Can you replace just the concrete driveway apron?

Yes, you can replace just the concrete driveway apron when the main driveway can remain and the new section can meet the required street, drainage and sidewalk connections. A contractor needs to assess those connections and define the removal limits. Check the road authority's requirements before agreeing to the work.

See the quote preparation checklist

Which part of the driveway is the apron?

The street-side driveway apron is the transition between the main driveway and the street. This guide covers that road connection, rather than the concrete immediately outside a garage that some contractors also call a garage apron.

Identify the section by location on a photograph or sketch. Mark the main driveway you want to retain, the apron to assess, and any crossing sidewalk or curb nearby. The word “apron” alone does not define the work limits.

Conceptual street-side driveway apron replacementThe main driveway is proposed to remain. A crossing sidewalk is shown below it, followed by the street-side apron proposed for replacement and a curb and gutter at the road. Dashed edges mark apron work limits to confirm. Sidewalk and curb inclusion require separate confirmation. Not every property has these features.Main drivewayProposed to remainCrossing sidewalk, if presentConfirm whether work is includedStreet-side apronProposed replacementConfirm these work limitsCurb / gutter, if presentConfirm connection workStreet
Conceptual top view, not to scale, a property survey or a construction specification. Dashed edges show work limits to confirm, not a property boundary. Sidewalk and curb layouts vary, and some streets have neither.

Can the rest of the driveway stay?

The rest of the driveway can stay when its condition and finished level allow a suitable connection to the replacement apron. Ask the contractor to identify the removal boundary and explain why any additional driveway or sidewalk work is needed.

Show the contractor uneven sections, broken edges and water collecting at the road connection. Those observations help define the assessment; they do not establish whether replacement, repair or leveling is the right method. If damage extends farther up the driveway, use the driveway repair-or-replace guide for the broader decision.

If you also want a wider entrance, make that a separate part of the request. The driveway widening guide covers added area and layout planning.

Who should you contact before replacing the apron?

Contact your local public works or transportation office to identify the authority responsible for the road and confirm its apron-replacement process. Ask about permits, inspections, approved details and who may perform the work.

In Arlington County, Virginia, homeowners can choose a private contractor or the county's apron-replacement service. Appropriate right-of-way permits are required when hiring a private contractor. The right-of-way is the area reserved for public road use; its boundary should not be guessed from the pavement edge.

Raleigh, North Carolina, lists a residential permit application for like-for-like driveway replacement and requires a pre-pour inspection. These local examples show why replacing an existing section should not be assumed exempt from approval. They do not establish the rules for your address.

Local sources, reviewed September 26, 2026: Arlington County residential driveway aprons and Raleigh driveway replacement requirements.

How do you get a clear apron replacement quote?

To get a clear apron replacement quote, give each contractor the same photos, proposed work limits and road-authority instructions, then ask for the included work and responsibilities in writing.

What you provide

  • Photographs: the full entrance, apron damage, adjoining driveway, sidewalk or curb, and water collecting after rain.
  • Work limits: approximate dimensions, the driveway to retain, and sidewalk or curb sections whose inclusion is still undecided.
  • Authority instructions: the office contacted and any required details, permit or inspection steps it supplied.

What the contractor specifies

  • Included work: removal limits, the new apron, adjoining pavement, ground preparation, concrete, joints, finished levels and drainage connections.
  • Responsibilities and access: who handles approvals and inspections, temporary vehicle and pedestrian access, and when the new section may be used.
  • Exclusions: any drainage changes, utility work, adjacent pavement or restoration outside the price.

Ask the contractor to identify the applicable local detail rather than borrowing a thickness from a general driveway example. See what affects driveway thickness for questions to raise.

For early budgeting, use the driveway installation and replacement cost guide. The apron quote still needs to account for removal, access, adjoining work and local requirements. Compare the complete proposal with the driveway quote checklist before choosing by total price.

Discuss the apron work with a concrete contractor

A concrete contractor can assess the defined apron work once you know the road authority's process. If private contracting is the appropriate route, describe the street connection and any sidewalk or curb work in your request. Contractor availability and project suitability need to be confirmed.

Request a driveway contractor