What is the most common parking sign size?

12 x 18 inches is the most common size for ADA, no-parking, and reserved-stall signs in Oregon parking lots. 18 x 24 inches is standard for tow-away and fire-lane signs because the larger panel lets the secondary tow-warning legend stay readable from across an aisle.

Do private-property parking signs have to be MUTCD compliant?

No. MUTCD applies on public roadways and within public right-of-way. Private parking lots are not bound to MUTCD wording, but using R-series codes and standard legends keeps the sign enforceable for tow contractors and avoids confusion with public signage. Custom legends are allowed on private property.

How long do parking signs last in Oregon?

A 0.080 inch aluminum sign with ASTM D4956 Type III sheeting and an anti-graffiti laminate runs 10 to 12 years in Willamette Valley conditions. Coastal sites running into salt fog drop to 7 to 9 years. Plastic signs run 2 to 3 years anywhere.

At what height does a parking sign need to be mounted?

ADA Std 502.6 requires the bottom of an accessible-stall sign to sit at least 60 inches above the pavement. MUTCD Section 2A.18 requires 7 feet bottom-of-sign on public roadways. For any sign on a public street or in a public right-of-way, take the 7-foot number.

Can I install parking signs myself?

Yes for low-stakes informational signs on private interior lots. No for ADA, fire-lane, or tow-away signs that have to satisfy code, footing depth, and mount-height tolerances. A wrong-height ADA sign or an incorrectly worded tow-away can void enforcement and trigger compliance findings during an audit.

What Are Parking Signs? Complete 2026 Buyer's Guide

Parking signs are durable aluminum or plastic placards posted in parking lots and along private drives to direct, restrict, or reserve vehicle behavior. The Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) classifies them under R-series codes such as R7-1 "No Parking Any Time" and R7-8 "Reserved Parking" for accessible spaces. Property owners pick by use case, material, reflectivity, and mount height.

Quick Answer for Property Managers

Regulatory signs (ADA R7-8, fire-lane, tow-away) are mandatory and must follow MUTCD wording.
Informational signs (visitor, employee, reserved) protect tenant access on private property.
Aluminum 0.080 inch is the durable default; plastic is short-life only.
ASTM D4956 sheeting grade III or higher gives night visibility for retail and apartment lots.
ADA Std 502.6 requires the bottom of the sign to sit 60 inches above the finished surface.

What Categories of Parking Signs Exist?

Parking signs split cleanly into four working buckets used by every Oregon property manager Cojo serves.

Regulatory Signs

These cite federal or state code and carry enforcement weight. The federal MUTCD Chapter 2B controls every R-series symbol, color field, and minimum size. Common examples include R7-1 (No Parking Any Time), R7-8 (Reserved Parking with the International Symbol of Accessibility), R8-3 (No Parking This Side), and R10 series for EV charging.

Informational Signs

These guide drivers without invoking code: "Visitor Parking," "Customer Parking Only," numbered "Reserved" tenant signs. They are fully customizable but enforceability depends on tow-warning addenda.

Prohibitive Signs

These threaten consequence: "Tow Away Zone," "Unauthorized Vehicles Will Be Towed at Owner's Expense." On private property in Oregon, the legend must comply with ORS 98.812 for a tow contractor to lawfully remove a vehicle.

Fire and Life-Safety Signs

Fire-lane signs sit in their own bucket because NFPA 1 Section 18.2.3.5.1 and the International Fire Code Section 503.3 set their dimensions, colors, and posting density. Most Oregon jurisdictions have adopted both.

How Do You Choose the Right Sign Material?

Aluminum is the default. Plastic is for low-stakes, short-life applications only.

Material	Gauge / Spec	Service Life	Best Use
Aluminum	0.080 inch	10 to 12 years	Public ROW, retail, apartment, fire lane
Aluminum	0.063 inch	7 to 10 years	Low-vandalism interior lots
Aluminum	0.125 inch	12 to 15 years	High-vandalism urban + freeway-adjacent
HDPE plastic	0.055 inch	2 to 3 years	Temporary, event, construction
Polyethylene	0.040 inch	1 to 2 years	Indoor garages only

On a 28,000 sq-ft Salem retail center we re-signed in February 2026, every R7-8 ADA sign and every tow-away placard was specified as 0.080 inch aluminum with anti-graffiti laminate. The previous plastic signs the prior owner had installed in 2023 had cracked at the post grommets and faded to illegible within 28 months.

Which Reflective Sheeting Grade Should You Pick?

