Parking Permits
As part of the parking permit application process, applicants are required to provide the license plate number(s) of the Vehicle(s) they plan to park on Campus. Failure to register the license plate with the Vehicle(s) to which the permit is assigned is a violation of this Ordinance and will result in a citation.
A student shall not have more than two (2) Vehicles/two (2) license plate numbers registered to a single parking permit. Each Vehicle registered to a student parking permit must meet the Student Parking Permit Eligibility requirements set forth in Student Parking Permit Eligibility (below). A student may add one Vehicle/license plate number manually. Upon request to the Department with presentation of required documentation, Department staff may enter a second Vehicle/license plate number to a student parking permit. A student may request that the Department add/remove additional Vehicles/license plate numbers up to the limit of two (2) Vehicles/two (2) license plate numbers.
An employee shall not have more than four (4) Vehicles/four (4) license plate numbers registered to a single parking permit. Upon request to the Department with presentation of required documentation, Department staff may enter Vehicles/license plate numbers to an employee parking permit.
If a parking permit is registered to more than one Vehicle, only one Vehicle may be parked on Campus at a time. Failure to abide by this restriction is a violation of this Ordinance and will result in a citation.
All permits issued under this section are subject to limitations that may be imposed by the Chancellor, through his/her/their designee(s), under Temporary Parking Restrictions. Permits shall be allocated among the students and employees in a manner that will best serve the needs of the University community as a whole. The University Departmental Parking Permit Allocation Policy is available online.
Transferring Employee Permits
If an employee transfers from one unit to another unit, the permit stays with the allocating unit. If the employee’s new unit does not have a parking permit allocation, then the individual may contact the Department for resolution.
Student Parking Permit Allocations
Student parking permits are distributed primarily through a lottery system in accordance with procedures posted on the Department’s website. Parking permits are made available for hardship cases. University student government representatives are responsible for assigning the available set of student hardship permits to students in accordance with the procedures of the student government hardship parking committee.
Student Parking Permit Eligibility
The following student parking permit eligibility restrictions apply:
- no first-year undergraduate student is eligible for a permit during the academic year unless authorized through the student hardship process; and
- The Department will not issue a student parking permit to any student for any Vehicle that is required to be registered pursuant to Chapter 20 of the General Statutes, or the corresponding statute of another state or nation, until the student requesting the permit provides the name of the insurer, the policy number under which the student has financial responsibility, and the student certifies that the Vehicle is at least insured at the levels set forth in G.S. § 20-279.1(11).
Retired Faculty/Staff Permits
An allocation of a maximum of 350 permits designated as retired employee permits will be available to retired employees applying for parking on Campus. The RFS/ALG permits are valid in permit zoned lots (excluding the Cardinal Deck) after 12:00 p.m. (noon). Retired employees interested in applying for a retired employee permit must submit their request through their unit. The Department will distribute retired employee permits to units requesting them based on the same formula that is utilized to distribute the primary parking allocations. The RFS/ALG permit fee is listed in the fee chart in Parking Fees.
Postdoctoral Fellows’ Permits
The Department must allocate an appropriate number of parking permits to Postdoctoral Fellows. A Postdoctoral Fellow’s department coordinator may submit a request to the Department (as detailed on the Department’s website) to issue a permit from the Postdoctoral Fellows’ allocation. If there are more requests for permits than there are permits, the Department will give priority based on years of service with the University. Any Postdoctoral Fellow not receiving a permit will be placed on a waiting list. The unit in which the Postdoctoral Fellow works may assign a permit from its allocation.
Temporary Permits
The Department issues temporary permits in areas where space is available. A fee will be charged for such temporary permits.
Other Agencies
The Department may assign parking permit allocations to agencies closely related but not affiliated with the University as appropriate based on determination by the Department. The agency must pay for the parking permit allocation before the Department will issue the permit(s) to the agency.
Service Permits
Two-hour service permits are designed for use by employees who perform maintenance on equipment, deliver or install equipment, load or unload at primary work location, attend meetings away from primary work location, or have duties that cannot be met by transit or State-owned Vehicles. Use of the two-hour service permit is limited to a two-hour time limit in any one location, unless otherwise specified. Units may apply for two-hour service permits through the Department using an application form which must be signed by the unit Director or Chair. Requests for additional permits must include justification of the need and address the reasons for the inability of transit to meet such needs. Vehicles displaying a two-hour service permit may park in any unreserved parking space or any designated service permit space.
Fifteen-minute service permits are designed for use by representatives of non-University affiliated service companies using unmarked Vehicles that have a need to make deliveries taking fifteen minutes or less. Companies may apply for the permit through the Department (as detailed on the Department’s website). Use of the permit is restricted to fifteen minutes in any one location. Employees or students may not use the fifteen-minute service permit. Vehicles displaying a fifteen-minute service permit may park in any unreserved space or any designated service permit space.
