U.S. ACCESS BO ARD TECHNICAL GUIDE

Passenger Loading Zones
This guide explains requirements in the ADA Standards for passenger loading zones.

Required Compliance [§209]
Where passenger loading zones are provided, at least one accessible passenger
loading zone is required in every continuous 100 linear feet of loading zone or fraction
thereof. Compliance is required only where areas are specifically designed or
designated for passenger loading, such as those at airports, many hotels, and
convention centers.

At least 1 accessible passenger loading zone is required in every
continuous 100 linear feet (or fraction) of passenger loading zone space.

Required Passenger Loading Zones
Accessible passenger loading zones must be provided at these facilities,
whether or not passenger loading zones are planned:
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licensed medical care and licensed long term care facilities where the
period of stay exceeds 24 hours (located at an accessible entrance)
(§209.3);
parking facilities where valet parking service is provided (§209.4); and
mechanical access parking garages (located at vehicle pick-up and
drop-off areas) (§209.5)

Chapter 5: General Site and Building Elements

Passenger Loading Zones

Accessible Passenger Loading Zones [§503]
Requirements for accessible passenger loading zones address vehicle pull-up spaces
and access aisles, including their dimensions, surfacing, and vertical clearance.
Accessible Passenger Loading Zone
Access Aisle (§503.3)
A marked access aisle is required next to,
and at the same level as, the vehicle pull-up
space. The access aisle must be at least 60”
wide, extend the full length of the vehicle pullup space, adjoin an accessible route, and
cannot overlap vehicular ways. The marking
method and color is not specified.

Vehicle Pull-Up Space (§503.2)
The vehicle pull-up space must be at
least 96” wide and at least 20’ long.

Surfaces (§503.4)
Vehicle pull-up spaces and access aisles
must meet requirements for ground and
floor surfaces (§302) and cannot have
changes in level other than slopes not
steeper than 1:48. Curb ramps cannot
overlap access aisles or vehicle pull-up
spaces.

Vertical Clearance (§503.5)
A vertical clearance of 114” is required at the
vehicle pull-up space and access aisle and
along a vehicular route connecting them to a
vehicle entrance and exit.
Accessible passenger loading zones are not
required to be identified by the International
Symbol of Accessibility.

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Chapter 5: General Site and Building Elements

Passenger Loading Zones

Bus Loading Areas and On-Street Bus Stops [§209.2.2 and §209.2.3]
Loading zones designed for buses that provide general or special service,
including charter service, to the public on a regular and continuing basis
are required to comply with provisions for bus boarding and alighting
areas (§810.2) in the transportation facility section of the Standards. This
includes bus service provided by public transit agencies and other state
or local government entities, excluding public school transportation (referred to as
“designated public transportation” in ADA regulations issued by the Department of
Transportation (DOT)). It also applies to those serving tour, charter, and shuttle buses
operated by private entities (referred to as “specified public transportation” in DOT’s
regulations). On-street bus stops also must comply with requirements in §810.2 to the
maximum extent practicable.

Common Questions
Are accessible passenger loading zones required on sites where no passenger loading
zone is intended?
Accessible passenger loading zones are required at these sites whether or not
passenger loading zones are planned: parking facilities that provide valet parking,
licensed medical care and long term care facilities where the period of stay exceeds 24
hours, and mechanical access parking garages. At all other facilities, the requirements
apply only where passenger loading zones are provided.
What constitutes a “passenger loading zone”?
Only those areas that are specifically designed or designated for passenger loading are
considered “passenger loading zones” under the Standards. This includes those
passenger drop-off or pick-up areas commonly found at airports, convention centers,
schools, and many hotel entrances that have design features, signs, or markings
indicating passenger loading zones. At other locations, compliance is not required even
if passenger loading may occasionally occur, but is not specifically intended or reflected
in the design.
What distinguishes passenger loading zones from bus loading zones?
Requirements for passenger loading zones (§209.2.1) apply to any passenger loading
areas except those that exclusively serve buses providing designated or specified public
transportation as defined by DOT’s ADA regulations, including charter service, which
are subject to criteria for bus loading zones (§209.2.2) or on-street-bus stops
(§209.2.3). For example, at an airport, passenger drop-off and pick-up areas serving
cars, taxis, limousines, vans, and other vehicles are treated as passenger loading
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Chapter 5: General Site and Building Elements

Passenger Loading Zones

zones, while stops exclusively serving public transit buses, hotel buses, and other types
of buses providing designated or specified public transportation must meet criteria for
bus loading zones.
If a passenger loading area serves cars and vans, as well as buses, must the provisions
for passenger loading zones and bus loading zones both be satisfied?
No, provisions for bus loading zones (§810.2) apply only to on-street bus stops and
those bus loading zones that exclusively serve designated or specified public
transportation vehicles. All other types of loading zones for passengers must meet
criteria for passenger loading zones (§503). Where regular passenger loading zones
are designed to serve buses in addition to other types of vehicles not used to provide
public transportation, they remain subject to criteria in §503, although applying the
requirements for bus loading zones in §810.2 as well is advisable, but not required.
Is a compliant passenger loading zone required where valet parking is provided?
An accessible passenger loading zone is required where parking facilities provide valet
parking services (§209.4). Also, an accessible passenger loading zone is required
where passenger loading zones are provided and specifically designed or designated,
such as many hotel entrances, whether or not valet parking service is provided
(§209.2.1). If a site provides valet parking service but contains no parking facilities (i.e.,
vehicles are parked on a different site), then a compliant passenger loading zone is
required only where a passenger loading zone is provided. Here are several examples
of how these requirements apply:
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if a parking garage (or other parking facility) provides valet parking service, an
accessible passenger loading zone is required whether or not a passenger
loading zone is planned;
if a restaurant or hotel provides a designed or designated passenger loading
zone, an accessible passenger loading zone is required whether or not valet
parking service is provided;
if a restaurant or hotel provides valet parking service but does not have a parking
facility on the same site (i.e., vehicles are parked off site in a public garage or on
public streets) and does not have a designed or designated passenger loading
zone, then a compliant passenger loading zone is not required. (Note that
policies and practices must be in place under the Department of Justice’s ADA
regulations so that the valet parking service accommodates people with
disabilities).

Must the access aisle be flush with the pull-up space?
Yes, the access aisle at accessible passenger loading zones must be at the same level
as the vehicle pull-up space it serves.

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Chapter 5: General Site and Building Elements

Passenger Loading Zones

Can curb ramps overlap access aisles?
No, access aisles, as well as vehicle pull-up spaces, cannot have changes in level other
than slopes not exceeding 1:48.
How are accessible passenger loading zone aisles to be marked?
The Standards require access aisles to be marked so as to discourage parking in them,
but they do not specify how markings are to be provided. State or local codes and
regulations may specify such markings. Vehicle pull-up spaces are not required to be
marked.
Are accessible passenger loading zones required to be labeled by the International
Symbol of Accessibility?
No, accessible passenger loading zones are not required to be identified by the
International Symbol of Accessibility.

U N I T E D

S T A T E S

A C C E S S

B O A R D

Advancing Full Access and Inclusion for All
1331 F Street, NW ▪ Suite 1000 ▪ Washington, DC 20004-1111
(202) 272-0080 (v) ▪ (202) 272-0082 (TTY) ▪ www.access-board.gov
May 2016

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