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DRIVEWAYS

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 13, div. I, ch. 13.12
in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.010 Driveway defined.

13.12.010 - Driveway defined. The term "driveway," as used in this chapter, means any portion of the normal sidewalk area, including grass plot, curb, gutter and sidewalks, of the streets, roadways and alleys of the metropolitan government intended for use by vehicles as a means of ingress and egress between public right-of-way and abutting property. (Prior code § 27-1-190)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.020 Construction—Regulations.

13.12.020 - Construction—Regulations. Construction of all driveways shall be as required by current regulation, specifications and drawings of the division of engineering, department of public works, and to the lines and grades furnished by the engineering division. Any work performed prior to furnishing of lines and grades or not meeting specifications and regulations shall be removed or reworked by and at the expense of the person responsible for the work. (Prior code § 27-1-204)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.030 Review of driveway application—Duty of chief engineer.

13.12.030 - Review of driveway application—Duty of chief engineer. It shall be the duty of the department of public works to give due consideration to the convenience, safety and requisite movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the streets and alleys when reviewing a driveway application. (Ord. 93-575 § 4(u), 1993; prior code § 27-1-192)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.040 Duty of property owner.

13.12.040 - Duty of property owner. It shall be the duty of all persons owning property abutting on the streets in the metropolitan government area who make provision for vehicular access to and from streets and alleys and private properties, to give due consideration to the convenience, safety and requisite movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the streets and alleys. (Prior code § 27-1-191)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.050 Construction—Authorization required.

13.12.050 - Construction—Authorization required. Authorization for driveway construction shall be secured from the traffic and parking commission and the department of public works prior to the beginning of construction, such as the cutting of any grass plot, gutter or sidewalk, for the purpose of construction of any driveway. (Prior code § 27-1-194)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.060 Authorization—Application.

13.12.060 - Authorization—Application. A. Applications for authorization of construction, reconstruction or major repair of driveways shall be made on forms prescribed by the traffic and parking commission and the department of public works. Applications shall be signed by the property owner or lessee and contractor, if any, and shall be accompanied by a clear drawing or blueprints, in triplicate, showing the exact location and dimensions of the driveway with reference to the property to be served, and a brief explanation of proposed usage of property and shall include property lines, rights-of-way, nearest intersecting streets and alleys, distance from right-of-way lines to gasoline pumps, structures or other improvements on the property, proposed treatment of public right-of-way adjacent to the driveway, utility poles, fire hydrants, traffic-control devices, parking meters and bus stops near the proposed driveway. B. Applications for driveways shall be filed at the department of public works simultaneously with filing of application for building permits for all properties where new buildings or reconstruction of existing buildings or other improvements are contemplated. (Prior code § 27-1-195)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.070 Authorization—Expiration.

13.12.070 - Authorization—Expiration. Driveway authorizations are valid for a period of one year from date of approval. Actual construction must begin before expiration of approval. No notice of expiration will be issued, and authorizations will automatically terminate unless renewal is authorized in writing by the traffic and parking commission and the department of public works. (Prior code § 27-1-196)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.080 Applications—Appeals.

13.12.080 - Applications—Appeals. A. All appeals for driveway applications will be made to the traffic and parking commission. B. Appeals will be made only after driveway application has been denied by the department of public works. (Ord. 93-575 § 4(v), 1993; prior code § 27-1-193)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.100 Location.

13.12.100 - Location. Driveways shall be so located that vehicles entering or leaving the establishment will not interfere with the free movement of traffic or create a hazard on the highway. Where feasible, they shall be located where there are no sharp curves and steep grades and where sight distance is adequate for safe traffic operation. Driveways should not be located within intersections, rotaries and interchanges or on highways, immediately approaching them. They shall be so located that they will not interfere with the placement of signs, signals or other devices that affect traffic operation. (Prior code § 27-1-200)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.110 Dimension and location requirements.

