Vehicle Crossing Site Plan in Wellington: Kerb, Footpath and Council Approval

Creating or altering a driveway in Wellington can affect more than the private property. Where the driveway connects to the street, the work may involve the public footpath, kerb, channel, road reserve, drainage and underground infrastructure.

Wellington City Council requires vehicle-access approval when a new driveway or vehicle crossing is proposed or when work affects an existing driveway or kerb. A clear site plan helps Council assess the crossing location, property boundaries, parking, driveway gradients and nearby public assets.

Need a Wellington Vehicle Crossing Site Plan?

NZ Site Plan prepares clear drawings showing proposed vehicle crossings, property boundaries, private driveways, kerbs, footpaths, parking, drainage and relevant street features.

Order Your Vehicle Crossing Site Plan

Vehicle crossing site plan in Wellington showing the proposed crossing, property boundaries, private driveway, kerb, public footpath, gradients, drainage, street tree and utilities — Example Wellington vehicle-crossing site plan showing the kerb, footpath, road boundary, driveway transition and public infrastructure relevant to Council approval.

Do You Need Council Approval?

Yes. Wellington City Council states that vehicle-access approval is required when creating a new driveway or carrying out work that affects an existing driveway or kerb.^[1]

Approval should be investigated when you propose to:

construct a new vehicle crossing;
relocate an existing driveway entrance;
widen or narrow a crossing;
lower or reconstruct the kerb;
alter the public footpath;
change the driveway gradient at the road boundary;
remove an unused crossing;
create parking accessed from the street; or
carry out excavation inside the road reserve.

Important: Do not alter the kerb, channel, footpath or road reserve before receiving the required Council approvals.

What Is a Vehicle Crossing?

The vehicle crossing is the connection between the private driveway and the public road. It can extend across the legal road boundary, road reserve, footpath, berm, kerb and channel.

Area	Description
Private driveway	The vehicle-access area inside the legal property boundaries.
Vehicle crossing	The connection between the road carriageway and the property boundary.
Road reserve	Public land that may include the road, footpath, berm, kerb, drainage and utilities.

Vehicle-access approval relates to the public connection. Building consent, resource consent, earthworks approval and drainage requirements are separate matters.

Vehicle-Access Approval vs Other Consents

Approval	Possible purpose
Vehicle-access approval	Approval to create or alter the driveway connection, crossing or kerb.
Resource consent	Required when the proposal does not meet applicable District Plan standards.
Building consent	May apply to associated retaining walls, structures, drainage or other building work.
Corridor Access Request	Controls construction activity and access within the legal road corridor.
Traffic Management Plan	Explains how pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles will be managed during construction.

Wellington City Council advises applicants to obtain vehicle-access approval first when adding or altering a driveway or kerb.^[2]

What Should the Application Include?

Wellington City Council’s driveway and kerb guidance says the application should include a site plan showing the complete property boundaries and the location of the proposed vehicle crossing.^[1]

Depending on the property and proposal, the application package may include:

a completed vehicle-access application;
a location plan;
a scaled site plan;
property-boundary information;
the proposed crossing dimensions;
existing and proposed driveway layouts;
photographs of the road frontage;
levels and gradients;
parking and manoeuvring information;
stormwater details;
earthworks or retaining-wall information;
supporting Council consent documents; and
contractor information when required.

What Should a Wellington Vehicle Crossing Site Plan Show?

1. Property information

property address;
lot and deposited plan details when available;
complete legal property boundaries;
boundary dimensions where available;
street name and frontage;
north arrow;
drawing scale and scale bar; and
drawing title and date.

2. Buildings and private access

existing dwelling;
garage or carport;
existing driveway;
proposed driveway;
parking spaces;
turning and manoeuvring areas;
fences and gates;
retaining walls; and
other structures near the access.

3. Proposed vehicle crossing

crossing location;
crossing width and length;
distance to the nearest property boundary;
connection to the private driveway;
existing and proposed kerb treatment;
footpath crossing;
road-reserve area;
driveway gradient and level transitions; and
clear labels distinguishing existing and proposed work.

4. Street and road-reserve features

road carriageway;
kerb and channel;
public footpath;
berm or landscaped road reserve;
road boundary;
street trees;
power and streetlight poles;
traffic signs;
utility cabinets and covers;
stormwater grates and sumps; and
nearby vehicle crossings.

5. Levels and drainage

road level;
kerb and channel level;
footpath level;
private driveway level;
garage or parking level;
driveway gradients;
crossfalls;
surface-water flow arrows;
channel drains and sumps; and
stormwater connection or discharge point.

Complete Property Boundaries Are Important

Council requests the complete property boundaries because the crossing must be assessed as part of the entire site—not only as a short section of lowered kerb.

Boundary information helps show:

whether the crossing is positioned within the correct frontage;
the distance to adjoining properties;
the relationship with the garage and parking;
whether the driveway is shared;
whether easements affect the proposed access; and
whether vehicles can enter and manoeuvre onsite.

