Chapter 5 covers the site-level elements people encounter before and as they approach a building — parking spaces, passenger loading zones, stairways, and handrails. These requirements work together with Chapter 4 (Accessible Routes) to ensure the full journey from parking lot to building entrance to upper floors is accessible.
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Chapter 5 covers site-wide elements that aren't part of the accessible route itself but connect to it — parking, passenger loading zones, and stairways. These are the features you encounter before you even enter a building.
Accessible parking spaces have precise dimension requirements:
Car spaces: 96 inches (8 feet) wide minimum
Van spaces: 132 inches (11 feet) wide minimum, or 96 inches with a 96-inch access aisle
Vertical clearance: 98 inches (8 feet 2 inches) minimum for van spaces (the route to/from the space must also have this clearance)
Surface: Firm, stable, and slip-resistant; slopes not steeper than 1:48 in any direction
Signs: 60 inches minimum above the ground to the bottom of the sign; van spaces marked "van accessible"
Space Sizes & Layout
Units:
Key numbers — Space Layout
11 ftVan space width (132″)
8 ftStandard car space width (96″)
5 ftAccess aisle width minimum (60″)
1:48Maximum slope in any direction (essentially flat)
Signs & How Many Spaces
Key numbers — Signs & Scoping
60″Minimum sign height (bottom of sign to ground)
1 in 6At least 1 van-accessible space for every 6 accessible spaces
98″Minimum vertical clearance for van routes (8’2″)
Passenger loading zones (hotel drop-offs, medical facility entrances, transit stops) must include:
Access aisle: 60 inches wide minimum, 20 feet long minimum, at the same level as the vehicle pull-up space
Vertical clearance: 114 inches (9 feet 6 inches) minimum at vehicle pull-up spaces for van accessibility
The access aisle must connect to an accessible route into the building
Example: A hotel's porte-cochère must have a level loading area with enough room for a side-loading wheelchair van ramp to deploy.
The Drop-Off Area
Units:
Key numbers — Loading Zones
96″×20 ftPull-up space minimum (8 ft wide, 20 ft long)
60″Access aisle width (must be level with pull-up space)
114″Vertical clearance for wheelchair vans (9’6″)
Stairways along accessible routes must be designed for safety:
Treads: 11 inches minimum depth
Risers: 4 to 7 inches high; must be uniform within each flight
Nosings: Can't project more than 1½ inches and must be curved or angled (not abrupt) to prevent tripping
Open risers: Not permitted on accessible routes (a cane can go through and a foot can get caught)
Steps & Safety
Units:
Key numbers — Stairways
11″Minimum tread depth
4″–7″Riser height range (must be uniform within a flight)
12″Handrail extension beyond top and bottom
No openOpen risers are not permitted on accessible routes
Handrails are critical for people with mobility and balance impairments. Requirements:
Height: 34 to 38 inches above the walking surface or stair nosing
Gripping surface: Circular cross section 1¼ to 2 inches diameter, or non-circular with perimeter 4 to 6¼ inches
Clearance: 1½ inches minimum between the handrail and the wall
Extensions: At ramps: 12 inches beyond the top and bottom. At stairs: 12 inches beyond the top riser, extending the slope beyond the bottom riser.
Continuous: Handrails must be continuous within the full length of stair flights and ramp runs
Handrail Profiles
Units:
Key numbers — Handrails
1¼″–2″Round handrail diameter range
1½″Minimum wall clearance (no pinched fingers)
4″–6¼″Non-circular handrail perimeter range
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