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Accessible Parking

Accessible Parking Spaces

When state or local governments, businesses and non-profit organizations provide parking lots or garages, accessible parking spaces complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must be provided.

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Accessible parking spaces are different than traditional parking spaces. They have specific features that make it easier for people with disabilities to access your programs, goods or services.

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Features

 

Location

In parking lots or garages, accessible parking spaces must be located on the shortest accessible route to the accessible entrance. An accessible route is the path a person with a disability takes to enter and move through a building or facility.

 

Access Aisles

Accessible parking spaces must have access aisles. Access aisles provide a designated area for people who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices to get in and out of their car or van. Mobility devices allow people with disabilities to move about independently. They include walkers, canes, crutches, braces, manual or power wheelchairs, Segways, and electric scooters.

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Access aisles must be:

  • Marked (to discourage drivers from parking in them)

  • The same length as the space

  • Level with the parking space

  • Must be the closet path to the entrance

 

Two accessible parking spaces can share an access aisle with the access aisle between the two parking spaces (except in angled parking).

 

An access aisle can be placed on either side of the parking space (except in angled parking where it must be located on the passenger side of the parking space.)

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Parking Spaces

Accessible parking spaces must be provided for cars and vans.

 

Car accessible spaces must:

  • Be at least 96 inches wide

  • Have an access aisle at least 60 inches wide

  • Have no more than a 1.48 (2.08%) slope in all directions

  • Have a surface that is firm, stable, and slip-resistant

  • Have a sign with the international symbol of accessibility on it, mounted at least 60 inches above the ground (measured to the bottom of the sign)

 

Van accessible spaces must (pick option #1 or #2)

 

Option #1

  • Be at least 132 inches wide

  • Have an access aisle at least 60 inches wide

  • Have no more than a 1:48 (2.08%) slope in all directions

  • Provide at least 98 inches of vertical clearance (van height) for the parking space, access aisle, and vehicular route

  • Have a surface that is firm, stable, and slip-resistant

  • Have two signs, mounted at least 60 inches above the ground (measured to the bottom of the sign)

    • First sign: international symbol of accessibility

    • Second sign: stating that the space is van accessible

 

Option #2

  • Be at least 96 inches wide

  • Have an access aisle at least 96 inches wide

  • Have no more than a 1.49 (2.08%) slope in all directions

  • Provide at least 98 inches of vertical clearance for the parking space, access aisle and vehicular route

  • Have a surface that is firm, stable and slip-resistant

  • Have two signs, mounted at least 60 inches above the ground (measured to the bottom of the sign)

    • First sign: international symbol of accessibility

    • Second sign: stating that the space is van accessible

 

Filing A Complaint

While accessible parking is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act, enforcement of these requirements is usually carried out locally by city or county governments. If you find a parking lot that is not in compliance with ADA parking requirements, there are several ways to try to correct the problem.

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Talk with the Business

The first thing you can do is talk with the owner of the business that owns or manages the parking lot or parking spaces. Ask for the owner or a manager, and explain how the deficiencies with parking impact your ability to use their business. Ask if they will make the necessary improvements to come into compliance with the ADA.

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If you are not comfortable speaking directly with the owner or manager, you can write and mail a letter or email to the business and make the same request.

 

If the business is a chain or franchise, consider contacting the corporate headquarters.

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File a complaint with the government

If you are unable to speak with the business owner or manager, and/or you were unable to contact the owner or manager via letter or email, you can file a formal complaint with the city in which the business exists.

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Most city governments have a code compliance department. Code compliance is responsible for responding to complaints about a private or public entity that is violating city code in some way. The ADA parking requirements are included in city code.

 

Each city’s code compliance department is different. You can begin by searching for information on the city’s website. There may be a way to submit a complaint online, through a special portal or via email. You can also call the city’s main number and ask for code compliance.

 

What to consider when filing a complaint

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Be polite. Your goal is to see a parking problem fixed, not get into an argument with a business owner or government official. It is easy to be frustrated and angry over issues like parking, especially when you experience similar problems across your community. But remember, people are more likely to respond to your complaint or request if you are polite, courteous, and clear in your communication.

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Be specific. It is important to provide specific information about the problem you want corrected. Simply telling a business that their ADA parking is poor and they need to fix it may or may not result in action. If you communicate more specific information, such as, “Your accessible parking is located too far from the main entrance, and when it’s hot or cold and icy, it makes it difficult for me and other customers like me to visit your business.”

 

Be persistent. Whatever you do, do not give up. You may need to make more than one request. Document when, how, and with whom you communicated (or attempted to communicate.) Again, this allows you to be specific (and polite) when you follow-up.

 

Engage with allies. If your requests to the local government or business owners or managers are unsuccessful, reach out to your local Center for Independent Living and request help with systems advocacy. A formal letter, citing the ADA and other relevant guidelines, may get more attention.

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For information on ADA parking, go the US Access Board.

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If you need support/training on self and systems advocacy, contact us.

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