Some parking lot markings only count when there is a sign to go with them: accessible spaces need a permanent post- or wall-mounted sign at least 60 inches above the ground, and many fire lanes, stop bars, and no-parking zones call for one too. Bull's Eye offers parking lot sign installation in Cutler Bay and nearby communities: accessible parking, fire lane, stop, yield, no-parking, and directional signs, coordinated with your striping so the paint and the signs agree.
What's Included
- Accessible parking signs
- Stop, yield, and directional signs to go with your striping
- No-parking and fire lane signs
- Regulatory and directional signs on posts
- Coordinated with striping, so paint and signs agree
When Paint Alone Is Not Enough
Paint tells drivers what to do while they are looking at the pavement. A sign does it from across the lot, in the rain, over a parked truck. For a handful of markings the sign is not optional. For accessible parking, the 2010 ADA Standards require each space to be identified by a sign showing the International Symbol of Accessibility, with the bottom of the sign at least 60 inches above the ground, and Florida adds its own wording and design rules. Fire lanes and no-parking areas are marked by paint and signs as your local fire marshal specifies.
The Signs a Typical Lot Needs
| Sign | Where it goes | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| Accessible parking | At each accessible stall, in front of the stall or aisle | Symbol, Florida caption and penalty notice, 60 inches to the bottom of the sign, "van accessible" on van stalls |
| Fire lane / no parking fire lane | Along fire lanes and at lane entrances | Wording, size, and spacing from your fire marshal |
| Stop and yield | At exits, drive aisle intersections, and where lanes meet the street | Matching stop bar and legend on the pavement |
| Directional and one-way | At entrances, lane splits, and loading areas | Arrows on the pavement should agree with the sign |
| Reserved, loading, or no-parking | At the stalls or zones they control | Wording your property rules and local ordinance support |
| Tow-away | At vehicle entrances | Florida Statute 715.07 sets placement and lettering; see below |
An accessible parking sign on a post. Florida signs also carry required wording and the penalty notice.
Accessible Parking Signs: What Florida Requires
Florida Statute 553.5041, repeated in the Florida Accessibility Code (502.6 and 502.6.1), requires a permanent, above-grade accessible parking sign in a color and design approved by the Florida Department of Transportation. The sign must be placed on or at least 60 inches above the finished ground surface, measured to the bottom of the sign, and must bear the international symbol of accessibility and the caption "PARKING BY DISABLED PERMIT ONLY." Signs erected after October 1, 1996 must indicate the penalty for illegal use. Spaces designated for vans are identified with the words "van accessible." The federal ADA Standards add that the sign must carry the symbol and be at least 60 inches above the ground, and they do not set sign color or size.
Two practical points follow. A wheelchair symbol painted on the pavement does not replace the sign, because the symbol can be hidden by a parked car or by wear. And a sign mounted too low, or one that is not one of the Florida-approved designs, is the kind of defect that makes a lot fail a review even when the striping is perfect. See our ADA striping and signage page for stall widths, access aisles, and how many accessible spaces your lot needs.
Fire Lane and No-Parking Signs
Fire lane signs are set by your local authority, not by a single statewide design. Size, wording, color, and mounting height differ from one jurisdiction to the next, so get the specification from your fire marshal before you order signs. Bull's Eye also offers the fire lane painting and the curb painting, and the wording on the signs and the wording on the ground should match.
Tow-Away Signs on Private Lots
If you plan to have unauthorized vehicles towed from a private lot, Florida Statute 715.07 sets sign requirements that your towing company will also know. As published in the statute, the notice must be in light-reflective letters at least 2 inches high, with "tow-away zone" in letters at least 4 inches high, show the towing firm's name and current phone number, be placed at each driveway access or curb cut within 10 feet of the road, and be permanently installed with the "tow-away zone" wording between 3 and 6 feet above the ground. Statutes get amended, and there are exceptions, so confirm current wording with your towing company or attorney. Mention it during your estimate if you need posts set for these signs.
Posts, Hardware, and Placement: What Good Practice Looks Like
- Posts anchored for the surface. A proper installation anchors posts so they do not lean or work loose, with the sign set at the required height and hardware suited to the surface.
- Reflective faces. Reflective sheeting is the usual choice for regulatory signs because it keeps them readable at night.
- Where it sits. A sign should be visible to a driver approaching the space or lane, not blocked by a tree, a dumpster, or a parked truck, and not placed where it narrows an accessible route or a fire lane.
- Matching the striping. A stop sign wants a stop bar, a fire lane sign wants lane marking, and an accessible sign wants the stall and aisle properly striped. Signs are best installed after layout so they land where the paint says they should.
What a Proper Installation Involves
- Walk the lot and make a sign list. Go through the striping, accessible stalls, fire lanes, entrances, and exits, and write down every location that needs a sign and what each sign needs to say.
- Confirm wording and sizes. Accessible parking follows the Florida requirements above; fire lane and no-parking signs follow your fire marshal; others follow your property rules.
- Mark post locations. Lay out each location so the sign sits at the right height, clear of routes and visible to traffic.
- Set and secure. Posts are anchored and signs mounted and checked for height and plumb.
- Final walk. Review sign locations against the striping before finishing.
If you are also restriping or sealcoating, coordinating sign work with that job can mean fewer closures for the property.
Common Sign Problems on Existing Lots
- Accessible signs that are too low, faded to white, or missing the required Florida wording.
- Bent or tilted posts after a storm or a vehicle strike.
- Signs that no longer match the pavement after a restripe.
- Missing fire lane signs where the fire marshal requires them.
- Signs hidden behind overgrown landscaping.
Get a Sign List and an Estimate
Request a free on-site estimate or call (305) 710-4512, and Bull's Eye will walk your lot with you and quote the work. Our FAQ covers more of the basics.
Serving Cutler Bay and Nearby Communities
We're based in Cutler Bay and offer parking lot signage for HOAs, commercial properties, and businesses throughout the area, typically alongside a full striping job. We also serve nearby Palmetto Bay, South Miami Heights, Goulds, Naranja, Princeton, Perrine and West Perrine, Richmond Heights and Richmond West. Not sure if your property is in our service area? Just give us a call.
