How many accessible spaces does my lot need?
Count every space in the lot, then read across. The count is per lot, not per building, and it includes employee parking.
| Total spaces in lot | Minimum accessible |
|---|---|
| 1 – 25 | 1 |
| 26 – 50 | 2 |
| 51 – 75 | 3 |
| 76 – 100 | 4 |
| 101 – 150 | 5 |
| 151 – 200 | 6 |
| 201 – 300 | 7 |
| 301 – 400 | 8 |
| 401 – 500 | 9 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 2% |
| 1,001 + | 20 + 1 / 100 |
Stall and access aisle dimensions
The access aisle is not optional and it is not a courtesy gap. It is part of the required space, it must be marked, and it must connect to an accessible route to the entrance.
- Car accessible space
- 96 in8 ft minimum width
- Van accessible space
- 132 in11 ft, with a 60 in aisle
- Access aisle
- 60 in5 ft minimum, full length of the space
- Van vertical clearance
- 98 inalong the vehicle route
There is a permitted alternative for van spaces: a 96 in space paired with a 96 in access aisle. Two spaces may share one access aisle, but the aisle must run the full length of both.
Slope and surface
Accessible spaces and their access aisles must be as close to level as the drainage allows — no steeper than 1:48, which is about 2.08%, in any direction. This is the requirement that catches most older Phoenix lots, because slope gets worse as asphalt settles and after a lot has been resurfaced. It cannot be fixed with paint. If your lot is over the limit, the surface itself has to be corrected.
Signs and markings
Every accessible space needs a sign showing the International Symbol of Accessibility, mounted so the sign is visible when a vehicle is parked in the space. Van accessible spaces need an additional "Van Accessible" designation. The painted symbol on the pavement is common practice and often required locally, but the vertical sign is what the federal standard requires — pavement paint alone does not satisfy it.
What Arizona and your city add
The federal standard is the floor, not the ceiling. Arizona addresses accessible parking in state statute (A.R.S. §28-884), and Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale each have their own zoning and fire-code requirements covering sign height, fire lane marking, and stall counts for specific uses. Before you restripe, confirm the current requirements with your city planning department — the layout your lot was built to may not be the layout it needs today.
Common questions
Does an access aisle count as a parking space?
No. The access aisle is required alongside the space and cannot be counted toward your total space count or parked in.
How often does a lot need to be restriped?
In the Phoenix climate, most commercial lots need restriping every two to three years. UV exposure and surface heat break down traffic paint faster here than in most of the country. Lots with heavy traffic or delivery routes wear sooner.
Can I add accessible spaces without redoing the whole lot?
Often yes, if the slope in the proposed location is already within the limit and there is a compliant route to the entrance. If the slope fails, paint will not solve it and the surface has to be corrected first.
Do I need to close the lot while it is striped?
Only the section being worked. Most commercial jobs run at night or in sections so the business stays open. Water-based traffic paint is typically ready for traffic within an hour in Phoenix heat.