LINZ is the authoritative source for New Zealand land-title and cadastral survey records.^[3]

Do not automatically treat an existing fence or hedge as the legal boundary. Read more about when a survey may be required before preparing a site plan.

Vehicle Crossing Width

The acceptable crossing width depends on the driveway level, number of properties or parking areas served and applicable Wellington District Plan requirements.

The current vehicle-access application distinguishes different driveway levels and applies different maximum crossing lengths to them.^[4]

Do not select a crossing width from a generic example. Council may consider:

the type and scale of development;
the number of vehicle movements;
the road environment;
pedestrian and cycling safety;
distance from intersections;
existing parking;
street trees and utilities;
the driveway gradient; and
onsite parking and manoeuvring.

Kerb and Channel

The kerb and channel form part of the public road infrastructure. They help define the road edge and carry surface water toward stormwater inlets.

The crossing design may need to show:

existing kerb type;
length of kerb affected;
proposed lowered or reconstructed section;
transition between standard and crossing kerb;
channel levels;
nearby stormwater grates; and
connection with the private driveway.

Do not cut, lower or remove the kerb before approval. Road-frontage work must comply with the relevant Wellington road-construction requirements.

Public Footpath Requirements

The public footpath must remain safe and usable where it crosses the vehicle entrance. A poorly designed crossing can create an excessive crossfall, abrupt level change or slippery surface.

The design may need to address:

footpath continuity;
pedestrian accessibility;
crossfall and levels;
surface materials;
vehicle loading;
visibility between drivers and pedestrians;
temporary pedestrian access during construction; and
reinstatement after construction.

Wellington City Council states that work on or near a road must comply with the relevant roading Code of Practice and temporary traffic-management standards.^[5]

Driveway Gradients and Level Transitions

Wellington’s sloping terrain means many vehicle crossings need careful coordination between the road, kerb, footpath and private driveway.

Plans may need to show:

road and kerb levels;
footpath level and crossfall;
vehicle-crossing gradient;
private driveway gradient;
vertical transition points;
garage finished-floor level;
vehicle-clearance information; and
a driveway long section.

Abrupt transitions can cause vehicles to scrape at the kerb, footpath, top of the driveway or garage entrance.

Read the steep driveway site plan guide for more information about gradients and transitions.

Parking and Vehicle Manoeuvring

The site plan should show how the proposed crossing connects with usable onsite parking. Creating a crossing does not automatically prove that a practical parking space exists.

The reviewer may need to understand:

parking-space location and dimensions;
garage or carport access;
vehicle turning movements;
whether the vehicle can enter the property;
whether it can exit safely;
whether parked vehicles will overhang the footpath;
how gates operate; and
whether the driveway is shared.

For constrained sites, Council may request vehicle-tracking or transport information prepared by an appropriately qualified professional.

Street Trees, Poles and Utilities

A proposed crossing may conflict with infrastructure located inside the road reserve.

The site plan and photographs should identify nearby:

street trees;
power poles;
streetlights;
traffic signs;
utility cabinets;
water valves and meters;
stormwater grates;
telecommunications covers;
bus stops; and
cycling infrastructure.

Wellington City Council’s driveway guidance includes clearance requirements for power and streetlight poles near vehicle crossings.^[1]

Do not assume that Council will approve the removal or relocation of a tree, pole or utility. Relocation may involve another authority, separate approval and additional cost.

Stormwater and Drainage

A vehicle crossing and paved driveway can change how surface water moves across the property and road reserve.

The plan may need to identify:

kerb and channel drainage;
stormwater grates and sumps;
existing and proposed surface-water directions;
channel drains;
stormwater pipes;
driveway crossfall;
retaining-wall drainage;
impervious-surface area; and
approved outfall or connection.

New Zealand Building Code Clause E1 requires buildings and sitework to protect people and other property from the adverse effects of surface water. Drainage systems must dispose of water appropriately and avoid blockage and leakage.^[6]

Read the New Zealand stormwater and drainage site plan guide.

Earthworks and Retaining Walls

Vehicle access on a sloping Wellington property may require excavation, filling, batters or retaining walls.

The application may need to show:

existing and proposed ground levels;
areas of cut and fill;
earthworks volume or depth;
retaining-wall location and height;
distance from property boundaries;
vehicle surcharge loading;
slope-stability information;
retaining-wall drainage; and
erosion and sediment controls.

Earthworks may trigger resource consent, while retaining walls or related structures may require building consent and engineering. Vehicle-access approval does not replace those requirements.

Driveway Widening

Widening the private driveway does not automatically allow the public vehicle crossing to be widened by the same amount.

The site plan should distinguish:

existing private driveway;
proposed driveway widening;
existing vehicle crossing;
proposed crossing alteration;
new parking area;
additional impervious surface;
kerb and footpath work; and
drainage changes.

