Culver City Driveway Permit: What It Took on a Real Job

A driveway replacement in Culver City goes through the city before any concrete is poured. On one of our Culver City driveway and drainage jobs, Site Improvement permit review took about four months, and the city permit fees came to about $1,550. The approved plans set the driveway at 16 feet and tied the new drain into the existing curb drain, and the debris went into a city roll-off.

The Story

The homeowners wanted the old asphalt driveway gone and a concrete walkway along the side of the house replaced, with a drain that would move water off the property. We submitted the plans for city review before construction. The approved plans specified a 16-foot-wide driveway and a connection to the existing curb drain.

Connecting the drain to the street meant cutting and re-pouring a section of the public sidewalk, about 5 by 5 feet. Before any work started, a city inspector came out for a pre-construction inspection.

On site, the job took five days in all. Day one was demolition: the asphalt driveway and the concrete side walkway came out. Day two was the drain line and the sidewalk cut. Day three was the pour. The city completed its inspections and finaled the permit.

1. Do You Need a Permit to Replace a Driveway in Culver City?

For this job, yes. Replacing the on-site driveway pavement and adding drainage was permitted by Culver City Public Works as a Site Improvement permit, through the Engineering Division rather than a building permit.

A Site Improvement permit in Culver City is valid for 180 days from issuance. The city can extend it once, at the City Engineer's discretion, with an extension fee. Plan the start date inside that window, because the clock starts at issuance, not at the first day of work.

2. What the Permit Cost

The Site Improvement permit fees on this job came to about $1,550, paid in full at issuance. That is the city's permit fee only. The dumpster and the debris are billed separately (section 5).

These are this project's city costs, not a quote. Confirm current fees with the city. For what the concrete work itself can run, see our concrete driveway cost page.

3. How Long the Permit Took

Permit review on this project took about four months.

4. What the Approved Plans Included

The approved plans specified the driveway width and the drainage connection described below.

Driveway width

The approved plans specified a 16-foot-wide driveway.

Drain to the curb

The approved drainage plan connected the new drain to the existing curb drain.

The sidewalk cut

To reach the curb drain, the pipe had to cross under the public sidewalk. That meant cutting and re-pouring a section of the public sidewalk about 5 by 5 feet, done together with the driveway work.

5. The Dumpster: City Bins Only

In Culver City, trash and construction debris hauling is handled only by the city (Culver City Municipal Code 5.01.010). A private dumpster company cannot place a bin. We ordered the roll-off through Culver City Sanitation, and because the bin sat on the street, it also needed a separate dumpster street permit.

The street permit form used for this project listed $8 per parking space per day outside downtown, $4.25 per no-parking sign with a two-sign minimum, an issuance fee and a 4 percent technology surcharge. Signs required posting at least 48 hours ahead. Confirm the current fees and posting requirements with the city when you arrange your project.

The roll-off is billed mostly by the ton. On this job the old asphalt and concrete weighed 9.92 tons, and the city's roll-off bill came to about $1,800, including the tonnage, emptying the bin and the rental. Debris weight, rental time and the city's charges set the roll-off cost, so a bigger driveway usually means a bigger bill.

6. Five Days on Site

Day one: demolition. The asphalt driveway and the side walkway came out and went into the city roll-off.

Day two: the drain line went in and the sidewalk was cut.

Day three: the pour.

The remaining days finished the job.

The city completed its inspections and finaled the permit.

7. After Your New Driveway

The first days matter most. Early curing helps concrete develop its strength and durability, and in LA heat and wind the risk is the surface drying out too fast. Follow your installer's instructions for curing, including how long to keep covers in place or keep the slab moist, and avoid wetting and drying it on and off.

Passenger cars can often go on a new driveway after about 7 days, depending on the mix, the weather and the curing. For heavy vehicles such as a moving truck, an RV or a dumpster, we usually suggest waiting about 30 days, and confirming with your installer first. Sealers are usually applied after about 30 days as well.

Control joints (the cut lines) help manage where shrinkage cracks form, but cracks can also appear elsewhere. Some fine cracks are cosmetic. A crack that widens, an uneven surface or a change in how water drains is worth having checked. Wipe up oil spills quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a driveway permit cost in Culver City?

On one of our Culver City driveway and drainage jobs, the Site Improvement permit fees were about $1,550. That covered the city permit only. The dumpster street permit and the city roll-off were billed separately, and on this job the city's roll-off bill came to about $1,800 for 9.92 tons of old asphalt and concrete.

How long does a Culver City driveway permit take?

Permit review on this project took about four months. Review times vary by project. Once the permit is issued it is valid for 180 days, so plan the work inside that window. The city can extend it once, with an extension fee.

Can I use my own dumpster company in Culver City?

No. Culver City handles trash and construction debris hauling itself, so the roll-off has to be ordered through Culver City Sanitation. If the bin sits on the street, it also needs a dumpster street permit, with per-space daily fees and no-parking signs posted at least 48 hours ahead.

Does Culver City require a drain for a new driveway?

On our job, the approved drainage plan connected the new drain to the existing curb drain. Reaching the curb meant cutting and re-pouring a section of the public sidewalk. Whether your driveway needs a drain depends on your site and the city's review of your plans.

How long before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?

Passenger cars can often go on a new driveway after about 7 days, when concrete typically reaches around 70 percent of its design strength, depending on the mix, the weather and the curing. For a moving truck, an RV or a dumpster, we usually suggest about 30 days. Confirm with your installer first, and keep heavy wheels off the edges.

Local Tip: Driveways in Culver City

Plan around the permit, not the calendar. Still choosing the surface? Our guide to driveway materials compares the options, and our page of driveway questions covers the common ones. Apply early, allow time for plan review, and check the 180-day window before booking the crew. Post no-parking signs for the dumpster at least 48 hours before it arrives, and have the debris broken into small pieces so the city bin takes it.