Vendor Service Permits
Representatives of non-University affiliated service companies that have a contractual relationship with the University to deliver goods or services may apply for a vendor service permit through the Department (as detailed on the Department’s website). An application must be completed by the vendor and approved by the Department Director. Vendors with Vehicles prominently displaying the vendor’s name or logo, performing routine deliveries and pick-ups from University buildings, and requiring less than fifteen minutes are exempt from any permit requirement. Employees and students are not eligible to display or purchase Vendor Service Permits.
Vendors may purchase temporary (i.e., one-day) permits from the Department (as detailed on the Department’s website). Vehicles displaying a Vendor Permit may park in areas designated by the Department.
Government Vehicles displaying federal license plates are exempt from the permitting requirements. However, construction Vehicles are not exempt from permitting requirements; construction contractors must contact the UNC-Chapel Hill Facilities Services Project Manager to arrange for appropriate parking through the Department. Construction contractors are not eligible for Vendor Permits.
“ALG” Permits
Said permits are issued to employees having broad, significant, Campus-wide responsibilities. ALG permits may be used in all gated and non-gated parking spaces, which are not otherwise reserved, except for the Dogwood, Cardinal, and Rams Head Decks and all surface visitor parking facilities. “ALG” permits are allocated from the zone adjacent to the primary work location. “ALG” permits are approved by the Chancellor or their designee(s).
Disability Permits
Mobility impaired students and employees desiring parking on Campus must obtain a UNC-Chapel Hill Disability permit through the Department by the established application process described on the Department’s website. The Department will make reasonable accommodations for mobility impaired students and employees and will allocate parking permits to mobility impaired users based upon a health care professional’s certification of need. The Department will determine the zone based on access needs and availability, and the cost will be based on the fee structure in Section3-4. By displaying the UNC-Chapel Hill Disability permit, an individual may park in the assigned space or any unreserved space within the designated zone, Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. UNC-Chapel Hill Disability permit holders may park in UNC-D designated spaces or any unreserved space throughout Campus during weeknights.
Vanpool Permits
The Chancellor, through their designee(s), determines vanpool allocations by the predominant driver based on space availability. Vanpool users must submit a list of participants to the Department with name, unit name, and work telephone number for each participating individual. The Department will waive the parking permit fee for vanpools.
Carpool Permits
Those persons wishing to carpool may apply through their unit jointly for a single transferable permit at no additional charge. Once issued, this permit will be transferable only among the Vehicles in the carpool, as registered with the Department. This permit must be displayed as provided in Section 4-3. Only one of the registered Vehicles may be parked in the zone designated during parking control hours.
The Chancellor or their designee(s) determines carpool allocations based on space availability. The Commuter Alternative Program (“CAP”) outlines available carpool options. If a carpool is disbanded during the permit year, the carpool permit must be cancelled and returned to the Department.
Emergency Staff Permits
Emergency staff permits are issued by UNC Health for those persons responding to emergency medical calls. The permits are only valid in the spaces designated for emergency staff parking.
Official Visitor Permits
A unit may apply for annual official visitor permits through the Department (as detailed on the Department’s website). Justification of need must accompany each request. The permit is not authorized for use by employees or students. If there is a visitor lot within two blocks of the requesting unit’s destination, that visitor lot must be used in lieu of obtaining official visitor permits. Official visitor permits are not valid in any pay operations lot. Vehicles displaying this permit may park in spaces that are not metered, gate controlled for zone permits, pay visitor parking, or other areas specifically reserved.
Board Members Permits
Specific-use permits are issued to serving members of the:
- Board;
- Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina;
- Board of Directors of UNC Health; and
- other University-affiliated boards, as specified by the Chancellor, through their designee(s).
Vehicles displaying these permits may park in any unreserved zoned space and in any service space. These permits are not typically valid for controlled-access zones.
Construction Trailer Permits
Contractors who need parking for storage of materials or supplies may purchase a permit for $70.00 per month. The construction trailers will be stored at a location on Campus designated by the Department.
Reserved Space Permits (RS)
The Chancellor, through his/her/their designee(s), may issue a reserved space permit to a person, unit, department, or school. Job duties and other functions associated with employment shall be considered in determining whether a reserved space permit is appropriate (e.g., area directors required to live in residence halls). The cost of the permit and space shall be as defined in Parking Fees. Reserved spaces assigned to departments are for use by visitors/patients to the department only. Use of these permits by departmental employees is prohibited. The Department reserves the right to revoke a reserved space permit if said permit is misused.
Bicycle Permits
Students and employees are required to display a Bicycle parking permit. A Bicycle registrant will be issued a free, five-year Bicycle permit to be affixed as a sticker to the Bicycle frame as described in Display of Permits. Bicycle permits are not transferable.
Park and Ride Permits
Park and Ride lots are designated for employees and students commuting to Main Campus by parking their Vehicles away from Main Campus and using transit services to reach Main Campus. Persons parking in Park and Ride lots shall register in the Park and Ride program and display a Park and Ride (PR) permit in their Vehicle. The pricing for Park and Ride (PR) permits is set forth in Parking Fees.
