Accessible Parking:
Know the Rules
Any facility oering parking for employees
or visitors must provide accessible parking
for people with disabilities. An accessible
parking space consists of a vehicle space and a
diagonally striped access aisle. e entire space
must be kept clear of obstructions— including
ice, snow, shopping cart corrals, trash cans,
seasonal garden displays and bicycle racks—at
all times.
SIZE AND MARKINGS
Each accessible parking space, except on-street
spaces, shall be 16 feet wide, including either an
eight-foot or ve-foot wide diagonally striped
access aisle. e access aisle may be located on
either side of the vehicle space except for angled
parking spaces, which shall have the access aisle
located on the passenger side of the vehicle
space. Access aisles shall be marked with
diagonal striping so as to discourage parking in
them. Two parking spaces may share an access
aisle except for angled parking spaces.
High-quality yellow paint, manufactured
especially for pavement striping, must be used.
LOCATION
Accessible parking must be placed on level
pavement on the shortest accessible route to an
accessible facility entrance. e accessible route,
which may include a curb ramp or curb cut, must
be installed as close as possible to the accessible
entrance it serves. Additionally, a curb ramp
must never be built so that it protrudes into or
interferes with the diagonally striped access aisle
of an accessible space.
SIGNS
A U.S. Department of Transportation R7-8
(Reserved Parking) and R7-I101 ($250 Fine)
sign must be permanently mounted in the
center of the parking space. e signs must be
vertically mounted on a post or wall at front
center of the parking space, no more than 6 feet
horizontally from the front of the parking space.
At a minimum, the bottom of the R7-8 sign must
be 5 feet from the pavement. Municipalities may
impose a larger ne through the adoption of a
local ordinance.
PROPER USE OF LICENSE PLATES/PLACARDS
Under Illinois law, disability license plates,
disabled veterans plates and placards are not
transferable. e authorized holder must be
present and must enter or exit the vehicle at
the time the parking privileges are being used.
Unauthorized use can result in a $600 ne,
driver’s license suspension and suspension or
revocation of the plate or placard by the Illinois
Secretary of State.
SPACE REQUIREMENTS
To comply with Illinois law, a minimum
number of accessible parking spaces must
be provided:
Total O-Street Number of
Parking Spaces Accessible Parking
Provided Spaces Required
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
over 1,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 plus 1 for each
100 over 1,000
Hospital Outpatient Facilities providing regular
or continuing medical treatment without an
overnight stay……10% of total
Rehabilitation and Outpatient Physical erapy
Facilities specializing in treating conditions that
aect mobility……20% of total
250
$
FINE
RESERVED
PARKING
Illustraon of a legal angled accessible parking space.
Illustraon of two examples of legal accessible parking
spaces.
11' min.
5' min.
5' min.
8' min.8' min.
5' min.