ADA Parking Compliance for Molalla Property Owners
Molalla sits in the rural southeast corner of Clackamas County, a timber-and-agriculture town known for its summer Buckeroo rodeo and a compact Main Street commercial core serving the surrounding farm country. Its lots range from small downtown retail and churches to the larger event parking the Buckeroo draws each July. Whatever you manage, your parking has to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act and Oregon's accessibility rules. This guide covers what compliance means for a Molalla lot in 2026.
For the complete statewide reference, link up to our ADA parking compliance in Oregon pillar. This page focuses on what applies locally.
How Many Accessible Spaces Molalla Lots Need
The required number of accessible spaces is set by total lot capacity under the 2010 ADA Standards — roughly one accessible space per 25 total spaces, scaling up on larger lots:
- 1–25 spaces: 1 accessible
- 26–50 spaces: 2 accessible
- 51–75 spaces: 3 accessible
- 76–100 spaces: 4 accessible
Larger lots — including the event and rodeo parking Molalla fills in summer — continue the pattern. At least one in every six accessible spaces (rounded up) must be van-accessible. Outpatient medical facilities require 10 percent accessible, and rehab and physical-therapy facilities 20 percent. The full table is in our guide on how many accessible spaces you need.
Accessible Space Design
Standard Stalls
A standard accessible stall is at least 8 feet wide with an adjacent 5-foot access aisle, on a firm, stable, slip-resistant surface, with slope no greater than 2 percent in any direction.
Van-Accessible Stalls
Van stalls use either an 8-foot space with an 8-foot access aisle, or an 11-foot space with a 5-foot access aisle, with at least 98 inches of vertical clearance along the van's route.
Access Aisles
Each accessible stall needs its striped access aisle, marked with diagonal hatching and kept clear, connecting to an accessible route to the building entrance. Adjacent stalls can share one aisle.
Slope and Local Conditions
Molalla's foothill setting at the edge of the Cascade timber country means some lots sit on gentle grades. Accessible stalls and aisles must stay at or below 2 percent in every direction, and lots built on slopes or fill can drift out of tolerance as they settle. Standing water in an accessible stall is a clear sign of a grading problem. The area's wet winters and occasional freeze-thaw also keep accessible routes damp and stress older asphalt, so a firm, well-drained, slip-resistant surface matters.
Signage
Each accessible stall needs a vertical sign with the International Symbol of Accessibility mounted at least 60 inches above grade, with a "Van Accessible" plate below for van stalls. Oregon also requires a posted sign stating the state fine for parking illegally in an accessible space. For the full signage spec, see our ADA parking sign requirements guide.
Surface and Maintenance
Compliance extends to surface condition. Cracks wider than half an inch, potholes, abrupt level changes over a quarter inch, and ponding water in accessible stalls, aisles, and routes are violations. Oregon's freeze-thaw cycles and wet winters degrade asphalt along accessible routes, so they should be inspected regularly and kept in good repair. Faded markings and the wheelchair symbol also need refreshing as they wear.
When Repaving Triggers Upgrades
Routine maintenance — sealcoating, crack sealing, patching, restriping existing markings — does not trigger ADA upgrades, but you cannot make the lot less accessible than it is. A full repave or significant reconstruction is an "alteration," obligating you to make the path of travel accessible and spend up to 20 percent of project cost on accessibility if it is not already compliant. Oregon's accessibility code (OSSC Chapter 11) can add requirements beyond federal ADA — check with the Molalla building department.
How to Get Compliant in Molalla
The practical path is an audit to find the gaps, then a restripe to correct counts, widths, symbols, and aisles, with signage and any surface or slope repair around it. For how the audit works, see our ADA compliance audit process guide, and for local striping context, our parking lot striping in Molalla page.