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Parking Lot Striping ADA Compliance Guidelines

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has helped make Richmond far more accessible to those with disabilities and mobility concerns. For businesses, compliance is not optional. While there are many components to consider, parking lot striping ADA compliance is critical. Parking lots are the first point of contact for every visitor, and failing to comply with regulatory requirements could expose your business to lawsuits, substantial civil penalties, and more. Here’s what you need to know.

What Does Striping ADA Compliance Mean?

ADA compliance means your Richmond parking lot striping layout meets all ADA requirements. The ADA is all-encompassing, covering many facets of everyday life. Business owners must ensure the entire property complies with the law, but several core requirements apply specifically to parking lots.

The best striping companies in Richmond are well-versed in all federal, state, and local laws, helping you understand what your property needs to avoid potential violations. However, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the basics.

What If My Parking Lot Isn’t Compliant?

Before we get into ADA guidelines and the features your parking lot line painter will need to apply, let’s talk about the ramifications of non-compliance. ADA requirements exist to make properties accessible to all. Failing to comply could negatively impact your reputation. But that’s not all.

Civil penalties also apply. Fines can be as high as $75,000 for the first offense, plus any state or local penalties. Subsequent offenses can carry a fine of up to $150,000 each! Beyond those penalties, non-compliance opens your business up to potential lawsuits.

The financial risks are severe, so it pays to get things right. Parking lot striping costs are small compared to what you’d have to pay to ignore ADA requirements.

What Types of Features Does My Parking Lot Striping Layout Need?

Parking lots must have a certain number of accessible spots located on the shortest possible route to an entrance. Your trusted parking lot line painter can create designated stalls that meet ADA requirements, but they need clear marking and must meet minimum sizing guidelines. Parking lots need both car-accessible spots and van-accessible spots.

Car-accessible stalls must be at least 96 inches. You must also use parking lot paint to create attached access aisles that are at least 60 inches wide. Every stall needs an access aisle, but two spots can share a single aisle to maximize space during parking lot painting and layout design projects.

There are a couple of sizing options for van-accessible stalls. The first is to have a stall that’s 132 inches wide with a 60-inch access aisle. The second is to have a 96-inch-wide stall with a 96-inch-wide access aisle.

How Many Accessible Spots Do I Need to Comply with Parking Lot Striping ADA Requirements?

The number of accessible stalls your parking lot line painter needs to create depends on the overall size and capacity of your parking lot.

•1 to 25 Vehicles: 1 ADA-Compliant Stall
•26 to 50 Vehicles:2 ADA-Compliant Stalls
•51 to 75 Vehicles: 3 ADA-Compliant Stalls
•76 to 100 Vehicles: 4 ADA-Compliant Stalls
•101 to 150 Vehicles: 5 ADA-Compliant Stalls
•151 to 200 Vehicles: 6 ADA-Compliant Stalls
•201 to 300 Vehicles: 7 ADA-Compliant Stalls
•301 to 400 Vehicles: 8 ADA-Compliant Stalls
•401 to 500 Vehicles: 9 ADA-Compliant Stalls
•501 to 1,000 Vehicles: 2 Percent of Total Stalls Must Be ADA-Compliant
•1,000 or More Vehicles: 20 ADA-Compliant Stalls Plus 1 for Each 100, or Fraction of 100, Standard Stalls

Of the ADA-compliant stalls you create with parking lot striping, at least one of every six must be van-accessible.

Do I Need to Use a Specific Type of Parking Lot Paint for Compliance?

Your Richmond parking lot striping doesn’t need to be a specific color. The ADA doesn’t mandate what colors you must use. However, it does require your parking lot paint to create a high contrast against the pavement for maximum visibility.

The standard for ADA parking lot painting is to use blue and white. Striping companies in Richmond often flood accessible stalls in blue, using white for outlines and symbols. The combination is universally recognizable, easy to spot, and easily designates the purpose of each stall.

Federal law doesn’t specifically require creating the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) directly on the pavement with parking lot painting. However, many property owners opt to do this for greater clarity and visibility. The ADA, however, requires parking lots to have signage with the ISA mounted at least 60 inches above the ground for each stall.

How Can Striping Companies in Richmond Help Me Maintain ADA Compliance?

Some assume they can cover parking lot striping costs once and maintain compliance going forward. However, parking lot paint doesn’t last forever. It fades with time and use, and so does your parking lot’s ADA compliance.

To remain compliant, relevant striping and symbols must remain visible. If they fade too much, you could face penalties.

The best thing you can do is hire striping companies in Richmond for regular inspections and restriping. During an inspection visit, contractors will assess the visibility of your paint and let you know when it’s time to reapply before it fades too much. They’ll also assess overall compliance and alert you to potential issues you should address.

How often you need to restripe your parking lot to maintain compliance depends on numerous factors, but most parking lots benefit from repainting every 18 to 24 months.

CVA Striping is proud to be a trusted source for professional Richmond parking lot striping. We’re an experienced company that uses top-quality paint formulas and state-of-the-art application equipment for precision. We offer a range of services to meet your needs, including asphalt repairs, sealcoating, fire line striping, curb painting, and more. No matter your needs, you can trust us to deliver exceptional results that last.

Get a quote for parking lot striping cost today by calling CVA Striping at (804) 432-3255, emailing cvastriping@gmail.com, or submitting our online form.