For more information, see the driveway widening site plan guide.

Corridor Access Requests

A Corridor Access Request may be required before carrying out work within the legal road corridor.

A CAR may apply when construction involves:

excavating or resurfacing the road reserve;
altering the public footpath;
cutting or reconstructing the kerb;
placing equipment on the road;
closing or diverting pedestrian access;
occupying parking or traffic lanes;
installing a drainage connection; or
storing construction materials on public land.

The contractor will normally coordinate the CAR and applicable road-opening or traffic-management requirements through Council’s approved system.

Traffic Management

A Traffic Management Plan may be required where the work affects normal use of the road, footpath or parking area.

The TMP may show:

worksite boundaries;
construction dates and hours;
temporary signs and barriers;
pedestrian detours;
traffic-lane management;
parking restrictions;
site access for construction vehicles; and
contractor and emergency contact information.

The site plan for the permanent crossing does not replace a Traffic Management Plan.

Do You Need a Survey?

A registered survey may be required when:

the crossing is close to a side boundary;
the frontage is narrow or irregular;
the road boundary is uncertain;
the fence does not appear to match the legal boundary;
the driveway is shared;
an easement affects the access;
verified levels are required; or
Council requests accurate boundary information.

A drafted site plan does not replace a registered survey when professionally verified boundaries or levels are required.

Site Plan vs Crossing Detail vs Long Section

Document	What it shows
Site plan	Property boundaries, crossing location, driveway, buildings, parking, road reserve and infrastructure.
Crossing construction detail	Kerb, channel, footpath, materials, pavement thickness and construction requirements.
Driveway long section	Road, kerb, footpath, gradients, level transitions and garage connection.
Registered survey	Verified property boundaries, levels and measured site conditions.
Vehicle tracking	How the design vehicle enters, turns, parks and leaves the property.
Traffic Management Plan	Temporary management of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles during construction.

Common Reasons Applications Are Delayed

The site plan does not show all property boundaries.
The proposed crossing location is unclear.
Crossing dimensions are missing.
The nearest side boundary is not identified.
The private driveway and public crossing are confused.
The kerb, channel or footpath is omitted.
Driveway gradients and transitions are unclear.
Parking or manoeuvring space is not demonstrated.
Street trees, poles or utilities are missing.
Stormwater flow is not addressed.
Earthworks or retaining walls are omitted.
The project does not meet applicable District Plan standards.
A basic aerial image is submitted instead of a scaled plan.
The site plan conflicts with the engineering or consent drawings.
Road-reserve work begins before approval.

Practical Wellington Approval Process

Review the property: Check boundaries, title information, easements and existing Council records.
Define the project: Confirm whether the private driveway, vehicle crossing, kerb or footpath will change.
Inspect the frontage: Identify trees, poles, signs, utility covers, drainage and neighbouring crossings.
Check Council rules: Determine the applicable driveway level, crossing and District Plan requirements.
Prepare the site plan: Show complete boundaries, crossing location, driveway, parking and road reserve.
Obtain supporting information: Arrange survey, levels, long sections, tracking or engineering when required.
Apply for vehicle access: Lodge the plan and supporting documents with Wellington City Council.
Confirm other consents: Determine whether building, resource, earthworks or drainage approval is also needed.
Arrange road-corridor approval: Complete the CAR and TMP processes when applicable.
Wait for approval: Do not alter the kerb, footpath or road reserve before permission is issued.
Complete inspections: Follow Council and contractor requirements during and after construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lower the kerb myself?

No work should be carried out on the public kerb, channel or footpath before Council approval. The work must comply with applicable Council construction and contractor requirements.

Do I need vehicle-access approval for an existing driveway?

Approval is required when creating a new driveway or carrying out work that affects an existing driveway or kerb.

Does the site plan need to show the complete property?

Yes. Wellington City Council asks for a site plan showing the complete property boundaries and the proposed crossing location.

Can the crossing be as wide as my front yard?

Not automatically. Crossing dimensions are controlled by the applicable District Plan and Council requirements and depend on the driveway level and site circumstances.

Do I need a long section?

A long section may be required when gradients and road-to-driveway transitions cannot be properly assessed from the top-down site plan.

Can I remove a street tree for the crossing?

Do not assume a street tree can be removed. Council must assess conflicts with public trees, poles, utilities and other road-reserve assets.

Does vehicle-access approval include resource consent?

No. Vehicle-access approval, resource consent, building consent and road-corridor approval are separate processes.

Does NZ Site Plan issue Wellington City Council approval?

No. NZ Site Plan prepares site plan drawings. Wellington City Council issues the applicable approvals.

Order a Wellington Vehicle Crossing Site Plan

A clear plan can help Council understand your proposed crossing, property boundaries, private driveway, kerb, footpath, parking, gradients, drainage and street infrastructure.