Parking Lot Striping ADA Standards For Compliance

Parking Lot Striping ADA Standards For Compliance

As a business owner or property manager, you want to make your property as accessible as possible to the masses. That requires more than just widening building doorways or creating wheelchair-friendly bathrooms. Your parking lot must also be accessible, and a reputable Columbus striping company can get you there. In this blog, we’ll review core elements of parking lot striping ADA guidelines.

What Are Striping ADA Requirements?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and those with limited mobility. It’s an expansive law that covers accommodation requirements in all facets of public life. The impacts of the ADA are most evident in parking lots.

Every accessible stall you see marked with parking lot striping paint is a byproduct of the ADA. The same goes for ramps, signage, and more.

Are ADA Standards Optional?

ADA-compliant parking lot striping is mandatory. The ADA is federal law, and many states also have even stricter requirements. Failing to hire striping companies to include all required features and markings could lead to steep penalties.

First-time violations carry a penalty of up to $75,000. Subsequent offenses can be double that. Plus, states and municipalities can levy additional penalties, and noncompliance could even lead to legal exposure.

How Many Parking Lot Striping ADA Spots Do I Need?

Every parking lot needs a specific number of ADA-compliant parking stalls. The number you need depends on your parking lot’s total capacity. The type of property you manage also comes into play. The best way to determine what’s required by law is to consult an experienced Columbus striping company.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the general guidelines for parking lot striping:

• 1 to 100 Total Stalls: 1 ADA-Compliant Stall Per 25 Standard Stalls, or Fraction Thereof
• 101 to 200 Total Stalls: 4 ADA-Compliant Stalls Plus 1 Additional Stall per 50 Standard Stalls Over 100, or Fraction Thereof
• 201 to 500 Total Stalls: 7 ADA-Compliant Stalls Plus 1 Additional Stall per 100 Standard Stalls Over 200, or Fraction Thereof
• 501 to 1,000 Total Stalls: 2% of All Stalls Must be ADA-Compliant
• 1,001 or More Total Stalls: 20 ADA-Compliant Stalls Plus 1 Additional Stall per 100 Standard Stalls Over 1,000, or Fraction Thereof

In addition to those ADA-compliant stalls, striping companies in Columbus must ensure one out of six accessible spots is van-accessible.

What Do Striping ADA Standards Say About Parking Lot Stall Dimensions?

When striping companies in Columbus create ADA-compliant spots, they must take accurate measurements. Federal law requires accessible stalls to be at least 96 inches wide. Furthermore, every stall needs an adjacent 60-inch-wide access aisle.

Two ADA-compliant stalls can share a single access aisle.

Van-accessible spots are even larger. However, there are two options for striping companies.

The first is to create a 132-inch-wide stall with a 60-inch access aisle. The second is to have a 96-inch stall with a 96-inch access aisle. When contractors stripe or restripe parking lot surfaces, they can determine which option makes most sense for the space.

Do Striping ADA Standards Require a Specific Color?

The federal law doesn’t require a specific parking lot striping paint color. The only mandate is that it’s a bright, high-contrast paint that stands out against the pavement.

Your Columbus striping company will likely use a combination of blue and white parking lot striping paints. White is the outline to mark the boundaries and access aisles. Meanwhile, blue is often utilized to flood the stall and clearly separate it from standard spots.

What Other Features Do I Need?

Depending on your parking lot’s size, shape, and capacity, you may need additional features. All ADA-compliant stalls need accompanying signage. Signs must feature the International Symbol of Accessibility. Contractors must mount it vertically so that the bottom of the sign sits 60 inches above the pavement.

Your parking lot may also need ramps and marked crosswalks. Columbus parking lot striping companies should place ADA stalls as close to the building as possible to create the shortest route to the entrance.

How Do I Ensure Long-Term Parking Lot Striping ADA Compliance?

It’s important to hire striping companies to regularly refresh parking lot striping paint. Failing to restripe parking lot surfaces will cause the paint to fade. That will make your property non-compliant, leading to fees and possible legal ramifications.

Striping companies in Columbus recommend scheduling annual inspections. Most standard paints require refreshing every 18 to 24 months. Having contractors assess your pavement and restripe parking lot surfaces regularly is the best way to ensure long-term compliance.

Let AMP Pavement Marking handle all your ADA compliance needs. We’re an experienced Columbus striping company offering a wide range of services to meet your needs. We do parking lot striping, athletic sports courts, warehouse striping, thermoplastic markings, and more. No matter your needs, you can trust us to deliver exceptional results that are clean, fully compliant, and long-lasting.

Call AMP Pavement Marking today at (614) 398-0085, email info@amppavementmarking.com, or submit your information using our online form to get in touch and request a free quote.