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

What an ADA Parking Audit Looks Like in Wilsonville

An ADA parking audit is a structured, measured walk of your lot to confirm that accessible parking meets the 2010 ADA Standards and Oregon's accessibility requirements. It is not a glance from the curb. It is a tape-measure, level, and checklist process that produces a documented record of what complies, what does not, and what it takes to fix.

For Wilsonville property owners along the I-5 corridor, Parkway Avenue industrial blocks, and the retail centers near the freeway interchange, an audit is usually prompted by one of three things: a recent purchase or refinance, a planned repave or restripe, or a complaint or demand letter. Whatever the trigger, knowing what the auditor checks lets you walk the lot ahead of time and avoid surprises. For the general statewide framework behind every audit, see our ADA parking compliance in Oregon pillar, and for the step-by-step methodology, our ADA compliance audit process guide.

What the Auditor Measures

A thorough audit covers six areas, each measured rather than estimated.

1. Accessible Space Count

The auditor counts total spaces and checks the required number of accessible stalls against the ADA table — roughly 1 per 25 for the first 100 spaces, then a sliding scale. They confirm the van ratio: at least 1 in 6 accessible spaces must be van-accessible. Wilsonville's larger commercial lots often come up short on van stalls specifically.

2. Stall and Aisle Dimensions

Each accessible stall is measured for width (minimum 8 feet) and its access aisle (5 feet for standard, 8 feet for van). The auditor checks that aisles are hatched, flush with the stall, and unobstructed.

3. Slope

Using a digital level, the auditor checks that accessible stalls and aisles stay within 2 percent slope in all directions, and that the accessible route to the entrance stays within running-slope limits. Settlement near catch basins is a frequent Wilsonville culprit.

4. Signage

Each accessible stall must have a vertical sign with the International Symbol of Accessibility, bottom edge at least 60 inches above grade, plus Oregon's required fine-amount plate. Van stalls need a "Van Accessible" plate. The auditor records any missing, low, faded, or damaged signs.

5. Pavement Markings

Faded accessibility symbols, missing aisle hatching, and worn stall lines are all flagged. Markings that are no longer clearly visible can themselves be a violation.

6. Accessible Route

The auditor traces the path from each accessible stall to the building entrance, checking for level changes greater than a quarter inch, trip hazards, wide cracks, potholes, and ponding — all common after Wilsonville's wet winters.

Common Violations Found on Wilsonville Lots

Audits across Clackamas County turn up a recurring set of issues. Our common ADA parking violations checklist covers the full list, but the ones we see most in Wilsonville include:

• Too few van-accessible stalls — older lots striped before current van ratios
• Faded symbols and hatching — high-turnover freeway-adjacent lots wear fast
• Signs mounted too low — below the 60-inch minimum, or missing the Oregon fine plate
• Slope drift — stalls or aisles that settled past 2 percent near drainage
• Route breaks — winter potholes and heaved sections between the stall and the door

How Findings Become a Fix Plan

An audit is only useful if it ends in an actionable list. A good report sorts findings into a clear order:

1. Safety and high-liability items first — trip hazards in the accessible route, missing accessible stalls, blocked aisles
2. Striping and marking corrections — restriping stalls and aisles, repainting symbols, adding hatching
3. Signage — installing or raising signs, adding the Oregon fine plate and van plates
4. Surface and slope work — regrading or repaving where slope or surface condition fails

Striping and signage fixes are usually fast and inexpensive. Slope and surface corrections cost more, which is exactly why an audit before a planned repave pays off — you fold the compliance work into a project you were doing anyway.

When to Schedule an Audit in Wilsonville

The best time to audit is before you repave, restripe, sealcoat, or sell. Catching issues early lets you bundle the fixes into existing work rather than scrambling after a complaint. Spring is a natural window in Wilsonville: winter freeze-thaw and heavy rain expose surface and slope problems, and you still have the full dry season ahead to schedule corrections.

This article is general guidance, not a legal determination of your lot's status. Because compliance depends on exact measurements unique to your property, we recommend a professional survey as part of any audit.

How Wilsonville Compares to Nearby Cities

The audit checklist is identical across Oregon — the same federal standards and the same ORS 447.233 overlay apply in Wilsonville as in Milwaukie or Canby. What varies is what gets found. Wilsonville's larger, freeway-adjacent commercial lots tend to surface count and van-ratio gaps, while small-town lots more often show signage and faded-marking issues. Once an audit is done, corrections typically start with striping — see our parking lot striping in Wilsonville guide for what a local restripe involves.