Parking Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions or comments that are not addressed below, contact University Services at (312) 503-1103, or chicagoparking@northwestern.edu.
- I am a new staff member with the University. How do I obtain a parking permit?
- I take evening classes on the Chicago Campus. What are my parking options?
- I have a meeting to attend in Chicago but I think my parking permit is only valid in Evanston. Where can I park my car for a couple of hours?
- Can I buy my out-of-town guests a parking pass for the weekend?
- If I need to drive a substitute vehicle, will I still be able to park without my permit displayed on the vehicle?
- Where do I place the decal?
- How do I enter and exit the parking garage?
- Can I get a parking card, separate from my WildCARD, for parking on the Chicago Campus?
- What happens if my WildCARD (or parking card) doesn't work in the garage?
- I forgot my WildCARD; what do I do?
Each department on the Chicago campus is allocated parking spaces according to their percentage of the total Chicago campus population. The first step is to contact your department's Parking Administrator, who oversees these spaces and will determine if there are spaces available.
If spaces are available, faculty/staff must meet certain criteria to be eligible for parking:
- Must live north of North Avenue, west of Halsted Street and south of Congress PKWY.
- Are approved for parking privileges through their department
- Are paid at least 50% of salary from Northwestern University
- Must work a minimum of 20 hours a week to be considered for commuter parking
If all of the above criteria are met, the department administrator will then fax or e-mail a memo to University Services Chicago verifying that you may purchase one of their allocated spaces. Once this memo is received and processed, you may proceed to University Services Chicago Office to complete a parking application. A tiered scale according to one's annual salary determines parking fees for faculty and staff. NMH, RIC & NMFF salaries will be considered when identifying the parking tier. These rates are set in the Fall Quarter each year.
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2. I take evening classes on the Chicago Campus. What are my parking options?
There are several options for evening parking on the Chicago Campus:
- If you attend classes twice a week or less, you may self-validate your parking ticket for a discounted rate of $6.50 per evening. This rate is valid at the University's Self-Park garage located on 222 E. Huron (LOT C), or at 321 E. Erie (LOT D). You can park from 4 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. The pulled parking ticket can be stamped by a validation machine in Wieboldt Hall, located on the 1st floor in the mailbox room. Upon exiting the parking structure, present the validated ticket to the attendant to receive your discounted rate.
- If you need evening parking on a more regular basis, University Services offers Evening and Weekend permits. These permits allow you to park at 321 E. Erie (LOT-D), Monday through Friday from 4 pm until 8 am the following morning. The permit also entitles you to 24-hour access to the lot on the weekend and during University holidays. Fees are set on a yearly basis. Please contact University Services Chicago Office at (312) 503-1103 for current rates. Parking fees are payable via cash, check or charged to a student account. To obtain a permit, please fill out the online parking application.
3. I have a meeting to attend in Chicago but I think my parking permit is only valid in Evanston. Where can I park my car for a couple of hours?
The Intercampus Shuttle is a free service (you simply need to show your WildCARD) that operates between the Evanston and Chicago campus and will allow you to attend your meeting without having to worry about parking.
If you cannot take the shuttle, ask the department you are meeting with about discounted validation. You may also obtain a discounted employee pass for $10.25 from University Services Chicago Office.
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4. Can I buy my out-of-town guests a parking pass for the weekend?
Yes. A weekend pass is available to students; it can be purchased at University Services Chicago Office during normal business hours. When you sign up for a Weekend Permit, your WildCARD is activated as the guest's key card. The parking pass is $17 and is valid from 4 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday morning.
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5. If I need to drive a substitute vehicle, will I still be able to park without my permit displayed on the vehicle?
Yes, but you will need to notify University Services in Abbott Hall. They will issue you a temporary permit to display in the substitute vehicle.
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6. Where do I place the decal?
The decal(s) should be affixed to the lower right-hand corner of your rear window or the right side of the rear bumper.
If you have registered more than one vehicle, please check the back of each sticker to ensure you are attaching the correct decal to the corresponding vehicle. Each decal is marked with the vehicle's information.
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7. How do I enter and exit the parking garage?
- Once you have entered the garage, swipe your WildCARD through the card reader. The card should be facing down with the wide stripe inserted into the reader and swiped from left to right.
- In Lots D and C, a green light will indicate that the card has been read successfully. When the card has been read the gate will lift.
Contact University Services if you have any difficulties parking with your WildCARD, or if you have further questions regarding your campus permit at (312) 503-1103.
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8. Can I get a parking card, separate from my WildCARD, for parking on the Chicago Campus?
Yes. Upon request, a separate parking card can be issued with a key card number for parking. The separate cards are available for $25.
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9. What happens if my WildCARD (or parking card) doesn't work in the garage?
If your card does not work when you attempt to exit the garage, please show your current parking permit receipt to the attendant. After they have verified that your permit is current, you will be allowed to exit the garage. If an attendant is not available, it may be necessary to pay the daily rate at the pay station. If you've had to pay the daily rate, please request a parking receipt and take it to University Services in Abbott Hall, Room 100, for refund instructions.
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10. I forgot my WildCARD; what do I do?
Take a ticket when entering the garage and bring it to University Services in Abbott Hall, Room 100, which will issue you an exit pass for the garage. If it is after regular business hours and no attendants are present, it may be necessary to pay the daily rate at the pay station. If you've had to pay the daily rate, please request a parking receipt and take it to University Services in Abbott Hall, Room 100, for refund instructions.
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