ADA Van-Accessible Parking: Striping & Dimensions

Van-Accessible Spaces: The Most Critical ADA Parking Requirement

Van-accessible parking spaces serve wheelchair users who depend on side-mounted lifts and ramps to enter and exit their vehicles. These lifts need significantly more clearance than a standard car door. A standard accessible space with a 5-foot access aisle is not wide enough — the lift cannot deploy safely, and the wheelchair user cannot get out of the vehicle.

That is why ADA mandates a specific subset of accessible parking spaces be designated as van accessible, with wider access aisles and specific vertical clearance requirements. Getting ADA van accessible striping wrong does not just create a compliance issue — it creates a physical barrier that prevents people from accessing your property.

How Many Van-Accessible Spaces Are Required?

Federal ADA standards require at least one in every six accessible parking spaces (or fraction of six) to be van accessible. Oregon follows this federal minimum.

Total Accessible Spaces	Minimum Van Accessible
1	1
2 - 6	1
7 - 12	2
13 - 18	3
19 - 24	4

For many Oregon commercial properties with smaller lots (under 100 spaces), the math is simple: you need 1 to 4 accessible spaces total, and at least 1 must be van accessible. For the complete space-count table based on total lot capacity, see our guide to ADA parking requirements Oregon.

Van-Accessible Striping Dimensions

Van-accessible spaces must provide 16 feet of combined width (space plus access aisle) to accommodate wheelchair lift deployment. ADA allows two configurations:

Configuration A: 8-Foot Space + 8-Foot Access Aisle

Component	Width
Parking space	8 feet (96 inches)
Access aisle	8 feet (96 inches)
Total	16 feet

This is the most common configuration in Oregon. The 8-foot space matches the standard accessible space width, and the extra-wide access aisle provides the clearance wheelchair lifts need. The access aisle is on the passenger side of the vehicle (where most side-mounted lifts deploy).

Configuration B: 11-Foot Space + 5-Foot Access Aisle

Component	Width
Parking space	11 feet (132 inches)
Access aisle	5 feet (60 inches)
Total	16 feet

This configuration puts more width in the space itself. It accommodates wider vans and provides interior clearance for rear-entry lift deployment. The narrower access aisle still meets the standard accessible minimum.

Which Configuration Should You Use?

Configuration A (8+8) is preferred for most Oregon properties because:

• It matches the standard 8-foot accessible space width, simplifying lot layout
• The 8-foot access aisle accommodates all current wheelchair lift models
• It can be shared with an adjacent standard accessible space more efficiently

Configuration B (11+5) works better when:

• The van-accessible space is at the end of a row with no adjacent accessible space
• The property primarily serves rear-entry wheelchair vans
• Local building code or fire marshal requires the wider space configuration

Vertical Clearance

Van-accessible spaces must have a minimum vertical clearance of 98 inches (8 feet 2 inches) along the vehicle route to and from the space. This requirement extends to:

• The space itself
• The access aisle
• The vehicle route from the lot entrance to the space

If your lot has overhead structures — canopies, parking garages, covered entries, or drive-throughs — measure clearance carefully. Many older Oregon commercial properties have canopies below 8 feet 2 inches that disqualify spaces beneath them from van-accessible designation.

Striping and Marking Requirements

Van-accessible spaces require everything a standard accessible space requires, plus additional van-specific markings:

Access Aisle Markings

• Diagonal hatching: 4-inch-wide stripes at 45-degree angles, spaced 36 inches on-center
• Border lines: Solid 4-inch lines defining the outer edges of the access aisle
• Color: Blue or white (blue is standard in Oregon)
• "NO PARKING" text within the access aisle (recommended but not universally required)

The access aisle hatching is identical in style to standard accessible spaces — only the width differs (8 feet vs. 5 feet for Configuration A).

