A sewer going under a driveway must have how many inches of cover?

• A. 12
• B. 24
• C. 18
• D. 36

Answer: (B)

Heavy vehicle loads over a driveway require enough soil above the sewer to resist crushing and movement of the pipe. Because driveways carry cars and trucks, the burial must be deeper than a typical buried line. The standard minimum depth for a sewer under a driveway is twenty-four inches of cover. This depth helps protect the pipe and joints from the weight of vehicles and from frost movement common in Kentucky. Shallow depths like twelve inches do not provide adequate protection, and eighteen inches is generally not enough for a driveway. Thirty-six inches would be more than necessary unless there are special conditions, but twenty-four inches is the commonly required depth.