Please look at the photo on the right. You are looking at the accessible Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking at a church in St. George Island, FL. What’s wrong?

HINT: Almost everything?

2010 ADA Standard 502.1, [Parking Spaces] General, states, “Car and van parking spaces shall comply with [Standard] 502. Where parking spaces are marked with lines, width measurements of parking spaces and access aisles shall be made from the centerline of the markings.” But there are no markings so the only way to guess where to park are the signs installed so low to the ground.

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.” But there are no access aisles.

2010 ADA Standard 503.4, Floor and Ground Surfaces, states, “Vehicle pull-up spaces and access aisles serving them shall comply with [Standard] 302. Access aisles shall be at the same level as the vehicle pull-up space they serve. Changes in level are not permitted. EXCEPTION: Slopes not steeper than 1:48 shall be permitted.” Standard 302 requires a surface that is stable, firm, slip resistant, and mostly level. Grass and loose gravel do not qualify.

And the signs are way too low. 2010 ADA Standard 502.6, [Parking Spaces] Identification, states, “Parking space identification signs shall include the International Symbol of Accessibility 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 on the right is representative.

SUMMARY: So almost everything is wrong with respect to the ADA. The signs are too low to the ground. There are no markings for the spaces to show where to park. There is no “van accessible” space. There are no access aisles connecting to an accessible route to the entrance. And grass and loose gravel are not a suitable surface for the parking spaces or the access aisles. So if an entity is going to try to install ADA compliant parking spaces, the installations should comply with the ADA Standards.

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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.

Thank you.