American Parking Lot Requirements

What state is the proposed lot going to be in??

AZ

try this link:

www.timhaahs.com

some interresting stuff there.

Depends which state, some people in the states are fatter, so will need larger spaces for their doors to open, and them to waddle off between the cars

HEY! As a person of robust physical dimensions, I take offense at the use of the word "waddle".

I'll have you know I "undulate". And very gracefully too.

Here in Mesa a standard stall is 9' wide by 18 ' long.

A handicap stall is 12' by 18'.

Back to back stalls require a total of 60'. 1 18 foot stall, 24' space, another 18' stall.

A single stall , with open end against a wall/obstruction requires 24' clearance, as well.

Stalls can be parallel, perpendicular or, slanted relative to the curb at 30/45 or 60 degrees.

This does vary from city to city.

Can't put my hands on a controlling document. Try Google.

Good morning lynlynch, thx for your note; its exactly what I needed. Since I wrote the ?, I found out that in N. Az, for a regular stall, they use 9x20, with 24' in between, if back to back. For a handicap stall, they use 11x20, with another 5' required for loading. The latter can be dual use, as if there's a walkway there.

As you have discovered, there is no national, nor even state, standard for parking stalls.

Sorry about using the term "stalls" so much. I know that term probably makes you pilots nervous.

Good luck.

LL

Parking lots being generally private property are typically governed by local planning codes. Same with on-street parking. Find a local paver, sealer, or striper and they can give you reasonably good answers as well. Sometimes there is not space or separation requirement at all!...such as with parking lots at some sports venues. 11 feet would be a good, general approximation for "standard" spaces...sometimes a bit narrower for so called "compact."

In the USA building requirements are determined by local town/city Planning and Zoning commissions. Building code is determined by the State. Get a copy of the local P&Z regulations for your answers to questions like this.

Do "COMPACT" parking spaces carry the weight of law? Violation of a Handicaped space will lead to a hefty fine, and should.

However, does the Compact space carry the same protections? If you park your big SUV in one, can you expect a ticket and fine?

Is there anyone who actually knows the definition of COMPACT for such purposes.

steve

Depends.

You'd have to check the specific city's ordinance. It's all there. Lots of towns have this all on their website.

Then, if your officers are doing their job properly, it will depend on the situation and their assessment of same.

For the lane between spaces installed on opposites sides of travel lane, you can go to FHWA and look up the turn radius for vehicles and get the length for the longest vehicles you typically anticipate should occupy spaces. normal spaces are 16' to 18' long and about 8' wide, with a travel lane of 16' to 20'. For a agricultural area, width, length and turnign area of parking spaces must be increased due to prevalence of dual wheel one ton and long bed pick up trucks. I have seen compact go to 12' x 6' but this is really tight.

Here's a local code with lots of "fun facts":

http://qcode.us/codes/temecula/view.php?topic=17-17_24-17_24_050&frames=on

ADA gives the following:

http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm

milo

If the information is not available on FHWA, try CalTrans. Most states use either by direct reference or restatement, the CalTrans Standards for ADA facilities. The local authority will have standards for parking space requirements. State authorities do not usually define these requirements.

This might not go exactly along with the question, but I have to ask. Are you replacing a parking lot, building a new parking lot or just remarking one?