Parking problems rarely come from a lack of space alone. They come from unclear rules: people do not know which bays are reserved, where visitors should park or why a vehicle is being asked to move. Good parking signage fixes much of that. This guide helps you plan a parking sign system for a business, building, estate or site.
Know what you are controlling
Begin by listing the rules you want to communicate. Typical examples:
- Reserved bays for named people, tenants or departments
- Visitor parking
- Disabled parking
- Loading and offloading zones
- No parking or no stopping areas
- Entrance and exit directions
- Speed and pedestrian warnings in the parking area
Write each rule as a short sentence. If a rule needs a paragraph to explain, simplify it first, because a sign can only carry a few words.
Private property or public road?
Signs on private property, such as a company car park, are usually decided by the owner or managing agent. Signs that control parking or stopping on a public road or verge are a different matter; confirm requirements and permissions with the relevant road authority or municipality before installing. Enforcement arrangements also differ, so check what applies to your situation. We do not give legal advice on parking enforcement.
Use sign codes where they apply
For traffic-style parking and prohibition signs, using the SARTSM sign codes keeps your signs recognisable. Browse regulatory signs for prohibition and reservation signs. For custom wording, such as “Reserved for Unit 12” or “Visitors only”, use custom signs or the custom sign builder.
Plan the layout on a drawing
Print or sketch the parking area and mark:
- Entrances and exits
- Pedestrian routes
- Bays by type
- Where each sign will stand or hang
Think about the driver’s approach. Where will they first see the sign? Is it hidden behind a pillar, tree or parked vehicle? Signs that are visible only from certain angles will be missed.
Choose the right sign format
Post-mounted signs
Standard for open lots. You can order a sign with a stand, unistruts or sign-only to fix on your own posts. See signpost and mounting options.
Wall-mounted signs
Suited to basements and covered parking, where walls and columns are available.
Floor and bay marking
Painted bays and symbols complement signs. We offer road marking as a quote-based service, and road-marking stencils are in our traffic control range.
Parking cones with decals
To hold reserved bays temporarily, parking cones with decals are a flexible option.
Barriers
Where you need to stop vehicles entering an area, look at barriers and traffic control products, including barrier chain and chain stands.
Material and visibility
Outdoor lots need weather-resistant materials. Covered or dark basements benefit from reflective faces. Read choosing sign materials and reflective material options.
Wording tips
- Lead with the key word: “Visitors”, “Reserved”, “No parking”
- Avoid long explanations; put detail on a separate notice board
- Use the same wording across the site
- Check that spelling and unit numbers are correct before printing
Review after installation
Drive and walk the lot after the signs go up. Ask a few regular users whether the signs are clear. Adjust the position of any signs that are hidden. Keep a record of what you installed so replacements are simple; see caring for and replacing signs.
Common parking sign problems
- Reserved signs that do not say who the bay is reserved for
- Signs mounted where parked vehicles hide them
- Different wording used for the same rule in different places
- Faded signs that are ignored
- No-parking signs without a clear boundary showing where the restriction starts and ends
Most of these are fixed at the planning stage by walking the lot and testing every sign from a driver’s seat.
Ready to plan your parking signs?
Send your drawing or list through request a quote, or call 073 625 5637, 063 132 8088, 063 253 5542 or 067 741 0422. If you need help with positions, consider a site survey.