Engineering Services - Right of Way

The Traffic Residential Guidelines provide information about the standards and policies that the City of Houston Traffic section requires and searches for in a plan submittal.

Traffic Residential Guidelines Key Sections

• Existing Driveway Removal
• Driveway Pavement
• Sidewalk
• Trees in the Right of Way
• Sidewalk Score
• Existing Right of Way Conditions
• Sidewalk Taper
• Driveway/Sidewalk Detail
• Water meter & manhole
• Driveway Placement on Corner Lot (Residential)
• Driveway Width and Radius
• Visibility Triangle
• Garage Set Back Line
• ADA Ramps
• Encroachment – Driveway Radius
• ADA Ramp/Walkway Culvert
• Driveway Culvert
• ADA Ramp at T-intersection
• Ditch Dimension
• Offset Distance – Storm Inlet
• Driveway Culvert Spacing
• Offset Distance – Fire Hydrant

Traffic Residential Checklist

Note: The guidelines provided below are the most common standards and policies that are mistakenly and inaccurately illustrated in a plan submittal. These are not the complete standards and policies, please refer to the PDF Checklist (above) and the City of Houston Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM) for the complete standards and policies.

Street Type

There are two main street types that are commonly found in the right of way, a Curb and Gutter Street and an Open Ditch Street. It is the duty of the applicant to determine the street type and illustrate it correctly on the site plan.

Curb and Gutter Street

A Curb and Gutter Street must be depicted on the site plan with double lines representing the curb and labeling the edge of the pavement for indication.

Open Ditch Street

The existing ditch must be shown on the site plan, label the centerline and high banks of the existing ditch. No curb is allowed in an open ditch street.

Existing Driveways

Show the location of any existing driveway, Call out on the site plan if the existing driveway will remain or will be removed. If the existing driveway is to remain it must be updated to the City of Houston

Existing Driveways

Show the location of any existing driveway, Call out on the site plan if the existing driveway will remain or will be removed. If the existing driveway is to remain it must be updated to City of Houston standards.

Sidewalks (October 1, 2020)

Please be advised that a new sidewalk ordinance went into effect October 1, 2020. Planning department will approve all sidewalk widths and locations. For more information, please visit: http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/.

** Traffic only reviews for  applicability of sidewalk construction details.**

Note: If a sidewalk was submitted prior to October 1, 20202, the review will follow the process and criteria in place at the time of the first submittal. However, the applicant can elect to follow the new ordinance. The Planning Department will approve all sidewalk widths and locations.

Driveway Width and Radius (COH IDM Chapter 15, sec 15.08-1 [a to g])

Proposed driveway needs to be of consistent width within the right of way and can taper or flare into desired width inside the property line. Driveways must remain tangential for a minimum of 20 ft. past the property line. Minimum driveway width is 12 ft and minimum driveway radius is 4 ft.

Encroachment - Driveway Radius (COH IDM Chapter 15, sec 15.08-1.g.5)

Call out the distance between the edges of the proposed driveway to the closest property line. The distance from the driveway to the nearest property line must be greater than or equal to the driveway radius.

Driveway Culvert (COH IDM Chapter 9, sec 9.05-F.3.c)

Provide driveway culvert and label its length, type (RCP/HDPE), and diameter. The minimum culvert size shall be 24 inch or equivalent (elliptical or arch pipe). Install headwall at both sides of the inlet and outlet of the culvert. Do not extend the culvert, match the culvert length to the driveway width.

Driveway Culvert Spacing (COH IDM Chapter 15, Table 15.08.02 - (5))

If the distance between the proposed driveway culvert(s) and/or neighboring culvert is less than 8 ft long, options shall be considered to address maintenance challenges and may include provision of a junction box with grate top to connect the two culverts. Attach and refer to Dwg No. 02081-06.

Driveway Placement on Corner Lots (Residential) (COH IDM Chapter 15, Table 15.08.02)

Provide the distance between the driveway and the property line near the street intersection, the minimum distance required between the driveway and property line is 20 ft.

ADA Ramps (COH IDM Chapter 17, sec 17.06-A.6)

ADA compliant Wheel chair ramps with truncated domes must be provided at all street intersections.  Provide ADA ramps showing all the conflicts with traffic signs, fire hydrants, power poles and light poles. The sidewalks and ramps must be sloped as per ADA and TAS requirements.  Provide and refer to the standard details Dwg No. 02775-02 and 02775-06.

ADA Ramps/Walkway Culvert.

Provide ADA Ramp/walkway culvert and label its length, type (RCP/HDPE), and diameter. Minimum culvert size shall be 24 inch or equivalent (elliptical or arch pipe). Install headwall at both sides of inlet and outlet of the culvert. Do not extend the culvert, match culvert length to the ramp/walkway width.

