Driveway and Access Standards for the City of Concord
In the City of Concord, driveway widths are strictly regulated based on the type of development and the number of parking spaces served, with residential driveways typically ranging from 10 to 26 feet and nonresidential driveways ranging from 12 to 30 feet in width. All driveways must maintain a minimum one-foot clearance on each side of any vertical obstruction and must be designed to minimize paved surfaces while ensuring safe vehicular circulation.
Residential Driveway Standards
For single-family dwellings and duplexes in the City of Concord, driveway width requirements are determined by the number of garage spaces provided [Section 18.160.110(A)(1)]:
| Garage/Unit Type | Minimum Driveway Width | Maximum Driveway Width |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Car Garage | 12 feet | 20 feet |
| Two-Car Garage | 22 feet | 24 feet |
| Three-Car Garage | 30 feet at entrance | 26 feet at property line |
For multifamily and nonresidential projects, the minimum driveway widths are determined by the number of parking spaces served [Section 18.160.110(C)(1)]:
| Type of Use Served | Number of Spaces Served | Min. Width (One-Way) | Min. Width (Two-Way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Uses | 6 or fewer spaces | 10 feet | N/A |
| Residential Uses | 7 to 24 spaces | 12 feet | 20 feet |
| Residential Uses | 25 or more spaces | 15 feet | 26 feet |
| Nonresidential Uses | 24 or fewer spaces | 12 feet | 24 feet |
| Nonresidential Uses | 25 or more spaces | 15 feet | 30 feet |
Note: Minimum widths for nonresidential two-way driveways apply to streets with speed limits greater than 25 mph [Section 18.160.110(C)(1)].
General Design and Access Requirements
All driveways in the City of Concord must adhere to the following additional design standards:
- Vertical Clearance: A minimum overhead clearance of 14 feet is required for all driveways serving multifamily and nonresidential uses, except within parking structures, where it may be reduced to six feet, seven inches [Section 18.160.110(B)(3)].
- Maximum Driveway Width: For nonresidential projects, the maximum driveway width is 30 feet, exclusive of the width of any median divider [Section 18.160.110(A)(2)(c)].
- Surfacing: All driveways must be paved with at least two inches of asphalt, concrete, or authorized paving units [Section 18.160.100(F)]. Driveways serving only one single-family home require a minimum of three inches of asphalt concrete over 10 inches of aggregate base [Section 18.160.100(F)(2)].
- Separation: Driveways serving the same parking facility must be located at least 25 feet apart [Section 18.160.110(B)(2)(b)]. For single-family residential development, driveways must be separated by at least 28 feet [Section 18.160.110(B)(2)(a)].
- Distance from Intersections: No driveway may be located less than 60 feet from the nearest street intersection, measured from the centerline of the driveway to the curb of the intersecting street [Section 18.160.110(B)(1)].
- Slope: Driveways with a slope of 10 percent or greater must be paved with asphalt or concrete in all cases [Section 18.160.100(F)(5)].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.160.100: Additional standards for driveways, access easements, curb cuts, parking lots, and structures
- Section 18.160.110: Driveways and site access