Please use the application form with a revision date of July 1, 2026. Earlier versions will not be accepted.
Download Application Form(, 0B)
A curb cut provides driveway access from the street and must be designed for safe traffic flow and roadway capacity.
Sidewalks offer accessible pedestrian pathways, with cross-slope requirements for drainage and safety.
Property owners must obtain a Curb Cut and Sidewalk Permit(, 0B) before constructing a driveway, even without a concrete curb. Below are the City of Lincoln's permit guidelines.
Related: Application for Curb Closure
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Obtain approval of a Curb Cut and Sidewalk Permit
(, 0B)
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Give notice to LTU prior to work starting*
402-441-7558
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Subcontract traffic control to an ATSSA/IMSA certified company
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Inspections will occur after pour. Curb section and opening not meeting specifications will require removal and reconstruction at the contractor’s cost.
*Please be ready to provide project location, timeline, contact information, traffic control subcontractor, and permit number(s) related to the project.
- LTU Development, Design and Construction
- 402-441-7558
- LTUROW@Lincoln.ne.gov
You may consult with LTU inspectors regarding preconstruction review, construction questions and inspections.
Inspections will occur after pour. Curb section and opening not meeting specifications will require removal and reconstruction at the contractor’s cost.
*Verbal/non-written discussion shall not relieve the permittee of any legal obligations under City ordinance/policy. Failure to immediately correct work not in compliance with permit work shall allow the city to revoke the driveway approach permit and prohibit the use of the driveway approach. Permittee must provide the City with an accepted plan for correction of failures within 24 hours of notice.
Related Lincoln Municipal Code (LMC): Chapter 14.75 Driveway Approaches and Curb
The following information provides the minimum requirements which will be subject to final inspection of the sidewalk and driveway approaches. Verbal/non-written discussion shall not relieve the permittee of any legal obligations under City ordinance/policy.
General Notes
Inspection request must be scheduled through the IVR system which is managed by Building and Safety.
Adjustments of any public utilities to include manholes, valve boxes, or pull boxes shall be at the cost to the builder.
Relocation of manholes, hydrants, or curb inlets shall be at the cost of the builder. This work shall be by means of Executive Orders.
The Contractor shall not permit concrete slurry or residue into gutters, inlets, or other drainage facilities. It is the responsibility of the owner or builder to ensure the street is free of all dirt, gravel, rocks, and debris.
Soil below sidewalks and driveways must be at maximum bearing capacity to support the loads of which will be applied.
No concrete debris or other foreign material within the subgrade below sidewalk and driveway approach.
Documentation of testing and material must be available from the contractor upon request. This includes:
- Concrete Supplier Receipts
- Reinforcement
- Backfill Per City Standards
- Take Photos Before, During and after Project
Property Corners and Easements
It is the responsibility of the owner or builder to validate lot lines and determine that proposed construction does not violate any easement rights of any person or entity, including the City of Lincoln, or violate any private covenant.
Construction of Sidewalks
Select a type below for more information:
Sidewalk Over Utility Trenches
Backfill must be suitable material and compacted to City specification standards.
- Unsuitable excavated material must be removed from the site that same day
- Backfill material must be covered and protected.
- Compaction methods must be by vibratory plates, mechanical rollers, and/or hand air compactors (hand tamp around valves boxes and utility crossing)
Sidewalk Construction Requirements
- Concrete must be minimum 6 inches thick
- Place two #4 x 10' tie bars, 1 foot from each edge
- Support bars on 2-inch chairs
NOTE: Tie bars to be center over the trench.
Detail Section Over Service Trench
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Sidewalk Grade and Dimensions
Dimension of Sidewalk Per Location
- Residential Roadway shall be 4' wide x 4" thick
- Sidewalk through a Residential Driveway shall be 5" thick
- Arterial Roadway shall be 5' wide x 4" thick
- Sidewalk through a Commercial Driveway shall be 6" thick
Grading and Slope Requirements
- Slope of Sidewalk: 1% minimum, 2% maximum
- Base Material: Uniformly compacted soil or subgrade
- Top of Curb up to Sidewalk: maximum 1/4 inch per foot slope toward curb.
- Irrigation Sleeve (if needed): installed 2 inches under sidewalk
Sidewalk ADA Ramps
Dimension of Sidewalk Ramps
- Sidewalk ramp widths shall be the samewidth of the abutting sidewalk.
