A driveway approach for the purpose of serving the residents of one single-family dwelling shall be defined as a residential driveway approach. A residential driveway approach may serve up to four single-family dwellings if the applicable local (Township, Village or City) ordinance allows.

An approach that serves more than four single-family dwellings or more than the maximum dwellings allowed by local ordinance for a residential driveway shall be defined as a private road approach, and shall be subject to the requirements described in the PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ROAD APPROACHES section.

A property owner, or designated agent, may apply for a residential driveway approach permit at the Livingston County Road Commission during normal business hours. A survey sketch shall be attached to the application and the location of the property corners and proposed driveway approach must be clearly staked. See the GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROACH PERMITS section for a detailed description of the application, permit and inspection process.

No portion of a residential driveway approach within the highway right-of-way shall have a grade greater than 10% (1' vertical in 10' horizontal).

A residential driveway approach shall enter perpendicular to the existing roadway.

Typical approach features can be found in APPENDIX A. The applicant shall follow these standards unless the Livingston County Road Commission gives approval to do otherwise.

• The Livingston County Road Commission shall determine whether or not a culvert is required and, if required, the diameter and length of the culvert. The applicant shall furnish and install the culvert so determined. The owner or person responsible for the approach shall maintain in perpetuity the culvert in reasonable condition.

• The minimum length of a culvert may be determined as the width of the approach over the culvert plus the fore slopes from each side of the approach to the ditch bottom. The maximum fore slope is 1 on 3. The Livingston County Road Commission reserves the right to require longer culverts and flatter fore slopes, depending on site-specific conditions.

• The use of sloped culvert end sections is encouraged. The use of culvert headwalls is prohibited. The enclosure of ditches beyond the end of normal culvert length is prohibited.

• Culverts shall be installed in line with and on the same grade as the road ditch. Notwithstanding, the Road Commission may require that the applicant re-grade the ditch at his or her expense in order to provide adequate cover over the culvert. The cover, or depth of material over the culvert, should be equal to or greater than the diameter of the culvert.

• No culvert of less than 12" diameter may be installed.

• All culverts should be corrugated metal pipes made with steel of the proper gauge corresponding to its diameter, as shown below.

  Diameter	Gauge No.
  12" - 24"	16
  30" - 36"	14
  42" - 54"	12
  60" - 72"	10

• If the applicant wishes to install a culvert of material other than that above, approval must be obtained from the Livingston County Road Commission prior to installation.

 

 

A residential driveway approach shall be located to provide adequate sight distance for exiting and entering movements (see Sight Distance section). The Road Commission reserves the right to reject a location that is not in the best interest of public safety.

All portions of a residential driveway approach, including the radii, shall be located entirely within the applicant's property lines extended at right angles to the center of the road.

The center of a residential driveway approach should be located at least 25 feet from the applicant’s property lines.

The center of a residential driveway approach should be located at least 125 feet from the center of any road approach, regardless of whether the approaches are on the same or opposite side of the road.

The center of a residential driveway approach shall be located at least 125 feet from the nearest track of any railroad-highway grade crossing.

The center of two residential driveway approaches on the same property shall be located at least 100 feet apart, measured parallel to the center of the road.

Access should only be from a residential roadway when a county through highway and residential roadway (public or private) borders a property. Residential developments should be designed, whether the roadways will be public or private, to accommodate driveway access on interior streets. The Livingston County Road Commission reserves the right to deny access on county highways serving through traffic where access is available on residential roads or, in the case of land division by a single proprietor, could have been provided to residential roads.

Only one driveway approach is allowed along the frontage of residential property, if the frontage is less than 150 feet. One additional residential driveway approach may be permitted where frontage equals or exceeds 150 feet.

Any residential driveway approach that serves more than one single-family dwelling or serves property without road frontage shall be located within a recorded easement. The easement must be described on the deeds of each affected property and registered with the Livingston County Register of Deeds. Copies of the recorded deeds and survey sketches shall be provided to the Livingston County Road Commission as part of the application and permit process.

A residential driveway approach within an easement will count as one approach on any property with road frontage that includes any portion of the easement. Residential driveway approaches serving more than one dwelling shall have a minimum width of 20 feet and a maximum width of 30 feet.

On any roadway, approaches may be paved with asphalt or concrete. Asphalt approaches shall be at least 2 inches in thickness. Concrete approaches shall be at least 5 inches in thickness.

On gravel roadways, residential driveway approaches shall be surfaced with at least 6 inches of processed road gravel. However, when the driveway is paved, the approach shall not be paved closer than 5 feet to the existing road edge.

On paved roadways with road shoulders, residential driveway approaches shall be surfaced with at least 6 inches of processed road gravel. However, when the driveway is paved, the paved approach shall meet the existing roadway pavement and shall follow the same grade as the road shoulder.

On paved roadways with curb and gutter, residential driveway approaches shall be paved.

See APPENDIX A for various approach details.

Sight distance is the distance along a roadway that an object of specified height is continuously visible to a driver. The following sight distance values, according to the posted or absolute regulatory speed limit, are required for residential driveway approaches.

If a driveway approach is intended to serve only one single-family dwelling, then the values listed as standard represent the minimum requirements for sight distance where existing roadway and site characteristics allow. Where conditions do not allow for the standard, the driveway shall be located in the best location, maximizing sight distance as close to the standard as possible. A permit will not be issued where the minimum allowable sight distance, based on speed conditions, cannot be achieved.

If a driveway approach is intended to serve more than one single-family dwelling, then the values listed as standard represent the minimum requirements for sight distance. A permit will not be issued where the standard sight distance, based on speed conditions, cannot be achieved.

In some instances, the Livingston County Road Commission may reduce the sight distance requirements where conditions limit vehicle speeds in the vicinity of the proposed approach.

On gravel roads that do not have a posted speed limit, residential driveway approaches shall meet the 45-mph requirements for sight distance.

On roadways serving through traffic that have a 25-mph prima facie limit posted, residential driveway approaches shall meet the value listed as standard for sight distance.

Sight distance shall be measured on the edge of the roadway at the center of the approach, using an eye height of 3.5 feet above the road edge and sighting a target 4.25 feet high along the center of each lane on the road. A portion of the target being sighted shall be continuously in view for the required sight distance values. Further, the approach should be located to provide as much of the target in view as possible. The approach should also be located to maximize the view of oncoming traffic for a motorist on the existing county road preparing to turn left at the driveway.

The same sight distance required at the edge of the road shall be continuously provided, along the center of the approach, to a point 15 feet off the edge of the road. The Road Commission may reduce this requirement to a point not less than 10 feet off the edge of the road, depending on site-specific conditions.

A clear vision area, as shown in Figure 1, shall be provided prior to construction and use of any residential driveway approach entering onto a roadway under the jurisdiction of the Livingston County Road Commission. To provide for adequate vision, all obstructions must be removed within the clear vision area. The property owner shall maintain the clear vision area in perpetuity.

Note: On multilane highways, clear vision shall be provided to the center of each lane in both directions of travel.

Figure 1. Clear vision requirement for residential driveways.