Public Safety - Parking and Traffic Services

Parking Permit Policies

Revised 2009 May 15

I. PURPOSE:

American University has determined that it is in the best interests of the University community that rules and regulations be established to govern the driving and parking of motor vehicles by faculty, staff, students, visitors, and guests on University property. The purpose of this document is to stipulate the parking requirements, regulations, and enforcement measures applied to all American University students, faculty, staff, visitors, and guests.

II. DESCRIPTION:

All members of the University community—including students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests—are required to park on campus or to use public transportation. The following regulations have been developed to facilitate the safe and orderly flow of traffic, to permit access for emergency vehicles, and to promote pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicular safety. In accordance with the University's "Good Neighbor Policy" parking is restricted on the residential streets surrounding the main campus, Tenley campus, and/or the Washington College of Law (WCL). Parking at the University is by meter or permit only every weekday between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm. Metered parking is available in the Nebraska Avenue Commuter Lot, and the Katzen Arts Center Garage. Parking in the Nebraska Avenue Commuter Lot and Katzen Arts Center Garage may be purchased daily at Pay-As-You-Go machines located in the lots or from the Department of Public Safety office in hourly, daily or weekly increments. Loading permits and temporary permits for medical exceptions can also be obtained in the Department of Public Safety office.  The regulations for all other permits (faculty/staff, student, vendor, contractor and department guests) are stipulated below.

The Department of Public Safety reserves the right to modify parking rules or regulations as needed, to change the allocation of parking spaces when necessary, and to make exceptions if appropriate. The Department of Public Safety may, on occasion, need to close a parking area or roadway for a special event, safety reasons, or repair. The campus community will be informed when changes occur. The Department of Public Safety also has the authority to ticket, immobilize, or tow, at the owner's expense, any vehicle that is in violation of the established rules and regulations. In addition, the Department of Public Safety may relocate a vehicle if necessary and there is no response to a request to move it.

III. REGULATIONS:

Good Neighbor Policy

In accordance with Washington, DC regulations and the University's "Good Neighbor Policy", parking is PROHIBITED on the residential streets surrounding the Main Campus, Tenley Campus and the Washington College of Law. All members of the University community – including students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests – are required to park on campus and obtain a parking permit, purchase hourly/daily parking using the Pay-As-You-Go machines, or to use public transportation. Compliance with the Good Neighbor Policy is a condition of enrollment and/or employment at American University.

Parking Permits

All individuals parking on campus are required to both possess, and properly display, a valid AU parking permit. The issuance and use of AU parking permits is restricted according to the following regulations, categories and conditions.

  • Failure to comply with the regulations may result in the issuance of citations, fees, fines, vehicle immobilization, collections, and/or further legal action.
  • Parking permits are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis. Persons desiring parking permits for a specific lot or off campus garage may be placed on a waiting list for that parking lot.
  • All University parking permits are valid at all times in the Nebraska Commuter Lot and Katzen Arts Center Garage.

General Parking Regulations

  • No vehicles parking on American University property are exempt from the parking policy (all 50 states, foreign countries, State Department issued license plates, government vehicles).
  • Parking permits, and Pay-As-You-Go Lots are enforced from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, Mondays through Fridays.
  • Parking permits are required at all times, 24 hours per day/7 days a week, to park in restricted lots and/or restricted parking spaces. Such restricted parking areas includes:
    • Student parking lots: Centennial Garage, Nebraska Hall Lot, McDowell Lot
    • POB Lot
    • Service vehicle spaces
    • Loading docks & areas
    • AUTO Van / University designated parking spaces
    • Handicap spaces
    • Zipcar, Reserved Guest Spaces, Taxi Stands
  • When parked, a vehicle must always be within the perpendicular white lines marking the parking space. A vehicle may only occupy a single parking space. Another vehicle's inappropriate parking does not constitute an excuse to park in more than one space.
  • Vehicles may not be double-parked or parked in any position which prevents other vehicles from accessing or leaving a parking space and/or loading area.
  • Vehicles may not park on crosswalks or sidewalks.
  • Vehicles may not park in posted "no parking zones" and/or fire lanes.Vehicles may not impede traffic.

Traffic Regulations

  • The speed limit on all University streets is 15 mph The speed limit in all University parking facilities is 10 mph
  • Pedestrians are afforded right-of-way in all University streets and parking facilities, except where traffic lights & walk signals regulate traffic.