- Ramp slope is not to exceed 3/4” per Foot fall toward roadway, unless prior approval by LTU
- No irrigation service lines permitted under ADA ramps
Ramp Construction Requirements
- Start at the curb and measure 4 feet — this part must be 8 inches thick
- After 4 feet, taper thickness to 4 inches
- Install two #5 x 18" epoxy tie bars, 1 foot from each edge. Tie bars must be drilled 9 inches into the roadway
Driveway Approach Location
- All requests are subject to review by Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) and any permit application may approve or denied.
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New Residential driveways shall not be allowed onto Freeways, Major and Minor Arterials, or Collectors without prior authorization by LTU.
Multifamily and Commercial use shall adhere to LTU Access Management Policy and Design Standards.
- Driveway(s) length shall be a minimum 20', measured from the property line to the garage.
- Sight Triangle: Shall consist of the first 25' of the property in both directions going away from the lot corner. The triangular area bounded by the property lines and a diagonal line joining points on the property lines. LMC 14.44.010
- No curb cut within 5' from a fire hydrant, stop sign, and/or 7' after a curb inlet, measuring from the nearest side of the inlet top to the start of the curb cut. see: Curb Inlet Detail(, 0B)
- Crossings at "T" intersection shall consist of 5' of full curb between closest edge of the driveway to sidewalk ramp. see: Crossing at "T" Intersection Detail(, 0B)
Select a type below for more information:
Single Driveway
- Driveway approaches on paved streets shall be surfaced with minimum 3,500 psi compressive strength concrete from the street edge to the property line. The minimum thickness of driveway approaches for single or two-family dwellings is 5" from the street edge back 20' or to the property line, whichever is less. Any remaining portion within the public right-of-way shall be a minimum of 4" thick.
- Corner lots shall have no curb cut within 25' of the lot corner (length will increase 5' from a fire hydrant, stop sign, and/or 7' after a curb inlet). see: Curb Inlet Detail(, 0B)
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Dual Driveways (Single Family Only)
- Circular Driveways shall have no pavement within the first 13' of the front yard setback between the driveways LMC 14.96.010
- No curb cut within 5' from a fire hydrant, stop sign, and/or 7' after a curb inlet, measuring from the nearest side of the inlet top to the start of the curb cut. see: Curb Inlet Detail(, 0B)
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Mid-Block Lot: Shall have minimum 70' of frontage along city ROW. LMC 14.96.010
Secondary driveway shall lead to a garage.
- Corner Lot: Shall have no curb cut within 25' of the lot corner for second driveway; no curb cut within 13' of the lot corner for circular driveway (length will increase 5 from a fire hydrant, stop sign, and/or 7' after a curb inlet). see: Curb Inlet Detail(, 0B)
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Construction of Curb Openings
Select a type below for more information:
Combined Curb and Gutter Reconstruction
- Reinforcement of concrete pavement must be drilled into Longitudinal joints along the same horizontal plane.
- Reinforcement is to be Epoxy Coated #5 bars 18" @ 4'-0" centers
- All concrete shall be L-3500 or LC-3500
- Curb and gutter must be poured independently with 1” Preformed Expansion Joint separation from the driveway apron
- Location of driveway openings must adhere to all notes on the Curb Cut Request Form
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Curb Sawing
- A diamond blade cutting saw must be used for all required curb sawing. The saw shall be capable of cutting existing or newly placed curb, leaving a smooth, accurate top face.
- The sawing must be made along the curb face in neat lines, and must start 1/2 inch above the existing gutter pan and cut at an angle of 3/4 inch per foot upwards and away from the gutter pan.
- Smooth edges and top faces must be accomplished on all sawed concrete edges by use of a diamond-grinding wheel for rounding all sawed concrete edges to a radius of 1/4 inch.
Clean Up
Slurry or residue from the saw cutting must be removed with no residue remaining upon completion of sawing operations. No residue may flow across shoulders or lanes occupied by traffic or into gutters or other drainage structures.
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Proper implementation of traffic control helps maintain a safe public right-of-way. Traffic control is required in order to occupy or expose excavations in the right-of-way.
All protective barriers must be maintained by the contractor until all work is completed or the hazard is eliminated.
All lane closures must be registered 2 business days prior to lane closure setup.
Contractors must be on site at least one hour prior to lane closure setup, unless given prior approval by Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU) Right-of-Way Services.
- Contractor must inspect work zone devices
- Initial closure setup is not allowed during peak hours of 7–8 a.m. and 3:30–6 p.m.
- Sidewalks on both sides of a street cannot be closed or restricted at the same time
For a full list of requirements, see the Lincoln Traffic Control Guidelines
Lincoln Transportation and Utilities
Subcontract traffic control to an ATSSA/IMSA certified company