The Oklahoma Bar Journal September 2025

Proper signage is mandatory, with signs displaying the inter national symbol of accessibility mounted at least 60 inches above the ground. 19 Van-accessible spaces require additional signage indi cating “Van Accessible.” 20 Note: For parking spaces, several states and even some municipalities have technical requirements in their building codes that are greater than the minimum standards required by the ADA. If your state or munic ipality falls in this category, follow the more stringent requirement. In general, specific provisions that offer additional protections to peo ple with disabilities override those that are less protective. problems with parking compli ance due to several recurring issues. Inadequate maintenance of accessible spaces, such as allowing debris accumulation or failing to repair surface damage, can render parking spaces unusable. Improper signage placement or missing van-accessible designations are frequent violations discovered during compliance reviews. Perhaps most problematic, some firms attempt to designate accessi ble spaces in locations that do not provide the shortest distance to the accessible entrance of the building. The 2010 standards require that accessible parking spaces be located on the shortest accessible route from the parking space(s) to the accessible entrance. 21 This means that acces sible spaces cannot be relegated to remote areas of parking facilities. Common Compliance Issues Many law firms encounter

Note: One of every six accessible spaces must be van accessible, with a minimum of one van-accessible space required, regardless of the total number of accessible spaces provided. 14

Quantity Requirements For parking facilities, the num ber of required accessible spaces follows a precise formula:

One to 25 spaces: One

accessible space is required 26 to 50 spaces: Two accessi ble spaces are required 51 to 75 spaces: Three acces sible spaces are required 76 to 100 spaces: Four acces sible spaces are required 101 to 150 spaces: Five acces sible spaces are required 151 to 200 spaces: Six acces sible spaces are required 201 to 250 spaces: Seven accessible spaces are required 301 to 400 spaces: Eight acces sible spaces are required 401 to 500 spaces: Nine acces sible spaces are required 501 to 1,000 spaces: 2% of the total parking spaces 1,001 and over: 20 accessible spaces plus one for each additional 100 spaces, or fraction thereof, over 1,000 13

Technical Specifications Accessible parking spaces

must meet specific dimensional requirements. Standard accessible spaces must be at least 96 inches wide with an adjacent access aisle at least 60 inches wide. 15 Van-accessible spaces require a minimum width of 132 inches when adjacent to an access aisle of at least 60 inches. Alternatively, van-accessible spaces can have a minimum width of 96 inches if the adjacent access aisle is also a minimum width of 96 inches. 16 The access aisle must be part of an accessible route to the building entrance and must be marked (striped) to discourage parking. 17 The parking surface must be stable, firm and slip resistant, with a slope not exceeding 1:48 (roughly 2%) in any direction. 18

BUILDING ENTRANCES: ENSURING ACCESS

The entrance of a law firm sets the tone for client relationships

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

52 | SEPTEMBER 2025

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL