5 Legal Parking Signs Every Business Should Install (With State Regulations)

It won’t be wrong, if you say parking signs are everywhere, literally on every road, corporates, parks, gas stations, etc. These parking signs (with instructions on it) are visual signs that are used to instruct drivers about parking restrictions, like where parking is permissible, where restricted, when and who can park, specific times to park, any fee for more time parking, etc.

But most businesses make the big mistake, and that’s either not installing parking signs, or only putting up a few. This often results in unauthorized parking, customer complaints, safety risks, and even legal penalties. Well, as a business owner or traffic safety professional, you need to know everything about parking signs. Whether it’s about parking signs’ types, materials, key requirements, compliance and regulations.

And that’s exactly we have explained in this guide. We have also unwrapped top most-crucial parking signs that every (small or large) business should install at their sites, to ensure everyone’s safety with proper instruction boards.

Benefits of Installing Parking Signs

• Reduce Confusion

Parking signs often prevent drivers from confusion. Here’s how: let’s suppose unfamiliar visitors visit your site and they can’t find a designated place for vehicle parking. Then what happens next? They’ll park anywhere (possibly in front of your property). 

To reduce confusion and prevent vehicle crowd, you can install proper parking signs at a designated place, to guide drivers that where they can park. 

• Organizing Traffic Movement

Sometimes just installing a single parking sign isn’t enough. Parking signs come in different types including vehicle-specific ones. You can decide a spot for cycles, bikes, cars, and pedestrians, and install vehicle-specific parking signs on designated zones. This helps organize traffic flow, reduce traffic congestion, and accident chances. 

• Accident Prevention

At some sites that are undergoing construction or are dangerous. Here, construction or safety companies can install no parking or no standing signs. This alerts public and drivers about cautious zones, not parking, no standing zones, to ensure safety for every everyone. 

• Pedestrian Safety

Besides vehicles, it’s very crucial to install parking signs in pedestrian zones and walking paths. This guides pedestrians about their right and safe path for driving. Plus, crosswalk signs ensure a safe-walking space for people. 

• Enhance Appearance of Property

Your working site’s appearance, whether it’s a restaurant, shopping mall, or university, says a lot about your brand and how much you care about your clients. The first impression is the last impression, right? Keeping this in mind, you can install vibrant-colored parking signs for different purposes in your work site. This will not just look attractive, but also leaves a lasting impact on your visitor’s mind. 

• Save You Money

Well, proper signage can also save you a lot of money, without you realizing it. When you properly install signages, to mark vehicle parking, fire lanes, construction sites, storage sections and other zones to guide workers, drivers and public. You ultimately reduce the chance of accidents, material wastage, repairs costs, and fines, in short, saving you money. 

Different Types of Parking Signs

• Prohibited Signs: Parking signs under prohibited category are those signs, that does two things; either informs pedestrians, foot traffic and drivers about potential hazard, or inform drivers about specific-vehicle zone. These signs include No Parking, Watch for Children, Stop Ahead, No Stopping/Standing, and Bus/Taxi Zones’ sign boards.

• Time-Restricted Parking Signs: As name explains, time-restricted signs comes with a time-details mentioned over them. Such as certain parking hours, or days (example: 2 HR parking, 8 AM to 5 PM). Generally, they are used at worksites during business hours. 

• Permit-Required Signs: These signs board are meant to install at worksites or private zones. For example, residential neighborhoods, private events, etc. Means, only authorized-staff, society residential, or members (having invitation) can only park in the parking zones. 

• Vehicle-Specific Parking Signs: You may have seen in corporations or government offices that different sections are allotted for bicycle parking, motorcycle and vehicle parking. You can also install vehicle-specific parking signs like Motorcycle Parking Only, EV Charging Spot and Passenger Zones in your worksite. This way, drivers will get more clarity and easily take out their vehicle, when exiting. 

• Metered or Payment Parking Sign: If you own a commercial business like a restaurant, or shopping complex. Then, using metered parking boards is best option. Such boards have written payment, hours and time limits over them for parking vehicles. 

• Temporary or Seasonal Signs: For event, construction zones, snow routes, companies must consider installing seasonal sign boards on roads. This helps guide drivers. Plus, after a situation ends, companies can remove them for future use. 

• Overnight Restrictions Signs: These signs board are designed for only nighttime use. Those businesses and companies who want to restrict drivers from parking their vehicle during nighttime (either on road, or in front of your property). They can install overnight restrictions parking signs. 

• Directional or Positional Signs: Directional signs boards direct and guide drivers where to go or where to park – with directional arrows over them. Besides roads, these directional signs are often used in schools & universities to redirect students to departments, cafeteria, library, and faculty building. 

• Special Use Areas: For bus stops, valet zones, or emergency vehicles, special-use parking signs are used. Generally, these signs tell public that these sections are only for specific purposes. 

• Pet-specific Parking Signs: These pet-specific signs are commonly used at pet stores, outdoor shopping centers, and pet parks. You can install these signs to alert pet-owners where to leave pets, where not. 

JACKWIN Parking Signs Material

Well, in general, different parking signs manufacturers build these sign boards with different materials and thickness. Usually they are made up with different metals to plastics materials, and available to purchase at different rates. 

At JACKWIN, we offer various economical and durable materials to create parking signs according to your business needs, and that, too, at a wholesale rate. Here are the materials we use.

• Aluminum Sheets

If you know, aluminum sheets are most popular materials among metal family. It’s rust-proof, light-weight, and weather-resistance, means very less chance of early damage, and reliable for long-term. 

Our team manufactures each parking sign with 6010 aluminum sheets, with thickness varying from 1-3mm (as per businesses’ needs). Plus, these sheets have reflective coating. That makes them high-visible in both day and nighttime. 

