Parking Stall Dimensions: What the Ontario Building Code Requires

Parking Lot Maintenance Overview

Parking stall dimensions in Ontario must meet minimum standards — undersized or incorrectly designed spaces can affect compliance, usability, and liability.

Standard parking stall dimensions in Ontario are typically 2.6 to 2.7 metres wide by 5.5 metres deep for a 90-degree stall. These dimensions provide adequate space for an average vehicle to park and for occupants to open doors without contacting adjacent vehicles. Some municipalities specify minimum widths as low as 2.4 metres, but 2.6 metres is the practical minimum for user satisfaction.

Why Regular Maintenance Matters

Accessible parking stall requirements exceed standard dimensions. An accessible stall must be a minimum of 2.4 metres wide with an adjacent access aisle of 1.5 metres or wider. Van-accessible stalls require either a 3.7-metre stall width or a 2.4-metre stall with a 1.5-metre aisle specifically on the driver's side.

Angled parking reduces turning radius requirements but also reduces the number of stalls achievable in a given length. 45-degree angled stalls are 3.5 metres wide (perpendicular to the aisle) and 5.0 metres deep. 60-degree stalls are 2.9 metres wide and 5.5 metres deep. 90-degree stalls maximize capacity per metre of lot width but require a wider driving aisle.

Commercial Parking Solutions

Aisle width must be sufficient for one-way or two-way traffic and for vehicle turning into stalls. A one-way aisle serving 90-degree stalls requires a minimum of 6.1 metres clear width. Two-way aisles require 7.3 metres or more. Undersized aisles increase the frequency of parking lot fender-benders and reduce driver comfort.

Accessible parking space location: spaces must be as close as reasonably practicable to the accessible building entrance. The route from accessible spaces to the entrance must be on a firm, stable, slip-resistant surface with a maximum slope of 1:50 (2%) perpendicular to the direction of travel and 1:20 (5%) along the direction of travel.