Before creating, adding or altering a vehicle entranceway (also known as a driveway or vehicle crossing), you need to seek permission from Council.
What you need to do
To create, add or alter a vehicle entranceway on a local road, you need to submit:
Note: If you are building a new house, you will need to submit this application at the same time as your building consent application.
When not to apply
Private roads or right of ways
Do not apply if the vehicle entranceway connects to a private road or right of way.
Significant property or building development projects
Do not apply if your project has multiple or significant vehicle entranceway constructions. Your entranceways will be approved by the development engineers as part of the resource consent process.
Before you apply
Check that you meet the following requirements.
Make sure your activity complies with the district plans rules. In particular, whether your proposed entranceway meets sightline and separation requirements.
See the 'Transportation' section of the District Plan.
Make sure your entranceway meets RITS (Regional Infrastructure Technical Specifications) requirements. To see the RITS requirements for your entranceway, go to the transport drawings section of the Co-Lab website.
What is RITS?
When building public infrastructure, a single document named the Regional Infrastructure Technical Specifications (RITS) is used by nine local councils to make sure the same standards are used across the Waikato region. The document is managed by Co-Lab and lists out the most common standards, acts and other key legislation that must be considered when designing and building public infrastructure.
If you want to move a water meter or tree on the road reserve, contact us.
Request a service
Or email us at info@waidc.govt.nz
Tip: Put 'water meter' or 'roadside tree' in the subject line of your email.
If you are digging deeper than 140mm, you need to locate any underground pipes or cables before you dig.
To find your worksite’s underground cables and pipes, register on the beforeUdig website and create a report. Submit your report with your Vehicle Entranceway Application.
Fees
See the 'Roading' section under the Fees and Charges guide.
How to apply
- Seek permission to access the road corridor
You must submit a corridor access request (CAR) any time you plan to work on the road corridor.
Find out more about seeking permission to access the road corridor.
- Apply online
Sign in to the Waikato District Council portal to complete the online form.
Sign in or create an account
Remember to include:
- a site plan or sketch of the proposed location (you can use your location site plan from your building consent application)
- photos to help us identify the correct location and potential obstructions
- your beforeUDig report if you are digging deeper than 140mm
- Council will check your application
If we need more information, we will contact you within 5 business days. - Pay the invoice
Once Council accepts your application for processing, we will send you an invoice. Once you have paid, we will do the onsite inspection.
What happens next
Site inspection before the works
A Road Corridor Engineer will do a pre-construction inspection. They will say if your location is suitable and identify any special conditions.
When your site is being inspected, make sure the boundary pegs are visible (where possible).
Good to know: The owner or agent does not need to be on site for the inspection.
Conditions and permissions
Before starting your works, make sure you:
- meet any conditions detailed in your approval letter
- have been issued a works access permit (WAP) from your approved CAR submission
Site inspection after the works
As part of the CAR process, a Road Corridor Engineer will inspect the site after construction.
They will perform checks to see that:
- the entranceway has been constructed to RITS standards
- the entranceway meets conditions listed in the approval letter
- there are no defects
- the site has been left in an acceptable state
If your application is declined
Council will work with you to find a solution if there are safety concerns over sightlines and driveway separation. In some situations, Council may recommend applying for Vehicle Entrance Land Use Consent (VLUC).
Maintaining vehicle entranceways
The property owner is responsible for the ongoing maintaining of a vehicle entranceway to their property.
If your entranceway has a culvert pipe under it (more common in rural properties), you are responsible for keeping the pipe clear to avoid flooding issues.
Related content
Who to contact for more help
Talk to our Corridor team. We can assist you with your application.
info@waidc.govt.nz
Tip: Put ‘vehicle entranceway’ in the subject line of your email.
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Last updated 30 June 2026, 08:26 pm