Short answer: Yes, for the part of the driveway that connects to the road. On Greenville County roads, a driveway approach permit comes from County Public Works (864-467-7016). A new-home building permit covers one driveway connection; a second needs an encroachment permit. Where there’s no curb, the apron in the right-of-way must be asphalt, not concrete. City streets and SCDOT (state) roads have their own rules.
In this guide
- Step 1: Find out who maintains your road
- Greenville County rules at a glance
- Why the asphalt apron rule matters for concrete driveways
- Culverts
- Applying and inspections
This guide covers Greenville County’s published rules and how to tell which office applies to your road. Rules change; confirm with the office before you build.
Step 1: Find out who maintains your road
The road in front of your property decides which rules apply, not your mailing address.
- Greenville County road: County Public Works handles driveway approaches and encroachment permits. The county’s permitting page links a “Who Maintains My Road?” lookup.
- City street (for example, inside the City of Greenville or another city’s limits): contact that city’s offices for driveway and right-of-way rules.
- SCDOT (state) road: work in the state right-of-way needs an SCDOT encroachment permit, applied for online through SCDOT’s EPPS system. SCDOT charges no fee for encroachment permits and recommends meeting county or district staff first.
Greenville County rules at a glance
From the county’s driveway installation guidelines:
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Permit for one driveway on a new home | Covered by a $10 fee added to the building permit; no separate encroachment permit |
| Second driveway | Encroachment permit plus a sketch showing location and dimensions |
| Apron material without a curb | Asphalt from the right-of-way line to the road; concrete not allowed in the right-of-way |
| Concrete driveways in the right-of-way | Allowed only where a curb is present, as in a subdivision; the county doesn’t maintain them |
| Culvert pipe | Reinforced concrete, corrugated metal, or gray double-walled corrugated polypropylene; black HDPE plastic pipe not allowed |
| Maximum grade | 7%, uphill or downhill |
| Distance from an intersection | At least 40 feet in most cases |
| Distance from a catch basin | At least 10 feet |
| Sight distance | 10 times the posted speed limit (250 feet on a 25 mph road); no driveways below a hill crest or on blind curves |
| Typical width | 12 feet, with about a 10-foot radius at the road |
| Drainage | Don’t block curb-line flow; keep driveway material out of the road and ditch; divert road water that runs down the driveway |
Why the asphalt apron rule matters for concrete driveways
If you’re building a concrete driveway on a county road without a curb, plan for the last section, from the right-of-way line to the road, to be asphalt. Make sure your quote includes it, or that the concrete contractor coordinates with a paver. See concrete vs. asphalt driveways and our concrete driveway page.
Culverts
If there’s a roadside ditch, the driveway crosses it on a culvert pipe. The county allows reinforced concrete pipe, corrugated metal pipe or gray double-walled corrugated polypropylene, and specifically bans black HDPE plastic pipe. Pipe size isn’t given in the guidelines; ask Public Works.
Applying and inspections
- Greenville County takes encroachment permit applications online through its Public Works permitting page.
- Permit questions: 864-467-7011. Inspection questions: 864-467-7018. Driveway installation questions: 864-467-7016.
- Work under a county encroachment permit is inspected 12 months after the permit is issued, or after a complaint.
Need the driveway itself built? Request a free quote; ask the contractor to include the apron and permit in the price.
Common questions
Can my driveway apron be concrete in Greenville County?
Only where the road has a curb, such as in many subdivisions. On county roads without a curb, the section in the right-of-way must be asphalt, and the county does not maintain concrete driveways.
Do I need a permit to replace an existing driveway?
Work in a county road right-of-way needs an encroachment permit, so replacing the apron at the road generally does. Replacing only the part on your own property is a separate question; ask Public Works at 864-467-7016 before you start.
What pipe can I use for a driveway culvert?
Reinforced concrete, corrugated metal, or gray double-walled corrugated polypropylene. Black HDPE plastic pipe is not allowed for driveway culverts on county roads.
Get a free quote from a local contractor
Tell us about the job once. A licensed contractor who works in your part of the Upstate will call you about a free, no-obligation quote, usually within 24 hours.
Request a free quote or call (864) 432-1750.
Sources
- Greenville County: driveway installation guidelines (PDF) — apron, culvert, grade, sight distance, spacing, permits.
- Greenville County AnswerBook: driveway approach permits — Public Works permit, 864-467-7016.
- Greenville County Public Works: permitting, reviews and inspections — online applications, inspections, contacts.
- SCDOT: encroachment permits — state roads, EPPS, no fee.
This guide summarizes published rules for convenience; it isn’t legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the office that maintains your road.