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Off-Street Disability Parking Requirements

Vancouver City Council, on November 20, 2001, enacted changes to the Parking By-law to improve disability parking. There is an increased number of people with disabilities and a need for improved disability parking provisions. The new regulations put Vancouver at the forefront among Canadian cities in disability parking standards and reflect the real need. New developments will need to meet higher standards to provide for those with physical disabilities. Complementary changes approved to the City's Building By-law will come into force for any building permit applied for on or after December 17th, 2001, allowing opportunity for developments at an advanced stage in their processing to continue under the old rules.

Highlights are:

• Specific requirements for different building uses compared with the old standard, which was the same for all these uses (3 to 4 times more spaces for nursing homes; generally more than double the number of spaces for multiple residences, medical offices, churches, and retail uses; and generally one extra space for other uses such as commercial offices).
• A reduced threshold at which a disability space becomes required, again varying according to the use (e.g. previously a disability space became required only when more than 50 total parking spaces were supplied, but now is triggered when 10 total parking spaces are supplied for multiple residences, medical offices, churches, and retail uses; or when 25 total parking spaces are supplied for commercial offices).
• An increased minimum size of disability spaces: the width changing from 3.7 to 4.0 metres (12 to 13 ft.) and vertical clearance from 2.0 to 2.3 metres (6.5 to 7.5 ft.) to make them accessible to a greater variety of vehicles.
• Increased clarity in the City's by-laws.
• Provisions to ensure that pay stations, ticket spitters, and entry/exit security mechanisms within parking facilities are accessible to persons with disability.
• Encouragement for conversion of two parking spaces to a disability space within existing buildings by allowing any disability spaces required per the new standards to count as two parking spaces each for the purpose of satisfying the minimum required number of total parking spaces.

The City has already commenced upgrading disability parking within its EasyPark garages and lots. It is hoped that others will do the same. The new regulations have come about only after extensive consultation with disability service groups, advisory groups for persons with disability and seniors, building owners and developers, the design industry, and others. For further information contact Paul Pinsker, P.Eng. of the City's Transportation Division of Engineering Services at 604-873-7917, or by e-mail at paul.pinsker@vancouver.ca.

Background Information:

• Council Report - Subject: Disability Parking Space Requirements (July 9, 2001)
  
  
• Council Agenda - July 26, 2001 (Planning & Environment)
• Council Minutes - July 26, 2001
  
  
• Council Agenda - November 20, 2001 (see By-Law section, items 3 and 4)
• Council Minutes - November 20, 2001

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Comments or questions? Send e-mail to engineering@vancouver.ca.

© , City of Vancouver, Engineering Services
Last Modified: Friday, May 14, 2010