Short answer
A driveway apron is the short section of driveway between the street (or the curb and sidewalk) and your property line. It takes every turn-in at an angle, carries the gutter flow, and in most Georgia cities sits in the public right-of-way, so replacing or widening it needs a curb-cut or right-of-way permit and is often built to the city's own spec: thickness, slope and sometimes a specific flare. It is poured like the rest of a driveway (compacted base, 4 inches or more, reinforcement, control joints) but usually thicker and always with the street's drainage in mind.
| Plain concrete, installed | $5–$8 per sq ft[1] |
|---|---|
| Decorative apron (stamped, colored, exposed aggregate) | $8–$21+ per sq ft[1] |
| Minimum thickness, cars | 4 inches; 5–6 for trucks[2] |
| Tear-out of the old apron | about $1 per sq ft[1] |
What the apron has to do
- Carry turning loads. Every vehicle crosses it at an angle, which is harder on concrete than straight-line driving.
- Handle street water. It meets the gutter, so it has to keep the gutter's flow line and never dam it.
- Match two grades. The street's crown and your driveway's slope meet here, and a bad transition scrapes bumpers.
- Meet the city's spec. Thickness, flare width, sidewalk continuity and sometimes an ADA-compliant crossing where a sidewalk runs through.
How we replace one
- Check the jurisdiction's apron standard and pull the right-of-way permit.
- Saw-cut the old apron free of the driveway and the curb, and haul it out.
- Compact a gravel base and set forms to the city's flare and the gutter line.
- Reinforce, pour (often 5 to 6 inches here), finish and cut a joint at the driveway.
- Cure, then remove the barricades; cars stay off for about a week.
An apron on its own is a small job; it is often replaced together with the first few panels of the driveway, which fail for the same reasons. See concrete driveways, thedriveway extension guide and thedriveway cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Who is responsible for the driveway apron?
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Usually the homeowner, even though the apron sits in the public right-of-way. The city controls what can be built there and issues the permit; you pay for the work. Some Georgia cities replace aprons as part of a street or sidewalk project; most don't.
Do I need a permit to replace a driveway apron?
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In most Georgia cities and counties, yes: a curb-cut or right-of-way permit, sometimes with an inspection of the forms before the pour. We pull it as part of the job and build to the spec the permit requires.
Why does my apron crack before the rest of the driveway?
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It carries turning loads at an angle, it sits where gutter water runs, and it is often the thinnest, oldest part of the drive. A new apron is poured thicker, on a compacted base, with a control joint where it meets the driveway so the two can move separately.
Can the apron be a different finish from the driveway?
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Yes. A decorative apron (stamped border, exposed aggregate, a contrasting color band) is a common way to dress up a plain driveway without redoing all of it. Check what the permit allows first; some cities require plain broom finish in the right-of-way.
Can you widen the apron for easier turning?
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Often, within the city's limits on apron width and flare. Widening the apron is the usual fix when cars clip the edge turning in. It's part of our driveway extension work; see the guide on extending a driveway.
Sources
- [1]ConcreteNetwork.com, How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost? (updated January 13, 2026)
- [2]ConcreteNetwork.com, Concrete Driveway Thickness (published August 17, 2023)
Prices are national ranges published by the sources above, not quotes. Your price depends on size, access, site preparation and local labor rates in Georgia. Our free on-site estimate is the price for your site.
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