Aubrey Gravel Co
Aubrey, TX · Denton County
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Permit Guide • Denton County TX

Denton County Gravel Driveway Permit Guide

When you need a permit for a new driveway entrance in Denton County, who issues it, and what the process looks like.

Denton County Driveway Permit: What Triggers It

In unincorporated Denton County, a culvert/driveway permit is required when you install a new driveway entrance onto a county-maintained road. The permit is specifically for the road entrance, the point where your driveway crosses the roadside drainage ditch and connects to the road. It's not a permit for the driveway itself (the portion on your property), just the entrance at the road.

The reason the county requires the permit is to ensure the culvert in the roadside ditch is correctly sized and installed. The roadside ditch carries stormwater runoff along the edge of the road. If the culvert is undersized or improperly installed, it can back up drainage and cause problems for adjacent properties. Denton County's review takes up to 10 working days, and two sets of drawings are required at submission.

Properties inside Aubrey city limits use a different process, the City of Aubrey Development Services handles those, not the county. Properties accessing state highways go through TxDOT. It's worth confirming which authority covers your property before starting, since the applications go to different offices.

Quick Reference: When a Permit Is (and Isn't) Required

SituationPermit Requirement
New driveway entrance on a county roadCulvert/driveway permit required. Plans review up to 10 working days, two sets of drawings.
Property inside Aubrey city limitsCity of Aubrey Development Services, not the county. Contact the city for their process.
Driveway access from a state highwayTxDOT access permit required, separate from county and city processes.
Existing entrance, driveway repair or maintenanceNo permit required for maintenance on an existing, already-permitted entrance.
Existing entrance, widening or relocationMay require a new or amended permit. Contact Denton County to confirm.

The Permit Process for Denton County Driveways

The application goes to Denton County's Construction and Operational Permits division. You'll need two sets of drawings showing the proposed entrance location, the culvert dimensions, and the existing drainage conditions at the site. The plans review takes up to 10 working days from submission. If the plans need correction, they're returned for revision and the 10-day clock resets on resubmission.

We handle the culvert installation and can guide you through the permit application process. For properties where the permit timeline needs to align with a construction start date, if a builder is waiting on the driveway to be complete before they can access the site, we file the application as early as possible in our work schedule.

Culvert Sizing for Denton County Properties

The culvert at the road entrance has to be sized to pass the drainage flow at that location. A culvert that's too small backs up water and can cause road and property damage. The county's permit review checks the proposed culvert size against the drainage load for the site.

For most residential driveways on standard county roads, a 15-inch or 18-inch corrugated metal pipe culvert is typical. Properties in low-lying areas, near creek crossings, or in locations with significant upstream drainage area may require a larger culvert. We assess the site conditions and select the appropriate pipe size before filing the application.

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Permit Summary
  • Who requires it
    Denton County (unincorporated areas)
  • What triggers it
    New driveway entrance on county road
  • Review time
    Up to 10 working days
  • Drawings required
    Two sets at submission
  • City of Aubrey
    Separate process from county
  • State highways
    TxDOT permit, not county

Planning a New Driveway in Denton County?

We handle the culvert installation and help you navigate the permit process. Free on-site estimate.

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Denton County Driveway Permit: Common Questions

Does a new gravel driveway in Denton County need a permit?
Yes, if the new driveway entrance connects to a county road in unincorporated Denton County. The county requires a culvert/driveway permit for any new driveway entrance where it crosses the roadside drainage ditch. The permit review takes up to 10 working days, and two sets of drawings are required. The permit ensures the culvert is sized correctly and installed to county standards so that drainage through the ditch is maintained. Driveways already accessed from an existing permitted entrance typically don't need a new permit unless the entrance is being moved or widened.
What authority covers my property, Denton County or the City of Aubrey?
If your property is inside the Aubrey city limits, your driveway permit and any road access questions go through the City of Aubrey Development Services department. If your property is in the unincorporated area of Denton County (outside city limits), the county is the permitting authority for driveway entrances on county roads. For driveways that access a state highway (US-377, FM 428, or any other TxDOT-maintained road), TxDOT has its own access permit process separate from both the city and county. If you're not sure which applies to your property, the county can tell you by address.
How long does the Denton County driveway permit process take?
The county's plans review takes up to 10 working days from the date of submission. That means a permit application submitted on a Monday could be reviewed and approved by the following Friday if there are no corrections required. If the submission has issues that require revision, the clock resets. Two sets of drawings are required at submission. We factor the permit timeline into our scheduling, if your project needs a culvert permit, we file the application early in the process so it doesn't delay the work start.
What is a culvert and why does Denton County require one?
A culvert is a pipe installed in the roadside drainage ditch at the point where your driveway crosses it. The roadside ditch carries stormwater runoff along the edge of the road. When you install a driveway that crosses the ditch, you'd block that drainage flow unless a pipe (culvert) is placed in the ditch to allow water to pass through underneath the driveway approach. Denton County requires a culvert at every new driveway entrance because blocking the roadside ditch causes drainage problems for the neighboring properties and the road itself. The culvert has to be sized to handle the drainage load at that location.
Does driveway repair or top-dressing require a Denton County permit?
No. Maintenance work on an existing driveway, top-dressing, regrading, pothole repair, or any other work that doesn't change the driveway's connection to the road, doesn't require a county permit. Permits are triggered by new driveway entrances or significant changes to an existing entrance (moving it, widening it substantially, replacing an existing culvert with a differently sized one). Standard maintenance and repair work on an existing, already-permitted driveway is permit-free.
What happens if I install a driveway without a Denton County permit?
Denton County can require you to bring the driveway entrance into compliance, which may mean removing and re-installing the culvert to their specifications, or filing for a retroactive permit. Beyond the county's interest, an unpermitted culvert that blocks or restricts drainage can cause problems for neighboring properties and create liability if it contributes to a flooding event. The permit process isn't onerous, 10 working days and two drawings, and it's far less disruptive than a stop-work order after the driveway is built.