This article is about vehicle parking spaces that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This article will discuss the technical requirements for accessible vehicle parking spaces in State and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities. The sections of the 2010 ADA Standards that apply to accessible parking spaces include 208, 216 and 502. The image on the right is representative of an ADA accessible vehicle parking space.

Parking Space and Access Aisle Design

2010 ADA Standard 208.1, [Parking Spaces] General, states, “Where parking spaces are provided, parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with 208.” The exception for this Standard is for parking spaces used exclusively for buses, trucks, other delivery vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, or vehicular impound, if these public facilities are provided with a compliant passenger loading zone.

2010 ADA Standard 208.3.1 [Parking Spaces, Location] General, states, “Parking spaces complying with [Standard] 502 that serve a particular building or facility shall be located on the shortest accessible route from parking to an entrance complying with [Standard] 206.4. Where parking serves more than one accessible entrance, parking spaces complying with [Standard] 502 shall be dispersed and located on the shortest accessible route to the accessible entrances. In parking facilities that do not serve a particular building or facility, parking spaces complying with [Standard] 502 shall be located on the shortest accessible route to an accessible pedestrian entrance of the parking facility.” Note that some accessible parking spaces may be located close to a ramp to a pedestrian entry, versus closer to the entry itself. The graphic below is representative.

2010 ADA Standard 502.2, Vehicle Spaces, states, “Car parking spaces shall be 96 inches (2440 mm) wide minimum and van parking spaces shall be 132 inches (3350 mm) wide minimum, shall be marked to define the width, and shall have an adjacent access aisle complying with [Standard] 502.3.” The graphic below is representative of this Standard.

The exception for this Standard is that van parking spaces are permitted to be 96 inches (2440 mm) wide minimum where the access aisle is 96 inches (2440 mm) wide minimum. The graphic below is representative of this exception.

Where parking spaces are marked with lines, width measurements of parking spaces and access aisles shall be made from the centerline of the markings in most cases. The graphic on the right is representative of this measurement. The exception for this measurement is where parking spaces or access aisles are not adjacent to another parking space or access aisle, measurements shall be permitted to include the full width of the line defining the parking space or access aisle.

Each accessible parking space must have an access aisle that complies with the ADA Standards. Access aisles must be 60 inches wide minimum and run the full length of the parking space.

2010 ADA Standard 502.3, [Parking Spaces] Access Aisle, states, “Access aisles serving parking spaces shall comply with [Standard] 502.3. Access aisles shall adjoin an accessible route. Two parking spaces shall be permitted to share a common access aisle.” The graphic on the right is representative of the accessible access aisle adjoining an accessible route to the facility.

Accessible routes must connect accessible parking spaces to accessible entrances. In parking facilities where the accessible route must cross vehicular traffic lanes, marked crossings enhance pedestrian safety, particularly for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Where possible, it is preferable that the accessible route not pass behind parked vehicles.

2010 ADA Standard 502.3.1, [Parking Spaces, Access Aisle] Width, states, “Access aisles serving car and van parking spaces shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) wide minimum.” Bollards, signs, columns, traffic cones, flower pots, or other elements cannot be located in the access aisle or reduce the minimum clear width of accessible routes. The photo below shows small traffic cones blocking the accessible parking aisle and marked route from the accessible parking on the right, and the accessible parking space on the left. While this may be a good effort on the part of this facility to “protect” these spaces from intruders, it must be monitored closely to insure access by disabled individuals is not compromised.

2010 ADA Standard 502.3.2, [Parking Spaces, Access Aisle] Length, states, “Access aisles shall extend the full length of the parking spaces they serve.” Notice that “spaces” is plural. The access aisle should be as long as each of the parking spaces on either side of the aisle. Sometimes those parking spaces can have different lengths.

2010 ADA Standard 502.3.3, [Parking Spaces, Access Aisle] Marking, states, “Access aisles shall be marked so as to discourage parking in them.” The graphic below is representative of these Standards.

In the graphic above, the method and color of marking are not specified by these requirements but may be addressed by State or local laws or regulations. Because these requirements permit the van access aisle to be as wide as a parking space, it is important that the aisle be clearly marked. The graphic below is representative of large block markings.

The graphic below is representative of a diagonal marked access aisle.

