A durable Sacramento-area driveway starts with a compacted subgrade and aggregate base, is commonly poured about four inches thick (thicker for RVs and trucks), has control joints at planned spacing, and is cured carefully in the dry summer heat. The apron in the public right-of-way generally needs an encroachment permit from your city or the county.
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Driveways around Sacramento take a different kind of beating than driveways in snow country. There's little plowing or road salt on the valley floor, but there are long stretches of hot, dry weather, heavy clay that shrinks and swells with the seasons, street trees with big roots, and sprinklers that soak the edges all summer. A driveway built for those conditions can last for decades. One poured thin over a poorly prepared base can crack and settle within a few years.
What goes into a durable driveway
- Tear-out and excavation. Old concrete or asphalt is broken out and hauled off, and the soil is dug down to make room for a base.
- Subgrade preparation. Soft or wet spots are removed and the soil is compacted. On valley clay this step matters more than almost anything else.
- Aggregate base. A compacted layer of crushed rock gives the slab uniform support. Where hardpan sits close to the surface, ask how water that gets under the slab will drain away.
- Forms and slope. The driveway should shed water toward the street and away from the garage and house.
- Reinforcement. Rebar, welded wire or fiber mixes help hold cracks tight. They don't prevent cracking.
- Placing, finishing and joints. Control joints are tooled or saw-cut at planned spacing so shrinkage cracks form in straight lines.
- Curing. The slab is kept moist or sealed with a curing compound in its first days, which is critical in Sacramento's dry summer air.
Thickness, RV pads and widening
Residential driveways are commonly poured about four inches thick, with five inches or more often recommended where trucks, trailers or RVs park. Side-yard RV pads and driveway widening are common Sacramento-area requests. Before you add width, check your city's driveway and setback rules and your HOA, since many limit how much of a front yard can be paved and where a widened section can meet the street.
Pouring in valley heat
Hot, dry, breezy afternoons make concrete set faster and dry at the surface too quickly, which can cause plastic shrinkage cracks and a weak, dusty top layer. Experienced crews often start at first light in summer, dampen the base, use evaporation control where needed and begin curing promptly. The American Concrete Institute publishes hot-weather concreting guidance that many contractors follow.
The apron, the sidewalk and the encroachment permit
The section of driveway between the sidewalk or curb and the street, often called the approach or apron, sits in the public right-of-way. In California that work generally needs an encroachment permit from whoever owns the street: the City of Sacramento for city streets, Sacramento County for unincorporated areas like Carmichael or Arden-Arcade, or cities such as Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom and Davis for their own streets. Fees, deposits and standards vary, so ask the contractor who pulls the permit and whether it's in the price.
Licensing
California requires a Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license for jobs of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and for smaller jobs that need a permit or use workers. Concrete contractors typically hold the C-8 Concrete classification, and general building contractors may also do this work. Look up any license on the CSLB website before you sign.
Questions to ask
- How thick will the slab be, and what base and reinforcement are included?
- Where will the control joints go, and how will you cure it in hot weather?
- Who handles the encroachment permit, tear-out and disposal?
- What is your CSLB license number, and can you provide a certificate of insurance?
Thinking about cost? Read what drives driveway cost in the Sacramento area, then request a driveway contractor with photos of the existing driveway.
See how it works
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to replace my driveway in Sacramento?
The approach or apron in the public right-of-way generally needs an encroachment permit from whoever owns the street: the City of Sacramento, Sacramento County for unincorporated areas, or your city. Some cities also review the full driveway, and HOAs often have their own approval. Check before work starts.
How long before I can drive on a new concrete driveway?
Foot traffic is often fine after a day or so, but contractors commonly advise keeping cars off for about a week and heavier vehicles longer. Follow your contractor's guidance, since mix and weather affect timing.
Does a driveway contractor need a California license?
Yes, for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or any job that needs a permit. Concrete contractors usually hold the CSLB C-8 Concrete classification. Look up the license number on the CSLB website before signing.
Sources and further reading
- Contractors State License Board (CSLB): C-8 Concrete classification
- CSLB: minor work exemption rises to $1,000 (AB 2622), effective January 1, 2025
- City of Sacramento: Sidewalk Maintenance Program Handbook
- City of Sacramento Public Works: Engineering Services Permits
- Sacramento County Department of Transportation: Encroachment Permits
- City of Elk Grove: Encroachment Permits
- City of Roseville: Engineering Permits
- City of Davis: Encroachment Permits
- UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County: Soil (clay and hardpan resources)
- USDA NRCS Official Soil Series: San Joaquin (clay over duripan)
- California Department of Water Resources: Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
- USA North 811: call before you dig in Northern California
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)