International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA)

• Pavement marking: White wheelchair symbol on blue background, minimum 36 x 36 inches
• Placement: Centered in the parking space
• Condition: Must be clearly visible and not faded

"VAN ACCESSIBLE" Designation

This is the marking that distinguishes a van-accessible space from a standard accessible space:

• Pavement marking: "VAN ACCESSIBLE" in white text, painted below the ISA symbol
• Letter height: Minimum 12 inches for visibility
• Sign: A separate "Van Accessible" placard mounted below the ISA sign on the vertical sign post
• Both required: Oregon enforcement expects both pavement marking and vertical signage

Accessible Parking Sign and Striping Together

The complete accessible parking sign and striping package for a van-accessible space includes:

Vertical signage:

1. International Symbol of Accessibility sign (white on blue, bottom at least 5 feet above grade)
2. "Van Accessible" supplemental sign (mounted below the ISA sign)
3. Oregon fine amount warning (required by state law)

Pavement markings:

1. Blue stall lines (8 or 11 feet wide)
2. Blue access aisle border lines (8 or 5 feet wide)
3. Diagonal hatching within the access aisle
4. ISA symbol (36 x 36 inches minimum)
5. "VAN ACCESSIBLE" text

Missing any one of these components creates a compliance gap.

Placement and Location Requirements

Closest to the Entrance

Van-accessible spaces should be placed as close as possible to the building entrance. ADA does not require van spaces to be closer than standard accessible spaces, but best practice — and Oregon building officials' expectations — is to position them in the most convenient accessible locations.

Accessible Route

The access aisle must connect to an accessible route leading to the building entrance. For van-accessible spaces, the route must maintain the 98-inch vertical clearance where the route passes under any structures.

Level Surface

Both the space and the access aisle must maintain a maximum 2% slope in all directions. Van-accessible spaces have even less tolerance for slope issues because a wheelchair lift deploying on a sloped surface creates a safety hazard. A lift that deploys on a cross-slope greater than 2% can cause the wheelchair to roll during transfer.

End-of-Row Placement

Placing van-accessible spaces at the end of a parking row is a common strategy. The wide access aisle extends into what would otherwise be landscape or drive aisle space, preserving adjacent standard spaces. This approach works well in Oregon lots where landscape islands at row ends can be narrowed or adjusted.

Common Van-Accessible Striping Violations

These errors show up consistently during ADA compliance audits:

1. Access Aisle Width Undersized

The most common violation. An 8+8 van-accessible space with an access aisle that measures 7 feet 6 inches fails. Measurements must be taken from the inside edges of the boundary lines — if the paint lines are 4 inches wide, the clear pavement between them must still meet the minimum.

2. Missing "Van Accessible" Identification

A space with correct dimensions but no "Van Accessible" signage or pavement marking is non-compliant. Without the designation, a standard-accessible-permit holder may park there, leaving no spaces available for van users.

3. Vertical Clearance Obstruction

A van-accessible space under a canopy or overhang below 98 inches fails even if the pavement markings are perfect. Check clearance along the entire route from the lot entrance to the space.

4. Faded or Missing Pavement Markings

Oregon's ORS 447.233 requires property owners to maintain markings in visible condition. An ISA symbol that has faded beyond recognition, or access aisle hatching that has worn away, means the space is no longer compliant.

5. Access Aisle Blocked

Shopping carts, snow piles, landscape debris, and illegally parked vehicles in the access aisle are the most common operational violations. Clear markings reduce — but do not eliminate — the problem. Bollards or wheel stops at the access aisle can help.

Cost of Van-Accessible Space Striping

Van-accessible spaces cost more to stripe than standard accessible spaces due to the larger access aisle and additional markings:

Component	Typical Cost
Van-accessible stall lines	$50 - $100
8-foot access aisle with hatching	$150 - $300
ISA pavement symbol	$75 - $150 (paint), $150 - $300 (thermoplastic)
"VAN ACCESSIBLE" pavement text	$50 - $100
Vertical sign with "Van Accessible" placard	$250 - $550 installed
Total per space	$575 - $1,350

This is a modest investment compared to the cost of non-compliance. For comprehensive ADA striping specifications, see our ADA parking lot striping guide.

Get Van-Accessible Spaces Right the First Time

Van-accessible parking is the most dimensionally demanding ADA striping work in any parking lot. The wider access aisles, vertical clearance requirements, and additional markings leave little room for error. A space that misses the minimum by even a few inches fails compliance and creates a real barrier for wheelchair users.

Cojo provides ADA-compliant van-accessible parking lot striping across Oregon, including dimensional verification, proper signage installation, and clearance assessment. Contact Cojo for a free compliance review, or learn more about our striping services.

---