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Wheel Stop

ELM-WHS-05
Situational / Discouraged Element

Wheel Stop

A small barrier, typically a short raised block or bumper, placed at the end of a parking space to prevent a parked vehicle from overrunning a curb, sidewalk, or space limit.

#Why this pattern exists

Vehicles routinely pull farther into a parking space than intended, and without a physical stop, this can push a vehicle’s front end over a curb and into pedestrian space, into landscaping, or into an adjacent lane. This pattern exists to document this small but common protective element, distinct from the curb itself.1

#Key considerations

  • Placement should account for typical vehicle overhang so the stop actually prevents encroachment rather than just marking the space’s nominal end
  • Wheel stops in a path of pedestrian travel can themselves become a tripping hazard, and should be placed and colored to avoid this
  • Not always appropriate: some contexts favor a full curb or landscaped buffer over a discrete wheel stop

Curb (ELM-CRB-01) (the element this pattern protects); Surface Parking Lot (FAC-SPL-04) (Facility pattern where this most commonly applies)

#References

  1. Legal / regulatory 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Section 502.7 (Advisory). Regulatory basis for using wheel stops to prevent vehicle overhang into accessible routes and access aisles.(opens in new tab)

Suggest changes to this page (opens in new tab) Text-only version Last updated September 26, 2026

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