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Tech Notes: Accessible Electric Vehicle Parking Spaces and Charging Stations

September 11, 2025

Our country’s electric vehicle infrastructure is growing, but accessibility requirements for EV parking spaces and charging stations have lagged behind. We look at how federal guidance and local building codes are beginning to address this gap.

Photo of an electric car being charged. A charging cable is plugged into the car’s rear charging port, with the port cover open showing indicators and symbols. The car’s taillight and part of its body are also visible.

As energy codes and other regulations continue to advance, many cities and states have implemented requirements for electric vehicle parking. Providing sufficient accessible EV parking spaces is essential to ensuring that people with disabilities can drive the vehicle of their choice.

It can take a while for building codes and federal laws governing accessibility compliance to catch up to the latest trends.

What Are the Current Requirements for Accessible EV Parking Spaces?

For years, the required number of accessible EV parking spaces and the technical criteria for those spaces were not specifically defined, leaving designers to interpret how to make this amenity usable for people with disabilities.

Now, although federal requirements have not yet been adopted, the US Access Board has published Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.

Additionally, many local jurisdictions like New York City, New Jersey, California, and authorities that adopt the 2021 edition of the International Building Code, among others, have added specific scoping and technical requirements for accessible EV parking spaces.

The minimum number of accessible EV parking spaces varies by jurisdiction. At least one EV parking space must be accessible under federal laws like the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. Some local building codes, like New York City, require up to 5% of EV spaces to be accessible.

Photo of two blue cars in a parking lot, one parked in a designated electric vehicle charging spot and connected to a charging station. A person stands beside the charging car. The lot includes marked spaces, a no-parking area with diagonal white lines, and green bollards near a grassy edge. — Caption: Accessible EV parking spaces can share an access aisle. An accessible route connecting the access aisle, vehicle charging ports, and the clear floor space at the accessible charging stations is highlighted in yellow. (Credit: US Access Board)

Accessible Electric Vehicle Parking Spaces

Diagram of accessible electric vehicle (EV) parking spaces and charging stations. Two EV charging stations are on a raised platform with a ramp. Two adjacent parking spaces are each at least 132 inches wide, separated by a 60-inch-wide access aisle marked with diagonal white stripes. — Credit: US Access Board

As dictated by several jurisdictions, including New York City and New Jersey, and as detailed in the US Access Board’s Design Recommendations, an accessible electric vehicle parking space complies with the following:

The parking space is a minimum of 132 inches in width;
The parking space is a minimum of 20 feet in length (or the minimum required by the local jurisdiction where not specifically defined in the accessibility code);
The parking space is served by an adjacent access aisle at least 60 inches in width;
The slope of the parking space and access aisle is no more than 2% in any direction;
An accessible route is provided to the charging station; and
An accessible route is provided from the access aisle to the accessible building entrance.

Note that some jurisdictions permit the accessible EV space to be one of the required accessible parking spaces while others, like New York City, do not permit an EV parking space to count as one of the minimum accessible parking spaces in the project.

In most jurisdictions, the accessible electric vehicle parking spaces do not necessarily need to be reserved as an accessible parking space. However, some jurisdictions may require accessible EV spaces to be marked with the International Symbol of Accessibility or to be identified with signage indicating that those spaces should be occupied last.

Accessible Charging Stations

Photo of an electric vehicle charging station in a parking lot. The white station, equipped with a screen and multiple charging cables, is positioned on a raised platform facing the access aisle. Two green bollards are placed beside it, and a yellow rectangular area is painted on the ground in front. The station is oriented to avoid obstructing the minimum required dimensions of the adjacent parking space and access aisle. — Credit: US Access Board

Photo of an electric vehicle charging station in a parking lot. The station has two charging cables and connectors and is positioned parallel to the access aisle, with a small sign indicating it is an EV charging point. A yellow rectangle is painted on the ground in front, and white lines mark adjacent parking spaces. The station is oriented to maintain clear access and avoid encroaching on the required space for accessibility. — Credit: US Access Board

Charging stations must be located so they do not obstruct the minimum dimensions for the parking space and access aisle. The images above show two potential options to achieve compliance.

A 30×48 inch clear floor space (30×52 inch for jurisdictions subject to A117.1-2017) must be positioned for a forward or parallel approach to the station controls. Bollards, curbs, or other elements cannot obstruct access to the station.

All station controls must be located within accessible reach range. For an unobstructed approach (e.g., a parallel approach with a reach depth of no more than 10 inches), controls must be fully operable from 15 inches minimum to 48 inches maximum above the ground surface.

Photo of a person in a wheelchair using an electric vehicle charging station. The station’s controls are positioned within the accessible reach range—between 15 and 48 inches above the ground—allowing for unobstructed, operable access. — Credit: US Access Board

As more jurisdictions adopt specific accessibility criteria for electric vehicle parking spaces, it is important to make sure that each project complies with all applicable requirements. Feel free to reach out to one of our consultants with questions about what applies to your project.

Written by Theresa D’Andrea, Accessibility Director