Why Phoenix Owners Audit Their Lots
An ADA parking audit is a measured walkthrough that compares every accessible feature of your lot to current standards and returns a prioritized fix list. In Phoenix, both older lots with faded, pre-standard striping and newly built lots benefit from an audit — the first to catch drift out of compliance, the second to confirm the as-built work matches the accessibility design. Either way, an audit surfaces gaps before a customer complaint, an insurer's inspection, or a demand letter forces the issue.
The ADA is enforced largely through private action — any member of the public can flag a barrier — so a faded symbol or a sign mounted too low is enough to draw scrutiny. This guide explains what a Phoenix audit covers and how to prepare. For the rules behind the checks, see our ADA parking compliance guide for Oregon.
What the Auditor Checks
The audit follows a consistent sequence. Our ADA compliance audit process page lays out the full methodology; here is what to expect on a Phoenix lot.
Stall Count and Van Ratio
The auditor counts total spaces and checks the accessible count against the 2010 ADA Standards: 1 stall for 1 to 25 spaces, 2 for 26 to 50, 3 for 51 to 75, 4 for 76 to 100, plus one per additional 50. At least one in six accessible stalls must be van-accessible. Undersupply is common on older lots; on new builds, the audit confirms the design count was delivered.
Dimensions and Slope
Each stall is measured for width (8 feet minimum) and its aisle (5 feet standard, 8 feet for van). The auditor verifies the stall and aisle stay within 2 percent slope using a level. On new lots, this catches any drift between the design slope and the as-built surface; on older lots, it catches settlement and grade issues near interchange embankments.
Access Aisle Markings
The aisle is inspected for diagonal hatching, NO PARKING text, and a clear connection to a continuous accessible route to the entrance. Faded or missing hatching is a frequent flag on older lots.
Signage
Each accessible stall needs the accessibility-symbol sign mounted at least 60 inches from ground to bottom of sign, a "Van Accessible" plate where applicable, and Oregon's supplemental fine-amount sign. The auditor checks mounting height and plumb.
Surface Condition
Cracks over half an inch, potholes, ponding water, and crumbling pavement in the stall, aisle, or route are flagged. The surface must stay firm, stable, and slip-resistant. The Rogue Valley's freeze-thaw winters and hot, dry summers degrade older asphalt, so this section often produces findings.
What You Get
A solid audit ends with a written report: a stall-by-stall inventory, photos of each deficiency, the standard each item cites, and a prioritized fix list separating quick wins (repaint a symbol, raise a sign) from larger work (regrade a stall over 2 percent slope). Our common ADA parking violations checklist shows the issues that appear most often.
Preparing for Your Phoenix Audit
Do a quick self-check first. Walk the lot for faded symbols, low or leaning signs, aisles with no visible hatching, and standing water in accessible areas after a rain. Photograph what you find. Even an informal pass tells you whether you face a simple restripe or a grading project. For local striping context, see our parking lot striping in Phoenix guide.
From Findings to Fixes
The value of an audit is the action it drives. In Phoenix — with both older lots and new I-5-corridor development — findings sort into a few categories, and knowing which one each belongs to makes budgeting and sequencing straightforward.
Quick paint fixes. A faded International Symbol, a worn aisle hatch, or a missing NO PARKING marking is corrected with a restripe. The Rogue Valley's strong summer UV favors a durable paint so the markings last.
As-built corrections (new lots). On a new build, the most useful finding is a deviation between the accessibility design and what was actually constructed — a slope that drifted near an embankment, a stall slightly undersized, a sign set too low. These are far cheaper to correct right after construction than later through a complaint.
Signage corrections. A sign mounted below 60 inches, a missing "Van Accessible" plate, or an absent Oregon fine-amount sign is among the cheapest items to resolve — usually a new post or re-mount.
Slope and grading. A stall or aisle over 2 percent slope is the most involved fix, requiring regrading and repaving of the affected area. Phoenix lots built on fill or near interchange embankments make this a real risk, and a professional survey matters most here because the work is structural.
Sorting the punch list by cost and complexity lets you close cheap items immediately while scheduling any grading for the next dry-weather window.