Best Practices for ADA Compliance in Parking Lot Design

The Americans with Disabilities Act fundamentally changed how public spaces around the United States are designed and constructed, including parking lots.

You should be aware of several best practices for ADA compliance in parking lot design before you draft a blueprint. Here are some essential considerations for the construction process for an ADA-compliant parking lot. We could adhere to these practices while assisting your project, providing ADA-compliant service and high-quality work.

Spacing and Sizing of Parking Lot Spaces

When designing a parking lot that complies with best practices, ensuring that accessible parking spaces meet required standards, including proper spacing and sizing, is important for ADA requirements and convenience. 

Leave Space for Multiple Accessible Parking Spaces

The ADA requires parking lots to have at least one handicap-accessible parking space for every 25 standard parking spaces. Therefore, the larger the parking lot, the more accessible parking spaces should be reserved. You will also want to place these spaces reasonably close to the front entrance of a nearby building.

Ensure Accessible Parking Spaces Are Properly Sized

Standard accessible parking spaces should be a minimum of 96 inches wide and an adjacent access aisle of at least 60 inches wide so that physically disabled people have room to transfer into a wheelchair after exiting their vehicle. You should also ensure there are van-accessible spaces in your lot with an adjacent access aisle of at least 96 inches wide. The access aisle should be lined and marked according to ADA regulations and state building codes.

Allow Access Between Accessible Spaces and Nearby Buildings

Suppose the entrance of the building is attached to a parking lot that is some distance from the designated accessible parking spaces. In that case, there should be a route at least 36 inches wide with a slip-resistant, leveled surface that connects the entrance to the parking spaces and does not have any stairs, curbs, or debris blocking it. If curbs block access to the sidewalks attached to a parking lot, there should be ramps at least 36 inches wide and run at least 12 inches forward for every inch of rise.

Parking Lot Signage and Lighting

According to building codes, all accessible parking spaces should have the International Symbol of Accessibility visible and have signage posted at least 60 inches above ground level. To adhere to optimal practices and for the sake of all visitors, ADA-compliant parking lots should be designed to include well-lit with overhead lighting.

Contact Us For Help Designing Parking Lots Following Optimal Practices for ADA Compliance

This is just a broad overview of the requirements to comply with ADA regulations for parking lot construction. If you want to follow best practices for ADA compliance in parking lot design for your next project, call the paving professionals at Integrity Paving & Coatings to learn what we could do for you.