Somerville, MA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max driveway width
- 12 feet
- Required paving
- Pervious materials or engineer waiver
- Frontage restriction
- No driveway in front-lot-line frontage
- Contractor bond minimum
- $2,500
- Permit authority
- City Engineer
Summary
Somerville's zoning ordinance requires driveways to be paved with permeable materials like paving stones, grass pavers, pervious concrete or porous asphalt, bars driveways from the frontage area between a building and the front lot line, and caps width at 12 feet. New driveways also need a City Engineer permit under Code of Ordinances § 11-88.
c. Driveways i. New driveways require a permit from the City Engineer in accordance with Chapter 11, Article II, Sections 11-33 Driveway Construction of The Code of Ordinances, City of Somerville, Massachusetts. ii. Driveways must be paved with paving stones, grass pavers, pervious concrete, or porous asphalt unless graded to direct runoff onto on-site permeable areas or granted a waiver by the City Engineer to mitigate adverse site conditions. Ribbon driveways are highly encouraged. iii. Driveways are not permitted in the frontage area between a building and the front lot line. iv. Driveways may be up to twelve (12) feet in width. v. Ribbon driveways must have paved tracks that are at least two (2) feet in width and five (5) feet on center with an unpaved area that is at least three (3) feet in width.
Full Breakdown
18(c) sets the physical rules for driveways in the Neighborhood Residence districts: a new driveway needs a permit from the city engineer under Chapter 11, Article II of the Code of Ordinances, and it must be paved with paving stones, grass pavers, pervious concrete or porous asphalt, unless it's graded to direct runoff onto on-site permeable areas or the city engineer grants a waiver for adverse site conditions. Ribbon driveways, which use two paved tracks separated by an unpaved strip, are encouraged. Driveways can't be placed in the frontage area between the building and the front lot line, and they can be up to 12 feet wide.
A ribbon driveway's paved tracks must each be at least two feet wide, spaced five feet apart on center, with the unpaved strip between them at least three feet wide. On the permitting side, Code of Ordinances § 11-88 requires the city engineer's approval for construction, alteration or expansion of any impervious driveway or paved surface that wouldn't otherwise need a building permit, folding in a review of stormwater runoff, landscaping and pervious-surface requirements. 00 to cover damage to public infrastructure, and can lose that registration for a year if they violate the rules.
Violations & Fines
Penalties for violating the driveway and paving regulations are set under Code of Ordinances § 1-11(b). A paving contractor who fails to meet the bonding or permit requirements of § 11-88 can be denied further permits until the violation is corrected, and repeat violations can cost the contractor their registration for a full year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a gravel or unpaved driveway in Somerville?
How wide can a driveway be in Somerville?
Do I need a permit to build a driveway in Somerville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Somerville
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Driveway Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle driveway rules.