In the United States, reserved spaces are mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines.
Disabled placards
The following table, current as of 2020, shows the state agency responsible for issuing disabled parking placards, expiration of permanent/temporary placards, fees (if applicable, though additional and unnoted electronic payment processing and counter fees vary), and supplementary notes. Temporary permits can be issued for a lesser period of time by the recommendation of the physician affirming a driver or passenger's disability.
State agencyExpiration of permanent placardsExpiration of temporary placards(maximum)FeesNotes Department of Revenue5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Administration5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation (ADOT)None6 monthsNo costPreviously permanent handicap placards expired after 5 years but as of April 2019, these placards do not expire after the passage of a new state law. Department of Finance and Administration4 years3 monthsNo cost Department of Motor Vehicles2 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $6 for temporary Department of Revenue3 years3 monthsNo cost Department of Motor VehiclesExpires at the same time as drivers license/ID card6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $5 for temporary Department of TransportationExpires at the same time as drivers license/ID cardAt doctor's discretionNo costExpiration of temporary permits is determined with the doctor's discretion. Division of Motor Vehicles3 years3 monthsNo cost Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles4 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $15 for temporary Department of Revenue4 years6 monthsNo cost Disability and Communication Access Board6 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $12 for temporaryHawaii has delegated issuance of disabled permits to its individual county governments. Transportation DepartmentNone6 monthsNo cost Secretary of StateNoneVaries (see notes)No costTemporary permits expire after 3 months if issued by local municipality or 6 months if issued by the Secretary of State. Bureau of Motor VehiclesNoneVaries (see notes)No cost for permanent; $5 for temporaryTemporary permits expire either after date given by doctor on application or 1 year (whichever is shorter). Department of Transportation5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Revenue5 years6 monthsNo cost Transportation Cabinet6 years3 monthsNo costRenewals or replacement of lost or stolen placards cost $10. Office of Motor Vehicles4 years1 year$3 Secretary of State4 years6 monthsNo cost Department of TransportationNone6 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation5 yearsAt doctor's discretionNo costExpiration of temporary permits is determined by length of time doctor puts on application Secretary of State4 years6 monthsNo costRenewals or replacement of lost or stolen placards cost $10. Department of Public Safety6 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $5 for temporary Department of Revenue5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Revenue4 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $2 for temporary Department of Justice3 years6 monthsNo costPermanent placards issued prior to October 1993 do not require renewal. Department of Motor Vehicles6 yearsVaries (see notes)No costTemporary placards expire after either 3 or 6 months as determined by doctor's discretion Department of Motor Vehicles10 yearsVaries (see notes)No costTemporary placards in Nevada come in two varieties: temporary (valid for 6 months) and moderate (valid for up to 2 years) Department of Safety5 years6 monthsNo costPermanent placards expire at the same time as drivers license or ID card, so first placard may expire in less than 5 years but subsequent placards will expire in 5 years. Motor Vehicles Commission3 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $4 for temporary Motor Vehicles Department4 years12 monthsNo cost Department of Motor VehiclesSee notes6 monthsNo costPermanent placards expire at the discretion of the issuing agency (village, town, city). Department of Transportation5 years6 months$5 each for permanent and temporary (limited to 2 placards) Department of Transportation3 years3 monthsNo cost for permanent; $3 for temporary Bureau of Motor Vehicles5 years6 months$5 for permanent and temporary Department of Motor Vehicles5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Motor Vehicles8 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation (PennDOT)5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Revenue3+ yearsVaries (see notes)No costIn Rhode Island, temporary placards come in two varieties: temporary (valid up to 12 months) and long-term (valid from 1-3 years) Department of Motor Vehicles4 years12 months$1 for permanent and temporary Department of Transportation5 years12 monthsNo cost Department of Revenue2 years6 months$26.50 and $3 renewal for permanent and $10 and $10 renewal for temporaryNo charge for permanent placard if vehicle registration is in applicant's name, however $3 renewal charge still applies; $2 charge for replacement placards Department of Transportation4 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $5 for temporary State Tax Commission2 years6 monthsNo cost Agency of Transportation4 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Motor Vehicles5 years6 months$5 for permanent and temporary$5 for replacement placards Department of Licensing5 years12 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation (WisDOT)4 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $6 for temporary Department of Transportation (WYDOT)10 years6 monthsNo cost
Disabled plates
The following table, current as of 2020, shows the state agency responsible for issuing disabled plates, length of validity of registration for plates and/or any renewal requirements (if applicable), fees (either regular automotive registration fees and/or any fees charged beyond regular automotive registration fees), fee amounts if assessed beyond regular automotive registration fees (if applicable), and supplementary notes.
