Regulations on Handicap Parking Spaces
Most parking lots, particularly those meant for employee, customer or visitor parking, require a certain number of handicap parking spaces. Most states have their own handicapped parking regulations that slightly differ from federal regulations. However, the U.S. Department of Justice, via the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), sets baseline regulations that all states must follow.
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Number
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The number of spaces that must be designated handicapped accessible depends on the total number of parking spaces in the lot. One accessible space must be provided if there are 1 to 25 total spaces, two accessible spaces per 26 to 50 total, three accessible per 51 to 75 total, four accessible per 76 to 100 total, five accessible per 101 to 150 total, six accessible per 151 to 200 total, seven accessible per 201 to 300, eight accessible per 301 to 400 total and nine accessible spaces per 401 to 500 total spaces. Parking lots that have 501 to 1,000 total parking spots must include at least 2 percent handicapped accessible spots. And finally, parking lots with 1,001 or more total spaces must have 20 handicapped accessible spaces plus one for each 100 total spaces over 1,000.
Location
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According to the ADA, handicapped accessible parking spots should be placed within “the shortest accessible route of travel from adjacent parking to an accessible entrance.” If the building has more than one handicapped accessible entrance, accessible parking spots must be at all accessible entrances. If the parking lot does not belong to a building, then the handicapped accessible spaces should be closest to the lot’s pedestrian entrances/exits.
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Design
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The ADA does not regulate the lengths of handicapped accessible spaces, but it does set the minimum width at 96 inches. Each accessible space must also have an aisle of at least 60 inches between it and any adjacent spaces. At least one (one in every eight, in larger lots) accessible parking space should be “van accessible.” Van accessible spots are also 96 inches wide, but the aisles must be at least another 96 inches wide. Also, van accessible spots must have at least 98 inches of vertical clearance. Both kinds of handicapped accessible parking spaces should have painted boundaries, as well as a clear, painted route to the building that is at least 36 inches wide. Also, both types of spaces should have a sign with the symbol of access (white wheelchair on a blue background) at the top of the space; van accessible spots require an additional “van accessible” sign underneath.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit parking image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
