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Rules & Regulations

Parking Permits

  • In general, permits are sold to all faculty, staff, seniors, graduate students and commuting students living outside the walking zone.
  • Persons who are not eligible for permits include; All freshman, sophomores and juniors who reside on campus, faculty and staff with non-appealable, unpaid violation assessments and those faculty, staff and students living in non-university housing who live within the designated walking zone. Any student who maintains a campus address is considered a resident for parking purposes.
  • There may be times when you will be directed to park in other areas of campus (during special events such as concerts, football, basketball, student move-in and for maintenance and construction).This is a condition of your acceptance of the parking permit.
  • Parking Permits are for the exclusive use of the permit holder and may not be transferred, loaned or sold to another individual to use. A vehicle may display only one permit type.
  • Refunds are only issued upon the return of a permit.
  • Improper use of permit will result in a citation and/or your parking privileges being revoked.
  • The Parking Committee reserves the right to deny parking privileges to habitual violators.

Designated Walking Zone

One must reside north of Central St., west of Ridge Ave. (not on it) from Central St. to Emerson St., west of the Metra tracks from Emerson St. to Lake St. and South of Lake St. (Not on it), to establish eligibility. The Parking Office uses the official address of the building to establish residence.

Registration Procedure

Faculty and staff are required to present a valid Wildcard and driver's license. Students are required to present, in addition, their vehicle registration and current housing contract or lease. Students who provide false information are subject to referral to Student Affairs, loss of any future permit privileges, forfeiture of permit fee, and may be subject to criminal charges. An additional fine may be assessed for a fraudulently obtained permit. Parking Services reserves the right to request additional documentation to verify address, affiliation and vehicle registration.
All information is subject to verification.

Proper Display of Permit

  • Permits must be displayed and correct license plate number(s) must be on file with the Parking Office or a citation will result.
  • The permit must be affixed to the rear bumper, right of the license plate, or to the outside of the rear window, lower right corner.
  • Permit must be displayed in an upright readable position. Remove all old permits after their expiration date. Display only the current year permit.

Cancellations/Refunds

  • It is your responsibility to return all permits to the Parking Office if you terminate employment or no longer want to park on campus. You will be charged for each month the permit is assigned to you. Payroll deductions will not be terminated until the permit (pieces) are removed from your vehicle and returned. Faculty and staff must return their permits by the sixth business day of the month. Faculty/staff permits not returned by the sixth business day of the month will be charged for the remainder of that month.
  • Students who have paid for annual parking (12 months) will receive a refund as follows: Three quarters of the purchased price will be refunded until the fifth day of Winter Quarter. Half the purchased price will be refunded from the fifth day of Winter Quarter through the fifth day of Spring Quarter. No refunds are issued after the Spring Quarter cut-off day. Students who have paid for academic year (9 month) parking will receive a refund as follows: Two thirds of the purchased price will be refunded until the fifth day of Winter Quarter. One third of the purchased price will be refunded from the fifth day of Winter Quarter through the fifth day of Spring Quarter. No refunds are issued after the Spring Quarter cut-off day. Outstanding, non-appealable violations will be assessed to the refund.
  • Persons wishing to replace a parking permit must remove the sticker from the vehicle and return it (or the pieces) to the Parking Services office. Persons holding car pool (multi-car) permits must return both permits and the car pool hang tag. There is a $7.00 permit replacement fee.

Lot Full?

  • Demand for parking can be high during the weekday, particularly in the center campus lots. It is suggested that regular permit parkers working in the center campus, in particular, anticipate the demand for space and plan in advance to park in the South Beach Structure or the SPAC Lot.
  • Purchasing a permit does not guarantee a space.

Student Parking

  • The best advice for students about parking on campus is: DON'T BRING YOUR CAR!
  • Parking is extremely limited, so most students walk, bike or take public transportation.
  • Ryan Field remote parking is an option for those students who must have vehicle, or for those who live within the walking zone and need a place to park their car. Ryan Field permits are sold only during fall and winter quarter, and are not refundable.