Helpful Links

ADA Ramp Standard Details

Standard Details

GeoLink HUB (GIMS replacement)

To remove and replace a sidewalk, driveway, or curb and gutter in-kind, complete the application below and upload it to ProjectDox:

• Sidewalk Driveway Permit Application (CE1023) 

Sidewalk Panel Replacement Program

Sidewalk Replacement Guide

Residential homeowners may repair and replace portions of an existing sidewalk without a permit or bond if the area of repair and replacement:

• Is within the homeowner’s own property lines
• Does not include any portion of the driveway, and
• Is reconstructed in-kind and in accordance with City standards.

The work may be completed by the homeowner or a contractor. It is the responsibility of the homeowner or contractor to contact Houston Parks & Recreation Department’s Urban Forestry if the sidewalk panel to be repaired and replaced is near existing tree roots.

This program does not apply to sidewalk panels associated with new construction, remodeling, or rebuilding of a residential property. This program excludes commercial properties.

Residential Sidewalk Panel Replacement Forms

• A notice of replacement must be filed with the Office of the City Engineer at least 2 business days prior to work.
• A notice of completion must be filed no later than 5 business days after completion. The sidewalk will not be inspected by City staff.

All Commercial properties requiring a Traffic review need an approved Access Management form. The form can be found here: 

•    Access Management Data Summary

Submit all completed forms to: @houstontx.gov for review.

The City of Houston Office of the City Engineer’s Traffic Group is tasked with the review of submitted Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) reports. Chapter 15 of the City of Houston Infrastructure Design Manual (IDM) provides guidelines and list of required items in a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA). 

Effective January 1, 2021 all new TIA submittals shall follow the required formatting, where applicable, to be considered administratively complete and to start the TIA review process. If the TIA is not administratively complete it will be returned to the applicant. A TIA review will not begin until the City has determined that the TIA is administratively complete per the attached guide and Chapter 15 of the IDM.  

TIA RELATED DOCUMENTS 

Select the links below to download.  

• TIA Scoping Meeting - Typical Meeting Agenda 
• TIA Content Guide and OCE Format Requirements Update 12_22_2020
• TIA Approval Package 

SUBMITING A TIA 

Send all TIA submittals to: [email protected] 

Submitted TIAs must follow the City’s formatting guide to be considered administratively complete and for the City’s TIA review to begin.  A TIA is not administratively complete it will be returned to the applicant. 

REQUESTING A SCOPING MEETING  

Per the City’s Infrastructure Design Manual Chapter 15, The Access Management form will determine if a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) is required. If it is determined that a TIA is required a scoping meeting request must be scheduled prior to submitting a Traffic Impact Analysis.  

Scoping meetings are held every 2 weeks. Scoping meeting requests must be sent a week before for scheduling and must be accompanied with the complete necessary documents.  

Send scoping meeting requests to: [email protected].  

Required Scoping Meeting Documents:  

• A copy of the reviewed Access Management Form 
• The civil site plan 
• The proposed scope of work including the intersection(s) to be studies 
• Proposed trips distribution 
• Trips assignments (including the driveways volumes). Provide all meeting exhibits and/or handouts 
• Current traffic studies referenced in the Access Management Form 
• Provide all meeting exhibits and/or handouts 

Information regarding CHAPTER 40 - ARTICLE XV HOUSTON CODE OF ORDINANCES

The Office of the City Engineer administers and enforces city ordinances pertaining to the construction, operation, and maintenance of pipelines in public streets within the City. The ordinance facilitates emergency response and minimizes the cost of future public works and utilities by providing a central record of all pipelines across, along, and under streets. 

• Pipeline permit procedures
• New pipeline application
• Existing pipeline application
• Pipeline questionnaire

The Office of the City Engineer is designated by the City of Houston to administer and enforce city ordinances pertaining to the construction, alteration, maintenance, and destruction of monitoring wells and soil borings within the city's right of way.

The goals of the Office of the City Engineer's Monitoring Well Program are:

• To permit the drilling, installation, and destruction of borings and wells within the city right of way.
• To educate the public regarding potential monitoring well hazards within the city right of way.
• To minimize any risks to public health with compliance in bringing deficient monitoring wells within the city right of way to proper standards.

These are accomplished by compliance with the City of Houston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 40, Article XII, Sections 40-281 through 40-310.

What is a monitoring well?

Any mechanical device or monitoring well and its associated apparatus, placed within a public street, and designed and constructed to measure or monitor the quality or movement of foreign substances, elements, chemicals, fluids, or pollutants below the surface of the ground; or any mechanical device, method, or apparatus, placed in a public street and designed and constructed to obtain a sample soil core boring from a depth of greater than one foot below the surface of the ground, for the purpose of removing soil for environmental quality testing.

Generally, monitoring wells and borings are constructed to observe conditions at defined or required locations. Monitoring well locations are usually selected on the basis of known or expected hydrologic, geologic, and water quality conditions and the location of pollutant or contaminant sources. Frequently, monitoring wells need to be located close to or within areas of pollution or contamination. Proper design and construction of monitoring wells are essential for the acquisition of reliable subsurface data and representative samples.

• Monitoring well permit application
• Monitoring well bond form
• Monitoring well frequently asked questions