Updated October 27, 2026
Most of a driveway sits on your lot. The last stretch, from the sidewalk to the street, sits on city property, and that is where permits come in. Dallas and each suburb around it run their own rules. Here is how the City of Dallas handles approaches and sidewalks, what it asks for and how nearby cities differ. We pull permits as part of our jobs. If you have a question about yours, call (469) 257-3979.
Who owns the approach
In most Dallas neighborhoods the city owns a strip along the street that includes the curb, the grass parkway and the public sidewalk. The driveway approach crosses that strip. Even so, city ordinance puts the job of replacing a broken sidewalk or approach on the property owner.
Dallas runs a sidewalk replacement program that splits the cost of an existing residential sidewalk 50/50 with the homeowner. Approaches are not part of that split. The owner pays the whole cost of removing and replacing an approach.
The Dallas paving permit
Dallas calls work on city property, including approaches, sidewalks and curb and gutter, paving. It takes a paving permit from the city's permit center at the Oak Cliff Municipal Center, 320 E. Jefferson Blvd. Along with the application, the city wants a site plan that shows:
- The drawing to scale, at least 1/16 inch to the foot, with a north arrow and dimensions.
- Property lines and all the paving work.
- The width of the approach and its radius at the curb.
- Utilities, meters, nearby approaches and any median cuts.
- The paving thickness, the material, and the size and spacing of the steel.
Sidewalk-only replacement does not need the site plan. If a protected tree has to come out, the city also wants a tree removal permit and mitigation under its tree rules. The city turns away incomplete or hard-to-read applications, which sends them to the back of the line. We draw the plans and file the paperwork so that does not happen.
Call us. We draw the plan, file it and pour it.
Thickness, steel and inspections
The city sets the standard for what goes in its right-of-way, including the thickness and the steel, and it can change. We put the numbers on the site plan and build to what the city approves.
Before any digging starts, we call in a Texas811 ticket so gas, water and other buried lines get marked.
Historic and conservation districts
Dallas has historic districts and conservation districts with extra rules for what can be seen from the street. Winnetka Heights and Kessler Park in Oak Cliff and the Lakewood Conservation District are a few. If your house sits in one, the district rules may affect the approach, the width of the driveway or its finish. We check before we draw anything. HOAs can add their own rules on top.
Suburbs run their own permits
University Park, Richardson, Garland and Mesquite are separate cities, and a Dallas permit means nothing there. Here is what each one asks for:
Richardson
A building permit for a new, widened or replaced driveway. The permit is posted at the house, and the city inspects before the pour. Work in the right-of-way has extra requirements, and the city's traffic and engineering staff may review new or wider driveways. More on our Richardson page.
Garland
A driveway permit for a new or widened driveway and a separate permit for each approach, with Transportation review. The city spec for front and side yard driveways is 4 inches of concrete with #3 rebar on 18 inch centers on chairs. Front approaches get a 5 foot radius and alley approaches a 5 foot flare. A driveway cannot cover more than half the yard, with some room for circular driveways. More on our Garland page.
University Park
Lot coverage limits on hard surfaces, with front-yard paving capped at half the required front yard. Street and parkway work goes through the right-of-way office, which wants notice before work starts and before concrete is placed. More on our University Park page.
Mesquite
Flatwork, which Mesquite defines as sidewalks, driveways and approaches, is on the city's inspection list. More on our Mesquite page.
Questions about Dallas driveway permits in Dallas
- Can I pull the Dallas paving permit myself?
- The city issues paving permits to paving contractors, so most homeowners have their contractor handle it. We include it in our price.
- How long does a Dallas approach permit take?
- It depends on how busy the city is and whether the site plan is complete. We tell you what we are seeing when we schedule your job.
- Do I need a permit for the part of the driveway on my lot?
- The Dallas paving permit is for work on city property. Richardson and Garland also permit the driveway on your lot. For any address, we confirm what the city wants before work starts.
Call or send the form. We walk the driveway with you, measure it and write the price down before we leave.