Lambeth council has sparked controversy by targeting residents parking on their own driveways without official "dropped kerbs".
The south London authority is demanding homeowners pay £4,000 to make their driveways legal.
The council has created a map marking homes with a red X where occupants are driving over pavements without permission to park on their land.
Residents have accused the Labour-run council of using motorists as "cash cows".
The move could generate up to £1million in fees for the council, which is facing significant budget pressures.
The map identifies nearly 200 homes in Streatham Vale with "illegal crossovers" where vehicles are accessing property without approved dropped kerbs.
This research forms part of Lambeth's "kerbside strategy", which the council claims will address climate concerns.
Council documents state that "free unrestricted parking" has an "impact on our climate".
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
A council pamphlet warned homeowners: "If these accesses are not formalised in accordance with the council's policy, then parking bays may be placed in front of them, blocking access."
The £4,000 application fee doesn't include costs for constructing the crossover or obtaining planning permission.
Lambeth council found that 4 per cent of cars in the area parked "off street appeared to have unauthorised vehicle access".
The council claims this would clash with plans for "more sustainable features" such as "parklets, cycle parking and seating".
The crackdown comes as Lambeth launched a consultation about introducing residents' parking permits for Streatham Vale.
Officials cited concerns that commuters were driving to the area to park for free before taking trains into central London.
The council's approval of a nearby "car free" tower block for 237 homes has added to the need for controlled parking.
Ashad Khan, a 48-year-old research scientist, has lived in his Streatham Vale home for 20 years.
He parks his hybrid and electric vehicles on an unofficial drive to connect to a charger.
"We will now have to pay to park in front of our house or consider paying thousands of pounds for a legal crossover," he told The Telegraph.
"It's an excuse to make money. We paid a premium for these vehicles because they are environmentally friendly. Now the council is penalising us."
The council raised £53.7million in "parking service income streams" in 2023/24.
Neil Salt, of Streatham and Croydon North Conservatives, questioned the timing of the council's actions.
He noted that many crossovers had been used for years without the council "batting an eyelid".
"It raises the question as to why they are seeking to levy this huge cost now.
"It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact the council currently needs to save over £69million over the next four years, could it?"
Salt called for the £4,000 fee to be reduced to match neighbouring councils' £3,000 charge.
He also criticised Lambeth's £261.27 charge for white line painting as "excessive" compared to Merton's £80.
Resident Helen Smith expressed concerns about the financial impact on locals.
"The cost of permits in other parts of the borough has risen sharply making it clear this is a huge cash cow for Lambeth," she said.
Smith warned this "sets a precedent for our area if, or more likely when, it's introduced".
The council pamphlet also stated regarding the nearby car-free development: "The car free status can only have effect if parking controls are in place."
A Lambeth council spokesman said they discovered a "high number of unauthorised crossing points" during public engagement about the controlled parking zone.
"It is illegal to drive a vehicle over the pavement without having an authorised vehicle crossover," the spokesman said.
This requires residents to "make an application, gain approval and pay for the works to adapt the highway to enable safe access".
The council added that driving over unadapted pavements causes damage requiring council repairs.
They also warned it creates a risk that cars may overhang onto pavements, creating an obstruction for pedestrians.
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The south London authority is demanding homeowners pay £4,000 to make their driveways legal.
The council has created a map marking homes with a red X where occupants are driving over pavements without permission to park on their land.
Residents have accused the Labour-run council of using motorists as "cash cows".
The move could generate up to £1million in fees for the council, which is facing significant budget pressures.
The map identifies nearly 200 homes in Streatham Vale with "illegal crossovers" where vehicles are accessing property without approved dropped kerbs.
This research forms part of Lambeth's "kerbside strategy", which the council claims will address climate concerns.
Council documents state that "free unrestricted parking" has an "impact on our climate".
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A council pamphlet warned homeowners: "If these accesses are not formalised in accordance with the council's policy, then parking bays may be placed in front of them, blocking access."
The £4,000 application fee doesn't include costs for constructing the crossover or obtaining planning permission.
Lambeth council found that 4 per cent of cars in the area parked "off street appeared to have unauthorised vehicle access".
The council claims this would clash with plans for "more sustainable features" such as "parklets, cycle parking and seating".
The crackdown comes as Lambeth launched a consultation about introducing residents' parking permits for Streatham Vale.
Officials cited concerns that commuters were driving to the area to park for free before taking trains into central London.
The council's approval of a nearby "car free" tower block for 237 homes has added to the need for controlled parking.
Ashad Khan, a 48-year-old research scientist, has lived in his Streatham Vale home for 20 years.
He parks his hybrid and electric vehicles on an unofficial drive to connect to a charger.
"We will now have to pay to park in front of our house or consider paying thousands of pounds for a legal crossover," he told The Telegraph.
"It's an excuse to make money. We paid a premium for these vehicles because they are environmentally friendly. Now the council is penalising us."
The council raised £53.7million in "parking service income streams" in 2023/24.
Neil Salt, of Streatham and Croydon North Conservatives, questioned the timing of the council's actions.
He noted that many crossovers had been used for years without the council "batting an eyelid".
"It raises the question as to why they are seeking to levy this huge cost now.
"It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact the council currently needs to save over £69million over the next four years, could it?"
Salt called for the £4,000 fee to be reduced to match neighbouring councils' £3,000 charge.
He also criticised Lambeth's £261.27 charge for white line painting as "excessive" compared to Merton's £80.
Resident Helen Smith expressed concerns about the financial impact on locals.
"The cost of permits in other parts of the borough has risen sharply making it clear this is a huge cash cow for Lambeth," she said.
Smith warned this "sets a precedent for our area if, or more likely when, it's introduced".
The council pamphlet also stated regarding the nearby car-free development: "The car free status can only have effect if parking controls are in place."
A Lambeth council spokesman said they discovered a "high number of unauthorised crossing points" during public engagement about the controlled parking zone.
"It is illegal to drive a vehicle over the pavement without having an authorised vehicle crossover," the spokesman said.
This requires residents to "make an application, gain approval and pay for the works to adapt the highway to enable safe access".
The council added that driving over unadapted pavements causes damage requiring council repairs.
They also warned it creates a risk that cars may overhang onto pavements, creating an obstruction for pedestrians.
Find Out More...