Where are you located and what are the hours of operation?

Parking and Traffic Services is located in the Public Safety building, across from the south side shuttle stop on main campus. We are open Monday through Friday from 8AM to 7:30PM.

How do I contact you?

Public Safety
Attn: Parking and Traffic Services
4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016-8068
202.885.3111
dpscustomerservice@american.edu

Where can I park?

Guest and visitor parking is available in the Nebraska Ave. parking lot and Katzen Arts Center garage. Between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM, Monday thru Friday, parking is at the rate of $1.50 per hour or $12 per day. You can purchase a permit from the Pay-As-You-Go machines which are located at the entrances of both parking lots. The machines accept $10, $5, and $1 bills as well as all major credit cards, with the exception of American Express. You may also purchase a permit in advance from Parking and Traffic Services. After 5 PM and on the weekends, parking in these lots is complimentary.

When is parking enforced?

Parking is enforced 8 AM - 5PM in faculty/staff parking areas and visitor lots. Parking in all other areas is enforced 24 hours a day. The only exceptions are when the university is closed.

Can I park close to my dorm or office to load and unload?

Please visit Parking and Traffic Services between the hours of 8 AM - 5 PM and we will issue you a free 20 minute loading permit, which is valid in any loading area. Please take note that you can only use that permit 20 minutes at a time and you will be subject to a citation if you exceed the loading period.

I have a current parking permit, but I'm driving another vehicle today. How can I get a permit for this car?

If you bring your ID with you to Parking and Traffic Services, we'll be happy to provide you with a temporary permit that can be displayed in the temporary vehicle you're driving to campus. The permit will be valid whenever your normal parking permit is. Please be advised that your regular parking permit is ONLY valid on the vehicle you registered in your application. It CANNOT be transferred to a rental car or any other vehicle.

If you've changed vehicles, please bring the registration for the new vehicle and your old permit to Parking and Traffic Services, and we'll be able to issue you an updated permit with no extra charge.

If I am a student and faculty/staff member, what permit do I apply for?

If you are a full-time faculty/staff member, you must purchase a faculty/staff permit regardless of your student status.

What about motorcycles, scooters and bicycles?

Faculty, staff, and students who prefer to ride motorcycles to campus are required to buy a permit to park on campus. Scooters and Cyclists need to register their scooters and bicycles with Public Safety.

Scooters are not required to purchase a parking permit, and may be secured to bicycle racks. Scooters are two wheel vehicles with a piston displacement between 50 to 250cc's. Furthermore, a Scooter is defined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, §571.123, as a motorcycle that:

• Has a platform for the operator's feet or has integrated footrests,

• Has a step-through architecture, meaning that the part of the vehicle forward of the operator's seat and between the legs of an operator seated in the riding position, is lower in height than the operator's seat

I got a ticket. How do I pay for it? Can I appeal it?

You may mail in your payment, using the envelope you received with your ticket, or you may come by our office in the Public Safety building and pay for your ticket weekdays between 8:00am and 7:30pm. You may choose to appeal a ticket by completing an appeal form and mailing it to our office or your may come by our office to submit your appeal. 

Please do not ignore parking tickets because late charges accrue on all unpaid tickets. Tickets are billed first to the permit holder or to the vehicle’s registered owner if no permit is displayed. Permit holders are responsible for all tickets issued to their permit, regardless of vehicle ownership.

What is the username and password for the online appeals form?

If you are a member of the AU community you can use the same username and password that you use to access your my.american.edu account. If you do not have an online account affiliated with American University please contact Parking and Traffic Services at 202.885.3111 for a temporary username and password.

I do not have an AU identification number. How do I fill out the online applications?

In the event that you do not have an AU ID number, please use the ID number 1111111 so the application can be processed.

How can I request a parking permit for a contractor working at AU?

Only authorized individuals can submut applications for contractor parking permits online. Please call our office if you are not sure who can request a contractor permit from your department.

What about getting a refund on my permit?

Students may request a refund upon withdrawal from the University or termination of parking. Faculty and staff also may request a refund when they separate from the University. Refunds are issued on a prorated schedule. All permits must be returned when requesting a refund.

Will having a state disabled parking permit allow me to park anywhere on campus?

Although a state-disabled permit is honored on campus for visitors and guests, parking is available in any area or lot. Faculty, staff, and students are required to purchase an AU parking permit and disabled permit in addition to the state permit or license plates on weekdays from 8:00am until 5:00pm. Please be sure to read the signs and park in a space designated for disabled parking.

May I sell my permit?

Ownership of all permits and garage access devices remains with the University and is not transferable. If you have more than one vehicle, you must register additional vehicles with Parking and Traffic Services. You cannot transfer your permit to another vehicle. Permits and access devices must be returned to Parking and Traffic Services (1) if you are no longer employed by the University or enrolled as a student at the University; (2) when a replacement permits has been issued to take the place of a previously issued permit; or (3) when the permit is revoked.

What if my permit is lost or stolen?

You will need to come by the Parking and Traffic Services office to report the loss or theft and get a replacement permit. If you find your old permit at a later date, be sure to return it to the Parking and Traffic Services office. If you use a permit after it has been reported as lost or stolen, your vehicle will be ticketed and immobilized and you may face legal or disciplinary actions..

Can I request a complimentary parking permit for a guest?

Parking and Traffic Services is happy to provide complimentary parking permits for University departments' guests whose participation with AU is for the purpose of contributing to the academic or institutional mission of the department.

Requests for guest permits need to be submitted via e-mail by a faculty or full-time staff member who is authorized to make requests on behalf of the department. The e-mail should include the name of the guest, the length of their visit to AU, and the purpose of their visit. We request 48 hours notice in order to have the permits prepared and available for pickup. Only the requestor, guest or otherwise noted individual may pick up the permit from our office.

Guest permits are valid in the Nebraska Ave. parking lot or Katzen Arts Center garage. If you would like to request a permit for any other location, please specify which location in the e-mail, but be advised that the request might take longer to be approved.