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Driveway Inspection Checklist: Surface Drainage and Edges (Free Printable PDF)

Fillable driveway and walk inspection for cracks, heave, drainage, edges, and trip hazards. Print a blank copy or save a filled PDF and CSV.

Inspections Fillable form · 5 sections · 31 checks Download filled or blank PDF and CSV Cross-checked against InterNACHI SOP, ASHI SOP, IRC, and HUD NSPIRE · Last verified Sep 16, 2026

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Fill this on screen, then download a PDF or CSV. Download a blank copy to complete by hand. Answers stay in this tab only. The next visitor sees a blank form. This is a visual driveway and walk inspection of a US house: concrete, asphalt, or pavers if present, cracks, heave, drainage, edges, and trip hazards. Mark N/A on stations the house does not have.

  • 5 sections
  • 31 checks
  • Blank for each visitor

Form details

Property

This is a visual template, not a licensed home inspection report and not a municipal code inspection. Adopted residential codes vary by state and city. InterNACHI 3.2 and ASHI Exterior ask you to inspect adjacent walkways and driveways. HUD NSPIRE numbers below apply to HUD housing only.

8 fields
Property

InterNACHI 3.2 and ASHI Exterior inspect the driveway you can see. Mark material lines N/A when that surface is not present. Mixed means more than one paving type on the same drive.

InterNACHI: inspect adjacent walkways. Current ASHI: adjacent and entryway walkways, patios, and driveways. ASHI 2026 approved text (not yet the implemented SOP) would not require sidewalks next to the street. Mark walk lines N/A if there are none.

Dry, raining, or recent heavy rain. Ponding after a dry week is not the same as a wet-day puddle. Snow or ice hides cracks and trips.

Inspection station

Driveway surface

Walk the full drive. Describe cracks. Do not assign a crack-width Pass/Fail. No InterNACHI, ASHI, or IRC visual SOP states a federal crack-width limit for a house driveway. HUD NSPIRE pothole sizes are HUD housing only.

13 items
Driveway surface

Driveway walked from the street to the house or garage

InterNACHI 3.2 and ASHI Exterior: inspect adjacent driveways that are visible and accessible. Do not move vehicles, snow, or stored items. Write in Notes if a car or pile hid a panel.

Driveway walked from the street to the house or garage: OK, Defect, or N/A

Surface material identified and matches the header

Concrete, asphalt, pavers, gravel, dirt, or mixed. HUD NSPIRE private-road materials include asphalt, concrete, dirt, gravel, and paving stones. Write mixed sections in Notes.

Surface material identified and matches the header: OK, Defect, or N/A

Concrete cracks described; no vertical offset or hinging

InterNACHI: shrinkage cracks are common and often have no offset. Settlement or heave typically shows one side higher than the other. Describe location and offset. Do not invent a width Pass/Fail. Mark N/A if there is no concrete.

Concrete cracks described; no vertical offset or hinging: OK, Defect, or N/A

Concrete panels not heaved or settled relative to neighbors

InterNACHI: sub-grade movement, expansive soil, frost, and tree roots lift or drop slabs. A panel that rocks or has a lip at a joint is a defect even if the crack is hairline. Mark N/A if there is no concrete.

Concrete panels not heaved or settled relative to neighbors: OK, Defect, or N/A

Concrete not spalled, scaled, or delaminated into a trip

InterNACHI: freeze-thaw, de-icing salts, and over-finishing cause scaling and flaking on driveways. Cosmetic dusting is not the same as a loose flake or hole in the walking path. Mark N/A if there is no concrete.

Concrete not spalled, scaled, or delaminated into a trip: OK, Defect, or N/A

Control and expansion joints not holding standing water

InterNACHI: control joints are grooves meant to crack. Relief joints are by design. A joint that ponds, has failed filler at the garage plate, or is a trip lip is a defect. Mark N/A if there is no concrete.

Control and expansion joints not holding standing water: OK, Defect, or N/A

Asphalt: no holes, missing pavement, or edge breakup that affects travel

HUD NSPIRE Private Roads and Driveways (HUD housing only): a pothole greater than 4 inches deep and 144 square inches is a deficiency. That is not a federal Pass/Fail for a private house. Mark Defect if a hole or broken edge affects travel. Mark N/A if there is no asphalt.

Asphalt: no holes, missing pavement, or edge breakup that affects travel: OK, Defect, or N/A

Asphalt: no alligator or block cracking that affects travel

Alligator cracking is a fatigue pattern in the wearing course. InterNACHI and ASHI do not require a remaining-life estimate. Mark Defect if the pattern is breaking up or holding water. Mark N/A if there is no asphalt.

Asphalt: no alligator or block cracking that affects travel: OK, Defect, or N/A

Pavers not missing, rocking, or heaved; edge restraint holding

Walk the field. A rocking paver or a failed edge that lets the field spread is a defect. Joint sand washout that lets units move is a defect. Mark N/A if there are no pavers.

