Minneapolis Concrete Driveways
Need a new driveway poured in Minneapolis, or an old one torn out and replaced?
This page is for vehicle driveways: the slab that takes car and light truck loads from the street to the garage. Patios and shed pads are on the patio and slabs page. Patterned color work is on the stamped concrete page. Call (612) 800-0342 and tell us the rough size.
Replace or repair?
A few cracks or a small scaled patch can be a repair job. See concrete repair. Full replacement makes more sense when the slab is heaved, settled in large sections, scaled across most of the surface, or too thin for how you use it.
We look at both options on the visit. Repair stays outside the cost calculator and is priced only after we see the slab.
Thickness, base and drainage
A typical residential driveway starts around 4 inches thick. Heavier loads, such as a larger truck or an RV pad, need a thicker section. That choice is part of the quote, not a fixed menu item.
Under the slab, the base has to drain and sit on non-frozen subgrade. Hennepin County is frost Zone II. Where footings apply, the minimum depth is 3 ft 6 in. Driveway flatwork still needs a base that will not heave when the ground freezes. Soft clay or wet spots get called out at the measure.
Aprons, curb cuts and City rules
The apron is the section from the sidewalk or curb to the street. In Minneapolis, that stretch sits in the right of way.
- Standard curb-cut and apron width is 8 to 16 ft.
- If the garage door is within 20 ft of the right of way, the City's recommended max is about 14 ft single, 18 ft double, or 22 ft triple.
- A sidewalk inspection permit is required before apron work.
- A City sidewalk contractor must do the right-of-way work under City rules.
- One driveway per home is the usual rule. Alley-access homes on 1 to 3 unit properties may not add a street driveway.
The cost calculator can add an optional driveway apron band when you are pricing a driveway. City permit dollars stay out of the math because fees vary by scope.
Finish, air entrainment and the first winter
Most driveways here get a broom finish for grip in wet and icy months. Colored or stamped finishes are available when you want a different look; those are priced as higher finish bands on the calculator, and stamped detail lives on the stamped concrete page.
A driveway takes tires, plows and salt spray all winter, so the mix matters. Air-entrained concrete, typically 5 to 7 percent air, leaves tiny pockets where freezing water can expand. Salt can still pit a brand new driveway, so plan on sand for traction the first winter.
What moves the price
- Square footage
- Finish (broom, colored or stamped)
- Whether the old driveway has to be torn out first (the calculator adds an estimated $2 per sq ft for that)
- Optional apron / curb-cut section
- Thickness and reinforcement for how you use the drive
- Site access and base prep
- City sidewalk or curb-cut fees (vary by scope; not in the calculator)
For a rough range, use the concrete cost calculator. The real price comes from the on-site measure.
How it works
- Call or send the form with the rough size, whether the old drive comes out, and whether an apron is involved.
- We measure, check the base and drainage, and note curb-cut or sidewalk rules that apply.
- Once you okay the scope, we form, pour, finish and leave cure guidance.
Serving Minneapolis and surrounding areas.
Call (612) 800-0342 or send the form below.