U.S. Department of Justice

Civil Rights Division

Disability Rights Section

Americans with Disabilities Act

 Restriping Parking Lots

ADA Business BRIEF:

Accessible Parking Spaces

When a business restripes a parking lot, it must provide accessible

parking spaces as required by the ADA Standards for Accessible Design.

In addition, businesses or privately owned facilities that provide goods or

services to the public have a continuing ADA obligation to remove

barriers to access in existing parking lots when it is readily achievable to

do so. Because restriping is relatively inexpensive, it is readily

achievable in most cases.

This ADA Business Brief provides key information about how to create

accessible car and van spaces and how many spaces to provide when

parking lots are restriped.

Accessible Parking Spaces

for Cars

Accessible parking spaces for cars

have at least a 60-inch-wide access

aisle located adjacent to the

designated parking space. The

access aisle is just wide enough to

permit a person using a wheelchair to

enter or exit the car. These parking

spaces are identified with a sign and

located on level ground.

Van-Accessible Parking Spaces

Van-accessible parking spaces are the

same as accessible parking spaces for

cars except for three features needed

for vans:

a wider access aisle (96”) to

accommodate a wheelchair lift;

vertical clearance to accommodate van height at the van parking space, the adjacent access

aisle, and on the vehicular route

to and from the van-accessible

space, and

an additional sign that identifies

the parking spaces as “van

accessible.”

1 to 25 1 1 0

26 to 50 2 1 1

51 to 75 3 1 2

76 to 100 4 1 3

101 to 150 5 1 4

151 to 200 6 1 5

201 to 300 7 1 6

301 to 400 8 1 7

401 to 500 9 2 7

501 to 1000 2% of total

parking provided 1/8 of Column A* 7/8 of Column A**

in each lot

1001 and over 20 plus 1 for

each 100 1/8 of Column A* 7/8 of Column A**

over 1000

Total Minimum

Number of

Accessible

Parking Spaces

(60” & 96” aisles)

Total Number

of Parking

Spaces

Provided

(per lot)

Accessible

Parking

Spaces with

min. 60” wide

access aisle

Van-Accessible

Parking Spaces

with min. 96”

wide access

aisle

Minimum Number of Accessible Parking Spaces

 * one out of every 8 accessible spaces ** 7 out of every 8 accessible parking spaces

ADA Standards for Accessible Design 4.1.2 (5)

Column A

One of eight accessible parking

spaces, but always at least one,

must be van accessible.

October 2001
















96” min. 96” min.

2440 1525 2440

60” min.















96” min.



2440

96” min.

2440

96” min.

2440

accessible route

Location

Accessible parking spaces must be

located on the shortest accessible

route of travel to an accessible

facility entrance. Where buildings

have multiple accessible entrances

with adjacent parking, the accessible

parking spaces must be dispersed and

located closest to the accessible

entrances.

When accessible parking spaces are

added in an existing parking lot,

locate the spaces on the most level

ground close to the accessible entrance. An accessible route must

always be provided from the accessible parking to the accessible

entrance. An accessible route never

has curbs or stairs, must be at least 3-

feet wide, and has a firm, stable, slipresistant surface. The slope along the

accessible route should not be greater

than 1:12 in the direction of travel.

Accessible parking spaces may be

clustered in one or more lots if

equivalent or greater accessibility is

provided in terms of distance from

the accessible entrance, parking fees,

and convenience. Van-accessible

parking spaces located in parking

garages may be clustered on one floor

(to accommodate the 98-inch minimum vertical height requirement).

Free Technical Assistance

Answers to technical and general

questions about restriping parking

lots or other ADA requirements are

available by telephone on weekdays.

You may also order the ADA

Standards for Accessible Design and

other ADA publications, including

regulations for private businesses, at

any time day or night. Information

about ADA-related IRS tax credits

and deductions is also available from

the ADA Information Line.

Department of Justice

ADA Information Line

Features of Accessible Parking Spaces for Cars

Sign with the international symbol of accessibility mounted high

enough so it can be seen while a vehicle is parked in the space.

If the accessible route is located in front of the space, install

wheelstops to keep vehicles from reducing width below 36 inches.

Access aisle of at least 60-inch width

must be level (1:50 maximum slope

in all directions), be the same length

as the adjacent parking space(s) it

serves and must connect to an

accessible route to the building.

Ramps must not extend into the

access aisle.

Boundary of the access aisle must be

marked. The end may be a squared or

curved shape.

Two parking spaces may share an

access aisle.

accessible route (min. 36-inch width)

Three Additional Features for Van-Accessible Parking Spaces

Sign with “van accessible” and the international symbol of

accessibility mounted high enough so the sign can be seen

when a vehicle is parked in the space

96” min. width access aisle, level

(max. slope 1:50 in all directions),

located beside the van parking space

Min. 98-inch-high clearance at van

parking space, access aisle, and on

vehicular route to and from van space

page 2 of 2 Duplication is encouraged.

800-514-0301 (voice)

800-514-0383 (TTY)

ADA Website and ADA Business Connection

You may also view or download ADA information on the Department’s ADA

website at any time. The site provides access to the ADA Business

Connection and the ADA design standards, ADA regulations, ADA policy

letters, technical assistance materials, and general ADA information. It also

provides links to other Federal agencies, and updates on new ADA requirements and enforcement efforts. www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm

Reference:

ADA Standards for Accessible Design (28 CFR Part 36):

§ 4.1.6 Alterations; § 4.1.2 Accessible Sites and Exterior Facilities: New

Construction; § 4.6.1 Parking and Passenger Loading Zones, and

§ 4.3 Accessible Route.