Driveway Permits 

driveways_paving


Permitting Information


Driveway permits impacting the City streets are issued only from April 1st to November 15th. Residential and commercial property owners must apply for permits to pave driveways and parking lots. This permit applies even if you are repaving existing parking areas. The design of all driveways shall conform to the standard specifications of the Public Works Department. Part of the application process is a review of the current Zoning Code as well as a Stormwater review. If a street has been paved within the last five (5) years, the street is under Moratorium and a permit may not be approved for work impacting the new street surface. 

Applying for a Driveway Permit


1.) Review City Driveway Permit regulations and City Permit Manual

2.) Complete Driveway Permit Application (see application below) with required information. Physical copies of the permit are        also available in the City Engineer's Office at City Hall.

3.) Obtain current Bonds and Insurances. See checklist below for more information related to bond and insurance                          requirements.

4.) Provide a detailed sketch of the proposed work showing existing and proposed driveway dimensions and material, building      and property line setbacks, and other requirements discussed in the Driveway Permit Application. A sample driveway sketch      can be found below.

5.) Include non-refundable application fee as part of the permit application: ($150 for Residential work, $300 for Commercial             work)

6.) Submit completed Driveway Permit Application, bonds, insurances, and sketch to the City Engineer's Office.

a. Applications can be emailed to EngineersDept@lowellma.gov

b. Applications and application fees can be mailed in a sealed envelope addressed to the City Engineer's Office at the following address:

City Engineers

Lowell City Hall
 375 Merrimack Street
 3rd Floor, Room 61
 Lowell, MA 01852


7.) The applicant will be notified if the permit is approved or denied. If approved, the owner/contractor is responsible for                   notifying the Engineer's Office twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the excavation start date. It is the responsibility of the          contractor to schedule Police Detail per City Regulations .

Permit Application & Checklist:

  1. Driveway Paving Permit Application 2020_05 (PDF)
  2. Driveway Paving Permit Application Fillable_2020_05 (PDF)
  3. Driveway Permit Checklist (PDF)
  4. Sample Driveway Sketch (PDF)

Regulations:

  1. Driveway Permit Regulations 2008-07 (PDF)
  2. Permit Manual 2010 (PDF)
  3. Zoning - Off-Street Parking Dimensional Requirements (PDF)
  4. Lowell Zoning Map (PDF)

Standard Specifications & Details:

  1. CITY STANDARD DETAILS
  2. MassHighway Standard Details and Drawings for Traffic Control Plans (PDF)

Additional Resources


Lowell City GIS: The Land Zone specific to the driveway permit identified in the application can be found using the Lowell City GIS website or Lowell Zoning Map. Links to both can be found below.