Parking Facility ADA Compliance in Century City
With 84.9% of buildings constructed before 1990, Century City parking facilities face significant ADA compliance challenges.
Parking Facility ADA litigation risk is extreme in Century City, with settlements reaching $25K — excessive slopes and cross-slopes is the leading trigger. Century City's 10.8% disability rate and 13.4% senior population create above-average demand for accessible parking facilities. Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) oversees ADA compliance for Century City's parking facilities, with 4 local programs supporting accessibility upgrades.
ADA Litigation Risk for Parking Facility in Century City
With a extreme litigation risk and settlements reaching $25K, parking facilitys in Century City face significant ADA exposure — Parking facilities face the highest litigation risk of any ADA violation category in California.
Litigation Risk Level
extreme
Parking facilities face the highest litigation risk of any ADA violation category in California. The risk is driven by three compounding factors: **Visibility and ease of detection.** Parking violations are the single most frequently cited ADA category because they are externally visible, easily measured from a car, and require no building entry to document. A serial plaintiff can photograph noncompliant signage heights, faded striping, or missing van-accessible designations without ever leaving their vehicle—a practice known as "drive-by" litigation. A tape measure is all a plaintiff needs to document a signage violation, and a smartphone with a level app can capture slope noncompliance in seconds.
Typical Settlement Range
$5,000 – $25,000
Most Targeted Property Types
Plaintiff Firms Targeting Parking Facilitys
| Firm | Focus | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Langer | ||
| Peter Strojnik (attorney) | ||
| Cecil Shaw | ||
| Juan Moreno | ||
| Scott Johnson |
ADA Violations & Risk Profile for Parking Facilitys
Excessive Slopes and Cross-Slopes
California enforces a strict ≤2.0% slope rule (1:48 ratio) in any direction for accessible stalls, access aisles, loading zones, and landings. Even a reading of 2.1% constitutes a failure under Title 24.
Standard accessible space: 96″ (8 ft) wide parking space + 60″ (5 ft) access aisle. Slope: Maximum 2.0% (1:48) in any direction for both parking spaces and access aisles. Surface: Must be at the same level as the parking space served; changes in level are not permitted.
Non-Compliant Striping Layouts
Access aisles not meeting width requirements (60″ for standard, 96″ for van), cross-hatching not in 36″ segments, missing blue border, wrong ISA symbol size or orientation, and inconsistent stall widths.
Signage Height and Content Errors
California requires the bottom of accessible parking signs at 80″ above grade in many cases—significantly stricter than federal minimums. Signs must include the ISA symbol, "Minimum Fine $250" placard, and van-accessible designation where applicable. A tow-away sign must also be visible from each accessible stall or vehicular entry.
Insufficient Number of Accessible Spaces
Parking lot does not contain the minimum required number of accessible spaces based on total capacity. Under the 2010 ADA (mandatory since March 2012), the count is calculated per facility (each lot or structure individually), not by total site spaces—a change that catches many property owners short.
The number of accessible spaces is determined by total parking capacity per facility: At least 1 in every 6 accessible spaces (or fraction thereof) must be van-accessible.
Van-Accessible Space Deficiencies
At least 1 in every 6 accessible spaces must be van-accessible. Van spaces must be 132″ wide with a 60″ access aisle (or 108″ wide with a 96″ aisle under CBC exception). Garage van spaces require 98″ minimum vertical clearance. Common failures include wrong width configuration, aisle on the wrong side, and missing "Van Accessible" signage.
Width: 132″ (11 ft) minimum with 60″ access aisle; or 108″ (9 ft) minimum with 96″ (8 ft) access aisle under CBC exception. Vertical clearance: 98″ (8 ft 2 in) minimum for van spaces in garages and covered parking. Access aisle placement: Must be on the passenger side of the van space when shared with a car space.
Path of Travel from Parking to Building Entrance
Routes to and from the parking lot or public right-of-way must be fully accessible, including compliant surfaces, slope, cross-slope, detectable warnings (truncated domes), and protection from traffic. Obstructions from plant overgrowth, cracked or lifted concrete, and missing curb ramps cause automatic failures.
Accessible spaces must be located on the shortest accessible route to an accessible entrance. The route must include compliant surfaces (<2% slope/cross-slope), detectable warnings (truncated domes) at vehicular crossings, and curb ramps aligned with the path of travel.