State agencyLength of validity on platesFeesAdditional fees beyond regular registration?Notes Department of Revenue5 years renewal$23-105, depending on type of vehicle registeredN/A Department of Administration5 yearsNo cost (see notes)N/AFirst set of plates is free, but additional set of plates (or commercial plates) cost $100 in registration fees plus applicable motor vehicle registration taxes. Department of Transportation (ADOT)Valid as long as renewed regularly (either 1 or 2 years depending on driver's choice)Payment of regular registration feesN/A Department of Finance and Administration1 yearPayment of regular registration feesN/A Department of Motor VehiclesValid as long as renewed regularlyPayment of regular registration feesN/A Department of Revenue3 years3 monthsNo cost Department of Motor VehiclesExpires at the same time as drivers license/ID card6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $5 for temporary Department of TransportationExpires at the same time as drivers license/ID cardAt doctor's discretionNo costExpiration of temporary permits is determined by length of time doctor puts on application Division of Motor Vehicles3 years3 monthsNo cost Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles4 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $15 for temporary Department of Revenue4 years6 monthsNo cost Disability and Communication Access Board6 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $12 for temporaryHawaii has delegated issuance of disabled permits to the City and County of Honolulu, as well as the counties of Hawaii, Kauaʻi and Maui. Transportation DepartmentNone6 monthsNo cost Secretary of StateNoneVaries (see notes)No costTemporary permits expire after 3 months if issued by local municipality or 6 months if issued by the Secretary of State. Bureau of Motor VehiclesNoneVaries (see notes)No cost for permanent; $5 for temporaryTemporary permits expire either after date given by doctor on application or 1 year (whichever is shorter). Department of Transportation5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Revenue5 years6 monthsNo cost Transportation Cabinet6 years3 monthsNo costRenewals or replacement of lost or stolen placards cost $10. Office of Motor Vehicles4 years1 year$3 Secretary of State4 years6 monthsNo cost Department of TransportationNone6 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation5 yearsAt doctor's discretionNo costExpiration of temporary permits is determined by length of time doctor puts on application Secretary of State4 years6 monthsNo costRenewals or replacement of lost or stolen placards cost $10. Department of Public Safety6 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $5 for temporary Department of Revenue5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Revenue4 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $2 for temporary Department of Justice3 years6 monthsNo costPermanent placards issued prior to October 1993 do not require renewal. Department of Motor Vehicles6 yearsVaries (see notes)No costTemporary placards expire after either 3 or 6 months as determined by doctor's discretion Department of Motor Vehicles10 yearsVaries (see notes)No costTemporary placards in Nevada come in two varieties: temporary (valid for 6 months) and moderate (valid for up to 2 years) Department of Safety5 years6 monthsNo costPermanent placards expire at the same time as drivers license or ID card, so first placard may expire in less than 5 years but subsequent placards will expire in 5 years. Motor Vehicles Commission3 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $4 for temporary Motor Vehicles Department4 years12 monthsNo cost Department of Motor VehiclesSee notes6 monthsNo costPermanent placards expire at the discretion of the issuing agency (village, town, city). Department of Transportation5 years6 months$5 each for permanent and temporary (limited to 2 placards) Department of Transportation3 years3 monthsNo cost for permanent; $3 for temporary Bureau of Motor Vehicles5 years6 months$5 for permanent and temporary Department of Motor Vehicles5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Motor Vehicles8 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation (PennDOT)5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Revenue3+ yearsVaries (see notes)No costIn Rhode Island, temporary placards come in two varieties: temporary (valid up to 12 months) and long-term (valid from 1-3 years) Department of Motor Vehicles4 years12 months$1 for permanent and temporary Department of Transportation5 years12 monthsNo cost Department of Revenue2 years6 months$26.50 and $3 renewal for permanent and $10 and $10 renewal for temporaryNo charge for permanent placard if vehicle registration is in applicant's name, however $3 renewal charge still applies; $2 charge for replacement placards Department of Transportation4 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $5 for temporary State Tax Commission2 years6 monthsNo cost Agency of Transportation4 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Motor Vehicles5 years6 months$5 for permanent and temporary$5 for replacement placards Department of Licensing5 years12 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation5 years6 monthsNo cost Department of Transportation (WisDOT)4 years6 monthsNo cost for permanent; $6 for temporary Department of Transportation (WYDOT)10 years6 monthsNo cost
Disabled parking space requirements
According to the Americans With Disabilities Act Handbook, "Accessible parking spaces should be at least 96 in (2440 mm) wide. Parking access aisles shall be part of an accessible route to the building or facility entrance..."
Disabled parking permits generally take the form of either specially marked license plates or a placard that hangs from the rear-view mirror. Plates are generally used for disabled drivers on their personal vehicle, while the portable disability placard can be moved from one vehicle to another with the disabled person, both when driving or when riding with another driver.