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Why We Built Shared Lot: A Fair Way to Split a Shared Driveway
Neighbors who share a driveway rarely agree on who pays what. Shared Lot gives each home an exact share of upkeep in minutes. Here's why we built it.
By John · Updated
Shared Lot is a free set of tools that helps neighbors split shared things fairly. The first one, Driveway Shares, works out each home's exact percentage of driveway upkeep. You trace the driveway on a satellite map and mark who drives each stretch. Each stretch's cost is split among the homes that use it.
The problem: who pays for the shared driveway?
The easy answer is to split it evenly. Three homes, three equal checks. Done.
Except it isn't fair. The home at the end of the driveway drives the whole thing every day. The home at the front drives 20 feet. An even split asks the front house to pay for pavement it never touches.
So people try other things. They guess. They build a spreadsheet nobody trusts. They have the awkward conversation, and then they have it again next year. Or they pay for a survey to settle a few hundred dollars of gravel.
None of that is great.
Why we built Shared Lot
We built Shared Lot to take the guesswork out of measuring shared access.
The math behind a fair split is simple. Agreeing on it is the hard part. When the numbers come from a neighbor, they feel like an opinion. When they come from a neutral tool that shows its work, they feel like a fact. That takes most of the tension out of the conversation.
So we set a few rules:
- Fair by method, not by negotiation. You split by use, not by who argues hardest.
- Show the work. Every number can be checked. No black box.
- Private by default. Your data stays in your browser. Share links carry everything in the URL. Nothing is stored on a server.
- Free and simple. No account. No sign up. Open it and go.
How does Shared Lot split a driveway fairly?
Shared Lot uses the split-by-use method. Each segment's length is split equally among the homes that use it. A home's share is its total feet divided by the total length of the driveway.
It takes three steps:
- Owners. List every home that shares the driveway.
- Segments. Search your address, trace each stretch of driveway on the satellite map, and mark which homes drive on it. Measured a stretch with a tape? Type in the real length.
- Shares. See each home's exact percentage, the full math, a link to send your neighbors, and a printable summary.
A worked example
Say three homes share a 300 foot driveway, broken into three 100 foot stretches.
- The first stretch is used by all three homes.
- The second stretch is used by Home B and Home C.
- The last stretch is used by Home C only.
| Stretch | Length | Used by | Feet per home |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 ft | A, B, C | 33.33 ft each |
| 2 | 100 ft | B, C | 50 ft each |
| 3 | 100 ft | C | 100 ft |
Add it up per home, then divide by 300:
| Home | Total feet | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A | 33.33 ft | 11.11% |
| B | 83.33 ft | 27.78% |
| C | 183.33 ft | 61.11% |
| Total | 300 ft | 100.00% |
On a $6,000 repave, that's $666.60 for Home A, $1,666.80 for Home B, and $3,666.60 for Home C. Split evenly, Home A would have paid $2,000.
Percentages are rounded to two decimals using the largest remainder method, so they always add up to exactly 100.00%. No missing penny.
What Shared Lot is not
It's not a survey. Lengths come from satellite imagery. They're close, but treat them as an estimate.
It's not legal advice. Use the numbers as a starting point for a shared driveway agreement, not as the agreement itself.
What's next
Driveways are just the first tool. Fences, trees, private roads, and snow plowing are on the bench.
Share something with the neighbors that's hard to divide fairly? Tell us what you'd split, and it might be the next tool.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do you split shared driveway maintenance costs?
Split by use. Break the driveway into stretches, split each stretch's length equally among the homes that drive on it, and divide each home's total by the full length of the driveway. That gives each home a percentage of the bill.
Is it fair to split a shared driveway evenly?
Only if every home uses the whole thing. When one home drives 20 feet and another drives 300, an even split means the short trip pays for the long one. Splitting by use is fairer.
Who pays for a shared driveway if there's no agreement?
It depends on where you live and what your deed or easement says. Shared Lot gives you a fair starting number, but it isn't legal advice. If there's a real dispute, talk to a local attorney.
How accurate are the measurements?
Close, but not exact. Lengths come from satellite imagery, so treat the results as an estimate, not a survey. If you've measured a stretch with a tape, you can type in the real length.
Does Shared Lot store my address or data?
No. Everything is saved in your browser. When you share a link with neighbors, the whole driveway travels in the URL. Nothing is stored on a server.
Is Shared Lot free?
Yes. No account, no sign up. Open it and start tracing.