It’s been 25 years since the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed into law. And yet, compliance with the 1990 regulations (and the 2010 amendments) eludes asphalt paving companies and their clients.
At Surface Solutions, we offer ADA-approved parking lot striping and signage to establish safe, easy, and smooth vehicle maneuvering in parking lots in Salisbury, Maryland. Click here to get a free estimate.
In this two-part blog, we break down ADA compliance to help you stay on the right side of the law and win the trust of your customers/tenants.
ADA vs. Local Building Codes
Part of the confusion surrounding compliance stems from a misunderstanding of regulations that apply to commercial parking lots. Many asphalt paving companies will offer ‘ADA-compliant’ services when, in reality, they are talking about building code compliance.
To be clear, ADA applies nationwide, and each state and municipality may have its own additional requirements. And your property may comply with one but not the other, in which case you will be penalized. In our state, ADA is part of the Maryland Accessibility Code as of January 1, 2012.
That’s why you find different designs, colors, and signage in parking lots across the US. For instance, an accessible parking sign in Pennsylvania reads ‘Handicapped Parking – Permit Required,’ whereas, in Maryland, signs read ‘Reserved Parking’ or ‘Reserved Parking – Van Accessible’ (some states avoid using the word ‘handicap’ on signage).
It’s best to consult local code enforcement officials and check your state’s building code to achieve comprehensive compliance.
ADA Requirements For Parking Lots
The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design is the rule-book for constructing ADA-compliant properties.
| Total Number Of Parking Spaces In One Facility | Minimum Number Of Accessible Parking Spaces |
| 1 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 2 |
| 51 to 75 | 3 |
| 76 to 100 | 4 |
| 101 to 150 | 5 |
| 151 to 200 | 6 |
| 201 to 300 | 7 |
| 301 to 400 | 8 |
| 401 to 500 | 9 |
| 501 to 1000 | 2% of the total parking area |
| 1001and above | 20 (plus 1 for each 100 over 1000) |
Here are the salient features of ADA compliance for parking lots:
- For parking lots with less than 25 spaces, there should be at least one accessible space, even if there’s only one space on the entire lot (see table 1).
- At least one out of six accessible spaces should be van-accessible. If there’s only one parking space, it needs to be van-accessible (see table 2).
- These requirements apply to a single lot. If there are multiple parking lots on one site, each one has to be ADA compliant individually.
- Accessible car parking spaces should have a total width of at least 13 feet (8 feet width from the middle of each boundary strip + an accessible aisle of at least 5 feet).
- Accessible van parking spaces should have a total width of at least 16 feet (8 feet width + an accessible aisle of at least 8 feet).
- Accessible parking spaces should be located close to the building’s entrance, at the shortest acceptable route.
- The surfaces of accessible spaces and adjoining aisles must be stable and slip-resistant. They should be flat or slightly sloped up to a 1:48-inch slope.
| Total Number Of Parking Spaces In One Facility | Minimum Number Of Accessible Parking Spaces For Vans |
| 1 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 1 |
| 51 to 75 | 1 |
| 76 to 100 | 1 |
| 101 to 150 | 1 |
| 151 to 200 | 1 |
| 201 to 300 | 1 |
| 301 to 400 | 1 |
| 401 to 500 | 1 |
| 501 to 1000 | 1 out of every 6 accessible parking spaces |
| 1001and above | 1 out of every 6 accessible parking spaces |
That’s all for now.
In the next blog, we will overview the signage, striping, and color requirements set by ADA.
At Surface Solutions, we offer ADA-approved parking lot paving, striping, and signage services in Salisbury and all over Maryland. Click here to get a free estimate.