ADA Parking Requirements for Property Owners

The number of required accessible stalls generally scales with the total number of parking spaces provided, with at least one van-accessible stall required once a lot reaches a certain size. Exact thresholds vary by code and jurisdiction.

Accessible stalls require an adjacent access aisle wide enough for a wheelchair user or van-mounted lift to maneuver. Van-accessible stalls typically require a wider access aisle than standard accessible stalls.

Accessible stalls and access aisles have maximum running and cross slope limits. This is one of the more commonly overlooked requirements on existing lots, since original grading was rarely designed with this constraint in mind — correcting it can sometimes require grading or concrete work, not just striping.

Signage typically must be mounted at a minimum height, be visible from the accessible route, and include specific required language or symbols, with additional signage sometimes required for van-accessible stalls.

An accessible parking stall should connect via an accessible route — free of abrupt level changes, with curb ramps where needed — to the building's accessible entrance. This element is frequently missed when a project focuses only on the parking stalls themselves.

Because requirements vary by jurisdiction, project scope, and whether work is new construction versus an alteration to an existing lot, a qualified accessibility consultant, CASp inspector, or design professional is often the right resource for a project-specific compliance determination.