Special Permits

  • Official Business: Issued upon written request from a department head to full time Northwestern University service personnel. This hanging placard is in addition to a regular annual main campus permit only, and allows temporary parking in normally "No Parking" areas, provided that loading docks, drives, fire lanes and reserved spaces are not blocked or obstructed by the vehicle.
  • Contractor Permits (Campus): Issued to limited authorized construction superintendents working on campus that do not work in the designated construction zones established by University Administration. Contractor permits are valid in Faculty and Commuter lots. These permits do not allow the owner to park contrary to University Parking Rules.
  • Contractor Lot: Issued to authorized construction contractors working on campus in designated construction zones. Permit allows parking in designated contractor lots only.
  • Car Pool: Issued to faculty, staff or commuter students forming a car pool or who want to register two vehicles. One car pools sign is issued to each pool and must be displayed in the vehicle that is parked on campus. The sign must be hung from the inside rear view mirror (failure to display the sign properly is a $10.00 violation). Only two vehicles may be registered in one car pool.
  • Temporary Permits: Issued at the daily rate for short-term parking. The expiration date, month and year must be indicated. These permits may be issued at no cost to permit holders in emergencies. Authorized University vendors and service personnel may purchase one day or quarterly permits.
  • One Day Visitor Permits: Issued at the daily rate to department heads upon written request for use by guests, visitors and vendors. Departments are limited to 30 permits per quarter or on a space available basis as determined by Parking Services. Departments hosting events with expected parking exceeding thirty vehicles are required to notify the Parking Services Office a minimum of seven days prior to the event. There are no refunds for visitor permits. Use of visitor permits by faculty, staff or students is prohibited. Citations issued to University affiliated persons using visitor permits may not be appealed.
  • Motorcycle Permits: Required for all motorcycles over 150 cc's. Allows parking in regular parking spaces in commuter (C) lots. One motorcycle permit may be issued at no cost to an annual main campus permit holder (registration required). A permit holders vehicle and motorcycle may not be parked on campus simultaneously.
  • Service Permits: Issued at the daily, monthly or quarterly rate to non-affiliated vendors and service personnel. This permit allows parking in faculty/staff lots and designated service areas for time periods not to exceed four hours.
  • Metered Spaces: Metered parking spaces are set aside solely for short term use by visitors. Vehicles owned or operated by faculty, staff or students are not allowed to use metered spaces.
  • Reserved Spaces: Issued upon approval of written request by the Parking Committee. These spaces are reserved 7 days a week—24 hours a day. The holder of a reserved space does not have the right to allow any other vehicle to park in the space. There is a premium assessed on all individual and departmental reserved spaces.

Sports and Aquatic Center

  • Sports and Aquatics permits are sold only to non-affiliated users of the facility. Faculty, staff and students are not eligible to use or purchase this permit.
  • To purchase this permit, one must present their valid membership card, drivers license and have no outstanding violations. The Parking Office reserves the right to request additional documentation as necessary for vehicle registration.
  • "S" permit holders are permitted to park for up to two hours per visit.
  • Parking for "S" permits is allowed only at the following locations: North Beach (SPAC) Lot, Reservoir Lot and LARC Drive.
  • Failure to comply with time area restrictions is a violation (unauthorized permit).

Permit Variations

  • A one-day "S" permit may be purchased by users who do not have an annual membership.
  • Annual members with more than one vehicle may obtain up to two permits, but only one vehicle may be on campus at one time.

disabled Parking

  • Visitors with handicapped license plates or placards from a government agency may park in designated handicapped spaces or at parking meters. University parking permits are required in non handicapped spaces.
  • Faculty, staff and students with handicapped license plates or placards must purchase a main campus permit.
  • Students requesting a parking exemption for medical reasons, must possess a valid handicapped.

Citation Rates, Towing & Immobilization*

  • No Valid Permit $50.00
  • Unauthorized Permit $50.00
  • Altered Permit $250.00
  • Incorrect Permit for Lot $30.00
  • Valid Permit/HangTag Not Properly Displayed $10.00
  • Permit Not Facing Aisle $5.00
  • Parked on Walk or Grass Area $30.00
  • Blocking or Obstructing Traffic Lanes, Service Areas, Posted Areas Hydrants $40.00
  • Parking Over Lines or In Two Spaces $15.00
  • Expired Parking Meter $15.00
  • Over 20 Minutes In a Loading Dock/Zone $15.00
  • Reserved Space $100.00
  • Handicapped Space $250.00
  • Posted Fire Lane $40.00
  • Immobilization (Booting) Fee $125.00

*All rates subject to change

Vehicles may be towed or immobilized for

  • Blocking fire lanes for any amount of time
  • Blocking vehicle or pedestrian traffic ways
  • Parking in no-parking areas
  • Abandoned vehicles/unauthorized vehicles
  • Parking that impedes progress of necessary maintenance projects (snow removal, paving, etc)
  • Receiving two or more No Valid Permit or Unauthorized Permit violations (whether paid, or under appeal) are subject to commercial towing and/or immobilization up to one year; violations that are unpaid are subject to commercial towing and/or immobilization for up to three years.
  • Bearing valid permits receiving four or more violations of any type (whether paid, or under appeal) are subject to commercial towing and/or immobilization up to one year; violations that are unpaid are subject to commercial towing and/or immobilizations for up to three years.
  • Parking in a reserved space, handicapped space, tow-away zone or otherwise creating a safety hazard.

