Bloomington requires a driveway permit from the City Engineer before you pave, replace, or widen a driveway, and the work must meet city specs for width, materials, and curb cuts.
The City of Bloomington requires a permit for any new driveway, replacement, overlay, or change to an existing driveway. You also need a permit if you're cutting a curb or changing the grade of the sidewalk or parkway. The permit comes from the City Engineer, and all driveway work has to follow the plans and specs set by that office. Minor repairs to an existing driveway without changing the footprint may not need a permit, but if you're not sure, call the city before you start.
Applications go through the city's digital form system now. You can't fax or mail paper applications anymore. Contact the Planning and Building Safety office at 309-434-2226 if you have questions about whether your project needs a permit. The city says to allow up to five business days for processing once you submit your application and any required plans.
For residential properties, a single driveway opening can be no more than 16 feet wide at the property line, and a double driveway can be no more than 20 feet. If your lot is less than 100 feet wide, you're only allowed one driveway opening. For corner lots in residential areas, no part of your driveway can be within six feet of where your property line meets the curb of the intersecting street.
Multifamily, commercial, and industrial properties have different limits. Those driveways can be up to 35 feet wide at the property line if you're putting in one opening, or 30 feet if you're putting in two. The City Engineer has to approve the design and location before you start work, especially for corner lots or properties that need multiple driveway openings.
All driveways on public right-of-way in Bloomington must be built with either portland cement concrete or bituminous concrete, which is asphalt. That's a condition of getting your permit. You can't use gravel or other materials where the driveway crosses the sidewalk or parkway. The City Engineer supervises the location and construction, and the work has to match city specifications.
If you stop using a paved driveway for a full year, the city can require you to rebuild the curb and gutter back to how it was before you put the driveway in. The city also won't issue a permit if the proposed driveway would create a hazard for pedestrians on the sidewalk or a traffic hazard for the street.
You apply for a driveway permit through the city's online system. The application needs your name and address, the location and size of the proposed driveway, what you'll use it for, and whether you'll need to cut a curb or change the grade of the walk or parkway. There is a permit fee set by the city's fee schedule. If you start construction without a permit, the fee goes up.
For current fees and to access the digital application, visit the City of Bloomington's Development Services department page or call 309-434-2226. The city's main office is at 115 East Washington Street. Normal and other nearby towns have their own permit rules, so if you live outside Bloomington city limits, check with your local municipality. These rules can change, so it's worth confirming the current requirements with the City Engineer's office before you hire a contractor.
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