4 ADA Requirements for Commercial Parking Lots

When you own and operate a store, office, or medical practice, having a well-maintained parking lot is essential for the safety of employees and visitors. In addition to working with a top-notch commercial paving contractor to maintain smooth surfaces, you also need to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. Here are a few accessibility elements you must include in your parking lot. 

How to Ensure Your Parking Lot Is ADA-Compliant
1. Dedicated Parking Spots
Your lot needs to have the right amount of accessible parking spots. The number of spaces required depends on the total number of spots in the lot. As a general rule, you'll need one handicap spot for every 25 regular spaces. 

When a lot has between 500 and 1,000 spaces, 2% of the total number needs to be accessible. Each accessible space has to be 8 feet wide with an 8-foot-wide adjacent aisle. 

2. Pavement Slope
Accessible spaces and their adjacent aisles cannot have a slope in any direction that exceeds 2%. For example, commercial paving contractors can only create 1 inch of vertical change for every 50 inches of horizontal change. Slope measurements should be discussed and prioritized early in the project to avoid pavement resurfacing due to ADA complaints.

3. Business-Specific Additions
While most commercial parking lots need approximately one accessible spot for every 25 spaces, this factor varies for certain businesses. A parking lot for a hospital, medical clinic, rehabilitation center, or physical therapy office needs 20% of all visitor spaces to be accessible. This regulation accounts for the higher number of people who need accessibility features when using these facilities.

4. Appropriate Signage
Painting blue lines for ADA spaces and vertical stripes in adjacent aisles are requirements for commercial parking lots. In addition, you need post signage to adhere to regulations. Signs must include the International Symbol for Accessibility and should be mounted on a pole at least 5 feet off the ground. 


If you need reliable asphalt paving or snow removal, contact Guarco Construction in Granby, CT. We are family-owned and -operated, and have served Hartford County and the surrounding areas since 1974. We specialize in commercial and residential paving and snow removal. We are renowned for their friendly, dependable service, attention to detail, and competitive rates. Learn more about us online or call (860) 278-5558 to schedule your snow removal or asphalt paving.