Example concrete flatwork plan, start to finish

Scaled diagram

Cut list

• Forms – long sides ×22×6 × 40'
• Forms – ends ×22×6 × 12'
• Control joints ×411' panels
• Rebar – long runs ×9#4 × 40'
• Rebar – short runs ×28#4 × 12'

Permit checkpoints

• Call 811 before you excavate

  You're removing 11" of material across 480 sq ft. Free, required by law, and takes a few days — schedule it before the concrete order.

• Right-of-way / curb-cut permit

  Any driveway or apron that touches the public sidewalk, curb or street needs a separate right-of-way permit from the city or state DOT, and the apron usually has to be built to their published detail — often 6" thick with specified rebar.

• Impervious-surface limits

  Most municipalities cap the percentage of a lot that can be paved, and stormwater rules may require the runoff to stay on your property. Widening a driveway is the most commonly-cited unpermitted improvement.

• Building permit likely required

  Flatwork over 200 sq ft (yours is 480 sq ft) usually needs a permit, especially where it changes drainage or supports vehicles.

• Pitch away from the house at 1/8" per foot

  Over 12ft of width that's a 1.5" fall. Water toward a foundation is the most expensive mistake on this list.

• Cut control joints on time

  Joints go in within 6-12 hours of the pour (or tooled during finishing), at a depth of one quarter of the slab thickness. Late joints crack where they want to, not where you planned.

Rules vary by city and county — always confirm with your local building department. Estimates only, not a permit determination.