The Residential Access Permit is required for any modification or new installation of a residential entrance flowing onto a County road, with or without the need to remove and replace concrete curb and gutter. Baltimore County must approve the following for a residential entrance onto a County road:
- Location
- Design geometrics
- Any drainage requirements
- Paving of a cross section
The entrance designs discussed in the guide are based on Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation Supplemental Specifications for Construction of Roads, Bridges, Incidental Structures, Storm Drains, Sanitary Sewers, Water Mains and "Errata and Addenda and Supplemental Specifications" and "Special Provisions."
About the Permit Process
The permitee shall:
- Relocate Conflicting Utilities—Relocate or have relocated all utilities that are in conflict with the paving or in front of the curbs to be constructed under the permit.
- Obtain Required Documentation/Approval—Obtain, from the appropriate party or agency, all other permits or approvals necessary to conform to the requirements of the permit
Standards and Specifications
The following applies for all residential entrances:
- Circular Entrances—Ingress and egress points connected by a common driveway require a minimum frontage of 100 feet, but will be only authorized at the discretion of the County.
- Affected Sidewalks/Curbs/Gutters—Any existing sidewalks, curb, and gutter disturbed by construction shall be replaced in kind to the alignment and grade specified by authorized County personnel.
- Drainage—Positive drainage shall be maintained. Any pipes to be used shall be specified by authorized County personnel including size, type and any signage needed to reduce hazards to the traveling public.
- Embankments—If the roadway is on an embankment and the roadway is not provided with an existing traffic barrier along the roadway embankment, the driveway or embankment side slope shall be as flat as possible to reduce any hazard to the traveling public.
- Location
- No portion of a driveway shall be constructed within 20 feet of any intersection radius.
- No driveway shall be located where only partial ingress or egress of vehicles onto private property is possible. The intent is to prohibit the use of the sidewalk for parking vehicles for loading or unloading, thereby obstructing use of the sidewalk by pedestrians.
- All entrances shall be confined to the properties' frontage.
- Abandoned Driveways and Depressed Curbs—shall be removed and replaced with full-height curb and sidewalk on standard slope. Existing curb depression, which do not conform to the minimum standards of the latest Standard Plans shall be reconstructed to the latest requirements when constructing a new driveway slab.
- Sight Distance—Any new entrance onto a County road must meet minimum safe stopping sight distance based on the speed of the roadway being accessed. Issues surrounding the availability of adequate sight distance must be resolved with the County before an access permit is granted.
- It may be necessary to install a minimum 12 inch-diameter pipe under the driveway to facilitate roadside drainage. The Engineer will determine if this is necessary.
- Areas shall consist of three inches of County approved asphalt (two inches of base, one inch of surface) on six inches of crusher run stone.
- All construction and width requirements for asphalt type drives shall be taken from County plates R-34 and R-15, R-15A.
- All driveway aprons and adjoining sidewalk must be concrete, seven inches thick minimum, of County-approved concrete mix.
- Concrete curb and gutter must be removed to the nearest joint.
- County-approved expansion joint material must be placed behind all curbing to separate the driveway from the curb.
- All construction and width requirements for concrete type drives shall be taken from County plates R-34, R-15, R-15A.