OpenStreetMap logo OpenStreetMap

I-76's Diary

Recent diary entries

Access tag on house driveways?

Posted by I-76 on 8 December 2025 in English.

While I mapped driveways years ago in my neighborhood, I didn’t include access tags. I saw that later someone added access=private tags, and I thought nothing of it assuming it was the correct tag. So now when I just mapped scores of them in the neighborhood additions, I just now had the thought to look on the wiki for the tag definition.

As said by the wiki, the definition of access=private:

Public access is not allowed. Access is granted with individual permission only. Examples: A driveway with a no trespassing or keep out sign; A company parking lot for employees only. “Individual permission” has been interpreted to also include delivery people making a delivery to a resident or drivers picking up a resident by request.

Most of that makes sense - but in the examples, why would it specify a driveway would need a “No Trespassing” or a “Keep Out” sign? Just wondering if I need to retag some driveways in line with common (or changing) practice, or at least having more confidence in tagging them correctly.