6.1 Accessible Parking: Scoping, Van Spaces, Dimensions, and Signs
Key Takeaways
IBC Table 1106.2 requires 1 accessible space for 1 to 25 spaces, rising to 9 for 401 to 500, 2 percent for 501 to 1,000, and 20 plus 1 per 100 over 1,000, calculated separately for each parking facility.
Hospital outpatient facilities need 10 percent and rehabilitation or outpatient physical therapy facilities need 20 percent of patient and visitor spaces to be accessible.
At least one of every six accessible spaces, or fraction of six, is van accessible (IBC 1106.6).
A117.1 502 car spaces are 96 inches wide, van spaces 132 inches (or 96 inches with a 96-inch aisle), access aisles 60 inches wide and full length, and van spaces, aisles and vehicular routes have 98 inches of vertical clearance.
Accessible spaces are identified by the International Symbol of Accessibility with the bottom of the sign 60 inches minimum above the space, except where four or fewer total spaces are provided.
6.1 Accessible Parking: Scoping, Van Spaces, Dimensions, and Signs
The Parking, Passenger Loading Zones and Bus Stops subtopic carries 4% of the ICC 21 outline. Parking questions combine IBC scoping counts with A117.1 Section 502 dimensions. The 2021 and 2024 IBC use the same Section 1106 numbers (Table 1106.2, van spaces 1106.6); older study materials that cite Table 1106.1 and 1106.5 for vans use the 2018 numbering.
How Many Accessible Spaces
General Table (IBC 1106.2, Table 1106.2)
| Total spaces in the parking facility | Minimum accessible spaces |
|---|---|
| 1 to 25 | 1 |
| 26 to 50 | 2 |
| 51 to 75 | 3 |
| 76 to 100 | 4 |
| 101 to 150 | 5 |
| 151 to 200 | 6 |
| 201 to 300 | 7 |
| 301 to 400 | 8 |
| 401 to 500 | 9 |
| 501 to 1,000 | 2% of total |
| 1,001 and over | 20, plus 1 for each 100, or fraction thereof, over 1,000 |
Where a site has more than one parking facility, calculate each facility separately. The table does not apply to spaces used exclusively for buses, trucks, delivery vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, or vehicular impound and motor pools, provided lots accessed by the public have an accessible passenger loading zone.
Special Occupancies
| Section | Facility | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 1106.3 | R-2, R-3 and R-4 required to have Accessible, Type A or Type B units | At least 2%, but not less than one, of each type of parking space (surface, carport, garage) |
| 1106.3 | Where at least one space is provided per dwelling or sleeping unit | At least one accessible space for each Accessible and Type A unit |
| 1106.3 (2021 only) | I-1 and R-1 | Table 1106.2 |
| 1106.3 Item 4 (2021) / 1106.7.1 (2024) | Parking within or beneath a building | Accessible spaces must also be within or beneath the building |
| 1106.4 | Hospital outpatient facilities | 10% of patient and visitor spaces, not less than one |
| 1106.5 | Rehabilitation facilities and outpatient physical therapy facilities | 20% of patient and visitor spaces serving those facilities, not less than one |
The 2024 IBC applies the greatest number produced by the residential items, and I-1 and R-1 facilities simply use Table 1106.2.
Van Spaces (1106.6)
For every six or fraction of six accessible parking spaces, at least one shall be a van-accessible parking space.
So 1 to 6 accessible spaces need 1 van space; 7 to 12 need 2; 13 to 18 need 3. Exception: in Group U private garages serving R-2 and R-3, van spaces may have vehicular routes, entrances, spaces and aisles with 7 ft of vertical clearance.
Location (1106.7)
Accessible spaces are on the shortest accessible route of travel from adjacent parking to an accessible building entrance. Where a parking facility does not serve a particular building, they are on the shortest route to an accessible pedestrian entrance to the facility. With multiple accessible entrances that have adjacent parking, accessible spaces are dispersed near those entrances. Exceptions: van spaces may be on one level of a multilevel structure, and spaces may be placed in a different facility if accessibility, fee and convenience are substantially equivalent or greater. Parking meters and pay stations serving accessible spaces must be accessible (1106.8).
