If you are installing a new driveway or cutting a curb in Davenport, you need a permit from the city before work starts. Here is what the rules require and where to go.
Any new driveway, driveway widening, or curb cut in the public right-of-way requires a permit from the City of Davenport before work begins. This includes the driveway approach between the street curb and the sidewalk, even if you are only paving the part on your property. You also need a permit if you are repairing or replacing the approach or cutting the curb.
The permit costs $50 for a residential driveway approach, $25 for widening an existing driveway, and $10 per curb cut. Commercial driveway approaches cost $100. Your contractor is required to pull the permit and provide a bond and proof of insurance before starting any work in the city right-of-way. If you are doing the work yourself on your own single-family home, you can pull the permit, but you still need to meet all the city engineering specifications.
You do not need a building permit for a driveway that is on your private property, not attached to a structure, and not more than 30 inches above grade. But if the driveway approach touches the curb, sidewalk, or public street, that is work in the right-of-way and you need the driveway permit from Public Works.
Driveway permits are handled by the Engineering and Capital Projects division at Davenport Public Works. The office is located at 1200 E 46th Street in Davenport. You can call them at 563-326-7923 with questions or to get a permit application. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays.
The permit application requires a site plan showing the width of the driveway at the sidewalk and the distance between the curb and the sidewalk. All curbs must be saw cut, not broken out. Work cannot begin until the permit is approved and the bond and insurance are on file. You also need to notify Public Works at least 48 hours before starting work so they can inspect the site.
All driveway work must meet the City of Davenport Standard Engineering Specifications. The city sets requirements for the base material, thickness, slope, and drainage. These specifications exist because Davenport has clay-heavy soil and experiences dozens of freeze-thaw cycles every winter. A driveway built to the wrong grade or with an inadequate base will fail quickly in our climate.
Your contractor should know these specs, but if you are doing the work yourself, ask Public Works for a copy of the requirements when you apply for the permit. The city inspector will check the work, and if it does not meet the standards, you will have to fix it before the permit is closed out.
Do not skip the permit. If the city finds unpermitted work in the right-of-way, you can be fined and required to remove or redo the work at your expense. The driveway approach and curb cut are city property, and the city has the right to remove or relocate any driveway for public convenience.
A reputable contractor will not start work without the proper permit and bond. If someone offers to do the job cheaper by skipping the permit, walk away. You will end up paying more in the long run to fix the problem.
If your property is in a designated floodplain, which is common near the Mississippi River in Davenport, additional rules may apply. The city requires new construction in the floodplain to be elevated above the 100-year flood level or protected with walls. Check with the Planning and Development office at the same address if you are not sure whether your property is in the floodplain.
Retaining walls over 4 feet in height require a building permit. Fences over 6 feet also need a permit. If your driveway project involves grading, excavation, or changes to drainage that could affect neighboring properties, you may need additional permits or approvals. When in doubt, call the Public Works office at 563-326-7923 and describe your project. They can tell you what permits you need and walk you through the process.
Also in our network: Davenport Tree Removal Permits and City Rules, Bloomington, IL Driveway Permits: Rules and Requirements.
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