Defending Your Rights

Illinois residents with disabilities deserve the same high quality of life as non-disabled residents. The Office of the Attorney General is dedicated to tearing down barriers to accessibility for people with disabilities and replacing them with compassion and common sense.

The Disability Rights Bureau strives to make schools, the workplace, and all public facilities open and available to everyone. Questions and complaints about accessible parking represent the largest category of inquiries to the Bureau.

This brochure was developed to clarify accessible parking laws. If you have a question, see an improperly marked accessible parking spaces or find a facility without any accessible parking spaces at all, please contact the Disability Rights Bureau.

It is the goal of the Office of the Attorney General to ensure full accessibility for all Illinois residents.

What is Accessible Parking?

Any facility offering parking for employees or visitors must provide accessible parking for people with disabilities. An accessible parking space consists of a vehicle space and a striped access aisle. The entire space must be kept clear of obstructions at all times, including ice, snow, shopping carts, trash cans, seasonal garden displays, and bicycle racks.

Space Requirements

To comply with Illinois law, a minimum number of accessible parking spaces must be provided:

Hospital Outpatient Facilities providing regular or continuing medical treatment without an overnight stay .................................. 10% of total number of parking spaces

Rehabilitation and Outpatient Physical Therapy Facilities specializing in treating conditions that affect mobility ......................................................... 20% of total number

Accessible Parking: Know the Rules

Location

Accessible parking spaces must be placed on level pavement on the shortest accessible route to an accessible entrance. If a curb ramp already exists, the accessible space may be placed near the ramp, even if it means placing the space further from the accessible entrance. If a curb ramp is new, both the curb ramp and the accessible parking space must be placed closest to the accessible entrance. A curb ramp must never be built into the diagonally-striped access aisle of an accessible parking space.

Size and Markings

Each accessible parking space, except on-street spaces, shall be 16 feet wide, with either an eight-foot wide or five-foot wide diagonally striped access aisle. A high quality yellow paint, manufactured especially for pavement striping, must be used. Two adjacent accessible parking spaces may share an access aisle except for angled parking spaces.

Signs

A U.S. Department of Transportation R7-8 (Reserved Parking) and a R7-I101 ($250 fine) sign must be mounted on a permanent post no lower than five feet from the pavement. The post must be mounted in the center of the 16-foot wide accessible parking space, no more than five feet from the front of the parking space. Municipalities may impose a larger fine (up to $350) through the adoption of a local ordinance.

To Register a Complaint

Individuals who see improperly marked accessible parking spaces, or facilities with no such spaces, can register their complaint with the Disability Rights Bureau.

500 South Second Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
1-217-524-2660
TTY: 1-877-844-5461

100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
1-312-814-5684
TTY: 1-800-964-3013

1001 East Main Street
Carbondale, Illinois 62907
1-618-529-6400
TTY: 1-877-675-9339

This material is available in alternate format upon request.

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