Benton County, OR Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

Benton County Code § 91.620 sets the parking-surface standard for the whole unincorporated county: every parking area, in any zone, must be hard-surfaced with asphaltic concrete, portland cement concrete, or crushed rock unless a zone-specific standard says otherwise. Crushed rock counts as compliant, so a driveway does not need to be paved, but bare dirt or turf does not meet the standard. Parking areas that are not attached to a single dwelling or duplex must also be graded so stormwater sheets away from sidewalks and neighboring lots rather than pooling or crossing property lines.

Section 91.645, Driveways, governs the design side: a driveway serving any use other than a single-family dwelling or duplex must provide for internal traffic circulation and be designed for safe ingress and egress, with driveway intersections onto public roadways kept to the minimum number needed. Under BCC 99.510, a road approach permit is required for every driveway connection to a public road before construction begins; connections to a State highway go through the Oregon Highway Division, while connections to any other county-maintained road are permitted through Benton County. New approaches must be built to the specifications set by the County Engineer or the Highway Division, tied to the driveway's use, the character of the adjoining road, and drainage conditions at the chosen location.

Because these are Development Code standards, they are checked at the building-permit stage: BCC 99.510(3) bars a final inspection or occupancy permit for any structure served by a road approach that was built without a permit, or that does not match the approved specifications and conditions.