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Parking Signs
Dornbos Sign & Safety makes no parking, tow-away, reserved, ADA, and fire lane parking signs for cities, HOAs, apartment communities, schools, and business lots. Every sign is made in the USA in Charlotte, Michigan, on .080 traffic-grade aluminum with 3M reflective sheeting, and stock signs ship nationwide in 2–10 business days.
No Parking, Tow-Away, ADA & Fire Lane Signs
Everything you need to choose, word and mount parking signs: winter ban wording, the right sign for each spot, ADA space counts, mounting heights and tow-away rules.
Winter parking ban and snow removal signs
Post winter parking signs before the first snow, not after the first tow. Plow crews need lots and streets clear overnight, and drivers can't follow a ban they can't see. Put a sign at every lot entrance and along each street the ban covers, so a driver sees one before parking.
Wording for a winter parking ban sign
For a winter ban, order the No Parking sign with custom text. The top reads NO PARKING in red; you add the hours and dates below. Examples:
- "2 AM–6 AM, Nov. 1–April 1"
- "When Snow Exceeds 2 Inches"
- "Snow Removal: Lot Closed Overnight"
Cities posting a snow emergency route can order a fully custom sign. Pair either one with No Parking Violators Will Be Towed where you plan to enforce.
Order Timing
Order by early November so signs are up before the first plow run.
Which parking sign do I need?
- Streets and curbs: R7-1 No Parking At Any Time, R7-13 No Parking This Side of Street, or R7-14 No Stopping, Standing or Parking where cars can't stop at all.
- Marking where a no-parking zone starts and ends: R7-12 No Parking Between Signs, or the arrow versions of R7-1 and the R8-3 No Parking symbol sign. Arrows point toward the restricted area.
- Lots enforced by towing: R7-201 Tow-Away Zone, No Parking Violators Will Be Towed or Customer Parking Only, Unauthorized Vehicles Towed.
- Accessible spaces: R7-8 Handicap Parking Only and the R7-8E Van Accessible sign. Left- and right-arrow versions are available for shared aisles.
- Fire lanes and building fronts: R7-32 No Parking Fire Lane, with left, right and double-arrow versions.
- Loading docks: R7-6 No Parking Loading Zone.
- Reserved spaces: Visitor Parking Only, Expecting Mothers, Veteran Parking Only, Senior Citizen Parking and Authorized Vehicles Only.
- Permit areas and bike lanes: No Parking Without Permit and R7-9 No Parking Bike Lane.
- EV charging spaces: Electric Vehicle Charging Station signs, 12" x 18", in several designs.
For no trespassing and private road signs, see Property Signs.
How many handicap parking spaces and signs do I need?
The ADA sets a minimum number of accessible spaces for each parking lot, and at least one of every six accessible spaces must be van accessible.
ADA Accessible Parking Spaces Required by Lot Size
| Total spaces in the lot | Accessible spaces required | Van-accessible spaces (included) |
|---|---|---|
| 1–25 | 1 | 1 |
| 26–50 | 2 | 1 |
| 51–75 | 3 | 1 |
| 76–100 | 4 | 1 |
| 101–150 | 5 | 1 |
| 151–200 | 6 | 1 |
| 201–300 | 7 | 2 |
| 301–400 | 8 | 2 |
| 401–500 | 9 | 2 |
| 501–1,000 | 2% of total | 1 of every 6 accessible |
| 1,001 and over | 20, plus 1 for each 100 over 1,000 | 1 of every 6 accessible |
Source: ADA.gov, Restriping Parking Spaces.
Which sign goes on each accessible space?
Each accessible space needs a sign with the International Symbol of Accessibility, like the R7-8. Van spaces also need the words "van accessible," so use the R7-8E. Pavement paint doesn't replace the sign. Lots with four or fewer total spaces, and spaces assigned to specific apartments or homes, don't need the identification sign, though the space itself is still required (U.S. Access Board).
Check Your State
Some states also require a fine amount or "reserved" wording, so check your state's rules. This is general information, not legal advice.
