Parking lot signs are vital aspects of either privately owned areas or public parking spots and are important for improving safety, efficiently directing drivers and pedestrians, designating areas, enforcing regulations and required zoning laws, providing accessibility for disabled individuals, and encouraging better traffic flow.
Parking lot signs can be divided into two primary functions: safety and organization. Safety signs can be anything from a stop or yield sign to pedestrian crossing signs. Their main role is to help prevent accidents and ensure there’s a smooth course for traffic. On the other hand, organizational signs help people easily locate areas and more efficiently use parking spaces. These organizational signs point out reserved parking signs or entrance and exit signs.
What are Common Types of Parking Lot Signs?
There are many types of parking lot signage, some of which are required by state or federal laws, and others which are optional and up to the customer. There are generally three large categories that most parking lot signs fall under: regulatory, warning, and information signs.
Regulatory Signs
Regulatory signs institute regulations and rules that all drivers are required to follow. They are critical for traffic flow, help prevent unsafe driving and remind drivers to check for pedestrians around them. The following is a list of the most common regulatory signs:
Stop signs inform drivers that they must come to a complete stop. Drivers are less likely to speed in a parking lot if they see that there is a stop sign coming up.- Handicapped parking signs reserve and designate available parking spaces for disabled individuals. These signs and parking spaces are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and you can be fined if your parking lot does not have parking spots with compliant spaces and signage. The Federal Highway Administration designed a specific sign, however, check your local regulations for any further specifications.
- Prohibited parking signs let drivers know what areas are strictly prohibited to park in. This includes handicap and fire lane signs. Fire lane signs are another type of required signage that allows access to emergency zones but must be always kept clear. Prohibited parking signs can usually be found near loading zones, entrances, or other areas where parked vehicles could be in the way.
- Yield signs direct drivers when to give the right-of-way to pedestrians or other drivers.
Warning Signs
The second most common category of parking signage are called warning signs. They are used to alert drivers to possible risks, obstacles, or conditions that require caution. Some common warning signs are:
- Pedestrian crossing signs ensure safety by notifying drivers and pedestrians to areas where they are allowed to cross.
- Speed limit signs inform drivers of the maximum speed allowed in an area which helps prevent accidents. Installing speed bumps helps make speed limit signs more effective.
- Watch for children signs warn drivers of specific areas that children frequent and urge them to drive slowly and cautiously in those spots.
Informational Signs
The last big category for parking lot signs is called informational signs. As per the name, they are signs that give information to individuals regarding the parking lot. The following is a list of the most common informational signs:
- Directional parking signs demonstrate any entry and exit points in the parking lot and help guide drivers toward different sections like visitor or employee parking. These are also used if there is parking available behind a building or in other nearby parking lots.
- Reserved parking signs designate reserved spots for specific people or purposes. This includes things like employee parking, spots close to entrances for expectant mothers, and even customer parking spots to keep parking spaces from being used by other businesses.
- Payment instruction signs inform people of various payment methods and instructions on how to pay. These are used in parking lots that require you to pay to park in that area.
- Park at your own risk signs let individuals using that parking lot know that the facility is not monitored or liable for any damage that happens to vehicles present, or any theft.
What Should You Consider about Your Parking Signage?
To be sure that your parking signage is the most effective it can be, many things have to be considered. The following is a short list of the key factors to keep in mind when designing, ordering, and installing your signs from a reputable printing company.
- Be sure to pick the correct signs based on what you need, what your parking lot requires to keep its occupants safe, and what your local regulations call for.
- Make sure your signs are visible and placed in a spot where they can easily be seen by both drivers and pedestrians. Positioning your signs properly helps avoid confusion, and making sure they are easy to read from a reasonable distance helps ensure safety.
- Verify that your signs are compliant and meet all local and federal regulations. These laws typically manage the size, reflectivity, and location of signs.
- Confirm that your design is clear and concise so it can properly communicate the messaging. The color of the background and of the text should have a high contrast to enhance visibility, and the font and size should be clear and legible so it’s easy to read. These are especially important for areas that do not have a lot of light.
