Where does the bin go if my house has a mutual driveway?

What a mutual driveway is and why it matters

In many older Toronto neighbourhoods, two houses share a single driveway running between them to garages or parking at the back. Each owner typically owns part of the driveway, and each has a right of way over the other's portion. That shared right means neither owner can block the driveway without the other's consent. A demolition bin sitting there would do exactly that, for days or weeks.

Keeping the passage clear during the job

Even with the bin elsewhere, the driveway has to stay usable for your neighbour throughout the work. That means:

• No tools, materials or debris left on the shared portion
• No trucks or trailers parked across it
• Quick clearing of any spill or dropped debris

Carrying debris out along a shared driveway

When the side door or rear of the house opens onto the mutual driveway, the crew may need to carry debris along it to reach the bin. That is usually fine as long as the passage is never blocked. Loads are carried promptly rather than staged, the crew steps aside when the neighbour needs to drive through, and the surface is swept at the end of each day.

When the practical exit opens onto a mutual driveway, the carry route has to function without becoming a storage area. Debris is packaged inside the work zone and moved directly to the bin rather than stacked along the shared passage for a later trip. Carts, tools and empty containers wait on the owner's property or inside the doorway, leaving the right of way available between loads. Crew members maintain sightlines at gates, corners and the sidewalk, especially when carrying long material that can project beyond the person handling it. If the neighbour needs to enter or leave, movement pauses and the route is cleared rather than asking the neighbour to wait for a batch to finish. Surface protection is chosen so it can be lifted or adjusted without leaving loose edges that interfere with vehicle tires. Any dropped plaster, mortar or sharp fragments are collected immediately, not only at the end of the day. Daily sweeping removes fine grit that can be tracked into either property or become slippery when wet. The crew also avoids leaning panels or bags against fences, walls and gates belonging to the adjoining property. Treating the driveway as active shared access shapes the pace of carrying but does not prevent the work. It simply requires smaller, continuous movements and clear responsibility for keeping the passage open and clean throughout the shift.

Front-yard placement and protecting the surface

If a truck can reach your own front pad or lawn, that is often the best spot for the bin. Plywood or boards under the bin spread its weight and protect paving stones, asphalt or grass. The owner should point out any sprinkler heads, shallow services or soft ground before delivery.

When the street is the only option

Some houses have no front pad and a lawn too small or too soft for a bin. In that case, the bin can go on the street, but it needs City approval before it is placed. The approval sets where and how long it can stay.

Talk to your neighbour first

Before the crew arrives, have a conversation with your neighbour. Explain the dates, where the bin will sit and how the driveway will stay clear. If they agree to a short-term arrangement on the shared driveway, put it in writing. A little notice avoids most disputes.

What MetroPoint does on mutual-driveway houses

MetroPoint confirms bin placement with the owner at the site walk and keeps it off the shared driveway unless the neighbour has agreed in writing. We protect front-yard surfaces, carry debris promptly without blocking the passage, sweep the driveway daily and follow our standard approach to where demolition debris goes once it leaves the site.