Port St. Lucie was platted by General Development Corporation without curbs or storm sewers; the roadside swales are the stormwater system, and the city protects them. Any driveway that crosses a swale — a new driveway, a second driveway for the boat, a circular drive, or a widened apron — needs a right-of-way permit from Public Works, a culvert pipe sized by the city for that swale's flow, mitered end sections, and an apron poured to the city's standard detail. Get it wrong and the city makes you dig it out; skip the culvert and the swale floods your neighbor in the first summer storm.
We handle the permit application and the inspection, set the pipe at the invert the city specifies, backfill and compact it, pour the mitered ends and the apron with the reinforcement and the thickened edge the detail calls for, and tie the apron into the driveway with a proper joint. On Fort Pierce, unincorporated St. Lucie County and Martin County lots the process is similar with each jurisdiction's own detail; we know all three.
What's included
ROW permit
Application, drawing and inspection scheduling with City of Port St. Lucie Public Works — or the county or Martin County equivalent.
Culvert pipe
HDPE or RCP at the diameter and invert the city sets for your swale; bedded, backfilled and compacted.
Mitered ends
Poured concrete mitered end sections on both ends so the swale keeps its flow and mows cleanly.
Apron
Six-inch reinforced apron with thickened edges to the city detail, joined to the driveway.
Swale regrading
Swale re-shaped to the city's grade on either side so water still drains along the street.
Second drives & circulars
Boat and RV drives, circular drives and widenings that need a second crossing or a longer pipe.
Culvert and apron cost in Port St. Lucie, FL
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Culvert pipe, 18-in HDPE, installed (20 ft) | $2,200 – $3,800 | Includes bedding and backfill |
| Mitered end sections (pair) | $900 – $1,600 | Poured in place |
| Concrete apron across the swale | $1,400 – $2,800 | 6-inch reinforced, city detail |
| ROW permit & inspection handling | $250 – $450 | Plus city fee |
| Complete culvert + apron, typical | $4,500 – $8,000 | Most single drives |
| Swale regrading | $400 – $1,200 | Per side |
These are 2026 Treasure Coast ranges so you can budget. Your written price is itemized — tear-out, base, steel, concrete, finish, permits, culvert if any — and good for 30 days.
Recent work
Questions we get about culverts & aprons
Do I need a culvert for my driveway in Port St. Lucie?
If the driveway crosses a roadside swale, yes — the city requires a culvert sized to the swale and a right-of-way permit. Some older GDC lots have a filled-in swale with no pipe; the city will usually require one when you replace the driveway.
What size culvert does the city require?
It depends on the swale. Public Works specifies the diameter and the invert when they review the ROW application; 15- and 18-inch are the most common. We don't guess — we submit and install what they specify.
Can I put a second driveway in for my boat?
Usually yes with a ROW permit and its own culvert crossing; the city limits the total driveway width along the frontage. We'll check your lot's frontage against the rule before you spend anything.
How long does the permit take?
Typically one to three weeks for City of Port St. Lucie ROW permits. The inspection happens after the pipe is set and before the apron is poured.
My culvert is crushed and the swale floods. Is that my problem?
The culvert under your driveway is the property owner's responsibility in Port St. Lucie. Replacing a crushed or undersized pipe is a one-day job with a permit; we do a lot of them.