ORS 447.233 Explained: Oregon's Accessible Parking Law

The Oregon Statute Behind Your Accessible Spaces

Federal ADA is the rule everyone knows. But in Oregon, accessible parking is also governed by state law, and the central statute is ORS 447.233. If you own or manage a lot in Oregon, this is the provision that local building officials apply on top of federal requirements, and it includes details, particularly on signage, that federal ADA does not.

This page explains what ORS 447.233 covers, where it goes beyond federal ADA, and how it is enforced. For the complete picture of accessible-parking requirements, start with our ADA parking compliance guide for Oregon. This is general information, not legal advice, and your local building department is the authority on how the statute applies to your project.

What ORS 447.233 Governs

ORS 447.233 is Oregon's statute setting out requirements for accessible parking spaces at facilities. In broad terms, it addresses:

• The number of accessible spaces required relative to total parking provided
• The designation and marking of those spaces, including signage
• Signage specifications for accessible parking, including Oregon-specific elements
• The framework that ties accessible-parking requirements to the state building code

The statute works alongside the Oregon Structural Specialty Code (Chapter 11), which carries the detailed technical standards. Together they form Oregon's accessible-parking regime, with the federal ADA Standards setting the national floor underneath.

Where Oregon Goes Beyond Federal ADA

The most practical reason to know ORS 447.233 is that Oregon adds requirements federal ADA does not. The accessible-space counts generally track the federal table, but Oregon's signage rules are where the state law adds its own layer.

The standout is the supplemental sign indicating the fine for parking violations. Oregon law contemplates accessible-parking signage that communicates the penalty for unauthorized parking, an element that goes beyond the basic International Symbol of Accessibility sign federal ADA requires. Other states do not all have this. We cover this specific requirement in depth in our page on whether Oregon spaces need a fine amount on the sign, and the signage spec generally in our ADA parking signage and mounting page.

The takeaway: a lot can satisfy the federal sign requirement and still fall short of Oregon's, because Oregon expects more on the sign.

How Counts Work Under Oregon Law

On the question of how many accessible spaces a lot needs, Oregon generally aligns with the federal scaling, where the requirement increases with lot size, roughly one accessible space per 25 total up to 1,000, then a percentage formula above that. The van-accessible ratio of one in six also carries through.

Where Oregon's administration matters is enforcement: the count is checked by state and local building officials when you build or alter a lot, and they apply the state code. So while the number may match the federal table, the entity holding you to it in Oregon is your local building department. The detailed count table and rounding are covered in our accessible parking count requirements page.

How ORS 447.233 Is Enforced

Oregon does not rely solely on federal enforcement. The statute is administered through the state building-code system, which means:

• Permitting. When you pull a permit for new construction or alterations, the building official reviews the accessible parking against the state code and ORS 447.233 as a condition of approval.
• Local building departments. City and county building departments apply the requirements in their jurisdictions, from Multnomah to Marion to Lane and beyond.
• State coordination. Oregon's building codes division sets the statewide standards the locals enforce.

This is different from federal ADA, which is enforced largely after the fact through DOJ actions and private lawsuits. Oregon's building-code path catches issues up front, at permitting, which is often where a non-compliant accessible-parking layout first surfaces for an Oregon owner.

Why This Matters for Your Lot

The practical consequence of ORS 447.233 is that Oregon compliance is not just federal compliance. A lot striped to satisfy the federal ADA Standards can still miss Oregon's signage expectations, particularly the fine-plate element. And because Oregon enforces through permitting, the obligation can surface the moment you apply to pave or alter the lot.

For an owner, that means two things. First, when you stripe or sign accessible parking in Oregon, build to the Oregon standard, not just the federal one. Second, when you plan paving or alteration work, expect the building official to look at accessible parking as part of the review. A contractor who knows both layers, federal and Oregon, stripes and signs to satisfy both, which is the only way to actually be compliant in this state. Our Oregon ADA parking requirements page ties the federal and state layers together.