Learn how to know if your parking lot is ADA compliant.
The ADA, or Americans with Disabilities Act, was created to ensure that all public places have access for people who face disabilities. ADA compliance is very important for property managers to ensure that equal access is provided for everyone. The ADA covers everything inside and outside of most businesses, so it’s crucial to ensure that your parking lot is ADA compliant.
Accessible Parking Spaces
It’s fairly simple to comply with the parking requirements and to meet all ADA regulations. First, your parking lot should have designated accessible parking spaces, an entrance ramp, and other architectural changes to enhance accessibility. To know how many accessible parking spaces are required in your parking lot, you must know the total number of spaces. For an average parking lot or garage size of 26-50 spaces, it is required to have a minimum of two accessible parking spaces; a lot with 51-75 spaces requires three, 76-100 spaces requires four, and so on.
Also, one of every six accessible parking spaces must be “van-accessible.” So, if you own a large parking lot with 400-500 spaces, you are required to have a minimum of nine accessible parking spaces, and two of those nine spaces must be van-accessible. This means the spot must have extra space on the left and right side, as well as a sign indicating that the space is van accessible.
Size And Placement
After figuring out how many accessible parking spaces you need in your lot, it’s crucial to know the size and placement requirements. All accessible spaces must be a minimum of eight feet wide, and must include an access aisle with a width of five feet for vehicle-accessible spaces, or eight feet for van-accessible spaces.
As for placement, ADA-compliant spaces must provide access to your building with the shortest, most direct route. Any curbs in the path must have a ramp, and if the route crosses a path of vehicle traffic, crosswalks must be clearly marked.
Signage
Signage is also an essential aspect of ADA compliance, as your accessible parking spaces must be clearly marked to avoid others from taking the handicapped spots. The international symbol for handicapped access should be used, featuring an image of a white wheelchair against a blue background. The image is often painted on the pavement, but it is required to have a permanent sign in front of the space. Also, any “van accessible” spaces should have proper signage to identify them. The signs must be high enough for the entire sign is visible over the hoot of the vehicle.
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Tags: ADA compliant, My Pavement Guy, Parking lot, PTG Enterprises