How high should parking signs be mounted?
- Accessible parking signs: at least 60 inches from the ground to the bottom of the sign, so the sign stays visible when a vehicle is parked in front of it (ADA).
- Street parking signs in towns, business districts and neighborhoods: at least 7 feet to the bottom of the sign where people park or walk (MUTCD).
- Rural roads: at least 5 feet to the bottom of the sign (MUTCD).
When a tow-away or time plaque hangs under the main sign, measure to the bottom of the plaque.
What should a tow-away sign say?
Post the rule and the consequence together. A No Parking or Customer Parking Only sign tells drivers what not to do, and the R7-201 Tow-Away Zone sign, a 12" x 6" plaque, mounts below it to show the penalty. If you want one sign that says both, choose No Parking Violators Will Be Towed or Customer Parking Only, Unauthorized Vehicles Towed, both 12" x 18".
Check Local Towing Rules
Towing rules are set by each state and city. Some require the towing company's name and phone number, the hours of enforcement, or a minimum sign size at every entrance. Check your local ordinance before you tow, and order a custom sign if your city requires specific wording.
Why aluminum parking signs outlast plastic
Cheap parking signs are often thin aluminum or plastic that fades, cracks and bends in a few seasons. Dornbos parking signs are made from heavy-duty .080-gauge 5052 aluminum, the same traffic-grade material used for road signs, so they don't rust or warp. Standard 3M High Intensity Prismatic sheeting keeps them readable in headlights at night and in dark parking garages. Many signs also come in 3M Diamond Grade, the brightest option, for poorly lit lots or high-traffic streets. Learn how reflective sheeting works.
Parking Sign Specifications
| Spec | Dornbos parking signs |
|---|---|
| Material | .080-gauge 5052 traffic-grade aluminum, rust-free |
| Common sizes | 12" x 18" portrait (most signs); 12" x 6" landscape (R7-201 Tow-Away Zone plaque) |
| Reflective | 3M High Intensity Prismatic standard; 3M Diamond Grade available on many signs |
| Corners | 1 1/2" radius |
| Mounting | Two pre-drilled 3/8" holes |
| Made in | USA (Charlotte, Michigan) |
| Shipping | 2–10 business days for stock signs |
Posts and hardware for parking signs
Mount parking signs on sign posts with a sign hardware kit. To mount two signs on one post, such as a No Parking sign over a Tow-Away Zone plaque, bolt both to the same post, stacked one above the other. In lots where signs get taken, use vandal-resistant breakaway nuts. See all sign brackets and hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our regulatory parking signs, including the R7 and R8 series, are made to MUTCD specifications on .080-gauge aluminum with 3M reflective sheeting.
No. The "van accessible" sign marks a space with a wider access aisle. Any vehicle with a disability placard or plate can park there.
Yes, at each van-accessible space. ADA rules require the words "van accessible" on the sign. Order the R7-8E for those spaces.
It depends on your state and city. Most require clear signs at the lot entrances before you tow, and some set the exact wording. Check your local ordinance; this is general information, not legal advice.
Both are 3M reflective sheeting. High Intensity Prismatic is our standard and works for most streets and lots. Diamond Grade reflects more light back to drivers, so it's brighter in poorly lit lots, garages and areas with lots of competing light.
Yes. The No Parking Sign with Custom Text lets you add hours, dates or a short message under the red NO PARKING heading. For a completely different layout, order a custom sign.
Stock signs ship in 2–10 business days. Custom signs take longer. Call 1-517-543-4000 for a lead time.
Yes. Send us your list or call 1-517-543-4000, and we'll quote the complete order, including posts and hardware.
Still Have Questions?
Call 1-517-543-4000 and our team will help you match the right parking signs to your lot, street or ban route.
Fast Nationwide Shipping
Orders take 2-10 business days to ship. Specialty items such as LED Flashing Signs and Roll-Up Signs have extended lead times listed on the product page. Learn more about our shipping and return policy.
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