ADA Parking Lot Compliance
Congress passed the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. This act provides for the protection of persons with disabilities from discrimination, based on their disability. Part of the Act requires public accommodations to fulfill certain accessibility requirements, including parking lots.
At Asphalt Maintenance Inc., we provide asphalt and pavement marking services that are compliant with the ADA.
More often than not, parking lots around the country fail to meet ADA standards. Anything as simple as too few ADA parking spots, or as complex as not having accessible ramps and sidewalk paths, can expose you to potentially expensive legal consequences.
Strict Compliance With ADA
Strict compliance with ADA is crucial. Following ADA parking requirements can help you bring a better experience to everyone who visits your property, without discrimination. Property accessibility starts with your parking lot.
The parking lot will need to have a required number of accessible spaces to be compliant, which are based on the number of total spaces in the lot. Your parking lot must also have curb cuts for wheelchair access to the sidewalks, ramps, and railings properly pitched.
Asphalt Maintenance Inc. can help your business with ADA compliance by properly marking the areas of your location that require regulation.
Are You Compliant?
There are a number of things to consider in ensuring your business is fully compliant with ADA.
For starters, you need to have a sufficient number of accessible parking spaces as determined by the size of your parking lot and/or your visitors’ needs.
When ensuring that your lot complies with the ADA, we pay particular attention to how the asphalt is laid, as well as the markings.
There are five important things which you need to be aware of:
Required Number of Parking Spaces
The number of parking spaces required by the ADA will depend on the overall number of spaces in your lot. Parking lots with less than 25 spaces must include at least one spot as a disabled car park.
ADA Compliant Parking Lot Signage
Each accessible space for disabled/handicapped persons must be marked with a sign at least 60 inches (5 feet) off the ground with the international accessibility symbol printed thereon.
Contrary to popular belief, painting of this symbol on the pavement is not legally required.
Further signage requirements may apply to your municipality.
At Asphalt Maintenance Inc., we are always familiar with local requirements so that you can be sure that your parking lot is ADA compliant and locally compliant.
ADA Parking Space Slope Requirements
Parking surfaces and access aisles in the accessible spaces must be firm, slip-resistant and level.
The ADA allows up to 1/48 inches of slope. Because their slope is greater than 1/48 of an inch, your curb ramps cannot extend into the access aisles or parking spaces.
These are just a few of the regulations and considerations regarding compliance with the ADA requirements for parking lots.
Who Regulates ADA Compliance?
There are several government agencies that regulate and enforce ADA Compliance such as the U.S Department of Labor, the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S Department of Transportation, the U.S Department of Justice, as well as a variety of other government groups.
