New driveway size limits could be coming as Brampton grappling with complaints

Bylaw and zoning changes could be coming to limit the size of driveway expansions in some Brampton communities as the city looks to force contractors to get a permit before work begins.

Under current regulations in Brampton, homeowners who want to widen their driveway only need to get a permit from the city if the job requires contractors to cut into a curb.

With most homeowners on the honour system in Brampton when it comes to driveways, the city is looking at new rules to limit driveway size and make sure they meet city property standards guidelines.

The allowable width of driveways in Brampton are based on the size of the lot, with a maximum driveway width of 4.9 metres for the narrowest lots in the city to 9.14 metres for the widest.

But proposed changes could see permits required for future driveway expansions in the city’s “mature neighbourhood area,” increase the size of that zone, and set size limits for driveways relating to both width and length.

Extended and widened driveways have been a pain for some Brampton residents, impacting not just the esthetics of communities but also posing risks to the environment and public safety.

Large driveways can cause problems for property owners as the pavement is non-permeable, causing more water to run into the city’s stormwater system or into homes as it can’t be absorbed into the ground. They can also be an eyesore for neighbours as a larger driveway means more parked cars, which can also be a safety hazard in an emergency like a house fire.

No permits are currently required for most driveway extensions so enforcement of homeowners driveway rules is based on complaints – meaning the city only knows about an issue if it’s reported to Brampton’s already overtaxed 311 system.

Brampton’s 311 complaint line receives more complaints than it can manage with over 100,000 calls last year, ranging from property standards and safety issues, lawn maintenance, parking infractions, licensing and more.

A curb cut cost permit cost contractors $50, and the city is considering introducing an online permit process for all driveway expansions whether a cut is needed or not.

Coun. Harkirat Singh said any new regulations brought in by the city should “be sensitive to the contractors” who would be required to get a permit before doing driveway extensions.

City bylaws require property owners to maintain a portion of permeable ground between the driveway and the side lot line, and some members of Brampton City Council want to see future driveway extensions done with permeable paving materials.

“I don’t think we should be encouraging, I think it’s a must,” Coun. Michael Palleschi said of using permeable paving in future driveway expansions. “Anyone who wants to widen their driveway, it needs to be permeable…it’s a problem, water going into our sewer system.”

Brampton’s current and proposed expansion of the city’s Mature Neighbourhood Area. (Photo: City of Brampton)

The city’s existing mature neighbourhood zone captures much of Brampton’s residential areas built prior to 1980 south of Bovaird Road and east of Chinguacousy Road. But the city could expand the area to include a section of the city north of Bovaird between McLaughlin Road and Highway 410, which includes homes built in the ’80s that are nearing what the city considers “mature.”

The changes would reduce the maximum allowable size of driveways in the expanded area, “ensuring driveway sizes fit with the community character and that environmental impacts and runoff is minimized,” city staff said of the recommendations at a Planning and Development Committee meeting earlier this month.

A report on the changes was received by council and the city will hold a public town hall meeting in December to gather input and feedback from the community.

For more information on driveway regulations or to report improper driveway widening in Brampton visit www.311Brampton.ca.