While many business owners may overlook it, your parking lot is actually one of the most important parts of your enterprise. It’s the first thing most customers will encounter when they pull in to patronize your business, so you want to make sure that it really shines and gives the welcoming experience that you’re going for.
Landscaping and paving quality play a large part in this, of course, but there’s more to it than that. California parking lot ADA compliance in Santa Rosa, CA is also something that all business owners need to be aware of, and our team of paving professionals is happy to give you some tips to get you started on making sure your parking lot is up to snuff.
Placement and sizes of accessible spaces
There are many things to keep in mind about handicap parking spaces, but first and foremost is size. California parking lot ADA compliance calls for spots that are at least eight feet wide to allow the handicapped sufficient space to maneuver from their car with any extra equipment they have.
The access aisles that allow for this maneuverability also have set sizes—spaces that are built for vans need access aisles that are at least eight feet wide, while car-accessible spaces only need aisles that are five feet wide. One thing to keep in mind is that it is perfectly okay for two parking spots to share these access aisles, so don’t forget to factor that in when planning out your parking lot’s layout.
Marking the spots
California parking lot striping in Santa Rosa, CA is another important part of making sure that your parking spaces and lots are welcoming and accommodating to all patrons of your business and members of the public. California requires the use of the international symbol for handicapped access: a dark blue background with a wheelchair and occupant painted on it in white. While many businesses paint this on the ground, you must also have a permanent sign marking where handicapped access is acceptable. Additionally, other information like van accessibility must be noted on this type of signage. Our team at Sikes Asphalt Group Inc. can help you with any painting or signage you need to get these criteria satisfied.
Number of spaces
There are rules about how many spots must be handicap accessible, and these are based on how many parking spots are in your lot in the first place. For example, if you have fewer than 100 spaces, then you need one handicapped space for every 25 total spaces. If you have 100 to 150 total spaces, then you need to have five spaces that are accessible to the handicapped, and so forth.
Working with California parking lot ADA compliance in Santa Rosa, CA is a huge part of our business at Sikes Asphalt Group Inc. We know these regulations inside and out and have helped countless businesses ensure that their doors are truly open to all. Give us a call any time for assistance in ensuring your commercial parking lot is ADA compliant!