Employees with a primary worksite located adjacent to a Park and Ride lot will not be eligible to utilize a Park and Ride lot as proximate worksite parking. Park and Ride lots are reserved for those using transit for their daily commute to Main Campus and not meant as primary parking for those working adjacent to the lot.
Weeknight Parking (WN) Permits
The Chancellor, through his/her/their designee(s), may issue weeknight parking permits. The “WN” permit will entitle the holder to park in designated WN parking zones from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., Monday through Thursday. Daytime and park-and-ride parking permits are valid after 5:00 p.m., subject to Event Parking; an additional WN permit is not required. The Weeknight Parking (CAP) permit is available for any registered CAP member whose work hours are between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and who does not have a daytime parking permit.
A physical parking permit must always be properly displayed. Parking permits must be clearly visible and cannot be obscured in any manner. A violation of this section will result in the appropriate fine.
Physical permit display options include:
- Hanging the permit from the Vehicle’s rearview mirror facing the front of the Vehicle, clearly visible through the front windshield. When using a special permit assigned to a department (such as two-hour service, etc.), the parking zone permit must be displayed in front of the special permit, so that both permits are clearly visible through the front windshield.
- If the tint, slant, or other design factors of the Vehicle obscures in any way the permit’s visibility, the permit should be displayed on the passenger side of the windshield in the lower corner.
- A Bicycle permit must be affixed to the rear upright frame bar supporting the seat of the Bicycle.
- A Motorcycle permit must be displayed on either: the rear fender so it can be seen when viewing the license plate from behind the Motorcycle; on the front fork; or on the State inspection plate. Permits for Motorcycle covers must be permanently affixed on the top rear area of the Motorcycle cover. The Department must record the license plate number of the authorized Motorcycle on the Motorcycle cover permit.
- Permits for Vehicles using car covers must be affixed permanently on the top center windshield portion of the cover. The license plate number of the authorized Vehicle must be recorded on the permit by the Department. An additional permit must be displayed from the rearview mirror of the authorized Vehicle. The Department will record the license plate number of the Vehicle on the car cover.
- Adhesive windshield permits should be displayed in the lower right-hand corner of the front windshield.
- Virtual permit holders must register their Vehicle and license plate with the Department and obey all license plate visibility requirements described in Section 3-1.4.
It is unlawful for any person or entity not affiliated with the Department to produce (or cause to be produced), alter, or display, without authority of the Chancellor, through their designee(s), any parking permit, sticker, decal, gate card, or other device indicating eligibility to park on Campus. The Department shall confiscate any such permit, issue no refund, each violator will be issued a citation, the Vehicle(s) will be towed or booted, and the violator(s) will be ineligible for any parking permit for one calendar year. A violator will first meet with the Chancellor’s designated Hearing Officer, and thereafter, the violation(s) may be forwarded to the appropriate agency for disciplinary action(s) (i.e., the Student Attorney General for students, the Office of Human Resources and the unit chair for SHRA employees, the unit chair for University faculty and EHRA non-faculty employees, and UNC Health Personnel Department for health system employees). Prior to the release of the Vehicle(s), the improper permit(s) must be surrendered to the Department.
It is unlawful for any person or entity not affiliated with the Department to produce (or cause to be produced), alter, or display, without authority of the Chancellor, through their designee(s), any parking permit, sticker, decal, gate card, or other device indicating eligibility to park on Campus. The Department shall confiscate any such permit, issue no refund, each violator will be issued a citation, the Vehicle(s) will be towed or booted, and the violator(s) will be ineligible for any parking permit for one calendar year. A violator will first meet with the Chancellor’s designated Hearing Officer, and thereafter, the violation(s) may be forwarded to the appropriate agency for disciplinary action(s) (i.e., the Student Attorney General for students, the Office of Human Resources and the unit chair for SHRA employees, the unit chair for University faculty and EHRA non-faculty employees, and UNC Health Personnel Department for health system employees). Prior to the release of the Vehicle(s), the improper permit(s) must be surrendered to the Department.
The Chancellor, through their designee(s), may issue regulations for the transfer of permits from one Vehicle to another owned or used by the holder of the permit, and it is unlawful for a person in possession of such a permit to use it in any manner inconsistent with such regulations.
It is unlawful for any person in possession of a parking permit, whether that possession is lawful or unlawful, to give, sell, or otherwise transfer or to attempt to transfer it to another. It is unlawful for any person to display on a Vehicle a parking permit not issued to that person for use with that specific Vehicle or to display a lost, stolen, counterfeit, or an altered permit. The Department will confiscate any such permit, issue no refund, each violator issued a citation, the Vehicle(s) will be towed, impounded, or booted, and the violator(s) will be ineligible for any parking permit for one calendar year. A violator will first meet with the Chancellor’s designated Hearing Officer, and thereafter, the violation(s) may be forwarded to the appropriate agency for disciplinary action(s), (i.e., the Student Attorney General for students, the Office of Human Resources and the unit chair for SHRA employees, the unit chair for University faculty and EHRA non-faculty employees, and UNC Health for health system employees). Prior to the release of the Vehicle(s), the improper permit(s) must be surrendered to the Department.