In 1990, Congress passed the American With Disabilities Act (ADA), a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities and mandated public facilities, including parking lots, to meet certain accessibility requirements.
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design outlines physical construction and alteration requirements, which all properties must comply with.
For a parking lot to be ADA-compliant, it must have accessible parking spaces. This does not necessarily refer to parking spaces that are closest to the building; rather, these are parking spaces that have the easiest access to the building’s entrance.
The number of accessible parking spaces a parking lot must have will depend on the total number of parking spaces available, as seen in the table below.
Note that these numbers are determined by the parking lot. If a property has 5 separate parking lots, each lot is considered individually. Also, if there’s only one accessible parking space in a parking lot, then it should be van-accessible.
There are exceptions to these numbers. For example, at least 10 percent of parking spaces at hospital outpatient facilities should be accessible. That increases to 20 percent for outpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy facilities.Note that these numbers are determined by the parking lot. If a property has 5 separate parking lots, each lot is considered individually. Also, if there’s only one accessible parking space in a parking lot, then it should be van-accessible.
Accessible parking space dimensions, signs, and maintenance
At a minimum, a car-accessible parking space must be 8 feet wide, with an access aisle of at least 5 feet. A van-accessible space, on the other hand, must be at least 8 feet wide and must be adjacent to an 8-foot access aisle. Access aisles can be shared by two accessible parking spaces.
If there’s only one accessible parking space in a parking lot, it should be van-accessible.
Accessible parking spaces must be marked accordingly. These must be identified by signs that include the International Symbol of Accessibility. Signs at van-accessible spaces must include the additional phrase “van-accessible.” To ensure visibility, signs should be mounted so that the lower edge of the sign is at least five (5) feet above the ground.
Accessible parking spaces, aisles, and routes must be well-maintained and kept clear of snow, ice, or fallen leaf build-up. Parking lot surfaces within the vicinity should be level, stable, and slip-resistant.
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