Handicapped Parking at the Condo

P.B. from New Haven County writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

Can a condo association identify 1 handicapped parking spot for 1 particular unit and not make any other spots available for handicapped parking? Also, 1 handicapped spot for that individual but there are 23 stairs leading to his condo unit, no ramp no elevator.

Mister Condo replies:

P.B., depending on their classification as private or public places, condominiums have a lot of flexibility on parking that they control. There are laws, local, state, and federal that may come into play so it might make sense for the association to consult with their attorney before they make decisions that can be challenged in court or may even violate the law. The federal law in question is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which requires that reasonable accommodations be made to provide access for folks with disabilities. The act doesn’t always spell out what “reasonable” is and it also does not state who has to pay for modifications like ramps or lifts that could replace stairs. Obviously, it is in everyone’s best interest to make parking and unit access as simple as possible for a resident with disabilities. However, it isn’t always as simple as installing a ramp or designating a parking space. My advice is to consult with an attorney who specializes in this specific area of law. Good luck!