PRIA Logo™
DelawareHB 48153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 9, 21, AND 22 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES.

Sponsored By: DeShanna U Neal (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.

Tougher penalties for accessible parking misuse

Illegal parking in an accessible space carries a $250 fine for the first offense. Repeat offenses carry a $500 fine and can bring 10 to 30 days in jail. Cars parked illegally can be towed, and owners must pay towing and storage. Making, altering, or loaning disability plates or placards is illegal; plates or placards can be suspended up to 6 months or permanently revoked. Parking on striped access aisles or using a placard without the person it was issued for is also illegal. Small sign or marking differences are not a defense if the space is clearly marked.

Standard signs and upkeep for accessible parking

When accessible parking is required, owners must build and maintain spaces to ADA and local code rules. Each space needs a sign at least 12 by 18 inches, mounted 60 inches high, with the wheelchair symbol and the current maximum fines; van spaces must say "Van Accessible." Access aisles must have no‑parking signs, a blue border, and 4‑inch diagonal hatch lines. Very small sites with 4 or fewer spaces and buildings with assigned parking are exempt from the identification rule. Owners must keep spaces and aisles clear of snow, ice, debris, and other blocks. No time limit may be set on accessible spaces unless the space is metered.

More van spaces for wheelchair users

For every three van-accessible spaces required by federal law, at least one must be set aside for a wheelchair or scooter user. The space must be signed for that use only. This rule does not apply if it would violate local minimum parking rules.

Permits and inspections for accessible parking work

You must get a local permit before adding or changing an accessible parking space. Violations can bring civil fines up to $500, but you get 90 days to fix it first. A permitted lot can be restriped once without a new permit if the plan does not change. After work, the agency checks compliance by site visit or by reviewing your photos and documents; if those are not enough, they inspect on-site. Officers must give a written warning and 30 days to fix missing signs or maintenance before a summons or warrant; towns may adopt county rules, but not weaker ones.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • DeShanna U Neal

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Debra Heffernan

    Democratic • House

  • Eric Morrison

    Democratic • House

  • Nicole Poore

    Democratic • Senate

  • Cyndie Romer

    Democratic • House

  • Melanie Ross Levin

    Democratic • House

  • Claire Snyder-Hall

    Democratic • House

  • John "Jack" Walsh

    Democratic • Senate

  • David L. Wilson

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. HS 2 for HB 48 - Signed by Governor

    9/25/2025Governor

  2. HS 2 for HB 48 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

    6/30/2025Senate

  3. HS 2 for HB 48 - Lifted From Table in Senate

    6/30/2025Senate

  4. HS 2 for HB 48 - Laid On Table in Senate

    6/30/2025Senate

  5. HS 2 for HB 48 - Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

    6/18/2025Senate

  6. HS 2 for HB 48 - Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate

    6/17/2025Senate

  7. HS 2 for HB 48 - Passed By House. Votes: 27 YES 7 NO 2 NOT VOTING 5 ABSENT

    6/17/2025House

  8. HS 2 for HB 48 - - Passed In House by Voice Vote

    6/17/2025House

  9. Substituted in House by HS 2 for HB 48

    6/10/2025House

  10. HS 1 for HB 48 - Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 8 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits

    5/14/2025House

  11. Substituted in House by HS 1 for HB 48

    4/17/2025House

  12. Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House

    3/6/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation