Concrete Removal Driveway Apron Right of Way Boise: Concrete Driveway Rules
By Eric Hinderager, owner of Top Shelf Junk Removal and Demolition · Updated
Concrete removal driveway apron right of way Boise: learn which slabs ACHD controls, when you need a permit, and what moves the cost of tearing out a driveway.
Concrete removal driveway apron right of way Boise questions come down to one line: where your lot ends and the public right of way starts. The slab by your garage is yours to tear out. The apron, the curb and the public walkway across it usually aren't, and touching them means a permit plus a repour to spec.
Plenty of homeowners start a Boise, ID concrete job on their own with a rented jackhammer. They burn a Saturday, make good progress, then hit the sidewalk and stop cold.
They aren't sure they're allowed to keep going. Good instinct.
People often call it cement, but it's concrete. Cement is just one part of the mix. Either way, the rules change the closer you get to the street.
Concrete removal driveway apron right of way Boise: where is the line?
Most lots in Boise, Idaho have a strip of public right of way along the street. It reaches further onto your lot than you'd guess. In plenty of neighborhoods, your property line sits behind the sidewalk, not out at the curb.
That grass strip between the walkway and the street? Usually right of way too, even though you're the one mowing it.
In Ada County, the Ada County Highway District (ACHD) sets the rules for sidewalks, driveways, curbs and gutters. Across Ada County, that covers Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Garden City, Kuna and Star. One agency, all those cities.
In Canyon County, it depends on where you are, so check with your city or local highway district. The rules read a little differently town to town.
Here's the rough breakdown for Boise property owners:
| Section of ID concrete | Who usually controls it | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Patio, garage floor, shop pad, back steps | You | Tear it out whenever |
| ID concrete driveway between garage and sidewalk | You | Generally no right-of-way permit |
| Sidewalk crossing the approach | ACHD or city | Permit, and it has to be replaced |
| Apron, curb cut, gutter | ACHD or city | Permit, spec'd repour required |
That last row trips people up. You can't take out an approach and leave dirt sloping down to the gutter.
The agency wants it rebuilt to spec or restored to full curb. Plan on that being part of the job.
Do you need a permit to tear it out?
For ID concrete that sits on your own lot, usually not. A back patio, an old shop pad, a cracked walkway down the side yard or worn front steps: that's just demo work. Same goes for most of the drive between the garage and the walk.
Touch the sidewalk, the curb or the approach and you're on public ground. Now you need a permit from ACHD in Boise, or from your city or highway district in Canyon County.
There's a permit fee on top of what the concrete work costs, so check the current amount with the agency. The review isn't instant either, so don't plan on calling the morning of.
The permit usually goes to whoever does the work. If you're doing a slab replacement anyway, the concrete service you hire for the new pour usually pulls it. If one company sells a full driveway service, ask who handles the permit.
Heads up: Apply for the right-of-way permit before demo day. Tear out an apron early and you can end up with an open trench at the public walkway while you wait. That's a trip hazard on public ground until it's fixed.
How much does it cost to remove a concrete driveway?
The right of way moves the price less than you'd think. We quote the demo and the haul-off for driveway concrete removal. Boise, ID concrete quotes depend on what's under the surface, not where the property line falls.
On a lot of Boise concrete jobs, aprons and walks are poured thicker than the rest of the drive. They're also more likely to hold rebar. Here's what pushes the cost of ID concrete removal up or down:
- Thickness: thick ID concrete takes longer to break.
- Rebar or mesh: steel inside it slows the work way down.
- Access: a pad behind the garage or down a tight side yard means more hand work.
- Size: more square feet of ID concrete means more loads to haul.
- Mixed debris: clean ID concrete costs less to dispose of than concrete mixed with dirt or trash.
So the permit is only one piece of the cost, even on a full slab replacement. The last stretch by the street is often the toughest part of the whole job.
Removal or replacement: how these jobs get split up
Many professionals provide driveway slab removal as one of two steps. Our part is the Demolition. Boise concrete contractors doing the new pour handle the right-of-way section under their permit. Each crew knows its piece of the job.
If you're doing a full slab replacement, those steps run back to back. If you want lawn or gravel instead, you can often leave the apron and walk in place and pull everything behind them.
That can be the cheaper path. We'll tell you so, even though it means a smaller job for us.
A few things to sort out before we show up:
- Whether the sidewalk and apron stay or go
- Sprinkler lines or low-voltage wire underneath
- Where the truck can sit without cracking ID concrete you want to keep
Broken ID concrete doesn't have to go to the Ada County Landfill with the rest of the debris. Clean pieces can often go to a concrete recycler to get crushed into road base. That's one reason clean ID concrete can cost less to get rid of than mixed debris.
If trucking it off isn't the plan, some concrete slabs can stay onsite as fill or a base layer. Ask before you pay for hauling.
Our removal covers the breaking, loading, hauling and site cleanup. Once it's all removed, the dirt is clear for the next crew.
Our concrete removal crew works across Idaho's Treasure Valley, from Nampa and Meridian to Boise. Site cleanup is part of the job. We'd rather flag the right-of-way piece during the free estimate than have you find out halfway through a Saturday.
Give us a call at (208) 593-2877 and we'll come take a look. No pressure either way.
Frequently asked questions
What tool breaks up a slab?
A jackhammer handles most Boise, ID concrete. Thick or rebar-filled pieces may need a skid steer with a breaker, since hand tools slow way down on steel.
What can I replace my driveway with?
A slab replacement with a new concrete driveway is a common choice. Asphalt, pavers and gravel work too. Either way, ask ACHD or your city what the apron has to be.
How do you remove a slab patio?
A patio removal covers the same steps: break it into pieces you can lift, pry them up and haul them to a recycler. A patio is private ID concrete in most cases, so it needs no right-of-way permit.
How much does it cost to replace a driveway apron?
Related reading: Chicken Coop Removal in Boise: Dust, Wire and Old Posts and Treehouse Removal in Boise: Saving the Tree It's Built In.
No one can give a fair number without seeing it. Width, thickness, rebar and the city spec all move the price. The slab replacement itself is quoted by the concrete contractor doing the pour.
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Top Shelf serves Boise and the Treasure Valley with professional junk removal, cleanouts, and demolition services.
