This page is general information, not legal advice. Shared driveways and lanes are governed by the deeds, plats and any written agreement for the properties, and those differ from one pair of houses to the next. For a dispute, speak to a Georgia real estate lawyer.
Who pays for a shared driveway?
Who pays for a shared driveway depends first on what is written down. Look for a recorded easement or a maintenance agreement in your deed, your closing papers or the county records. If it says how costs are split, that controls. If nothing is written, there is no simple statewide formula we can point you to, and neighbors usually agree to split by use or half and half. Put whatever you agree on in writing and have both owners sign.
How do I find out what kind of shared driveway I have?
Check where the property line runs. In some cases the line goes down the middle and each owner has a right to use the other's half. In others the driveway is entirely on one lot and the neighbor has an easement to cross it. A survey and a title search answer this. The Clerk of Superior Court in your county keeps the recorded deeds and plats.
My neighbor will not pay. Can I replace only my half?
You can usually replace concrete on your own land, but replacing only my half of a shared drive has practical and legal limits. You cannot block the neighbor's right to use the driveway, and you should not damage their side or change how water drains onto it. A clean saw cut down the line and a proper joint let the two halves move separately. The result will look mismatched. Tell the neighbor in writing before work starts and keep a copy.
Can the contractor's trucks use a shared driveway?
Ask the neighbor before trucks use a shared driveway. An easement for ordinary access does not clearly cover a loaded concrete truck, which can crack an old slab. We plan access to avoid that where we can, using the street, a pump or wheeled buggies. If the shared drive is the only route, get the neighbor's agreement in writing and take photos of its condition first.
What about the lanes behind houses in Savannah?
Many blocks in Savannah's older neighborhoods have a lane behind the houses. Find out whether your lane is a public right-of-way or private before pouring a pad or apron that touches it. If it is public, the city controls what can be built in it. If it is private or shared, the owners along it do. Lanes are narrow, so we plan how the concrete gets in without blocking the neighbors for long.
Can my neighbor stop me from widening my side?
If the widening is entirely on your land and outside any easement, the neighbor generally cannot stop it, though the permit office and your covenants still can. If the extra width would sit on the easement area or change the shared part, you need the neighbor's consent. A survey settles where the line is before the argument starts.
How do we avoid a dispute?
- Get the survey and the recorded documents before talking about money.
- Ask for one written quote that shows each owner's share.
- Agree in writing on the split, the finish and the schedule.
- Decide who signs the contract and who pays the contractor.
- Record a maintenance agreement so the next owners inherit clear rules.
Call (912) 214-3834 and we can price a shared driveway as one job with two shares, or as two separate halves.