Pavers not missing, rocking, or heaved; edge restraint holding: OK, Defect, or N/A

Gravel or dirt: no washouts or ruts that block access

HUD NSPIRE private-road access: blocked or impassable for vehicles is a HUD-housing deficiency. For a house drive, mark Defect if ruts, washouts, or mud would stop ordinary use. Mark N/A on a fully paved drive.

Gravel or dirt: no washouts or ruts that block access: OK, Defect, or N/A

No washed-out soil or voids under pavement edges

Look at the sides after rain. InterNACHI: erosion under a slab lets it drop and crack with offset. A hollow sound at an edge is a clue. Write the location in Notes.

No washed-out soil or voids under pavement edges: OK, Defect, or N/A

Joint at the garage or house does not pond at the plate

A low apron that holds water at the garage door or foundation is a defect even if the rest of the drive drains. Mark N/A if the drive does not meet the house or garage.

Joint at the garage or house does not pond at the plate: OK, Defect, or N/A

Tree roots or adjacent soil not lifting the pavement

InterNACHI: tree roots heave walks and drives. InterNACHI and ASHI inspect vegetation where it may affect the structure. A ground-down lip is still a past heave: note it.

Tree roots or adjacent soil not lifting the pavement: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Surface drainage

Watch where water goes. Do not mark Pass or Fail from a slope percentage unless you measured it. IRC R401.3, ENERGY STAR, and EPA Indoor airPLUS use nearby but not identical numbers.

8 items
Surface drainage

Driveway within 10 feet of the house slopes away or has a drain

IRC R401.3: impervious surfaces within 10 feet of the foundation shall be sloped not less than 2 percent away from the building (about 1/4 inch per foot). ENERGY STAR and EPA Indoor airPLUS ask for at least 0.25 inch per foot to the edge, a swale or drain, or 10 feet. Those are not one Pass/Fail pair. Mark Defect if water clearly runs toward the wall. Use Notes if you measured.

Driveway within 10 feet of the house slopes away or has a drain: OK, Defect, or N/A

No standing water on the drive or against the foundation

Look after rain or at silt lines, algae, and stained pavement. ICC: water held against the foundation leads to wet basements and crawl spaces. A puddle in the middle of a long drive that still drains away from the house is different from water at the wall.

No standing water on the drive or against the foundation: OK, Defect, or N/A

Garage apron does not dump water into the garage

A reverse slope at the overhead door pushes rain and melt under the door. Mark Defect if the apron pitches in. Mark N/A if there is no garage.

Garage apron does not dump water into the garage: OK, Defect, or N/A

Walks within 10 feet of the house slope away or have a drain

Same IRC 2 percent and ENERGY STAR 0.25 inch per foot model as the driveway, for sidewalks and patios near the foundation. Mark N/A if there are no walks within 10 feet.

Walks within 10 feet of the house slope away or have a drain: OK, Defect, or N/A

Downspouts not discharging onto a low drive that runs to the wall

InterNACHI 3.1 inspects gutters and downspouts. Roof water dumped on a driveway that pitches to the garage or foundation is a defect even if the gutter is attached. Mark N/A if there are no downspouts near the drive.

Downspouts not discharging onto a low drive that runs to the wall: OK, Defect, or N/A

Trench drain or catch basin, if present, is open and not full of debris

IRC R401.3 exception: drains or swales shall ensure drainage away from the structure where a 10-foot fall is blocked. ENERGY STAR footnote 3 allows swales or drains as an alternative to slope. Mark N/A if there is no drain in the pavement.

Trench drain or catch basin, if present, is open and not full of debris: OK, Defect, or N/A

Soil along pavement edges not holding water against the slab

A soil or mulch dam at the edge of a concrete drive will pond on the pavement. InterNACHI 3.2 and ASHI Exterior: inspect grading and vegetation where they may wet the structure.

Soil along pavement edges not holding water against the slab: OK, Defect, or N/A

Drains or swales carry water away where a 10-foot fall is blocked

IRC R401.3 exception: where lot lines, walls, slopes, or other barriers prevent 6 inches of fall in 10 feet, drains or swales shall ensure drainage away from the structure. Mark N/A if a full 10-foot fall exists on the house side of the drive.

Drains or swales carry water away where a 10-foot fall is blocked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Edges, walks, and trip hazards

Walk the edges and any lot walks. HUD NSPIRE trip and sidewalk numbers are HUD housing only. They are not a federal crack-width Pass/Fail for a private house. Current ASHI includes adjacent and entryway walks. ASHI 2026 approved text would exclude sidewalks next to the street.

10 items
Edges, walks, and trip hazards

Driveway edges intact; no crumbling drop-off

Broken edges, a drop into a planting bed, or a missing shoulder can trip a pedestrian or catch a tire. Describe height in Notes. Do not invent a federal drop-height Pass/Fail.

Driveway edges intact; no crumbling drop-off: OK, Defect, or N/A

Curb, gutter, or street apron not a vehicle or trip hazard

Look at the street end. A broken curb, a heaved apron, or a missing section at the sidewalk crossing belongs here. Mark N/A if there is no curb or street apron.

