Most of us don’t think twice about parking structures. We drive in, park, and leave, assuming the structure around us is sound. But parking structures live a much harder life than most buildings. They are exposed to weather, road salt, moisture, and heavy vehicle loads every day, all of which accelerate deterioration. At the same time, they often receive less maintenance than the offices, apartments, or stores they serve.
After several high-profile garage failures and collapses, some municipalities recognized the need for greater oversight and implemented regulations requiring regular inspections of parking structures. These regulations are intended to identify deterioration early, before it develops into a serious hazard.
Why Parking Structures Deteriorate Faster
Unlike enclosed buildings, many parking structures are open to rain, snow, freeze–thaw cycles, and deicing chemicals. Over time, these conditions cause concrete to crack, steel reinforcement to corrode, and joints and waterproofing systems to fail.
When maintenance is delayed, deterioration doesn’t simply continue—it accelerates. Damage spreads faster over time, increasing repair costs and, in severe cases, raising the risk of structural failure.
Parking garages can also be damaged by overloading from snow buildup, construction equipment, or stored materials, particularly when the structure is already weakened.
Building Assessment Rules That Affect Parking Garages
Most building codes require owners to keep properties safe, but they do not always require professional structural assessments. After several high-profile facade and building failures, many cities introduced mandatory inspection programs for certain buildings’ exterior walls conducted by licensed engineers or architects.
If a parking structure falls under these general inspection requirements, its exterior walls may be inspected while interior structural elements remain unchecked. Even where broader structural inspections are required, they are often infrequent and limited to visual observations.
Guidelines Engineers Use to Evaluate Garages
While not legally required everywhere, engineers rely on established guidance from professional organizations such as:
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- National Parking Association (NPA)
- Precast Concrete Institute (PCI)
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
These resources describe common parking structure problems, recommended inspection methods, and long-term maintenance strategies.
Visual inspections are typically the first step. When damage is hidden or original construction drawings are unavailable, engineers may perform additional testing to better understand the root causes of deterioration and design effective repairs.
Regulations Specifically for Parking Structure Inspections
In response to garage collapses and growing safety concerns, several states and municipalities now require regular parking structure inspections. New York State, New York City, multiple cities in Minnesota, two cities in Ohio, and Kansas City mandate periodic evaluations by qualified engineers.
Some programs require annual inspections, while others occur every few years. Although the specific requirements vary, the goal remains consistent:
- Identify deterioration early
- Require timely repairs
- Prevent structural failures
Why This Matters to Everyone
Parking structures are used by millions of people every day. Regular inspections protect lives, reduce long-term repair costs, and help prevent sudden closures or emergencies.
While inspections may seem inconvenient or costly at first, preventive maintenance is far less disruptive and far safer than responding to a failure after it occurs.
Further Reading
More information on regulations for parking structure condition assessments can be found in the paper written by Ibrahim Erdem, PhD, PE, SE in ASCE’s library:
