Gainesville › Unified Land Development Code
Article 13 — Site Development, Chapter 13-5 — ACCESS AND DRIVEWAYS
Code as publishedas of 2025-12-16
Our copylast checked 2026-10-19 · re-check pending
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§ 13-5-1
Access
(a)Every lot shall have access via an approved roadway or driveway to a public street or private street which connects to the public street system.
(b)Ingress and egress to parking areas shall be by means of a driveway from the abutting street meeting the minimum requirements of this chapter.
(c)The Community and Economic Development Director shall not authorize access of development in a non-residential zoning district through any residential zoning district, except for mixed-use developments.
§ 13-5-2
Access on State Routes
(a)Access onto a U.S. or state highway shall meet Georgia Department of Transportation requirements. Such state approval and driveway permit shall be a precondition of development permit approval. A copy of the Georgia Department of Transportation permit shall be submitted to the Director before plans can be approved.
(b)For driveways accessing U.S. or State highways, the requirements of the Georgia Department of Transportation shall apply whenever more restrictive than the standards in this chapter.
§ 13-5-3
Permits
(a)A permit shall be required for construction in any public right-of-way. Permits will not be issued until such time that plans have been submitted and approved by the Public Works Director or their designee and, if a surfacing other than asphalt or concrete is used, the Department of Water Resources Director or their designee.
(b)No curbs or medians on public streets or rights-of-way shall be cut or altered for access, and no driveway connection to a public or private street shall be made or altered, without a permit issued by the Public Works Department and any other applicable jurisdictions.
(c)Deceleration lanes may be required at all entrances to subdivisions and industrial and commercial developments that front on arterial and collector streets.
(1)When required, deceleration lanes shall be 12 feet in width plus curb and gutter for a minimum distance of 200 feet measured from the intersection of the right-of-way lines, or as may be otherwise required by the Georgia Department of Transportation or the Public Works Director.
§ 13-5-4
Driveway Design Standards
(a)Vehicular access from properties to streets shall comply with the dimensional requirements as shown on Table 13-13, measured at the right-of-way line.
(1)When a property containing a single-family residence is converted to a use that requires a wider driveway, the Public Works Director may reduce the driveway width required by this Section if access via a narrower driveway will not be impeded.
Table 13-13: Driveway Width Requirements
| Use | Minimum Driveway Width | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Divided Entrance with Center Island | Two-Way | One-Way | |
| Single-Family Residence | 25 feet | 8 feet | 8 feet |
| Multi-Family Residential | 36 feet | 26 feet | 12 feet |
| Commercial & Industrial | 36 feet | 30 feet | 16 feet |
(b)Construction Standards. Driveway connections shall be provided between the edge of pavement or back of curb to the right-of-way line. Such connections must be constructed as follows:
(1)Curb and gutter streets shall provide a driveway apron constructed of 3000 psi concrete at least 6 inches thick. Sidewalks, where provided, shall continue across the driveway apron at the same prevailing grade and cross slope.
(2)Swale ditch section streets shall provide a driveway apron constructed of 3000 psi concrete at least 6 inches thick, or asphaltic concrete of the same thickness and type as the paving course(s) for the street.
(3)For streets that have been overlaid with new asphalt or concrete over existing pavement, driveway aprons shall tie into the existing curb and gutter. Asphalt may be added to the apron for smoother access.
(4)All driveway aprons shall have a radius connecting the driveway to the curb line or pavement edge as shown on Table 13-14.
Table 13-14: Driveway Apron Radii
| Use | Minimum Driveway Radius |
|---|---|
| Single-Family Residential | 5 feet |
| Commercial or Multi- Family Residential | 15 feet |
| Industrial | 25 feet |
(c)Driveway Surfacing.
(1)Driveways shall be paved with asphalt or concrete unless the Department of Water Resources Director, or their designee, permits porous materials due to environmental impacts or to meet the stormwater management and water quality objectives of this ULDC. Porous materials shall not be installed at commercial/industrial sites where, in the opinion of the water resources director or designee, the potential for spills and groundwater contamination exists.
(2)In the Historic Preservation overlay, the Community and Economic Development Director, or their designee, may recommend the use of alternative pavement surfaces or permit driveways to be unpaved if appropriate to the character of the historic district or landmark.
Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 390) ↗
§ 13-5-5
Driveway Limitations
(a)Number of Driveways.
(1)Along State or U.S. highways, no more than one driveway access from a property shall be permitted for each 300 feet of lot frontage, or fraction thereof.
(2)Along all other streets, one driveway that meets the standards of this Sec. 9-13-4 may be permitted as indicated on Table 13-15. The Public Works Director may waive this requirement for good cause. Written application must be made to the Public Works Director stating the reason for the waiver.
(3)The Public Works Director may require restricted access driveways when necessary for the safe movement of vehicles or pedestrians.
Table 13-15: Number of Driveways Permitted
| Number of Driveways | Road Frontage | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | Commercial/Industrial | |
| 1 | 1 | 0’ to 199’ |
| 2 | 2 | 200’ to 299’ |
| 3 | 3 | 300’ to 399’ |
| n/a | 4 | 400’ to 499’ |
| n/a | 5 | 500’ and above |
(b)Location of Driveways.
(1)No driveway shall be allowed within 35 feet of the right-of-way line of any street intersections for single-family and two-family residential lots and within 50 feet for all other uses. The Public Works Director shall have the ability to waive this requirement for good cause. Written application must be made to the Public Works Director stating the reason for the waiver.
(2)Corner lot access shall be located at the points farthest from the intersection to eliminate turning movement accidents and to promote proper storage of through traffic.
Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 391) ↗
§ 13-5-6
Shared Driveways
(a)Shared driveways are permitted in every zoning district.
(b)Shared driveways between two parcels along the common property line may be required by the Public Works Director.
(c)When shared driveways exist, all property owners shall grant an access easement to facilitate the movement of motor vehicles across the site and property lines.
§ 13-5-7
Drive-throughs
(a)Drive-through windows and lanes may not be located between a building and the closest public street. The Director may grant an administrative variation from this requirement when it is demonstrated that this standard cannot be met for reasons of topography or other site conditions
(1)Where drive-through windows are allowed between a building and a public street, the entire length of the drive-through lane must be screened.
(2)Screening shall consist of a continuous evergreen hedge with a mature height of at least 4 feet or a screen wall at least 4 feet in height.
(b)Stacking spaces shall be provided and must begin at the window or communication/mechanical device (e.g., order board) first encountered by the vehicle user.
(1)Financial institutions, car washes and any other uses with drive-through facilities shall provide at least 3 stacking spaces for each window or drive-through service facility.
(2)Eating and drinking establishments with drive-through facilities shall provide at least 5 stacking spaces for each window or drive-through service facility.
(c)Stacking spaces and lanes for drive-through stations shall not impede on and off-site traffic movements or create potentially unsafe conditions for pedestrians.
(d)Drive-through lanes shall be separated by striping or curbing from off-street parking areas and drive aisles. Individual lanes shall be striped, marked, or otherwise distinctly delineated.
(e)All drive-through facilities shall be provided with a bypass lane a minimum width of 9 feet.