Your commercial property is considered private, even if you have a parking lot for employees, clients, or suppliers. If you see an unknown or unwanted vehicle parked on your property, it could be more than a nuisance. Dealing with the vehicles and their owners can be a hassle; it’s easier if you keep them off your property to begin with.
Use Colors
Using colors in your parking lot can encourage drivers to do the right thing. Every driver is familiar with yellow lines meaning “do not cross.” Painting curbs yellow will deter people from parking there. An area in a parking lot marked with yellow stripes indicates a no-parking area.
Other colors are also used. Blue is associated with areas for vehicles with handicapped decals or stickers. Red paint should be used for areas that need to be kept clear for safety reasons, such as emergency exits, fire lanes, hazardous or restricted areas, or near fire hydrants.
No Parking Signs
In addition to colors, signs such as “no parking” will clearly mark areas where vehicles are unwanted. You can add signs explaining the reason, such as “trucks only” or “fire lane.” Parking restrictions are often tied to safety regulations around fire lines or loading zones. If you plan to have unwanted vehicles towed away, you should put up signs notifying people of your policy. Many states have laws requiring prior notification before towing. Even if there are no laws in your state, using a “towing zone” sign can discourage people from parking on your property.
Put Up Fences
Drivers might park their vehicles on your property if the parking lot of an adjacent business has filled up. This is called spillover parking, and fences can be useful in preventing it. Some municipalities will have codes and regulations that cover the placement of fences for spillover parking. You may also want to fence off restricted areas that could be hazardous or dangerous to people or their vehicles. Installing a gate with a code will provide further security. You will be able to control who goes in and out of the area.
Safety and security are important to you and everyone who uses your commercial property. It makes sense to make additions that keep vehicles—and their drivers—out of places where they might impede access, cause problems, or put themselves at risk. Follow these tips to keep them out!
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