ASTM International standard D4956 sets the four sheeting grades that govern night visibility. The MUTCD requires retroreflective sheeting on every public-roadway parking sign; private-lot signs are not federally mandated to be reflective but practical visibility makes Type III or higher the right pick.

Type I (engineer grade) -- 7-year service life, lowest reflectance, weakest night visibility. Avoid.
Type III (high-intensity prismatic) -- 10 to 12 years, strong night reflectance. Default for retail and apartment lots.
Type IV (high-intensity prismatic) -- 12-year life, brighter than Type III at wide angles.
Type IX or XI (diamond grade) -- 12-year life, brightest. Specify for fire lanes and freeway-adjacent property.

What Sizes Do Parking Signs Come In?

Three sizes cover ~95 percent of Oregon parking-lot work.

Size	Application
12 x 18 inches	Standard ADA, no parking, reserved, visitor
18 x 24 inches	High-visibility tow-away, fire-lane, large-lot informational
24 x 30 inches	Long-sightline parking signs, freeway-adjacent retail

ADA Std 703 sets character height minimums for any sign with permanent room or space designation; that requirement passes through to sign legends in parking applications when the sign serves an accessible parking stall.

How High Should a Parking Sign Be Mounted?

ADA Standards Section 502.6 sets the lower bound: the bottom of any parking-space-identification sign must sit at least 60 inches above the finished pavement so a vehicle parked in the stall cannot block the legend. MUTCD Section 2A.18 sets a separate 7-foot minimum for signs along a public roadway. The two standards do not conflict: take the higher of the two for any public-ROW installation, and take 60 inches as the floor for private-lot ADA signs.

What Does the Federal R-Series Code Actually Mean?

Code	Legend	Where it gets used
R7-1	No Parking Any Time	Fire access, hydrant zones, drive aisles
R7-8	Reserved Parking + International Symbol of Accessibility	Every ADA accessible stall
R7-8a	Van Accessible	Add-on to R7-8 above van stalls
R7-201	Reserved Handicap Parking	State-variant of R7-8
R8-3	No Parking This Side	Loading zones, fire-lane edges

The full federal R-series catalog is published in MUTCD Chapter 2B. The Oregon DOT Sign Policy and Guidelines manual tracks state-specific variants and approval criteria for any custom sign installed within Oregon public ROW.

How Are Parking Signs Mounted?

Three post systems dominate Oregon installations:

2 inch square steel U-channel -- driven into compacted aggregate or set in a 24-inch concrete footing. Most common for permanent ADA, tow-away, and fire-lane signs.
4x4 wood post -- set in a sonotube concrete footing 24 to 30 inches deep. Used for HOA or apartment custom signs with multiple placards.
Wall-mount or column-mount -- aluminum brackets on building face or parking-structure column. Appropriate when no clear post line exists.

For Oregon installations, footing depth must clear the local frost line. Most Willamette Valley jurisdictions specify 18-inch frost depth; coastal and high-desert sites can require 30 inches or more.

Practical Buyer Checklist

Before placing an order, confirm these specs against your site:

Sign category (regulatory, informational, prohibitive, fire/life-safety)
MUTCD R-series code if regulatory
Material and gauge (0.080 inch aluminum default)
ASTM D4956 sheeting grade (Type III default; Type IX for fire lanes)
Anti-graffiti laminate for urban or apartment sites
Mount height per ADA 502.6 (60 inches bottom-of-sign)
Footing depth and post system
Tamper-proof hardware for high-vandalism areas

Industry Baseline Range

Item	Baseline Range
12 x 18 inch ADA sign (.080 alum, Type III)	$35 to $75 each
18 x 24 inch tow-away sign (.080 alum, Type III)	$55 to $110 each
Steel U-channel post (8 ft)	$30 to $55 each
Concrete footing + labor per post	$75 to $200 each
Installed ADA sign + post + footing (single)	$200 to $450+

These figures reflect published industry averages. Current market pricing varies significantly and actual quotes may fall well outside these ranges based on site-specific conditions, material costs, and project complexity.

Current Market Reality

2026 prices on installed parking signage in Oregon are running 15 to 25 percent above pre-2024 baselines. Aluminum coil pricing, tamper-proof hardware tariffs, anti-graffiti laminate availability, fuel for two-truck install crews, and locate-call wait times have all moved the per-installed-sign number up. The sticker price of the sign itself is the smallest line on the invoice; the post, footing, and crew time dominate.