2010 ADA Standard 502.3.4, [Parking Spaces] Location, states, “Access aisles shall not overlap the vehicular way. Access aisles shall be permitted to be placed on either side of the parking space except for angled van parking spaces which shall have access aisles located on the passenger side of the parking spaces.” The graphic below is representative of angled parking with the access aisle on the right. Note that where accessible van parking spaces are angled as shown below, an access aisle is required for each space on the passenger side.

Wheelchair lifts in vehicles are typically installed on the passenger side of vans. Many drivers, especially those who operate vans, find it more difficult to back into parking spaces than to back out into comparatively unrestricted vehicular lanes. For this reason, where a van and car share an access aisle, consider locating the van space so that the access aisle is on the passenger side of the van space. The graphic below is representative of this suggestion.

2010 ADA Standard 502.4, [Parking Spaces] Floor or Ground Surfaces, states, “Parking spaces and access aisles serving them shall comply with [Standard] 302. Access aisles shall be at the same level as the parking spaces they serve. Changes in level are not permitted.” The exception for this Standard is that slopes not steeper than 1:48 [2.08%] are permitted. Typically parking space and access aisle slopes are measured using a 24 inch digital level similar to the photo on the right.

Access aisles and accessible parking spaces are required to be nearly level in all directions to provide a surface for wheelchair transfer to and from vehicles. The exception allows sufficient slope for drainage. Built-up curb ramps are not permitted to project into access aisles and parking spaces because they would create slopes greater than 1:48.

2010 ADA Standard 502.5, [Parking Spaces] Vertical Clearance, states, “Parking spaces for vans and access aisles and vehicular routes serving them shall provide a vertical clearance of 98 inches (2490 mm) minimum.” The graphic below is representative of this Standard.

Note that the 98 inch vertical clearance requirement starts at the vehicular entry to the parking facility, not just at the parking space itself. The graphic below is representative.

Signage

2010 ADA Standard 216.5, [Sign] Parking, states, “Parking spaces complying with [Standard] 502 shall be identified by signs complying with [Standard] 502.6.”

2010 ADA Standard 502.6, [Parking Spaces] Identification, states, “Parking space identification signs shall include the International Symbol of Accessibility [ISA] complying with [Standard] 703.7.2.1. Signs identifying van parking spaces shall contain the designation ‘van accessible.’ Signs shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground surface measured to the bottom of the sign.” The graphic below is representative of this Standard.

Note that the ISA sign painted on the parking space is not an ADA requirement but may be required by State or local codes. The ADA does not require this, but does require the vertical sign, because a vehicle parked in the ADA parking space will block the view of the surface sign. ISA designations on the parking surface, even if required by a state or local government, cannot substitute for above-ground signs that remain visible at all times. The graphic below is representative.

State or local codes and regulations may address other sign characteristics, including size, color, and additional content, such as “reserved” or violation fines, but the ADA Standards do not.

If a total of 4 or fewer parking spaces (inaccessible and accessible) is provided on a site, the required accessible space does not have to be identified by a sign (i.e., reserved exclusively for use of people with disabilities). However, all other requirements for accessible spaces, including access aisles, still apply.

Informational/directional signs provided at entrances to parking facilities informing drivers of vertical clearances and the location of accessible parking spaces can provide useful customer assistance.

Relationship to Accessible Routes

2010 ADA Standard 502.7, [Parking Spaces] Relationship to Accessible Routes, states, “Parking spaces and access aisles shall be designed so that cars and vans, when parked, cannot obstruct the required clear width of adjacent accessible routes.” The point here is to make sure a vehicle does not overrun the parking space and compromise the width of a walkway in front of the parking space. The graphic below is representative of this Standard.

Wheel stops are an effective way to prevent vehicle overhangs from reducing the clear width of accessible routes. The photo below is representative of a wheel stop.

The photo below is representative of what it looks like when there is no wheel stop. Notice how some of the vehicles [and downspout splash blocks] have compromised the width of the accessible walkway.

Summary

ADA compliant vehicle parking spaces and access aisles have technical requirements for width, length, height, slope, markings, connection to an accessible route, proximity to accessible facility entrance(s), and signage. Complaints about ADA accessibility for parking spaces is a common source of lawsuits.

For an article about the scoping requirements for accessible parking facilities and spaces, please see ADA Accessible Vehicle Parking Facilities.

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If you observe a facility that is not ADA compliant and you would like to know how to proceed, please see the link at What To Do When A Building Is Not ADA Compliant or Accessible.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

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