If your driveway crosses the public sidewalk, LADPW requires a separate permit — we handle it first. Subbase right, concrete second, permits from both authorities approved before any pour is scheduled.
CSLB License #1074505
Itamar Ben Asulin on every project
Valley · Westside · South Bay
A concrete driveway installation in Los Angeles involves more than scheduling a pour. Every project starts with a permit assessment — not a concrete crew.
IBA installs residential concrete driveways across LA County — new slabs, full replacements of deteriorated driveways, and coordination of the full permit process through both the LADBS residential permit process and the LA County Department of Public Works permit requirements. Before any material arrives, we confirm whether your driveway touches the public right-of-way.
If it does, the concrete apron — the section that crosses the public sidewalk and connects to the street — requires a separate LADPW permit before any work begins. We file that permit and receive approval before your installation date is scheduled. From there, the project covers subbase preparation, concrete mix selection, expansion joint placement, and your choice of decorative finish. One contractor, both permits, no concrete poured until everything is in order. For homeowners also planning exterior structural work, see garage construction services in Los Angeles.
The six workstreams managed on every driveway project — permit assessment through final documentation — under one CSLB-licensed contract.
Minimum four inches of compacted crushed rock or gravel on every project. Deeper on lots with documented clay-heavy soils or poor drainage history.
Mix specified for LA’s temperature range — seasonal swings between cool winters and hot summers affect long-term surface integrity. Selected for the project, not off a standard sheet.
Joints placed at intervals governed by slab dimensions and LA’s temperature exposure. Filled with compressible material that lets the slab move without cracking.
Broom finish, exposed aggregate, stamped pattern, or acid stain — each with different slip resistance and maintenance characteristics. Tradeoffs explained before you choose.
LADBS handles work on private property; LADPW handles the right-of-way. Both filed and approved before the pour where applicable. We identify the right authority for your address.
Copies of all filed and approved permits provided at project close. LADBS and LADPW records included where both apply — useful for future sale or refinancing.
First visit covers two things: the permit situation and the site conditions. We walk the property line to identify LADPW jurisdiction, document apron dimensions, and assess existing subbase condition and soil type.
If a permit application is required, it’s filed before the project is scheduled. We do not schedule the pour date and file the permit in parallel — approval comes back first, then we calendar.
Existing slab removed and hauled. Subbase goes in first — crushed rock compacted in lifts, tested before forms set. Control joints laid out based on slab dimensions. Expansion joints at fixed-surface connections.
Concrete placed in one continuous pour where dimensions allow. Finish technique timed to LA heat. Curing blankets or compound applied immediately. LADBS and LADPW inspections scheduled at applicable phases.
From the Sherman Oaks office on Ventura Blvd, crews dispatch via the 101, 405, and 170 to project sites across the San Fernando Valley, Central LA, the Westside, the South Bay, and the Eastside corridor. Soil conditions vary — the SFV sits on clay-heavy soils that expand when wet and contract when dry; properties closer to the coast may have sand-heavy soils with different drainage behavior. Both affect subbase specification. A slab that fails after five years on a Valley property usually failed at the subbase, not the surface. We work in both the City of LA and unincorporated county areas where LA County Public Works (not LADPW) may govern the apron permit process — we identify the correct permitting authority for your specific address before filing anything. For residential site preparation and drainage considerations, our subbase specs reflect current best practice.
I stopped quoting concrete driveway jobs without an apron permit check first. Here’s why — and this is now standard on every Los Angeles driveway IBA installs.
“A few years ago we were called out to a property in Reseda — full driveway replacement. The slab had cracked badly along multiple lines, the surface had spalled, and the apron where the driveway met the sidewalk had settled an inch below grade. The first thing I checked wasn’t the slab. It was where the property line ended and the public sidewalk began. The entire apron — about twelve linear feet — was clearly in LADPW’s jurisdiction. Replacing it without an LA Department of Public Works permit would have meant concrete that LADBS had no authority over and LADPW hadn’t approved. That ends one way: a stop-work notice, a required removal, and a homeowner who pays twice. We filed the LADPW permit before scheduling the crew. Then we poured. When we pulled the old slab, the subbase was what I expected for Reseda — no gravel base underneath at all. Four inches of compacted crushed stone went in before the new slab.”
— ITAMAR ASSULIN, OWNER, IBA BUILDERS
The concrete apron is the section of a residential driveway that crosses the public sidewalk and connects to the street’s curb cut. In LA, this portion sits in the public right-of-way — making it LADPW territory. LADBS handles work on private property; LADPW handles the right-of-way. They are separate permit authorities. Pouring a new apron without LADPW approval creates real exposure: once the concrete cures, a stop-work notice doesn’t just halt the project — it requires removal of the completed pour. The homeowner absorbs that cost.
As a CSLB-licensed contractor managing projects directly under License #1074505, IBA coordinates both permit applications on your behalf. If your project requires a curb cut modification, that approval is also routed through LADPW before the crew arrives. Our experience with permit coordination across Los Angeles County means we identify the correct authority and file correctly the first time. Before signing with anyone, review what to verify before hiring a contractor.
LADBS (LA Department of Building and Safety) governs work on private property. LADPW (LA Department of Public Works) governs the public right-of-way — the portion of your driveway that crosses the sidewalk and connects to the street’s curb cut. If your project only touches private property, you’re working with LADBS. If the apron is being replaced or modified, LADPW needs to approve it separately. In unincorporated areas of LA County, LA County Public Works may handle the apron permit instead. We identify the right authority for your address before filing anything.
Before the pour is scheduled — not in parallel. Pouring a new apron without LADPW approval creates real exposure: once the concrete cures, a stop-work notice doesn’t just halt the project, it requires removal of the completed pour. We file the permit first, wait for approval, then schedule the crew. That sequencing avoids the “pay twice” scenario.
The SFV sits on clay-heavy soils that expand when wet and contract when dry. That seasonal movement heaves improperly supported slabs. The subbase — compacted gravel under the concrete — has to be thick enough and dense enough to resist that shift. A slab that fails after five years on a Valley property usually failed at the subbase, not the surface. We pour minimum 4″ of compacted crushed stone on every project, deeper on lots with documented clay-heavy soils or poor drainage history.
Four common options: broom finish (standard residential, best traction, lowest maintenance), exposed aggregate (decorative, slightly more maintenance, good slip resistance), stamped pattern (visual character, requires occasional resealing), and acid stain (color depth, specialty finish). Each has different slip resistance and maintenance characteristics — we explain the tradeoffs at the site visit so you choose based on use case, not just appearance.
Once permits are in hand, most residential driveway replacements run 5–10 working days on site — demolition, subbase prep, formwork, pour, finish, and cure. Concrete needs to cure before vehicle traffic (typically 7 days minimum). The bigger timeline variable is permit approval: LADPW apron permits typically take 2–6 weeks depending on volume. We give you the full calendar at the site visit once permit scope is confirmed.
The first step is a permit and site assessment — no commitment required. Tell us your property address. We’ll confirm whether your driveway requires an LADPW apron permit, what your subbase situation likely involves, and what the full installation process looks like for your specific lot. Pairing the project with exterior concrete work? See our patio design and installation services. Or review our common questions about our construction process before reaching out.