Business and Regulatory Assistance:

ACCESSIBILITY OF PARKING, BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

Iowa Code Chapter 104A authorizes the Building Code Commissioner to establish requirements for accessibility to persons with disabilities for buildings and facilities available to the public, while Iowa Code Chapter 321L
auhtorizes the Department of Public Safety to establish requirements for the numbers, dimensions, and designation of "accessible" (previously termed "handicapped") parking spaces in off-street parking structures and lots available to the public.

Administrative rules regarding accessible parking spaces establshed by the Commissioner of Public Safety are found in 661 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 18.

Administrative rules regarding accessibility of buildings and faciltieis available to the public are found in 661 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 302. These rules are largely based upon the federal Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines published in 1994. Note that there is a later edition of these guidleines, published in 2010. Adoption of Iowa rules reflecting the new guidelines is planned, but has not yet taken place.

Please note that the authority of the Department of Public Safety extends to parking lots and buildigns and faciltieis, or parts thereof, available to the public. For inquiries regarding accessibility or accessible parking for employees, clontact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

For inquiries regarding identification devices authorizing the use of accessible parking spots, contact the Office of Vehicle Services of the Iowa Department of Transportation.