Austin, TX Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Austin Transportation and Public Works issues Driveway Access Permits ($150–$400) for any new or modified curb cut within the public ROW. Single-family residential driveways may not exceed the lesser of 20 feet in width at the property line or 30 percent of the front-yard street frontage — narrow urban lots in central Austin often max out at 10–12 feet. Circular drives are allowed only on lots wider than 75 feet. Surfacing must be concrete, asphalt, or interlocking pavers; gravel driveways are not permitted in Urban Core districts but are allowed in rural residential SF-3 and SF-4B. The apron (within ROW) must be concrete regardless of the private drive surface. Driveway slopes cannot exceed 14 percent, with a 4 percent transition at street for 10 feet to prevent scraping. Blocking sidewalks is a Chapter 12-5 violation ($75) — drivers must park behind the sidewalk, not across it. Watershed rules also apply: impervious cover caps of 40–45 percent in most residential zones include the driveway. Semi-permeable pavers can reduce countable cover under LDC.