Accessible Parking Requirements for Small Parking Lots: What Business Owners Need to Know in California

If you own or operate a business with a small parking lot—such as just three or four spaces behind your building—you might wonder: Do you still need to provide accessible parking?

The answer is yes.

What the Federal Code Says:

• Under the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, ALL parking facilities with 1 to 25 spaces are required to have at least one accessible parking space. This rule applies whether your lot is for customers, the public, or employees only.

• For very small lots, the ADA includes an unusual exception: if you have four or fewer spaces, you must still provide the accessible space, but you are not required to post signage with the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) identifying the spot.

Citation: 2010 ADA Standards, Section 208.2; Section 216.5 Exception 1

What does the California Building Code Say?

• In California, the codes are stricter. The California Building Code (CBC) 11B does NOT allow the "no signage" exception for small parking lots.

• That means if you’re in California—even if you have only 3 spaces for example, even if it’s employee parking only—you must have at least one accessible parking space and you MUST identify it with signage.

Citation: 2010 ADA Standards, Section 216.5 Exception 1 2019 CBC, Section 11B-216.5.1 ("Exception 1: Reserved")

Summary Table

Total Parking Spaces	ADA Minimum Accessible Spaces	ADA Signage Required?	CBC Signage Required (CA)?
1-4	1	No	Yes
5-25	1	Yes	Yes

Key Takeaways:

• You must provide at least one accessible parking space, no matter how few spaces you have.

• Under the ADA, signage is not required for lots with 4 or fewer spaces.

• In California, signage IS required, regardless of the number of spaces.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a qualified attorney or consultant for advice tailored to your situation.