This permit type is used when establishing a new connection to a county road. In addition to new construction, any gravel driveway that connects to a paved county road is also considered a new access and must be reviewed under this permit, even if the driveway has existed for many years. Gravel approaches that were never permitted must be brought up to current County standards before they can be approved.
If an existing approach is unpermitted, its location is not automatically accepted. The County may require a different location if the existing one does not meet safety, sight distance, or design requirements. The County cannot issue a permit for any approach that creates a traffic hazard or does not meet County standards, regardless of how long the driveway has been in use.
Who can apply for the permit:
A contractor or representative may prepare and submit the application in CSS, but the legal property owner must sign the Conditions Page, which is a required document for application approval.
Exceptions
This permit type does not apply when the property accesses a county road by way of a private road or an access easement, and the applicant is not creating a new access or improving an existing access. In these cases, applicants must apply for the Other Road Approach permit type in the CSS portal.
This permit type also does not apply to approaches that already have an approved permit when the request involves changes to that permitted approach. Modifications such as widening, adjusting the alignment, or upgrading an existing permitted approach must be submitted under the Modify Road Approach permit type in the CSS portal.
Required Documents
A complete application must include two required documents uploaded through the CSS portal.
- Site Plan (Required Upload in CSS)
A site plan must be submitted with your application. The plan must clearly show the property lines, the proposed or existing access point, the connecting county road, driveway dimensions, and any drainage features or culverts.
Your site plan will be reviewed by Public Works staff. If changes are needed, comments will be posted in the CSS portal once the review is complete. Please allow 10 business days for this review. Following the site plan instructions helps reduce review time and minimizes the need for corrections.
Click here for Site Plan Instructions
- Conditions Page (Required Upload in CSS)
The Conditions Page must be signed by the legal property owner, even if a contractor or representative submits the application. The Conditions Page outlines the general requirements for constructing a road approach. Additional project specific conditions may also be added to the permit after review. By constructing the approach after the permit is issued, the property owner acknowledges and accepts all conditions on both the Conditions Page and the final permit.
Click here for the Conditions Page
Additional Documents That May Be Required
In some situations, Public Works staff may request additional documents after the initial permit review. These documents are not always required at the time of application. However, if they are requested, they must be uploaded in the CSS portal before the permit can move forward. The application cannot be accepted as complete until these items are submitted.
Proof of Ownership
Proof of ownership may be required if the legal property owner is not clearly shown in County records. This commonly occurs when the property is owned by an LLC or was recently sold. Examples of acceptable ownership documents include property title documents or similar legal records.
If you know in advance that the property is owned by an LLC or is newly transferred, you may upload your proof of ownership during the application process in CSS by selecting the “Other” file type in the upload section.
Access Easement Documentation
If your access to a county road crosses private property or uses an access easement that is not immediately documented in County records, Public Works staff may require proof that you have the legal right to use that easement. Access easements shown on short plats usually do not require additional documentation. However, if your access route is not clearly recorded or available, you may be required to upload easement documentation in CSS before the permit is considered complete.
Incomplete Applications
An application cannot be accepted if it is missing the required Site Plan or the signed Conditions Page. These must be uploaded through the CSS portal in order for the County to begin the review process. Incomplete applications will not enter the review queue until all required documents have been provided.
Permit Issuance and Building Permit Release
A Road Approach Permit is issued once County review is complete and all required fees have been paid. After issuance, the applicant may establish a temporary construction access. This access must be approved before any building permit can be released, because it provides safe entry for construction equipment and protects the county roadway.
Temporary construction access may be approved in one of two ways:
- Existing Gravel Approach
If you already have a gravel approach, Public Works will evaluate it during the permit review. If it meets the minimum criteria for temporary construction access, no inspection request is needed at this stage. Once your permit fees are paid, the Road Approach Permit will be issued and the Building Department will be notified that a temporary construction access is in place.
- New Temporary Construction Access
If you are building a new temporary access, you must request the Public Works inspection through CSS. Approval of this inspection confirms that the access is properly constructed and suitable for construction equipment. After approval, the Building Department will be notified that the site has safe access, and they may issue the building permit.
A Certificate of Occupancy will not be released until the approach passes the Final Road Approach inspection. This final approval confirms full compliance with County standards and completion of all required work.
Required Inspections
Inspections are required at several stages of the road approach construction process, and all inspections must be scheduled through the CSS portal. Once an inspection is requested in CSS, inspections will be completed within three working days of the request date. Failure to schedule required inspections will result in rejection and removal of work and may delay issuance of occupancy certificates.
Temporary Construction Access
After your permit is issued, you are authorized to construct a temporary construction access. This access must be in place before construction equipment enters the site. Its purpose is to protect the edge of the county road and prevent construction debris from entering the roadway.
If you have an existing gravel approach, it may be used as your temporary construction access if it meets the minimum requirements. Public Works will evaluate the existing approach during the permit review. If it meets the criteria, you will not need to schedule an inspection for temporary access. Public Works will inform you that it is acceptable, and once your permit fees are paid, the permit can be issued.
Gravel approaches often require improvements before being accepted as a temporary construction access. Common issues include insufficient gravel depth or potholes that must be corrected before the County can issue the permit.
If your temporary construction access is newly constructed, or if the existing gravel approach does not meet minimum requirements, you must schedule the Temporary Construction Access inspection in CSS. At this stage, the access must have a minimum of two inches of compacted 3/8minus gravel and must support heavy equipment without creating ruts. If a culvert is required for drainage, it should be installed at this stage, although beveled ends will be inspected later.
PrePaving Inspection
After the temporary access has been approved, and prior to paving you must schedule a PrePaving inspection in CSS. During this inspection, the County will verify that the approach matches the approved site plan and complies with all County standards shown on the permit.
The inspector will verify the following items but not limited to:
- Location and dimensions match the approved plan
- Compaction meets required standards
- Required material depths follow the applicable County standard
- Culverts have at least one foot of cover and beveled ends as shown in Standard R19
- The ditch line and county roadway have not been damaged during construction
- A straight saw cut has been made in the existing pavement
- Pavement limits are clearly marked with paint or formwork for measurement
- The slope of the approach matches the standard noted in your permit
Approaches that include culverts most commonly fail at this stage, typically due to incorrect culvert length, insufficient cover, or failure to construct beveled ends according to Standard R19.
Final Road Approach Inspection
Once paving and all construction are complete, schedule the Final Road Approach inspection through CSS. This final inspection confirms that the approach has been constructed according to the approved plans and all permit conditions. The ditch and roadway must be clear of debris and the site must be fully restored before the inspection occurs.
Approval of this inspection will allow the County to finalize your Road Approach Permit.
The road approach permit grants permission to construct the approach(s) according to the conditions set on the permit, the approach is only considered conforming once all conditions are met and the final permit is executed by the County Engineer.