All fines must be paid before immobilizers are removed. Failure to make arrangements to have immobilizers removed will result in the vehicle being commercially towed. Violators are responsible for all towing and storage costs.

Enforcement

  • All vehicles parked on the Evanston campus must display a valid permit year round, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. All other times of the day or week and during University holidays a vehicle may park without a permit except in designated lots which are listed below. Please note that quarterly breaks are not holidays and thus permits are required.
  • Vehicles must not back into or pull through parking stalls. The permit must always face the aisle.
  • Vehicles must not be stored on campus beyond 48 hours. Vehicles found in violation are subject to ticketing for unauthorized permits, commercial tow and storage fees.
  • Ryan Field (D) permits are not valid outside the Ryan Field remote lot except during summer quarter, when they are valid in commuter (C) lots.
  • Parking on campus outside the Ryan Field lot during fall, winter and spring quarters will result in a violation for Unauthorized Permit.
  • Ryan Field Athletic (A) permits are only valid at Ryan Field. Parking on campus outside the Ryan Field lot at anytime, summer quarter included, will result in a violation for Unauthorized Permit.

Parking Lots/Locations Enforced 24 Hours A Day, 7 Days a Week:

  • Student Health (FH Permits Only)
  • University Police
  • Central Utility Plant
  • Tech Institute Lots and Drives
  • Foster-Walker Complex (R Spaces only)*
  • Reservoir Lot*
  • Patten Gym Lot*
  • Elder Hall Lot*
  • Handicapped and Reserved Spaces

*Not enforced Friday 4:00 pm -Monday 7:30 am

Snow Removal

Certain lots have been designated as "No Parking" to accommodate snow removal. After two inches of snow has fallen, parking is prohibited between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM in the following lots: North Beach, LARC Drive, MLS East, 630 Dartmouth, Regenstein, 619 Clark, Music Administration, 2020 Ridge (north of Leon Place) and the 600-700 block of University Place. The snow removal plan is in effect from December 15 through March 30. Vehicles found in the above lots while the plan is in effect are subject to ticketing and towing at the owners expense.

Violation Payment/Appeals

Violations may be paid in person at the Bursar's Office located at 619 Clark St., Monday through Friday, between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm., or by mail in the provided ticket envelope (do not mail cash).

Parking violations may be appealed to the Parking Committee. Appeal forms may be obtained at the Parking Office or online at www.northwestern.edu/up/parking. Appeals not submitted on the Parking Ticket Appeal form will not be accepted. Appeals must be filed within ten days of the violation date. Appeals received after the 10 day appeal period will not be accepted. Parking ticket appeals will be reviewed by the Parking Committee on a quarterly basis. Persons appealing tickets will be notified by mail of the Committee's decision. All Parking Committee decisions are final. If the violation is not waived by the Parking Committee, a $10.00 service fee may be added to the violation assessment.

Denial or Revocation of Permit

The Parking Committee and the Parking Office have the authority to deny or revoke parking privileges. Those persons having their permits revoked forfeit the permit fee and must surrender the permit to the Parking Office. Any permit obtained using deceptive practices will result in permit revocation.

Emergencies or Special Events/ Legal Liability

  • The Chief of the University Police Department may establish and enforce temporary parking restrictions deemed necessary for the safety and convenience of the University.
  • The parking regulations have been adopted by Northwestern University. Persons who operate a vehicle on Northwestern University property are responsible for knowing and complying with these regulations. The university assumes no liability for loss or damage to a vehicle or its contents.
For More Information

Permit Rates

Annual Permits by Type

  • Faculty & Staff Full Time $462.00
  • Faculty & Staff Part-Time $303.00
  • Student (12 month) $462.00
  • Student (9 month) $392.67
  • SPAC $303.00
  • Motorcycle* $303.00
  • EMP $303.00
  • Ryan Field Remote Parking** $25.00
  • Ryan Field Athletic Parking*** $25.00

Other Permits

  • Visitor, F/C/R/S/N One-Day**** $6.50

*No charge to annual main campus permit holder
**Per vehicle. Available Fall and Winter quarters only
***Restricted to Ryan Field only and never valid on main campus
****non-refundable
All prices subject to change