Curb, gutter, or street apron not a vehicle or trip hazard: OK, Defect, or N/A

Adjacent walkways inspected

InterNACHI 3.2: inspect adjacent walkways. Current ASHI: adjacent and entryway walkways, patios, and driveways. Mark N/A if the lot has no walks.

Adjacent walkways inspected: OK, Defect, or N/A

Walk not blocked or impassable

HUD NSPIRE Sidewalk, Walkway, and Ramp (HUD housing only): a blocked or impassable walk is a deficiency. Overgrown vegetation can count. For a private house, mark Defect if the normal path is blocked. Mark N/A if there is no walk.

Walk not blocked or impassable: OK, Defect, or N/A

No unintended trip on walking surfaces along the normal path

HUD NSPIRE Trip Hazard (HUD housing only): an unintended 3/4 inch or greater vertical difference, or an unintended 2 inch or greater horizontal gap perpendicular to travel, on a walking surface. Engineer-designed gaps are excluded. That is not a federal crack-width Pass/Fail for every house driveway. Mark Defect if a lip or gap would trip someone. Use Notes if you measured.

No unintended trip on walking surfaces along the normal path: OK, Defect, or N/A

Vegetation not blocking travel or holding water at the pavement

InterNACHI 3.2 and ASHI Exterior: inspect vegetation where it may affect the structure. Roots, hedges over the walk, and mulch piled against the slab belong here.

Vegetation not blocking travel or holding water at the pavement: OK, Defect, or N/A

Street sidewalk recorded as in scope or N/A

Current ASHI includes adjacent and entryway walks and does not list street sidewalks as excluded. ASHI 2026 approved text (not yet implemented) would not require inspecting sidewalks, public or private, adjacent to the street. Public walks also vary by city. Mark N/A if it is out of scope, and say so in Notes.

Street sidewalk recorded as in scope or N/A: OK, Defect, or N/A

Utility covers flush and in place

HUD NSPIRE trip text: a missing service cover on a walking surface is a trip. A sunken or proud cover on the drive or walk is a defect. Mark N/A if there are no covers.

Utility covers flush and in place: OK, Defect, or N/A

Steps from the drive to a walk or porch, if present, are intact

InterNACHI 3.2 inspects stairs, steps, stoops, and ramps. This form is not a full stair checklist. Mark Defect for a broken tread or a trip lip at the first step. Mark N/A if there are no steps off the drive.

Steps from the drive to a walk or porch, if present, are intact: OK, Defect, or N/A

Surface not hidden by snow, ice, stored items, or vehicles

InterNACHI is not required to move personal items, ice, debris, snow, or vehicles. If you could not see a panel, mark N/A on the hidden lines and say so in Findings so a later reader does not think they were checked.

Surface not hidden by snow, ice, stored items, or vehicles: OK, Defect, or N/A

Form details

Findings and sign-off

List every Defect line here. This worksheet is not a licensed inspection report, not a municipal code inspection, and not a structural-engineer letter.

5 fields
Findings and sign-off

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References

  1. InterNACHI Home Inspection Standards of Practice, section 3.2 Exterior (adjacent walkways and driveways, vegetation, surface drainage, grading)
  2. InterNACHI, Shrinkage Cracks in Concrete (vertical displacement versus shrinkage, control joints)
  3. InterNACHI, Visual Inspection of Concrete (heave, settlement, scaling, freeze-thaw, tree roots)
  4. InterNACHI, Foundation Fundamentals: Inspecting Load Paths and Water Paths (IRC R401.3 drainage and 2 percent impervious slope)
  5. ASHI Standard of Practice (current Exterior: adjacent and entryway walkways, patios, and driveways)
  6. ASHI Standard of Practice, 2026 approved text, section 4 Exterior (walkways, patios, driveways; sidewalks adjacent to the street not required)
  7. International Residential Code, 2024 IRC R401.3 Drainage (6 inches in 10 feet; 2 percent impervious slope within 10 feet)
  8. ICC, IRC Code Basics: Storm Drainage (R401.3 grade and 2 percent slope on driveways, sidewalks, and patios)
  9. ENERGY STAR Single-Family New Homes, National Water Management System Builder Requirements, Rev. 13 (impermeable surfaces 0.25 in. per ft.)
  10. EPA Indoor airPLUS Version 2 Verification Requirements, item 1.1.1 (driveways and walks sloped 0.25 in. per ft.)
  11. DOE Building America Solution Center, Patio Slabs, Porch Slabs, Walkways, and Driveways Slope Away from House (IRC 2 percent and ENERGY STAR 0.25 in. per ft.)
  12. HUD NSPIRE Standard, Trip Hazard v3.0 (unintended 3/4 inch vertical or 2 inch horizontal gap on walking surfaces; HUD housing)
  13. HUD NSPIRE Standard, Sidewalk, Walkway, and Ramp v2.1 (blocked or impassable walk; HUD housing)
  14. HUD NSPIRE Standard, Private Roads and Driveways v2.1 (blocked access; pothole 4 inches deep and 144 square inches; HUD housing)

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These checklists are provided for general reference only. Always verify the steps against local codes, a licensed inspector or a qualified contractor before relying on them, especially for safety-critical work.