A reserved parking sign assigns a stall to a specific tenant, unit, or vehicle and is intended to keep all other drivers out. A visitor parking sign designates short-term parking for non-tenants. Both are informational signs on private property -- fully customizable in legend and color. Tow enforcement on either requires a paired addendum that satisfies Oregon ORS 98.812.
Quick Verdict for Property Managers
| Factor | Reserved Sign | Visitor Sign |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Locks a stall to a tenant or unit | Allocates short-term parking to non-tenants |
| Legend | "Reserved" + tenant ID or unit number | "Visitor Parking" + time limit |
| Customization | High (numbered placards) | Medium (color and time-limit variants) |
| Sized | 12 x 18 in default | 12 x 18 in default |
| Tow-warning addendum | Recommended | Recommended |
| Mount height (private) | 4 to 7 ft to bottom | 4 to 7 ft to bottom |
What Does a Reserved Parking Sign Do?
A reserved parking sign assigns a specific parking stall to a specific person, vehicle, or unit. The legend reads "Reserved" or "Reserved Parking" with a numbered placard or named placard identifying the assignment. Common variants:
- "Reserved -- Unit 14"
- "Reserved -- Manager"
- "Reserved -- Permit Only"
- "Reserved -- EV Charging Customer"
- "Reserved -- Compact Cars Only"
The sign is typically mounted on a 2 inch square steel U-channel post at the head of the stall, with the bottom of the sign 4 to 7 feet above the pavement for visibility from the drive aisle.
For numbered tenant assignments at apartments and HOAs, the standard install is one sign per stall with the unit number in large characters. The numbered placard can be a separate 6 x 6 inch panel below the "Reserved Parking" legend or printed integrated on a single 12 x 18 inch panel.
What Does a Visitor Parking Sign Do?
A visitor parking sign designates a stall (or a row of stalls) for short-term use by non-tenants. The legend usually pairs "Visitor Parking" with a time limit:
- "Visitor Parking -- 30 Minute Limit"
- "Visitor Parking -- 2 Hour Limit"
- "Visitor Parking -- Office Hours Only"
- "Visitor Parking -- Day Use"
Color field is typically white or light blue. The time-limit subline is what makes the sign enforceable; without it, "visitor" is purely advisory.
For multi-tenant office parks and apartment complexes, visitor parking is usually grouped near the building entrance or near the leasing office. Standard density is one sign per row of visitor stalls, with the legend visible from the drive aisle.
How Do You Pick Between Them for Your Property?
The choice depends on which problem the sign is solving.
Use Reserved Signs When
- You have specific assigned stalls per tenant, employee, or unit
- You need to lock specific spaces for managers, ADA users (R7-8 with International Symbol of Accessibility), or EV charging customers
- You enforce by tow contract and need to identify which stall belongs to which person
Use Visitor Signs When
- You have non-assigned guest stalls near the entrance
- You want to keep tenants from occupying short-term spaces
- You want to encourage turnover without per-stall enforcement
Most apartment and office properties use both: numbered Reserved signs for tenant stalls plus a Visitor Parking row near the leasing office or main entrance. On a 14,000 sq-ft Springfield apartment property where Cojo replaced 24 perimeter signs in March 2026, the spec was 16 numbered Reserved tenant signs plus 6 Visitor Parking 30-minute-limit signs near the leasing office, with the remaining 2 signs being R7-8 ADA stall identification.
How Do You Make Them Tow-Enforceable?
Both Reserved and Visitor signs are informational on their own. To give an Oregon tow contractor lawful authority to remove a vehicle parked in violation, the sign or a paired addendum must satisfy ORS 98.812:
- Notice that vehicles parked in violation will be towed at the owner's expense
- The phone number of the tow contractor performing the removal
- Posting at every entrance and at intervals visible from any stall
The standard install pattern is a 12 x 18 inch primary sign (Reserved or Visitor) with a 6 x 12 inch tow-warning addendum directly below carrying the ORS-required legend.
For broader sign-product spec on private-property enforcement, see best private property signs. For ranked Reserved sign picks, see best reserved parking signs.
What Posting Density Should You Use?
Posting density is the count and spacing of signs across the property. Both ORS 98.812 and most Oregon jurisdictions expect:
- One sign at every property entrance (driveway approach)
- Signs visible from every stall (typically one sign per 6 to 10 stalls in a continuous row)
- Signs at every change in parking-restriction zone
For Reserved tenant assignments, one sign per stall is standard. For Visitor parking, one sign per row of guest stalls is enough.
Industry Baseline Range
| Item | Baseline Range |
|---|---|
| Stock Reserved sign (12 x 18 in, .080 alum, Type III) | $35 to $75 |
| Custom numbered Reserved sign | $50 to $130 |
| Stock Visitor sign with time limit | $35 to $80 |
| Tow-warning addendum (6 x 12 in) | $18 to $40 |
| 8 ft U-channel post | $30 to $55 |
| Concrete footing + labor | $75 to $200 |
| Installed Reserved + post + addendum | $215 to $480+ |
| Installed Visitor + post + addendum | $215 to $475+ |
Current Market Reality
Custom numbered Reserved sign batches in 2026 are the cost-efficient way to handle multi-tenant apartment re-signs. A 30-stall numbered run from a single artwork file runs roughly 25 to 40 percent cheaper per panel than ordering each panel separately, because the artwork setup amortizes across the batch. Visitor signs with standard time-limit legends are stocked at most regional sign suppliers and ship in 3 to 5 business days.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing Reserved and ADA wording on the same panel -- ADA stall identification needs the federal R7-8 with International Symbol of Accessibility. A custom "Reserved -- Handicap" sign without the symbol is not ADA-compliant.
- No tow-warning addendum on Visitor signs -- the time limit alone does not give tow authority. ORS 98.812 wording is required.
- Mount height drift -- numbered Reserved signs at apartments commonly drift below the 4-foot mount-height floor when a maintenance crew installs them at convenient height. Drivers cannot see the panels.
- Stale tenant numbers -- when a unit turns over, the numbered Reserved placard often does not get updated. The tow contractor will not enforce a sign whose unit assignment has expired.
Practical Recommendation
For multi-tenant Oregon properties, spec a numbered Reserved sign per assigned tenant stall plus a Visitor Parking row near the leasing office, both with paired ORS 98.812 tow-warning addenda. Use 0.080 inch aluminum panels with ASTM D4956 Type III sheeting. Mount 4 to 7 feet to bottom of sign. Reorder Reserved placards from saved artwork files when units turn over.
For the buyer hub, see the parking signs buyer's guide. For the broader compliance picture, see ADA parking compliance Oregon. For Portland-area projects, see parking sign installation in Portland, Oregon. Ready to compare quotes? Get a custom quote.