During the 25-year anniversary month of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Montgomery County has launched a new initiative to help ensure that the signage for disability parking spaces in Montgomery County complies with the state of Maryland’s Accessibility Code adopted under the Public Safety Code.
Parking lot owners and companies that stripe parking lots in Maryland must comply with the Maryland Accessibility Code adopted under 12-202 of the Public Safety Code. ADA-compliant information is provided on the county’s Department of General Services ADA Accessible Parking page at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dgs-ada/AccessibleParking.html.
Multi-family residential parking lots and commercial parking lots must conform to specific legal standards for providing and erecting signs for disability spaces:
There must be a visible sign to identify each accessible space.
Free-standing signs must be mounted at least 7 feet above the ground with a symbol of accessibility, and include a supplemental sign indicating, “Maximum Fine $250.”
A sign mounted flush to a building or wall must be at least 6 feet but no more than 10 feet above the ground.
The sign must have the international wheelchair symbol of accessibility and the words, “Reserved Parking.”
Van accessible spaces are to be identified with a supplemental “Van Accessible” sign and are accompanied with a supplemental “No Parking in Access Aisle” sign.
In addition, members of the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities, the Commission on Veteran Affairs and other volunteers will be monitoring whether disability signage within the county is meeting the required legal standards.
Potential violations recorded by volunteers will be reviewed by the Commission on People with Disabilities and by the county Office of Human Rights.