Your Ultimate Guide to an ADA-Compliant Parking Lot

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), was passed into law over 30 years ago, and ensures that people living with disabilities have access to public spaces. Things like ramps, talking traffic signals, and designated parking lot spaces are all examples of ADA-compliant retrofits – and if you’re reading this, we’re betting you have some questions about the third one. Here at Integrity Paving & Coatings, we get questions all the time about parking lot compliance. We’ve rounded up a few of the top FAQs for your convenience here.

1. How many parking spaces in my lot need to be accessible?

Your parking lot must have a minimum of accessible spaces relative to its size. We’ve mocked up a simple reference table for you to help you calculate the magic number for your lot. In addition to maintaining these ratios, at least one in every six of the accessible spots must be big enough to fit a large van. Requirements may be even more stringent depending on the type of building, so always be sure to check with your local zoning officials on building or area-specific mandates.

2. What exactly makes a parking space ADA compliant & accessible?

There are four main things you need to take into consideration when designating accessible parking spots: Slope of the pavement. Basically – ADA-compliant and accessible spaces must be very flat. The slope cannot be more than 2% in any direction. This is by far the most common compliance issue found in modern parking lots and can result in a big fine, so be sure to check the slope of all your handicapped spots.

Pavement markings

The aisles next to accessible parking spaces must be hash marked to indicate that it is not a parking space. Best practice is to paint the accessibility sign right onto the pavement itself within the space.

Signage

Accessible parking must be clearly marked and identified with a sign depicting the international symbol of accessibility. The sign must be at least 12 by 18 inches.

Dimensions

A parking space must be at least 8 feet wide to be deemed ADA-compliant and accessible. If it’s a spot for vans, then vans up to 98 inches in height must be able to clear the space vertically.

3. Do I need to make changes to my parking lot to get it compliant?

Many of these rules grandfather in older parking lots – meaning if you’re not making any updates to your lot, you should be ok. However, if you have any improvements planned – such as seal coating, resurfacing, or parking lot expansion, you may need to update the lot for ADA compliance. Still have questions? Integrity Paving & Coatings is Here to Help! Parking lots are our business, and we’re up to date on all the latest law changes regarding ADA compliance and accessibility. If you’re concerned about your lot’s compliance or just have general questions, you can contact us online today. We offer free quotes and transparent pricing, because that’s what it means to operate with integrity.