How They Are Built (A117.1 Section 502)
| Requirement | Section | Dimension |
|---|---|---|
| Car space width | 502.2 | 96 in. minimum |
| Van space width | 502.2 | 132 in. minimum, or 96 in. where the adjacent access aisle is 96 in. wide |
| Marking | 502.3 | Width measured to the centerline of markings (full line width allowed where not adjacent to another space or aisle) |
| Access aisle | 502.4 | Adjoins an accessible route; two spaces may share one aisle; aisles may not overlap the vehicular way; aisle on either side, but angled van spaces have the aisle on the passenger side |
| Access aisle width | 502.4.2 | 60 in. minimum for car and van spaces |
| Access aisle length | 502.4.3 | Full length of the spaces served |
| Aisle marking | 502.4.4 | Marked to discourage parking in them |
| Surface | 502.5 | Comply with 302; slopes not steeper than 1:48; aisle at the same level as the space |
| Vertical clearance | 502.6 | 98 in. minimum at van spaces, their aisles and the vehicular routes serving them |
| Signs | 502.7 | ISA per 703.6.3.1; van spaces say "van accessible"; bottom of sign 60 in. minimum above the floor of the space |
| Relationship to routes | 502.8 | Parked vehicles may not obstruct the required width of adjacent accessible routes (wheel stops or wider walks) |
| On-street parallel | 502.9.1 | Sidewalk or right-of-way wider than 14 ft: a 60 in. access aisle at street level the full length of the space, connected to a pedestrian access route; 14 ft or less: no aisle, spaces at the end of the block face |
| On-street perpendicular or angled | 502.9.2 | 96 in. access aisle at street level, full length |
| Meters and pay stations | 502.10 | Operable parts per 309; displays visible from 40 in. above the center of the clear space |
| EV charging stations at a space | 502.11 | Operable parts per 309; accessible route from the aisle to the charger; cable not obstructing the route when charging; bollards and wheel stops kept out of the clear floor space and route |
A117.1 Section 507 adds that accessible routes passing through parking facilities are physically separated from vehicular traffic, except where a route crosses a drive aisle or runs only from accessible spaces and loading zones to the accessible entrance.
Signs (IBC 1112.1)
Accessible parking spaces required by 1106.2 are identified by the International Symbol of Accessibility, except where the total number of parking spaces provided is four or less. Spaces required by 1106.3 in I-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 facilities do not need identification where spaces are assigned to specific units.
Worked Example
A new medical office building with outpatient physical therapy has two surface lots: Lot A with 180 general spaces, and Lot B with 60 patient and visitor spaces serving the therapy clinic.
- Lot A: Table 1106.2 for 151 to 200 spaces requires 6 accessible spaces; 6 accessible spaces need 1 van space.
- Lot B: 20% of 60 = 12 accessible spaces (1106.5); 12 accessible spaces need 2 van spaces.
- Each lot is calculated separately, and spaces are located on the shortest accessible route to the entrances they serve.
- A van space shown 132 in. wide with a 60 in. aisle complies; a 96 in. van space needs a 96 in. aisle. Vertical clearance under a canopy over the van spaces must be 98 in.
A shopping center parking lot has 640 total spaces. How many accessible spaces does IBC Table 1106.2 require, and how many must be van accessible?
13 accessible, including 3 van accessible
9 accessible, including 2 van accessible
13 accessible, including 2 van accessible
20 accessible, including 4 van accessible
Under ICC A117.1-2017 Section 502, which van-accessible parking layout complies?
A 96-inch-wide van space with a 60-inch access aisle
A 132-inch-wide van space with a 48-inch access aisle
A 120-inch-wide van space with a 60-inch access aisle and 96 inches of vertical clearance
A 96-inch-wide van space with a 96-inch access aisle and 98 inches of vertical clearance
A new hospital provides 150 parking spaces for outpatient facility patients and visitors. How many must be accessible under the IBC?
5, from Table 1106.2
15, because 1106.4 requires 10 percent
30, because 1106.5 requires 20 percent
3, because 2 percent applies to hospitals
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.