In Michigan, a new or changed driveway connection is permitted by whoever owns the road: the county road commission for county roads and MDOT for state highways. That agency also sets the culvert size and placement in the road ditch, and your township may have its own rules, so call them before the work is scheduled.
Why the road owner is the one to call
The ditch and the strip of land along the road are usually part of the road right-of-way, even though they look like the front of your yard. Anything built there, including the driveway approach and the culvert pipe under it, affects the road, its drainage and the safety of traffic pulling in and out. That is why the agency responsible for the road controls what gets built in it.
Michigan's county road association explains that anyone who wants to work in a county road right-of-way must obtain a permit from the county road agency. The same idea applies on state highways, where MDOT is the owner. The first step for a new drive, a second drive or a widened approach is to find out who owns your road.
County roads: the county road commission
Most rural and township roads in this area are county roads. In St. Clair County, the county's own guidance says a culvert permit for a road ditch comes from the St. Clair County Road Commission, at its office on Airport Drive in St. Clair Township. In Lapeer County, the Lapeer County Road Commission posts its permit applications and fee schedules on its website. In Macomb County, roads are handled by the Macomb County Department of Roads.
Contact the road agency for your county before work is scheduled and ask what they require for a residential driveway approach. They will tell you whether a permit is required, what the application needs, and whether they inspect the work. Requirements change, so confirm with them directly rather than relying on what a neighbor did years ago.
State highways: MDOT
If your property fronts a state trunkline, the routes signed with I, M or US numbers such as I-69 or M-19, the road belongs to MDOT. MDOT states that if you are accessing a state trunkline highway you need a driveway permit from the department.
MDOT construction permit applications are submitted through its online MDOT Permit Gateway. The application calls for a drawing or plan of the proposed driveway showing its location, dimensions and surface type, and MDOT says drainage design has to be worked out before the permit is issued. For help with an application, MDOT directs people to the Transportation Service Center for the county where the permit will be used. Start early, since a state highway approach has more to sort out than a quiet county road.
Culvert sizing is set by the road agency
The culvert under a driveway approach carries the road ditch past your drive. If it is too small, set too high or too low, or crushed, water backs up in the ditch, floods the road edge or washes out your approach. Because that water is the road's drainage, the road agency decides what pipe goes in: its size, length, material and how deep it sits.
That is not something to guess or pick from what is on sale at the yard. Ask the county road commission or MDOT what they require for your location, get it in writing with the permit, and have the pipe installed to match. On a full driveway installation and repair job, the culvert and approach are built to that requirement as part of the drive, and the rest of the drive is shaped so its water reaches the ditch instead of the road.
Drains, creeks and township rules
Not every crossing is a road ditch. St. Clair County's guidance separates three cases: a road ditch goes to the road commission, a county drain away from the road goes to the St. Clair County Drain Commissioner's office, and a natural watercourse or stream goes to the state through EGLE. If your drive crosses a drain or a creek on its way to the house, those offices need to be part of the conversation.
Your township may also have requirements of its own, such as zoning rules about where a drive or a second access can go, address posting, or a land use or building permit tied to a new home. Call the township office too. Between the road agency, the drain office and the township, you will know everything the job has to meet before anyone starts digging.
What to do before the driveway is built
Start with the road. Look up whether it is a county road or a state highway, then call that agency about the approach and the culvert. Ask the township about any local rules. If the property is new construction, your builder may already be handling some of this, so ask them what is covered.
Before any digging, a MISS DIG 811 ticket is required so buried utilities are marked; our MISS DIG guide explains that step. Then schedule the work. Elite Excavating gives free estimates, and George walks the job first, including the road edge and the ditch, so the estimate reflects what the road agency wants at the approach. The gravel driveway cost guide covers what else moves the price. Call (989) 702-2426.
The Short Version
- The agency that owns the road controls the driveway approach and the culvert in its ditch.
- County roads: the county road commission. State highways with I, M or US numbers: MDOT.
- The road agency sets culvert size and placement, so ask before buying pipe.
- Drains and creeks involve the drain commissioner or EGLE; check township rules too.
- Confirm requirements directly with each office before the job is scheduled.
Quick Answers
Who do I call about a culvert under my driveway in St. Clair County?
For a road ditch, the St. Clair County Road Commission. For a county drain away from the road, the county Drain Commissioner. For a natural stream, EGLE. Confirm requirements with them directly.
Does MDOT handle driveways on M-19 and other state highways?
Yes. MDOT states that accessing a state trunkline highway requires a driveway permit from the department, applied for through the MDOT Permit Gateway.
Who decides what size culvert goes under my driveway approach?
The road agency that owns the road. Ask the county road commission or MDOT what they require for your site before the pipe is bought.
Does my township have a say in where my driveway goes?
It can. Townships may have zoning or land use rules about drive location and access, so call your township office along with the road agency.
See the driveways service or call (989) 702-2426.