ADA Parking Compliance Audit in Prineville, Oregon: What to Expect

Why Audit Your Prineville Parking Lot?

An ADA parking audit is a structured, measured walk-through that compares your lot to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design and Oregon's accessibility statute, ORS 447.233. Prineville property owners usually order one for a clear reason: a complaint or demand letter has arrived, a repave or restripe is being planned, or the owner simply wants to manage risk before a problem surfaces on its own.

Central Oregon's high-desert environment stresses parking lots in ways that map directly onto compliance. Intense high-altitude UV bleaches accessible symbols and aisle markings, winter freeze-thaw cracks and heaves the surface, and many of Prineville's older commercial lots — along Third Street and the Highway 26 corridor — were striped before current accessible ratios were required. An audit finds those gaps before an inspector or a serial plaintiff does.

This article explains what an audit covers and how to prepare. For the statewide picture, read our ADA parking compliance guide for Oregon; for the generic methodology, see our ADA compliance audit process guide.

What the Audit Measures

A complete audit covers five areas, each checked against a defined standard.

Accessible Count

The auditor tallies total spaces, then confirms the accessible count meets the ratio — about 1 per 25 at small sizes (1 accessible for 1 to 25, 2 for 26 to 50, 3 for 51 to 75, 4 for 76 to 100), scaling up. Prineville's smaller downtown lots frequently come up one space short.

Van-Accessible Ratio

At least one in every six accessible spaces, rounded up, must be van-accessible with the wider 8-foot aisle. Older lots often lack a properly dimensioned van space.

Dimensions and Slope

Each accessible space is measured (8-foot minimum width, 5-foot standard or 8-foot van aisle), and slope is checked with a digital level. Spaces and aisles must not exceed 2 percent in any direction. Slope failures are common where lots have settled or heaved — a particular concern in Prineville's freeze-thaw climate.

Signage

Each space needs an International Symbol of Accessibility sign at least 60 inches above grade to the bottom of the sign, a "Van Accessible" plate where required, and Oregon's fine-amount plate. The auditor flags missing, faded, low, or non-compliant signs.

Accessible Route

The route from accessible spaces to the entrance is traced for continuity, no more than 2 percent cross slope, no abrupt level changes over a quarter inch, and freedom from obstructions like cart corrals or stored materials.

High-Desert Issues That Flag Most Often in Prineville

Central Oregon audits surface a recognizable pattern of findings:

• UV-bleached symbols and aisle hatching — high-altitude sun strips contrast from ground markings faster than expected, and faded accessible markings can be cited
• Frost-heave cracking and potholes — freeze-thaw breaks the surface in accessible spaces, aisles, and routes; cracks over half an inch and any pothole in accessible areas are hazards and violations
• Slope drift on heaved or settled spaces — winter movement pushes 2 percent grades out of tolerance
• Standing water or ice — ponding and persistent ice in accessible spaces signal slope or drainage problems
• Missing Oregon fine plate — out-of-state sign packages routinely omit it
• Undersized or missing van spaces — older lots predate current van ratios

Many of these overlap with our 10 most common ADA parking violations guide, worth reviewing before an audit.

What You Receive

A professional audit produces a written report: a documented inventory of every accessible space, the measurements taken, photos of each finding, deficiencies ranked by severity, and recommended corrections. That documentation gives you a prioritized fix list and demonstrates good-faith effort if a complaint ever arises.

Preparing for Your Audit

A little prep makes the audit faster and more accurate. Sweep accessible spaces and aisles clear, move any stored materials or cart corrals off the accessible route, and gather your striping date, lot plans, and any prior accessibility correspondence. Walk the lot yourself first — UV-faded symbols, low or leaning signs, and obvious freeze-thaw cracks are easy to spot and give you a head start on the fix list.

After the Audit: From Findings to Fixes

Audit findings sort into striping, signage, surface, and grading. Striping and signage corrections are the quickest and least expensive — restripe to correct counts and dimensions, replace signs at the right height with the Oregon fine plate. Surface and slope work — crack repair, patching, regrading heaved or settled spaces — takes more effort but carries the most liability if ignored, which is why a good report ranks it accordingly. In Prineville, sealing cracks before winter keeps small findings from becoming large ones.

Schedule Your Prineville ADA Audit

An audit replaces uncertainty with a clear, prioritized plan, and it costs a fraction of a settlement. Cojo Excavation & Asphalt audits Prineville and Crook County lots against current ADA and Oregon standards, then handles the striping, signage, and surface corrections the audit identifies.

These standards are general guidance; your lot's specific obligations depend on its size, use, and condition, which is exactly what a site-specific audit determines. Explore our professional striping services, see local pricing in our parking lot striping in Prineville guide, or request a free quote — we respond within 24 hours.