Driveways

What is a driveway?

A residential driveway is a hard and level surface where vehicles can drive and park.

A driveway may consist of:

asphalt
pavement
concrete
patterned concrete
compacted gravel/dirt
interlocking brick, or
paving stong.

What rules apply to driveways?

The City of Brampton regulates driveway dimensions to maintain proper drainage and appropriate community standards.

The City’s driveway regulations apply in two areas (refer to map below):

Mature Neighbourhoods - Driveway Regulation Area (white overlay on map)
All Other Areas - Outside The Mature Neighbourhood Driveway Regulation Area (yellow overlay on map)

Driveway Regulation Areas in the City of Brampton

Mature Neighbourhood - Driveway Regulation Area (White Overlay)

Contact Zoning at 905.874.2000, or zoningInquiries@brampton.ca if you have any questions.

In the mature neighbourhood area (white overlay on the map), the following dimensions apply:

Your driveway can be up to 6 metres wide, as long as it doesn’t cover more than half of your front yard.

Close to your garage (within 6 metres), you’re allowed to widen the driveway gradually so it matches the width of your garage.

The widening must taper in a straight line from the garage edges to the maximum permitted driveway width at a point 6.0 metres in front of the garage.

Near the house or garage:
Your driveway can be as wide as 8.5 metres or the width of your garage, whichever is wider—but only within the first 6 metres from the garage door (or from the front wall of the house if there is no garage).

Gradually widening section:
From 6 metres to 12 metres away from the garage, the driveway is allowed to gradually widen (or “taper”) up to that same maximum width (8.5 metres or the width of the garage). This widening must follow a straight, even line—no sudden flare‑outs.

Closer to the street:
Between the street and a point 12‑metre in front of the garage or front wall of the house, the driveway must be no wider than 6 metres.

Detached Garage in the Rear Yard

If you have a detached garage in the rear of your yard, the following rules apply:

Where the driveway is located on the front lot line.

The maximum driveway width shall be 3.0 metres, except that the driveway width may be tapered to increase to equal the width of the garage within 6 metres of the detached garage opening.
The tapering of the driveway shall not extend beyond a straight line connecting the edge of the garage opening and a point 6 metres from the garage opening.

The maximum driveway width shall be 6.0 metres, except that the driveway width may be tapered to increase to equal the width of the garage within 6 metres of the detached garage opening.
The tapering of the driveway shall not extend beyond a straight line connecting the edge of the garage opening and a point 6 metres from the garage opening.

All Other Areas (Yellow Overlay)

Contact Zoning at 905.874.2000, or zoningInquiries@brampton.ca if you have any questions.

For areas other than the mature neighbourhood area (see yellow overlay of map), the following dimensions apply:

Types of Driveways

Any lot in the City of Brampton must have 0.6 metres (2 feet) of landscaping between the driveway (paved surface) and the property line for drainage purposes, except were noted below.

Permeable Residential Landscaping

The requirement to maintain 0.6 metres (2 feet) of permeable residential landscaping between your driveway (paved surface) and the property line for drainage purposes applies to all lots in Brampton, including pie-shaped or irregular lots. If you have a pie-shaped or irregular lot, contact Zoning to confirm the allowable size/shape of your driveway.

Hammerhead Driveway

A hammerhead may be permitted to extend perpendicular to a driveway provided that:

The lot has a minimum lot width of 15.0 metres.
The lot has a minimum front yard lot depth of 9.0 metres.
The maximum width of the hammerhead is 3.7 metres, measured perpendicular to the intended path of travel on the hammerhead.
The hammerhead does not extend further than 4.5 metres from the driveway, measured along the path of travel on the hammerhead to the edge of the driveway.
The hammerhead is located no closer than 3.0 metres from any front lot line and exterior side lot line.

Semi-circular Driveway

A semi-circular driveway connecting two driveway entrances shall be permitted, provided that:

The lot has a minimum lot width of at least 22.0 metres.
Both driveway entrances shall be located in the same yard and separated by a minimum distance of 6.0 metres
The surface area of the residential driveway shall not exceed 50% of the area of the yard in which it is located.
The width of the driveway measured perpendicular to the intended path of travel along the driveway shall not exceed 8.5 metres.
Notwithstanding Section 10.9.1B(11)d., the maximum width of a semi-circular driveway located within the Mature Neighbourhood – Driveway Regulation Area identified on Schedule J-1 shall not exceed 6.0 metres, except that the portion of the driveway within 6.0 metres of a garage opening may be tapered to a maximum width of 8.5 metres or the width of the garage, whichever is greater, in accordance with Section 10.9.1B.(4)c.ii.

Prior to construction

Before you undertake any construction to widen your driveway, be aware that:

If your project involves any work in the boulevard area, the boulevard is municipal property and a Road Occupancy Permit would be required. Learn more.
Property owners must ensure that the contractor performing driveway paving work on their property is licensed by the City of Brampton. Learn more.
Both contractors and property owners are responsible for ensuring that construction is in line with City by-laws. Learn more.
Contractors are required to submit a $5,000 security deposit and complete an online training program administered by the City. Learn more.
If your project involves making any cut to the curb, a permit is required from the City. Learn more.

Planning to Dig?

Before you dig - whether planting a tree, installing a fence or starting any outdoor project – you or your contractor must contact Ontario One Call at 1.800.400.2255, at least five business days in advance.

Ontario One Call coordinates with local utility providers to safely mark buried infrastructure like electricity lines, water pipes and gas lines at no cost to you.

The markings help ensure you avoid damaging essential services and maintain public safety.

Locates are generally only valid for 60 days from the day you receive your locate, so plan your project timeline accordingly. Find additional details about Utility Locates.