• Galvanized Steel Boards

Compared to aluminum sheets, galvanized steel material takes lead. These sheets are not just rust-free, they are impact-resistance, and have high-strength. Means, if any vehicle hits them, they won’t break (due to zinc coating). Our team uses this galvanized material to create boards with thickness varying from 1-4 mm.

• Corrugated PP (Polypropylene) Sheets 

Often called temporary parking signs. These are plastic-based, lightweight, and weather-resistant sheets. At JACKWIN, you can consider these PP parking signs’ most cost-effective options to choose from.  Their thickness varying from 3-6mm. Plus, to enhance visibility, we manufacture these parking signs in different bright colors (like red, yellow, orange). 

Note: Because these parking signs are made with plastic sheets. So for long-term exposure, they are not an ideal option. However, you can use these PP parking signs for short-term  purposes such as events or seasonal parking setups. 

• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Plates

Compared to PP sheets, it’s more rigid, durable, flexible, and solid plastic plates. They are usually in white color, and come with adhesive tape (at backside). That allows you to easily stick them on any board or walls. We manufacture these PVC parking signs with a 1-4 mm thickness range, along with solid symbols printing. 

Besides all these materials, our manufacturing team can also produce customized parking signs according to your thickness and design requirements. Plus, we can also embed any content/ instructions (upon request), to personalize them for your worksite. 

MUTCD and DOT Compliance and Regulations

Every business or company intends to install parking signs anywhere (regardless of the state). Parking signs must meet standards set by MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) and DOT (Department of Transportation). The signage requirements include:

Above, we discussed the color coding standards. Let’s now discuss the parking signage’s installation requirements (set by MUTCD and DOT):

• Every parking sign must use approved colors (red for prohibitions, green for permitted parking), shapes, and directional symbols. 
• Parking signs should be installed typically 7–8 feet above ground.
• Ensure signage boards are visible to drivers. Plus, boards do not obstruct the driver’s visibility.
• Always use signage that are made with durable material and weather-resistant. Additionally, boards must have a reflective coating, so that they can be seen, especially in low-light conditions.
• Placed all parking signage in clear view. Ensure no obstruction of trees, poles, or other objects in between.
• Businesses and companies should regularly keep checking parking signs for any defect, fading, damage, obstruction and corrosion. If any damage is found, immediately replace the sign board. 
• Signage instructions or content must be clear so that drivers can read it easily at first glance. But content shouldn’t be too lengthy, also avoid using certain colors and fonts (that are not approved).
• Use approved font and letter size: ≥6-inch uppercase letters for main instructions; ≥4.5-inch for secondary text.
• In case of any temporary or construction-related parking bans, companies or businesses first submit proper notification.
• Sign placement pattern must be repeated every 1/2 block in urban areas.
• If using multiple signage board, use hierarchy in this pattern: Prohibitions > Time limits > Permits. Like, NO PARKING 8AM–6PM / 2-HR PARKING OTHER TIMES.

Top 5 Parking Signs Every Business Should Install

• Reserved Parking Signs

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requires all businesses and government facilities that every parking zone have reserved spaces for handicapped and disabled people. These reserved allotted spaces must have a reserved parking sign (with handicap graphic), mounted above a 7 feet height from ground. 

Not following these regulations can put businesses in serious legal issues. Plus, if anyone knowingly or unknowingly parks at these reserved zones without having a handicapped permit, they will face heavy fines and penalties. 

• No Parking Signs

If there are any areas on worksites, where any vehicle can lead to a danger or accident, then every facility is required to mount a “NO PARKING” sign board. Make sure the board is mounted at a 7-10 feet height so the sign can be visible from far. It is also recommended that you should try mounting the sign board at entrance, so everyone who passes through, can be cautious. 

• Fire Lane Parking Signs

You already know how important this sign board placement is for every site. Every parking lot where fire lanes are installed (red lanes), you’re required to mount a “NO PARKING FIRE LANE” sign so no one parks a vehicle in those zones. In case an emergency happens and vehicles are parked in fire lanes, emergency vehicles won’t have quick access to the building.   And the company will end up facing serious consequences.  

• Public Parking Signs

On worksite parking zones, every business is required to place a public parking sign board at the entrance point. The board should be mounted at a clear spot so it can be easily seen and visible from far distances. That way, visitors will park vehicles at allotted places, not randomly. We also suggest that instead of having one parking lot for all vehicle types, you allot different parking places for different vehicles. And place vehicle-specific parking signs on the relevant parking lot. 

• Hour Restriction Signs

If you want that anyone who wants to park, can only park at certain hours, days, in day or night, you’ll need to install an hour restriction sign board in your parking lot. That sign board must have clear instructions, such as Mon-Fri, 8 AM – 3 PM, along with the penalty in terms of fine or towing. So if anyone parks their vehicle, you have the authority to tow or hold their vehicle until the fine is paid. 

Conclusion:

We hope after reading this parking-signs guide, you now have a clear understanding about parking signage’ importance on every site, whether it’s road, urban street, worksite, shopping complex, in short everywhere, where public interaction is huge.

To ensure that drivers are clear about parking spots, every business and company owner, like you, should install a proper signage setups on roads and worksites. However, we know that finding a trusted parking sign supplier for you can be a time-consuming and challenging task.

That’s why we are here with best-offer solution. At JACKWIN, we have a large stock of parking signs available in different materials (PVC, aluminum, galvanized, corrugated PP), that too at wholesale prices. Just contact us, name your requirements, and we will deliver them to you. 

Plus, our team can also produce personalized parking signage for your business, according to your material, size, thickness, graphics, and content requirements.