EZUD Accessible Parking and Entrance Design
Accessible Parking and Entrance Design
The journey into any building starts in the parking lot. If accessible parking is poorly designed, too far from the entrance, or missing entirely, every accessibility feature inside the building is undermined before a visitor reaches the front door.
This guide covers the ADA requirements and universal design best practices for accessible parking, drop-off zones, and building entrances.
Parking and entrance requirements are established by ADA Standards for Accessible Design and may be supplemented by state and local codes. Always verify local requirements.
Accessible Parking: ADA Requirements
Number of Spaces
ADA requires a minimum number of accessible parking spaces based on the total number of spaces in the lot.
| Total Parking Spaces | Minimum Accessible Spaces |
|---|---|
| 1 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 2 |
| 51 to 75 | 3 |
| 76 to 100 | 4 |
| 101 to 150 | 5 |
| 151 to 200 | 6 |
| 201 to 300 | 7 |
| 301 to 400 | 8 |
| 401 to 500 | 9 |
| 501 to 1,000 | 2% of total |
| Over 1,000 | 20 plus 1 per 100 over 1,000 |
For every six accessible parking spaces, at least one must be van-accessible.
Space Dimensions
- Standard accessible space: 96 inches (8 feet) wide with a 60-inch (5-foot) access aisle
- Van-accessible space: 132 inches (11 feet) wide with a 60-inch access aisle, or 96 inches wide with a 96-inch access aisle
- The access aisle must be level (maximum slope 1:48 in any direction), firm, and connected to an accessible route
Signage
Each accessible space must be marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility on a sign mounted high enough to be visible when a vehicle is parked in the space (typically 60 inches minimum from the ground to the bottom of the sign). Van-accessible spaces must include an additional “Van Accessible” sign.
Location
Accessible spaces must be located on the shortest accessible route to the building entrance. In parking structures, they should be on the same level as the accessible entrance or nearest accessible elevator.
Drop-Off Zones
A passenger loading zone (drop-off area) with an access aisle at least 60 inches wide and 20 feet long must be provided when passenger loading zones exist. The access aisle must be level and adjacent to an accessible route. A canopy or covered walkway protects users from weather during transfers.
Accessible Routes from Parking to Entrance
The path from accessible parking to the entrance must be:
- At least 36 inches wide
- Firm, stable, and slip-resistant
- Free of steps (ramps at curbs with detectable warning surfaces where the route crosses a vehicular way)
- Well-lit (minimum 10 foot-candles at ground level for parking areas, 50 foot-candles at entrances)
- Clearly marked with directional signage
Curb ramps at each point where the accessible route crosses a curb must have:
- A slope no steeper than 1:12
- Flared sides with a slope no steeper than 1:10
- Detectable warning surfaces (truncated domes) at the bottom where the ramp meets the vehicular surface
Building Entrance Design
The Primary Entrance Must Be Accessible
Universal design insists that the main entrance — the one everyone uses — is the accessible entrance. Directing wheelchair users to a side door, a back door, or a freight entrance is legal under ADA only if the main entrance is technically infeasible to make accessible (an extremely narrow exception). It is never acceptable from a universal design standpoint.
Door Requirements
- Clear width: At least 32 inches (36 inches preferred)
- Threshold: No higher than 1/2 inch, beveled
- Hardware: Operable with one hand, no tight grasping, pinching, or twisting (levers, push bars, or automatic openers)
- Opening force: Maximum 5 pounds for interior doors; exterior doors exempt from the force limit but should be minimized or power-assisted
- Closing speed: Doors with closers must take at least 5 seconds to close from 90 degrees to 12 degrees
Automatic Doors
Automatic sliding or swinging doors activated by motion sensors, push plates, or touchless sensors are the gold standard for universal design entrances. They eliminate the need to push, pull, or hold a door while navigating a wheelchair, walker, stroller, or heavy load.
Push plates should be mounted at 34 to 48 inches above the floor and should be large enough (minimum 4.5 inches wide) to activate with an elbow, fist, or forearm.
Vestibules
If the entrance includes a vestibule (two sets of doors with a space between), the vestibule must be large enough for a wheelchair to pass through one door, allow it to close, and then open the second door. Minimum vestibule depth is 48 inches plus the width of any door swinging into the space.
Weather Protection
Covered entries protect all users, but they are particularly important for wheelchair users and people who use canes (wet surfaces reduce traction). Canopies, recessed entries, and covered walkways from parking areas to the entrance reduce fall risk and improve comfort.
Lighting at Entrances
Entrances should be well-lit to:
- Help people with low vision identify the door, hardware, and any level changes
- Improve safety at night
- Create a transition from outdoor daylight to indoor lighting (gradual light-level change reduces the temporary blindness caused by abrupt transitions)
Illuminate the entrance area to at least 50 foot-candles. The path from parking should be lit to at least 10 foot-candles.
Key Takeaways
- ADA sets minimum accessible parking ratios, with at least one van-accessible space for every six accessible spaces.
- Accessible spaces must be on the shortest route to the building entrance, with level access aisles and clear signage.
- The primary building entrance should be the accessible entrance, with automatic doors, lever hardware, and a level threshold.
- Covered walkways, proper lighting, and curb ramps with detectable warnings connect parking to the entrance safely.
- Vestibules must be large enough for a wheelchair user to pass through sequentially.
For vertical circulation once inside the building, see Ramps, Elevators, and Vertical Circulation Design. For the complete framework, visit the Universal Design in Buildings and Architecture Guide.
Sources
- 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design — U.S. Department of Justice
- Guide to the ADA Standards: Parking Spaces — U.S. Access Board
- About Universal Design — Centre for Excellence in Universal Design