Handicap Parking in Sioux Falls: ADA Stall Layout Guide

ADA and Handicap Parking Stall Layouts for South Dakota Lots

South Dakota does not have its own accessible parking code. Lots here follow the federal ADA Standards for Accessible Design. That means the rules in Sioux Falls are the same rules in Canton, Brandon, and Tea. If your lot is open to the public, the standards apply.

The first thing to figure out is how many handicap stalls you need. A lot with 1 to 25 stalls needs 1. From 26 to 50 you need 2, from 51 to 75 you need 3, and from 76 to 100 you need 4. Lots over 500 stalls shift to 2 percent of the total.

At least one out of every six accessible stalls has to be van accessible. So a lot with 6 or fewer accessible stalls still needs one van stall. People miss this one all the time.

Now the layout. A standard accessible car stall is 8 feet wide with a 5 foot access aisle beside it. A van stall is 11 feet wide with a 5 foot aisle. You can also do an 8 foot van stall paired with an 8 foot aisle if that fits better.

The access aisle is not optional and it is not a bonus stripe. It has to run the full length of the stall and be marked with hatch lines so drivers know to stay out. Two stalls can share one aisle, which saves space on tight lots. Just make sure the shared aisle is wide enough for the van stall next to it.

Slope matters more than people think. The stall and the aisle both need to be close to flat, no more than 2 percent in any direction. Water still has to drain, so a little pitch is fine.

Signs are part of the job too. Each stall needs a sign with the accessibility symbol mounted so the bottom sits at least 60 inches off the ground. Van stalls need a second sign below that reads Van Accessible.

Placement is the last piece. Handicap stalls should sit on the shortest route to the entrance. The path from the aisle to the door has to stay clear, with no curbs unless there is a ramp.

Winter is the South Dakota wrinkle. Plow crews pile snow wherever there is open space, and access aisles look like open space. That aisle needs to stay clear all season. Tell your snow contractor before the first storm, not after.

Old lots are where most problems show up. Layouts from years back often have stalls that are too narrow or aisles that were never striped at all. A repaint is the right time to fix it since the lines are coming off anyway. If your lot also needs the main lines redone at the same time, our parking lot striping crew can handle the full layout in one visit.

Gold Line Striping lays out ADA compliant handicap stalls to spec across Sioux Falls and the surrounding towns. We measure the lot, run the count, and stripe the stalls, aisles, and symbols. If you are not sure your lot meets the standard, we can walk it with you and tell you straight. Request a free quote and we will get you on the schedule.