All You Need to Know about the Driveway Apron

Driveway aprons serve as an entrance to your driveway and are an integral part of your municipality's storm drainage system. Each city or municipality has rules and regulations about the size, placement, and construction of a driveway apron. Learn all about driveway aprons, their costs, and what to consider as you replace or create a new one. 

What is a Driveway Apron? 

A driveway apron is the part of the driveway that meets the road, usually the first 8 to 15 feet, starting from the street. If you have a sidewalk, the driveway apron usually stops there. Other times, it’s hard to tell where the driveway apron ends and the driveway starts. Driveway aprons are often the municipality’s property, though many times, it is up to the homeowner to maintain and pay for the apron. A driveway apron is also called a driveway skirt or driveway approach.

Driveway aprons are very regulated by local construction codes in most communities due to their proximity to buried water lines and their role in the storm drainage system. Your local municipality likely has regulations for the size and width of the driveway apron, its location, and the thickness and type of materials. 

Benefits of a Driveway Apron

A driveway apron doesn’t receive much attention from homeowners, but it’s a part of a driveway that plays a critical role in preventing minor inconveniences that can develop into costly problems. Because driveway aprons are usually sloped or slightly slanted, they create a smooth transition from the street to your driveway.

The structure of driveway aprons offers two benefits. First, driveway aprons stop you from driving over the curb. The jolt of hitting a curb can seem harmless, but that “harmless” hold can result in damages to your tires, wheel rims, transmission lines, and oil valves. Second, driveway aprons handle water drainage and help prevent rainwater from pooling on your driveway. Instead of water flowing onto your driveway, the slope of the driveway apron will direct water toward the street’s drainage system.

How Much Does a Driveway Apron Cost?

A driveway apron costs between $7 and $18 per square foot on average, depending on the material, design, accessibility, and cost of labor in your area. A double-car driveway with a 10-foot apron costs $800 to $4,320 on average. For a single-car driveway with a 10-foot apron, the typical cost spans from $360 to $2,160.

Here's a look at costs for a driveway apron by material:

• Concrete: $8 to $18 per square foot

• Asphalt: $7 to $13 per square foot

• Pavers: $10 to $50 per square foot

• Rubber: $10 to $50 per square foot

• Chip seal or tar-and-chip: $5 to $10 per square foot

• Gravel: $1 to $2 per square foot

Creating a driveway apron gives you a chance to add detail, contrast, and style to your driveway — or keep it identical to the rest of your driveway. Driveway apron ideas include exposed aggregate concrete, concrete slabs with grass, and decorative pavers.

Who is Responsible for the Driveway Apron? 

Photo: Juan Silva / The Image Bank / Getty Images

In most communities, the homeowner is responsible for the maintenance and cost of the driveway apron, although some municipalities may cover a portion of the costs. In either case, most municipalities technically own the driveway apron and dictate the rules around its size, material, and construction. You can receive a fine for not complying with driveway apron regulations in your area.

As a homeowner, you’re likely responsible for snow, leaf, trash, and debris removal that falls on the driveway apron, but check your local code. Your municipality may also provide guidelines on keeping the driveway apron in good repair and safe condition. 

Local Construction Codes for Driveway Aprons

Each municipality regulates the construction codes for how to install a driveway apron since it plays a key role in the storm drainage system. The rules might even dictate who can legally install the apron, such as a homeowner or licensed contractor. That's why it’s essential to review driveway apron guidelines from your local municipality as you brainstorm your driveway apron ideas. Local codes are subject to change each year, so be sure to reference the most recent version.

You may need to pull a permit when constructing a new driveway apron, although some communities don’t require them, such as in rural areas.

Local municipality codes may outline the following components of a driveway apron:

• Who can install the apron, such as a homeowner, city-licensed contractor, or city workers

• Location of the apron, including how far it must be from the lot line

• Permitted type of curb cut, including where and how to cut the curb. 

• The slope of the driveway apron, as water run-off must drain into the gutter

• Length and width of the apron

• Type of surface material, such as concrete, asphalt, stone, pavers, turf blocks, or brick

• Thickness of the apron material, which may differ from the thickness of the driveway (i.e. four inches versus six inches thick)

• The base layer material, such as sand or gravel, that must sit beneath the surface material

• Thickness of the base layer, such as four inches

• Requirement of steel reinforcement, such as rebar, before pouring concrete

Driveway Apron Rules for Older Neighborhoods

If you live in an older neighborhood, such as one built before 1950, the driveway aprons on your street may not comply with current local codes. In this case, your driveway apron is likely grandfathered in. You won't need to update your non-compliant apron, but if you're replacing or building an apron, you need to install it to code. Not adhering to the current driveway apron code could result in a hefty fine.

DIY vs Hiring a Pro

Unless you have experience pouring concrete or asphalt and are up-to-date on local driveway apron codes and spec sheets, it's best to leave the project to a local driveway paving company. A contractor has the experience and construction knowledge to build a driveway apron to code — or properly fix a sinking apron. They also have the equipment, including a dump truck, jackhammer, skid steer, roller, and plate compactor, that's often necessary for the job. Some municipalities even require that a city-licensed contractor handle the project.

If you install your driveway apron incorrectly, you risk damage to your property or a hefty fine from your municipality. A local driveway pro can save you time, hassle, and unnecessary expenses.

If all your driveway apron needs is a patch or repair, you can often tackle small driveway repairs on your own.