When it comes to ADA compliance, most business owners think about ramps, doors, and restrooms—but not the parking lot. Yet the lot is the first point of contact for every visitor. Faded lines, missing signage, or outdated layouts can quietly push a property out of compliance without anyone realizing it. For contractors and facility managers, that can mean fines, lawsuits, or worse—a damaged reputation.
We spoke with John Evans, Founder and CEO of EverLine Coatings, about the most common ADA mistakes he sees across North America and how proactive maintenance can turn a compliance risk into a competitive advantage.
Awareness Gap
Q: From your experience, why do so many property owners and facility managers underestimate ADA compliance issues in their parking lots?
Evans: “Most property and facility teams genuinely care about accessibility, but the parking lot rarely gets the attention the building interior does. In their world, there are fires to put out every single day, and the lot is often treated like ‘just asphalt’ instead of the front door to the entire property. Because of that, compliance issues slip quietly over time—lines fade, signs shift, layouts age—and no one notices until a complaint or incident forces the conversation. In my opinion, the intent is there, but without a structured maintenance approach, ADA and accessibility become a ‘future project.’ Someone else might say it’s simply a lack of awareness, but I see it more as competing priorities.”
Common Pitfalls
Q: What are some of the most frequent ADA compliance mistakes you see in striping, signage, or layout—and what kind of liability or penalties can those lead to?
Evans: “The biggest issues we see are the simple ones: stalls that have narrowed over time, missing access aisles, faded markings that are barely visible, or signage that’s too low, too high, or hidden once a vehicle pulls in. On paper, these look like small misses. In reality, they’re the things that make spaces unusable for people who depend on them.
The fallout can be fines, complaints, legal pressure, and a hit to the property’s reputation. My take is that it’s less about ‘avoiding a ticket’ and more about how people experience your site. A competing perspective might focus strictly on regulatory exposure—but real-world usability matters far more.”
Evolving Standards
Q: ADA regulations and state accessibility standards are subject to change over time. How have you seen standards change in the industry?
Evans: “Standards today are far clearer and more uniform—how many stalls you need, where they should be placed, how wide aisles must be, and how they connect to an accessible route. The bar is simply higher than it was a decade ago.
Where many properties fall behind is when they resurface or restripe. They assume they can just ‘paint what was there,’ but once you touch the lot, there’s often an expectation that you bring things up to today’s standard. Older layouts can look fine at a glance, but they don’t match current requirements. Some would argue this is overkill; I look at it as an opportunity to reset things the right way.”
Regional Challenges
Q: How do climate and regional weather patterns impact paint longevity and compliance risk across different markets?
Evans: “Climate is a major variable. Freeze–thaw cycles, snowplows, and salt will chew up lines in northern markets. In hotter climates, UV and heat fade paint quickly.
The compliance risk is simple: if markings are only visible part of the year, you’re exposed. This is why our teams don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. We adjust materials and maintenance schedules based on how the local weather treats pavement. Someone else might argue for standardization across regions, but in practice, local climate wins every time.”
Maintenance Planning
Q: If a facility manager wanted to add ADA compliance to their annual maintenance schedule, what steps or checkpoints would you recommend?
Evans: “Keep it simple and make it a routine checkpoint. At least once a year—preferably in the spring—walk the site and review:
• Are the stalls and access aisles visible?
• Do you still have the right number of spaces for the building’s size and use?
• Are the signs straight, readable, and at the proper height?
• Is there a clean, direct path to the entrance?
Then schedule re-striping, signage fixes, or small asphalt repairs before your busy season. A small planned spend beats a reactive scramble every time. A different view could be to do semi-annual reviews, but I find annual is enough if you stay consistent.”
Financial Risk vs. Preventive Cost
Q: Could you describe a situation where a property owner avoided or reduced fines through proactive re-striping or audits?
Evans: “We’ve been involved in quite a few situations where a property wasn’t meeting ADA requirements and the clock was already ticking. The building owner or manager would call us in a bit of a panic—they’d received a notice, they had a short window to fix the issues, and the layout wasn’t up to current standards.
In those cases, we had to mobilize quickly, redesign the compliant layout, update the markings and signage, and get everything done within the compliance period. By responding fast and getting the site brought up to standard, those clients avoided fines and kept the issue from escalating. Some people think ADA is something you deal with ‘when you get around to it,’ but these real-world deadlines show how valuable it is to stay ahead of it.”
Franchise Perspective
Q: EverLine operates across multiple states and provinces. What trends or lessons have you observed about how local enforcement or awareness differs across regions?
Evans: “Enforcement varies widely. Some regions are on top of it with regular inspections and formal notices. Others operate almost entirely on a complaint-driven basis—nothing happens until someone raises their hand.
What we see across all markets is that the most well-run properties never wait for enforcement. They want clarity, predictability, and proactive solutions. That mindset consistently delivers better outcomes. Another view could be that enforcement inconsistency is the real problem—but great operators outperform that inconsistency either way.”
Design and Technology
Q: Are there any new materials, coatings, or layout design practices that improve visibility, durability, or compliance for accessible parking spaces?
Evans: “For ADA stalls and high-risk zones, we recommend more durable systems—TBL Durables, for example—over standard paint. These areas see more traffic and need markings that stay bright between maintenance cycles.
We also use glass beads to add reflectivity, which dramatically improves slip resistance, nighttime and poor-weather visibility. When you combine durable materials with smart layouts and strong contrast, you’re not just maintaining compliance—you’re designing it into the property. Some might say paint is ‘good enough,’ but experience tells a different story.”
Customer Experience
Q: How do ADA-compliant parking lot markings contribute not just to legal protection but also to a business’s reputation and customer satisfaction?
Evans: “A clean, well-marked, accessible lot tells visitors you’ve thought about everyone who needs to use your site. It builds trust. It signals standards. People notice when accessible spaces are easy to find, easy to use, and located where they should be.
When the opposite is true—faded paint, crooked signs, cluttered aisles—it makes the entire property feel like an afterthought. Compliance protects you legally, but it also shapes the customer experience. Another opinion might focus strictly on liability, but the reputational impact is massive.”
Professional Insight
Q: What advice would you give to contractors or pavement maintenance professionals who want to position themselves as experts in ADA-compliant striping and maintenance?
Evans: “Treat accessibility as core to your work, not an add-on service. Learn the standards, ask the right questions on-site, and lead clients through the ‘why,’ not just the ‘what.’
When you show up as the partner who helps reduce their risk and elevate their customer experience, you stop being just the line painting company. You become the go-to expert they rely on year after year. Someone else might chase volume; I’d rather build long-term trust.”
Conclusion
As Evans makes clear, ADA compliance in the parking lot is about more than checking a box—it’s about stewardship. For contractors, it’s a chance to demonstrate expertise and help clients build safer, more welcoming properties. For facility managers, it’s an investment that protects their reputation and bottom line alike. In the end, accessible design starts long before the front door—and the best-run properties know it.
