The Most Common Reasons Properties Fail — And How to Fix Them Before a Lawsuit Hits
California has the toughest accessibility standards in the country, combining the ADA 2010 Standards with the far more restrictive California Building Code Title 24.
This means one thing:
Most parking lots in California are technically out of compliance — even if they look “perfect.”
And in 2026, ADA lawsuits in CA continue to rise sharply, with thousands of small violations turning into $4,000+ Unruh Act penalties per instance.
After reviewing hundreds of inspection reports across California, these are the top reasons properties fail ADA inspections — and how to fix them before a plaintiff finds them.
1. Slopes Above 2.0% (The #1 Reason for Failure in CA)
California enforces a strict ≤ 2.0% slope rule in any direction for:
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Accessible stalls
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Access aisles
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Loading zones
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Landings
Even a reading of 2.1% is a failure under Title 24.
Why this causes so many failures:
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Sealcoat and overlays alter grade
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Pavement settling after rains
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Drainage depressions
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Contractors rarely verify with digital inclinometers
If your lot hasn’t been slope-tested in the last 12 months, it’s almost guaranteed to fail.
2. Non-Compliant Striping Layouts
Even fresh striping can fail if it doesn’t match California specs.
Most common reasons:
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Access aisle not 60″ or 96″ wide
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Cross-hatching not 36″ segments
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Blue border missing
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Wrong symbol size or orientation
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Inconsistent stall width
California has specific striping regulations — and anything outside of those creates immediate liability.
3. Signage Height Errors (California Requires 80 Inches Bottom Height in Many Cases)
California has one of the strictest sign height requirements in the U.S.
Frequent failures:
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Signs mounted at 54–60 inches instead of 80 inches
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Missing “Minimum Fine $250” sign
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Wrong sign reflectivity level
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Temporary or movable sign poles
A tape measure is all a plaintiff needs to document a violation.
4. Path of Travel Interruptions
The ADA requires an uninterrupted accessible route from parking to the entrance.
In California, this is where many lots fail.
Fail triggers:
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Blocked walkways
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Plant overgrowth
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Cracked or lifted concrete
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Missing truncated domes
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Curb ramps not aligned with path of travel
Even one obstruction causes an automatic failure.
5. Ramp Issues: Wrong Slopes, Wrong Landings, Wrong Orientation
Title 24 has detailed ramp requirements many contractors don’t follow.
Common fails:
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Slope steeper than 8.33%
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Landings not large enough
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No flat transition area
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Sides not properly flared
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Ramp angle misaligned with path of travel
Ramps are one of the most scrutinized elements in California cases.
6. Pavement Damage in ADA Zones
California inspectors (and plaintiffs) document ANY surface issue inside accessible areas.
Failures include:
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Cracks over ¼ inch
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Potholes
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Uneven transitions
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Water ponding more than 24 hours
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Tree-root uplift
Even cosmetic issues count as ADA violations under Title 24.
7. Missing or Incorrect Van-Accessible Stall Requirements
California differs from federal ADA in several van stall dimensions, and this causes many properties to fail.
Most common issues:
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Wrong width configuration
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Aisle on the wrong side
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Missing Van Accessible signage
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Aisle width below requirement
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Wrong symbol or orientation
Van stalls are one of the most frequently failed items in California ADA inspections.
Why So Many California Properties Fail
Because California combines:
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ADA Federal Standards
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California Building Code (CBC) Title 24
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Unruh Civil Rights Act
This creates a triple-layer of regulations — and a single mistake can trigger:
$4,000 per violation + legal fees + mandatory corrections.
How to Pass Your California ADA Inspection on the First Try
Most failures are preventable with a proactive ADA maintenance plan:
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Annual ADA slope testing
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Post-sealcoat compliance verification
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Proper striping layout based on Title 24
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Signage height audit
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Path of travel evaluation
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Ramp + concrete repair checklist
A 20-minute pre-inspection can eliminate your biggest liabilities.