- Maintain and upkeep your signs by regularly checking for wear and tear. They need to remain clear and readable to stay compliant. If signs are getting old and can no longer be read, make sure to replace them, or if they are being blocked by objects or foliage, relocate or remove the obstructions.
- Choose a material that is durable and resistant to weather. Common materials for outdoor signs are aluminum, steel, or plastic.
- Check if the sign needs to be reflective or non-reflective. Reflective signs are ideal for parking lots that do not have good visibility at nighttime, and non-reflective signs are best for places that have consistent, good lighting. There are three levels of reflectivity: engineer grade, high-intensity, and diamond grade.
A Reputable Printing Company Can Provide Parking Lot Signs for Any Business
The National Safety Council released that thousands of car crashes occur every year in parking lots or garages. Some parking lot crashes have resulted deaths and injuries. This along with the fact that the NHTSA reported that 66% of drivers are not paying attention in parking lots clearly shows the need for adequate parking lot signs. Using the proper signage and displaying them clearly is vital for reducing these types of events and creating a safer area for both drivers and pedestrians. Work with a reputable printing company for assistance with parking lot signage.
Parking Lot Signs FAQ
The 2010 ADA Standards set the count by lot size: 1 accessible space for 1 to 25 total spaces, 2 for 26 to 50, 3 for 51 to 75 and 4 for 76 to 100, with the count rising from there. At least one of every six accessible spaces must be van accessible. Each space needs its own sign, such as our CS-220 Handicap Parking sign.
The sign must show the International Symbol of Accessibility, and van spaces must also say “van accessible.” Mount it so the bottom of the sign is at least 60 inches above the ground, high enough that a parked vehicle does not hide it. Texas and local governments can add their own requirements, so check them before you order.
Only if the lot is signed the way Texas law requires. Chapter 2308 of the Texas Occupations Code sets rules for tow-away signs on private lots, including where they go at each entrance, how large they are and what they must say. Get the current required wording from the statute or your towing company, and we will print the sign to match.
The local fire code does, and the fire marshal applies it when your site plan or permit is reviewed. In Houston that is the Houston Fire Department’s Fire Marshal’s Office. Follow the approved plan for sign wording, spacing and curb marking, then send us the approved wording so the no parking and fire lane signs match it.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) covers roads open to public travel, and how far it reaches into a private lot depends on state and local rules. Using standard MUTCD shapes and colors anyway, like a red octagon Stop sign and a standard speed limit sign, means drivers never have to guess. On construction sites OSHA points traffic signs to the MUTCD too, see our OSHA signage requirements post.
Put it where a driver could turn the wrong way into a one-way drive or exit lane, facing that driver. That is usually the exit-only end of a one-way aisle or driveway. The standard design is a red circle with a white horizontal bar and the words DO NOT ENTER, so drivers recognize it at a glance. If drivers still get past it, add a Wrong Way sign a short distance in, and mark the correct end with an Enter Only sign so the traffic pattern reads clearly. See our CS-168 Do Not Enter sign.
Most lots start with entrance and exit signs such as Main Entrance and Exit Only, Stop signs at the exits, accessible parking signs, Employee Parking and Visitor Parking signs, No Parking signs at loading zones and fire lanes, and speed bump and pedestrian crossing warnings. Walk the lot the way a first-time visitor would and add a sign wherever you would hesitate.
For posts and walls we print directly onto aluminum with dibond printing and UV-curable inks, done in house at our Houston shop. Aluminum resists rust and holds its color in the sun and humidity. For decals on wheel stops, curbs and walls, such as a back in only parking stop decal, we print durable vinyl decals. See our banners and signs Houston page for more.
Browse our traffic signs and pedestrian signs, then send us the item codes and quantities, or describe a custom sign. We will come back with pricing and a schedule. We have printed in Houston since 1921 as the Gulf Coast’s oldest Union printing company. Call 713-228-9331 or request a quote.
