A blue parking space and a sign may look finished from the driver’s seat. In Texas, the details on the pavement and the access aisle matter just as much. A rule that took effect August 1, 2020 added specific marking and signage requirements for paved accessible parking spaces.
What the Texas rule calls for
Under TDLR Rule 68.104, a paved accessible space must have the International Symbol of Accessibility painted conspicuously on the surface in a color that contrasts with the pavement. An adjacent access aisle must have NO PARKING painted in capital letters, centered within the aisle. The letters must be at least 12 inches high with strokes at least 2 inches wide.
The space also needs a sign stating, at minimum, “Violators Subject to Fine and Towing” in letters at least one inch high. The notice can be part of the parking identification sign or mounted no more than eight inches below it, with the notice’s bottom edge between 48 and 80 inches above ground. The Texas Accessibility Standards still govern the underlying layout, including accessible routes, space and aisle dimensions, slopes, and identification signs.
Does every older lot need an immediate repaint?
No blanket retrofit follows from the 2020 effective date alone. TDLR’s implementation notice applies the rule to projects registered with TDLR on or after August 1, 2020 and to new or alteration construction beginning on or after that date when accessible parking requirements are involved, including projects below the registration threshold. The scope and timing of work at an existing property deserve a site-specific review.
A useful walk-through for property managers
Look at each accessible stall from the direction a driver approaches it. Is the pavement symbol visible and contrasting? Can someone read NO PARKING in every adjacent access aisle? Is the fine-and-towing notice present and legible? Then check whether paint, parked cars, wheel stops, or posts interfere with the aisle or the route to the entrance. Good striping helps preserve the space people actually need to get in and out of a vehicle.
At H-Town Line & Shine, we can review your existing markings, document what appears to need attention, and plan striping around an occupied property. We can also coordinate the right scope with your design or accessibility professional when a project calls for one. Send Andy your property address and we’ll take a look.
Illustration: the cowboy hat is a Texas wink, not part of a required accessible parking symbol or a sign fabrication specification.
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