Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law enacted in 1990 to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities in various aspects of life. The ADA ensures equal opportunities for people with disabilities by enforcing reasonable modifications to facilitate their needs.

The primary areas affected by the ADA include employment, public accommodations, state and local government services, transportation, and telecommunications.

Ensuring your parking lot is ADA compliant is vital to its functionality and helps you avoid potential issues. Here’s why adhering to ADA guidelines is essential:

• Humanity and Ethics: Providing accessibility is a matter of kindness and respect. Making life easier for others contributes positively to your community.
• Legal Obligations: Non-compliance can lead to significant legal repercussions. Violating ADA regulations may result in hefty fines and could even lead to operational shutdowns if not addressed.
• Financial Consequences: Failure to meet ADA requirements can open you up to lawsuits from affected individuals, leading to substantial financial liabilities.

ADA guidelines for parking lots encompass various specifications, including the number of accessible parking spaces, area dimensions, ramps, accessibility exits, lanes, signage, pavement markings, lifts, and more.

Understanding these guidelines is crucial, as overlooking even a single requirement can lead to complications. Here are some key considerations:

• The number of reserved ADA parking spots is determined by the size of your parking lot. For every 25 standard spaces, at least one must be accessible.
• For lots with 501 to 1,000 spaces, 2% must be designated for accessibility. For lots with over 1,000 spaces, a minimum of 20 accessible spaces is required, with one additional space for every 100 spaces.
• Additionally, out of every six accessible spots, at least one must be van-accessible.