13.12.110 - Dimension and location requirements. A. Driveways for single-family residential use, as designated in the zoning ordinances, shall be not less than twelve feet nor more than twenty-two feet in width. B. Driveways for other than single-family residential use as designated in the zoning ordinances, shall be not less than fifteen feet nor more than thirty-five feet in width. The total width of driveways shall not exceed forty per cent of the property length in which the driveways shall be located. C. The width of driveways shall be measured parallel to the street at the property line. The minimum permissible distance between driveways shall be twenty-five feet. D. Driveways on corner lots shall be constructed at least fifteen feet from the intersection of the property lines, or the property lines extended, at the block corner. E. Driveways shall not encroach on any part of the curb return at street corners. F. Driveways shall not be located nearer than four feet to the side property line, at the curbline. G. A buffer strip, not less than four feet in width, shall be provided on private property parallel to and adjoining the public right-of-way to prevent encroachment upon such right-of-way by parked vehicles. Such buffer strip shall extend along the property frontage for the full extent of the property area to be utilized for parking. Such buffer strip shall include a physical barrier not less than eight inches or more than thirty-six inches in height located adjacent to the parking area. H. Private sidewalks along the face of the buildings are desirable and will require additional setback of a distance equivalent to the width of sidewalk. I. Driveways shall be constructed to clear utility poles, light standards, drainage structures, signs, traffic-control device, fire hydrants and other similar installations, or such facilities shall be relocated at the expense of the property owner or lessee in conjunction with the owners or operating authorities of the facilities affected. (Prior code § 27-1-198)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.120 Sight distance requirements.

13.12.120 - Sight distance requirements. A. Where feasible within the frontage limits, any driveway shall be located so as to afford maximum sight distance along the highway. B. Where a driveway is provided to a commercial establishment, the buffer area and adjacent border area shall be reasonably cleared so that either the establishment itself or an appropriate sign located outside the right-of-way can be seen at a sufficient distance to enable proper maneuvers on the part of the drivers desiring to enter the establishment. C. The profile of the driveway and the grading of the buffer area shall be such that a driver of a vehicle that is standing on the driveway may see a sufficient distance in both directions to enable him to enter the highway without creating a traffic hazard. (Prior code § 27-1-199)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.130 Connection with through lane—Curve radius.

13.12.130 - Connection with through lane—Curve radius. Where space permits, the radius of curve connecting the edge of through traffic lane and edge of driveway shall be the maximum radius to permit turns by the largest vehicle to be expected with some frequency and not to exceed twenty feet maximum radius of curvature. For narrow border conditions, the combination driveway width and edge radius of smaller dimension should be adequate to this end. The radii for driveways on streets on which there are outer parallel parking lanes shall be based on turns from the edge of through lane. (Prior code § 27-1-201)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.140 Parking lot size—Requirements.

13.12.140 - Parking lot size—Requirements. [image omitted; see the official code] D = Depth of parking area W = Width of parking area R = Width of driveway B = Four-foot wide buffer zone P/L = Property line A. For head-in parking, the minimum depth (D) shall be forty-five feet and the minimum width (W) shall be fifty feet. B. For parking stalls arranged parallel to the street right-of-way: 1. If W is forty feet to forty-eight feet, then D must be the number of car spaces multiplied by nine feet, plus ten feet. 2. If W is forty-eight feet to sixty-seven feet, then D must be the number of car space times nine feet. 3. If W is sixty-seven feet to one hundred fifteen feet, then D must be the number of car spaces multiplied by four and one-half feet. 4. If W is one hundred fifteen feet to one hundred thirty-four feet, then D must be the number of car spaces times three feet. 5. If W is one hundred thirty-four feet to one hundred seventy-three feet, then D must be the number of car spaces multiplied by two and one-quarter feet. C. For head-in parking at a sixty degree angle to the building line, the minimum width (W) shall be seventy-five feet and the minimum depth (D) shall be forty feet. (Prior code § 27-1-202)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.150 Lot requirements for off-street loading docks.

