limitations on Curb Cuts and Driveways
For the majority of properties, the City of Concord limits the number of driveways to ensure safe circulation and to maximize street parking.
- Frontage under 100 feet: Limited to one curb cut or driveway per frontage [Section 18.160.100(A)].
- Frontage over 100 feet: May allow one additional driveway for each additional 1,000 feet of frontage [Section 18.160.100(A)].
- Corner Lots: On corner lots, curb cuts must be situated on the street frontage that has the least amount of pedestrian activity [Section 18.160.100(A)].
- Multifamily and Nonresidential Projects: These projects are limited to no more than two driveways on the same frontage, unless the review authority determines that additional driveways are necessary based on a traffic study [Section 18.160.110(A)(2)(a)].
Exceptions and Special Standards
The City of Concord provides specific exceptions for properties with unique characteristics or specific types of residential development:
- RR-20 and RR-40 Districts: Properties with a frontage of 200 feet or more may have two separate driveways or one circular driveway, provided that the resulting curb cuts are separated by a minimum distance of 100 feet, unless otherwise approved by the city engineer [Section 18.160.110(A)(1)(a)].
- Shared Access: Access for two or more dwelling units to a street through a shared private driveway may be approved if safety requirements are met. No more than four residences are permitted to share a single driveway [Section 18.160.090(C)(4)].
- Higher Circulation Uses: Uses such as drive-through facilities and gas stations may be granted additional curb cuts or driveways through the approval of a use permit or minor use permit [Section 18.160.100(A)].
Dimensional Requirements for Driveways
The City of Concord enforces specific standards regarding the width of driveways and the spacing between them:
| Use Type | Minimum Width (One-Way) | Minimum Width (Two-Way) |
|---|---|---|
| Residential (6 or fewer spaces) | 10 feet | N/A |
| Residential (7 to 24 spaces) | 12 feet | 20 feet |
| Residential (25 or more spaces) | 15 feet | 26 feet |
| Nonresidential (24 or fewer spaces) | 12 feet | 24 feet |
| Nonresidential (25 or more spaces) | 15 feet | 30 feet |
Note: For nonresidential uses, the maximum driveway width is 30 feet, exclusive of any median divider [Section 18.160.110(A)(2)(c)].
Separation Requirements
To maintain safety and maximize on-street parking, the City of Concord requires the following separation between driveways:
- Single-Family Residential: Driveways must be separated by at least 28 feet, unless a shared driveway is approved by the city engineer [Section 18.160.110(B)(2)(a)].
- Multifamily and Nonresidential: Where two or more driveways serve the same or adjacent development, the centerline of the driveways must be separated by at least 28 feet [Section 18.160.110(B)(2)(b)].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.160.090(C)(4)
- Section 18.160.100(A)
- Section 18.160.110(A)(1)(a)
- Section 18.160.110(A)(2)(a)
- Section 18.160.110(A)(2)(c)
- Section 18.160.110(B)(2)(a)
- Section 18.160.110(B)(2)(b)