Driveway crossovers

This guide will help you find out what permits you need to build, repair or remove a vehicle crossing (driveway crossover). A vehicle crossing is the section of driveway between the road and a property.

You always need a Vehicle Crossing Permit for works to a crossover. You may also need a Planning Permit and other permits, depending on your situation.

This is a complex process that is normally carried out by a building contractor.

How to use this guide

To help you work out which permits you need, start at Step 1 and answer the questions one at a time.

If you need help at any step, email [email protected] or call (03) 9278 4888 and ask for our:

Urban Planning team for help with planning or Planning Permits.
Building Services team for help with building or Building Permits.

Step 1 – Check for any restrictions

Check for easements

An easement is an area of land on your property that councils and other authorities are allowed to access. When an easement is obstructed, it can prevent important maintenance work and block the flow of stormwater.

Check your Certificate of Title for any easements. If you don’t have this document, get a copy from the Landata website for a small fee.

If there are any easements on your property and your plans will block or cover the easement, you may need to submit an application to build over an easement.

Check for special restrictions

Some properties have special restrictions under the Boroondara Planning Scheme.

To check if your property is listed, visit the Department of Transport and Planning website’s Schedule to Clause 51.01 Specific Sites and Exclusions.

If your property is listed, contact our Urban Planning team to find out what special restrictions and exemptions apply.

Does your property have any restrictions?

If yes, check that your plans comply with any requirements, then go to the next step.
If no, go to the next step.

Step 2 – Check if you need a Planning Permit

Check if your property is on a declared road

Search for your property address on the Map of declared roads on the VicRoads website.

If your property is on a declared road, you need to apply for both:

a Memorandum of Authorisation (MOA) through VicRoads
a Planning Permit with Council.

Check for overlays

Create a Planning Property Report on the VicPlan website by entering your property’s address.

This will give you any overlays (restrictions).

You need a Planning Permit if your property has any of these overlays:

Heritage Overlay
Environmental Significance Overlay
Public Acquisition Overlay
Design and Development Overlay, except for Design and Development Overlay Schedule 4
Significant Landscape Overlay
Land Subject to Inundation Overlay
Vegetation Protection Overlay
Special Building Overlay and your works impact floodplain management. To check if your works impact floodplain management, do one of the following:
- Contact Melbourne Water and ask if the works will obstruct the flow path of flood water. Request a response in writing.
- Refer to your plans to see whether the works will make the ground higher or lower, for example excavating the property or depositing filling soil. If you are not sure, get advice from a Land Surveyor.

If your property is on the Victorian Heritage Register, you may also need approval from Heritage Victoria. Contact Heritage Victoria for advice on how to apply for approval.

Do you need a Planning Permit?

If yes, apply for a Planning Permit then go to the next step. Your project is eligible for a VicSmart Planning Permit if your property is in either of the following overlays:
- Heritage Overlay
- Special Building Overlay (in certain situations).
If no, go to the next step.

Step 3 – Apply for a Vehicle Crossing Permit

Step 4 – Check if you need any other permits

Depending on your situation, you may need other permits.

If you need to:

remove, prune or do works within 2 m of a canopy or significant tree, apply for a Tree Works Permit
store equipment on a road, footpath or nature strip, apply for a Road or Footpath Occupancy Permit.

If your works could impact public assets, such as a road, footpath or nature strip, apply for an Asset Protection Permit.

You can start construction:

after all your permits have been issued
if you do not need permits.