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Hardship Parking provides a process for students with extenuating circumstances and transportation demands that cannot be met through student lottery registration and available commuting options. Limited hardship parking permits are available to qualifying students. Applicants are not guaranteed a parking permit.

Hardship Parking is a student-managed process that allocates parking to students whose schedule and transportation demands cannot be met through available commuting options or are significantly impacted by hardship circumstances. Students requesting parking and transportation based on Medical Mobility issues should view the Accessibility and Accommodations page for additional information.

Students must demonstrate qualifying circumstances where commuting demands cannot be met through student lottery registration and available commuting options, such as transit, ZipCar, bike, or walk.

Qualifying circumstances include:

  • Family obligations
  • Internship or clinical requirements
  • Significant extracurricular involvement

First-year undergraduate students are not eligible to apply through the lottery for parking. The Ordinance Regulating Traffic and Parking at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill prohibits first-year undergraduate students from obtaining a permit without review of qualifying circumstances and assignment through the Hardship process. First-year undergraduate students who receive an approved Residency Requirement waiver through Carolina Housing or have other qualifying circumstances may apply for exemption through the Hardship process.

The Hardship Parking Process is identified in the Joint Code of the Student Government of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapter 5, including the Hardship Parking Committee composition, required documentation, and review process.

Step 1:  Before Submitting the Application

  • Apply for a permit through the student parking lottery process
  • Explore all transportation options, including public transit, ZipCar, bike, or walk

Step 2:  Collect Documentation

  • Detailed documentation requirements available in the Joint Code of the Student Government
  • Claims shall be substantiated by some form of documentation regardless of the nature of the claim
  • Collect documentation required for application submission in advance of the application deadline
  • Documentation should not include information that would violate HIPPA or FERPA policies
  • Documentation should not include confidential information such as medical history, specific conditions, social security numbers, et cetera

Step 3: Submit Application

  • Complete and submit the hardship parking application with required documentation attached by the deadline

Step 4: Application Review

  • The application review process is governed by the Joint Code of the Student Government and managed by student representatives

Step 5: Hardship Parking Notification

  • Students are notified via the provided email address of the Hardship Committee decision
  • Permit recipients must purchase permits by the established deadline and provide vehicle registration and proof of insurance at that time
  • Permit costs are the responsibility of the student (Student Permit Prices)

The appeals process can be found in the Joint Code of the Student Government of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapter 5, Article 4, Section 546.

  • The hardship parking appeals process requires additional documentation.
  • Students requesting a hardship parking assignment appeal must submit a complete appeals application that includes additional information by the posted deadline; the appeals application is available after students are notified of the hardship parking assignment decision.
  • Student hardship parking appeal process includes an interview, which is conducted in person or video conference call. During the interview, students should be prepared to present new or additional information for the appeal.
  • Students are notified via the email address provided of the appeals decision.
  • If a permit assignment is granted via appeal, students must purchase permits by the established deadline and provide vehicle registration and proof of insurance at that time; permit costs are the responsibility of the student.
  • The appeals decision is the final decision for hardship parking.

For questions regarding appeals, please contact the Student Hardship Parking Committee at usgvp@unc.edu.

Fall 2024

First Round Hardship
  • Application Submission: July 17 – July 24
  • Application Review: July 25 – July 28
  • Hardship Assignment Announcements: July 29 – July 30
  • Appeals Due: July 18 – August 21
  • Payment Deadline: Three business days from assignment notification

Second Round Hardship

The Hardship Committee is currently making changes to the Second Round Hardship timeline.

Medical Non-Mobility is a qualifying circumstance for student hardship consideration. The Transportation and Parking Accommodations Committee (TPAC) manages the process for students. Eligible students must demonstrate that medical-related travel requirements cannot be met through the lottery process or available transportation options, including public transit, ZipCar, bike, or walk. Medical Non-Mobility hardship provides a process for a student with medical circumstances that include frequent travel and due to class, work, or extra-curricular schedule conflicts, requires proximate access to a personal vehicle.

Students requesting parking and transportation based on Medical Mobility issues should apply through the Medical Mobility Process.

Students may apply for a Medical Non-Mobility Hardship online or request a hard copy at the Transportation and Parking Office.

Step 1: Explore available options

Before applying for a Medical Non-Mobility Hardship, a student must:

  • Apply for a permit through the student parking lottery process
  • Explore all available parking and transit options (local transit, regional transit, ZipCar, bike, or walk) prior to applying for a permit related to a hardship
  • Meet and provide documentation of Medical Non-Mobility travel requirement at time of application

Step 2: Complete the Application

  • Download, print, or request a copy of the Health Care Professional Statement (Medical Non-Mobility)
  • Send the Health Care Professional Statement to the treating health care professional to complete and sign
  • Health Care Professional Statement is returned to the applicant
  • Complete and submit the Medical Non-Mobility Hardship Application, attaching the completed and signed Health Care Professional Statement, online or in person
  • Detailed documentation requirements available in the Joint Code of the Student Government
  • Claims shall be substantiated by some form of documentation regardless of the nature of the claim
  • Collect documentation required for application submission in advance of the application deadline
  • Documentation should not include information that would violate HIPPA or FERPA policies
  • Documentation should not include confidential information such as medical history specific conditions, social security numbers, et cetera

Step 3: Application Review

  • The Transportation and Parking Accommodations Committee reviews completed applications the second and fourth Wednesday of each month
  • Applicants with incomplete applications will be contacted via the provided email address to request the missing information
  • Assignments are based on the medical non-mobility travel requirements provided in the Health Care Professional Statement, evidence that the student’s schedule, and available parking resources
  • Temporary accommodations may be provided during the application and review process
  • Hardship Medical Non-Mobility Accommodation Applications are accepted throughout the year
  • If an applicant’s medical non-mobility travel requirements change or the applicant has additional information for the committee to review related to the parking assignment, an update from the Health Care Professional, schedules, or other relevant documentation may be submitted for additional review

Step 4: Notification

  • Applicants should expect to receive a response within two business days of the Committee decision
  • Applicants are responsible for all costs associated with parking permits or other transportation options

A hard copy of the Health Care Professional Statement and the Medical Non-Mobility Accommodation Application is available at the Transportation and Parking Office, located at 285 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.

First-year undergraduate students are not eligible to apply through the lottery for parking. The Ordinance Regulating Traffic and Parking at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill prohibits first-year undergraduate students from obtaining a permit without review of qualifying circumstances, including Medical Non-Mobility, and assignment through the Hardship process. First-year undergraduate students who receive an approved Residency Requirement waiver through Carolina Housing or have other qualifying circumstances may apply for exemption through the Hardship process.

  • Hardship Medical Non-Mobility Accommodation Applications are accepted throughout the year
  • If an applicant’s medical non-mobility travel requirements change or the applicant has additional information for the committee to review related to the parking assignment, an update from the Health Care Professional, schedules, or other relevant documentation may be submitted for additional review
  • Students must apply annually for Medical Non-Mobility Hardship parking

Current student permit pricing is in effect as established in the ordinance.

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