13.12.150 - Lot requirements for off-street loading docks. A. Maneuvering area shall be provided entirely on private property for all vehicles using loading docks or doors. B. The loading dock or door shall be set back far enough from the right-of-way so that no portion of the right-of-way is occupied by trucks or other vehicles while loading or unloading. C. The minimum setback for a loading dock or door shall be forty-five feet from the right-of-way. Where tractor-trailer units will be using the facility, the minimum setback shall be sixty-five feet. D. For any proposed parking pattern which provides for parking headed into the side property lines at any angle other than ninety degrees, driveways will be approved, subject to all other conditions of this chapter, only if proper one-way operation of the parking area is provided. (Prior code § 27-1-203)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.160 Deviations.

13.12.160 - Deviations. The traffic and parking commission and the department of public works may grant permission for deviations from the requirements specified in this chapter, provided one or more of the following conditions exists: A. Unusual physical conditions requiring special construction; B. Impossibility of improvement of the property with normal driveway location, where granting deviation requested will not be contrary to public safety, convenience and welfare; C. Where granting of the deviation requested will not adversely affect present or future rights or development of adjacent property. (Prior code § 27-1-205)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.170 Abandoned driveways.

13.12.170 - Abandoned driveways. Any driveway abandoned for vehicular use due to changes in property development or use shall be removed and the site reformed to conformity with adjacent existing conditions. (Prior code § 27-1-206)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.180 Nonconforming driveways—Notice to remove—Failure to comply.

13.12.180 - Nonconforming driveways—Notice to remove—Failure to comply. A. Any person violating any of the provisions contained in this chapter shall be notified that the offending driveway construction, reconstruction or repairs shall be removed. Notification shall be made by the traffic and parking commission in writing to the property owner or lessee and contractor, if any, to the effect that the offending work must be removed within ten days from the date of notification, and the driveway replaced to conform to the provisions contained in this chapter. B. In the event of failure to comply with notification, the metropolitan government will make the necessary driveway corrections and assess the costs against the property abutting driveway. (Prior code § 27-1-207)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.190 Sight obstruction prohibited when—Notice to remove—Failure to comply.

13.12.190 - Sight obstruction prohibited when—Notice to remove—Failure to comply. A. It is unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed or maintained, either temporarily or permanently, any sign, card, poster, pennant, banner, bush, tree, hedge or other obstruction: 1. On private property within twenty-five feet of any street intersection so as to interfere with traffic visibility at the intersection and at no time higher than thirty inches above the crown of the adjacent roadway; 2. On private property in such a manner as to interfere with traffic visibility of any driver using an authorized driveway, alley or roadway; 3. Within the right-of-way of any street within the area of the metropolitan government; B. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be notified by the traffic and parking commission that the offending sight restriction shall be removed within fifteen days after notification; C. If the sight restriction is not removed within fifteen days after notification, the traffic and parking commission shall remove said sight restriction, either with metro forces or by normal metro contract procedures, and the expense incurred by metropolitan government in removing the restrictions shall be a debt owed to metropolitan government by the owner of the property in violation and shall be recoverable in an action brought by the metropolitan government. (Ord. 92-398 § 1, 1992; prior code § 27-1-208)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 13.12.200 Driveway aprons required.

13.12.200 - Driveway aprons required. All driveways constructed or modified to the point of requiring a new driveway authorization application after July 1, 2020 shall have an apron to be paved with a hard surface from the edge of street pavement or the back edge of the sidewalk, if present, to the edge of the right-of-way or ten feet, whichever is greater. If the distance from the edge of street pavement or back edge of the sidewalk, if present, to the edge of the right-of-way exceeds ten feet, the chief engineer shall have the authority to permit an alternate design. The design and construction of this required apron shall not impede any drainage way. (Ord. BL2020-188 § 1, 2020)
Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT13STSIPUPL_DIVIGERE_CH13.12DRFetched: 10/28/2026

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