Is Your Parking Lot ADA Compliant?

Perhaps your business or place of work has a parking lot connected to it.  If so, you probably see it every day, but have you ever considered if the parking lot is ADA compliant?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), originally signed into law in 1990 and later amended with changes in 2009, covers a vast range of guidelines that are put in place “to create civil rights law protections for people with disabilities that would be permanent, would not be able to be reversed or weakened, and would prohibit all discrimination,” according to Wikipedia

As a whole, the ADA covers a broad gamut of topics, ranging from how wide a check out aisle should be to how seating should be arranged at entertainment venues to preventing discrimination on the job, and everything in between.  In a nutshell, it’s a comprehensive, standarized way of ensuring that everybody can participate in public activities on a day to day basis, regardless of any disabilities.  Think about it as a plan to eliminate obstacles for visitors at your business.

One part of this law that affects most businesses (particularly ones that are open to the public) is the ADA accessibility of a parking lot and building entrance.  This law includes ramifications on such areas as:

  • The number, size, and location of handicapped parking spaces
  • The arrangement of loading/unloading zones in front of a building
  • The posting of necessary signage
  • The dimensions of curb ramps
  • The specifications of a wheelchair ramp leading to the building’s entrance
  • The removal of barriers in existing lots

When you’re looking to construct a new parking lot or refurbish an existing one, ensuring that your parking lot is ADA compliant can be a lot to consider as planning gets underway.  Undoubtedly, you want to make sure it’s done right the first time so you won’t have to go back and make changes again.

(Though it may seem a bit daunting to ensure ADA compliance based on the extensive wording of the ADA law, there are several benefits for businessowners to keep in mind when undertaking parking lot construction or maintenance, in relation to making it ADA compliant.  We will look at these benefits in a forthcoming blog post… stay tuned!)

That said, if you are in the process of constructing or maintaining a parking lot, and you need help with ADA compliance, please feel free to email us or call us at 215-672-8000 to discuss your plans.  We are happy to assist you in getting the job done right.  Associated Paving Contractors, Inc. (APCON) has extensive experience in constructing or refurbishing parking lots that are ADA compliant, and we work with you through the entire process.

We serve the Philadelphia metropolitan area including Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Chester County, as well as South Jersey and Central Jersey, and even farther regions as needed.

Thanks for reading, and, as always, drive safely!

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