Parking Lot Accessibility Audit: Checking Compliance with AODA and Building Code

An accessibility audit of your commercial parking lot identifies compliance gaps before a human rights complaint or municipal inspection does — understanding what to look for is the starting point.

Parking Lot Maintenance Overview

An accessibility audit of your commercial parking lot identifies compliance gaps before a human rights complaint or municipal inspection does — understanding what to look for is the starting point.

Count your accessible parking spaces and compare to the required number. For parking lots of 1 to 12 spaces, 1 accessible space is required. For 13 to 100 spaces, the requirement is 1 per 25 spaces. Above 100 spaces, additional spaces are required per a progressive scale. Accessible spaces count toward total space count.

Why Regular Maintenance Matters

Measure accessible space dimensions. A standard accessible space must be a minimum of 2.4 metres wide with an adjacent access aisle of at least 1.5 metres. A van-accessible space requires a minimum 3.7-metre width or a 2.4-metre space with a 1.5-metre side aisle (which must be on the driver's side for van lifts).

Check accessible space location. AODA and Ontario Building Code require accessible spaces to be located as close as reasonably practicable to the accessible building entrance. In most properties, this means accessible spaces should be in the front-most row closest to the accessible door, not in a back corner of the lot.

Commercial Parking Solutions

Verify that curb cuts or curb ramps are present at all points where the accessible route from parking to building crosses a curb. Curb ramps must slope between 1:10 and 1:20 (5 to 10%), have a minimum clear width of 1.2 metres, and have flared sides if they project into travel lanes.

Inspect the surface condition of accessible spaces and access aisles. Cracked, heaved, or potholed surfaces in accessible areas that create trip hazards or impede wheelchair movement are accessibility barriers. These must be repaired to maintain compliance.

Devon Moore, Operations Lead Co-Founder & Operations Lead — D&D Commercial Services

Devon Moore is the co-founder and Operations Lead at D&D Commercial Services, delivering professional commercial property maintenance across Waterloo Region.