Surface Condition Deficiencies
Cracks over ¼ inch, potholes, uneven transitions, water ponding beyond 24 hours, and tree-root uplift within accessible zones all constitute violations. Even cosmetic surface issues count as ADA violations under Title 24.
Slope/cross-slope: Maximum 2.0% in any direction. Cracking: Cracks exceeding ¼″ are violations. Water ponding: Must drain within 24 hours.
Loading Zone and Access Aisle Non-Compliance
Passenger loading zones and van access aisles are noncompliant or nonexistent. Loading zones must be at least 60″ wide and 20 feet long, with adjacent accessible route connections.
$4,000 (Cal. Civ. Code §52)
Unruh Civil Rights Act statutory minimum damages per violation
10,773,117 SF across ~20 professional office buildings
Century City office inventory (buildings >50K SF)
42 years (typical vintage ~late 1970s)
Average age of Century City office buildings (as of 2019)
~75–85%
Estimated share of commercial floor area built before 1990
88 identified buildings (LADBS 2018)
Non-ductile concrete buildings in Council District 5 (includes Century City)
A CASp (Certified Access Specialist) inspection provides the strongest available litigation shield under California law. Property owners who obtain a CASp inspection qualify for Qualified Defendant status under Cal. Civ. Code §55.51, which triggers a 90-day automatic court stay upon being sued, an early evaluation conference, and eligibility for a 75% reduction in statutory damages—from the $4,000 Unruh minimum down to $1,000 per violation under Cal. Civ. Code §55.56. This structured mitigation pathway converts ADA risk from an unpredictable liability into a manageable, documented compliance process.
Cost vs. Risk for Parking Facilities in Century City
With parking facility ADA settlements in Century City ranging from $5K to $25K and 8 documented violation categories, a proactive CASp inspection is the most cost-effective protection.
A CASp inspection costs a fraction of a single ADA lawsuit settlement.
Inspection Cost
$1,200–$2,000
2-3 hours on-site
Typical Settlement
$5K–$25K
Based on Century City data
Protection Value
1:6
Return on compliance investment
Who Needs Accessible Parking Facilities in Century City
Century City's 10.8% disability rate and 13.4% senior population create high demand for accessible parking facilitys.
10.8%
Residents with Disabilities
13.4%
Residents 65+
73,065
Veterans
Accessible parking is the #1 most-litigated ADA violation and directly serves this population.
Building Department & Permit Requirements
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) in Century City oversees ADA compliance — CBC Chapter 11B (California Building Standards Code); LADBS plan check applies 11B framework for commercial alterations.
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
City of Los Angeles jurisdiction — Century City is a neighborhood within LA, not an independent city. LADBS handles building permits and code plan review; LA Department of City Planning handles zoning/Specific Plan clearances.
| Current accessibility code | CBC Chapter 11B (California Building Standards Code); LADBS plan check applies 11B framework for commercial alterations |
| Path-of-travel trigger | CBC Section 11B-202.4 — alterations affecting an area of primary function trigger accessible path-of-travel upgrades (entrance, route, restrooms, parking) |
Local Programs & Resources
4 local programs
Safe Sidewalks LA Rebate Program
City of Los Angeles program offering rebates for sidewalk repairs, including accessibility-related work. Subject to funding limits and waitlist-style constraints—private projects should not rely on rebates to offset right-of-way accessibility costs without confirming current availability.
LA County Small Business Mobility Fund
Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity program supporting improvements that may include accessibility and mobility-related upgrades for small businesses. Subject to eligibility requirements and funding rounds.
License #991
State-Certified Accessibility Specialist
Built Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
MS Structural Engineering · Tutor Perini
Qualified Defendant Status
Reduces statutory damages 75% with 90-day litigation stay
Jose Rubio
Certified Access Specialist
CASp #991Jose Rubio brings over 15 years of structural engineering and construction experience to every CASp inspection. He built Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center with Tutor Perini and holds an MS in Structural Engineering.
View full credentials →Frequently Asked Questions
Protect Your Century City Parking Facility
Schedule a CASp inspection and activate Qualified Defendant status under California Civil Code §55.56.