A dropped kerb (councils call it a vehicle crossing or footway crossing) is what lets you drive legally across the pavement onto your drive. Every council in the West Midlands runs its own scheme, with its own fees and its own rules on who can build it. This checker brings the main ones together for the councils we cover.
What the checker looks at
- Depth. Councils only approve a crossing if a car can park without hanging over the pavement. Most ask for around 4.8m from the house to the back of the pavement; Wolverhampton asks for 5.5m.
- Width. Around 2.4m to 2.7m is usually needed to park and get out of the car.
- The road. On an A, B or C road you need planning permission as well as the council's highways consent.
- Your home. Flats, maisonettes and listed buildings have fewer rights than houses, so expect a planning application.
- The pavement. Lamp posts, signs, bus stops, utility covers and grass verges can lead to a refusal, or a charge to move them.
- The drive behind it. The council will want a proper hard standing. If it's in the front garden and over 5m², it has to let water through or drain into your garden.
About the fees
The fees shown come from each council's website where we could confirm them, and are marked where they're still to be confirmed. They change, usually each April, so always check the council's own page before you apply. The building work itself is separate: typically £1,200–£2,500 for a standard crossing, depending on the width and what's under the pavement. See dropped kerb costs for what's included.
Doing the driveway at the same time
Most people need a new or wider driveway as well as the kerb. Doing both together means one crew, one set of machinery and a crossing that meets the drive at the right level. Your specialist can price both, and tell you which parts the council will do and which they can.
Questions
How long does a dropped kerb take to get approved?
Usually a few weeks for the council to decide, then the works are booked in. Allow six to twelve weeks from applying to a finished crossing, and longer in spring and summer when councils are busiest.
Can I drop the kerb myself or use any builder?
No. Only the council, or a contractor it accepts and who holds a permit to work on the highway, can build a vehicle crossing. Driving over a kerb that hasn't been dropped can lead to enforcement by the council.
What if my front garden isn't deep enough?
Most councils will refuse, because a parked car would block the pavement. Some consider angled parking or a shorter car, but don't count on it. Ask the council before paying for a driveway.
Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb?
Not on most residential roads. You do on an A, B or C road, for a flat or maisonette, and usually for a listed building.
Does the council check the driveway too?
Yes. It will want a hard, well-drained parking area, and the front-garden drainage rules apply to it. Our front garden paving checker covers those.
Link to this tool
Free for residents' groups, forums, schools and local news to share or link to. No sign-up, and nothing to install.
https://groundandgate.co.uk/tools/dropped-kerb-checker/