Motorcycles, Scooters, Bicycles

  • Motorcyclists must register their motorcycle with Department of Public Safety and purchase a permit. Motorcycles are not issued a sticker, but are assigned an electronic permit. Motorcycle permits allow a motorcycle to park in any faculty/staff space on campus, including the Sports Center Garage (SPG). Additional designated motorcycle parking is provided in the Centennial Garage. Motorcycles may not park in bicycle parking areas or on sidewalks.
  • 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
  • Bicycles parked on campus must comply with the following regulations:
    • When driven on streets or in areas intended for use by motor vehicles, bicycle riders will observe all applicable traffic rules and regulations applicable to motor vehicles.
    • When parked, bicycles must be in bicycle racks or other spaces/areas designated for their use. Bicycles must be parked clear of sidewalks, ramps, building entrances and handrails/fences.AU reserves the right to remove abandoned bicycles at its discretion.

Handicap Parking Regulations

  • Any vehicle displaying a valid handicap permit may park in any handicapped, faculty/staff or student parking space at the University.
  • Vehicles must display a valid handicap permit at all times when parked in a handicap parking space.
  • Visitors displaying a valid handicap permit are exempt from paying Pay-As-You-Go machines in the Nebraska Commuter Lot and the Katzen Arts Center Garage.
  • AU faculty, staff, students, and long-term visitors/guests are required to purchase and display the appropriate AU parking permit.
    • Any vehicles parked in a handicap space for up-to 3 days without an AU permit is considered a short-term handicap visitor, and is not required to purchase a parking permit.
    • Any vehicle parked in a handicap space for more than 3 days without an AU permit is considered a member of the AU community and must purchase and display a parking permit to continue parking in handicap parking spaces.

IV. PARKING AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT:

Enforcement and Fines Overview

Department of Public Safety bears the sole responsibility and authority to enforce the University's parking policies and regulations. All vehicles on American University's property are subject to these regulations. Furthermore, compliance with the following regulations is a condition of enrollment and/or employment at American University. Operating a motor vehicle on University property is a privilege, which is conditioned, in part, on compliance with these rules and regulations. American University assumes no liability or responsibility for damage or theft to any vehicle parked in or on University property. These regulations are applicable to all members of the University community - faculty, staff, students, visitors, contractors, and vendors.

Parking Enforcement

  • To enforce the above regulations, Department of Public Safety is authorized to issue citations, immobilize vehicles, and pursue collections action against violators.
  • Equipment utilized in the parking and traffic regulation and enforcement is University property. Vandalizing or destroying, Pay-As-You-Go machines, vehicle immobilization devices, signs and markings, and/or citations is strictly prohibited.
  • Citations are issued to vehicles, not vehicle operators. Citations issued to vehicles remain a valid and binding fine, regardless of the vehicle operator.
  • The registered owner of a vehicle is considered fully responsible for all citations issued to their vehicle, regardless of the vehicle operator at the time of citation issuance.
  • Fines accrued by violating the parking policy constitute a lasting financial obligation to the University by the violator until such time as the citations are paid.
  • Everyone's first citation may be voided as a warning to provide an additional opportunity to explain University parking policies to the violator. Depending on the circumstance and severity of the violation Parking Enforcement reserves the right to deny this privilege.
  • Everyone's first neighborhood citation may be voided as a warning to provide an additional opportunity to explain the good neighbor policy to the violator.
  • A citation which has not been paid or appealed is considered an "open" citation. A penalty is applied to all citations which are not paid or appealed within 30 calendar days. The penalty is equal to the original fine—tickets double after 30 days.
  • Citations may be paid using cash, personal check, cashier's check, money order, Visa, Master Card, and Discover / Novus. Payment may not be made using American Express, or Student Accounts.

Citations

Issuance and fine structure is as follows:

  • Category A
    • $150 Fine
      • Parked in a handicap space without a permit
      • Parked in a crosswalk/blocking a crosswalk/blocking handicap access to sidewalks
    • $100 Fine
      • False registration information – permit does not match license plate of record
      • Unauthorized use of parking permit
      • Permit reported lost/stolen by permit holder and found to be in use
  • Category B
    • $75 Fine
      • Parking in neighborhood areas in violation of the University's Good Neighbor Policy
    • $60 Fine
      • Parked in a posted "no parking area"
      • Impeding traffic – parking in a roadway, intersection, or parking facility in a manner which prohibits the safe operation of other vehicles.
      • Boot fee for immobilization of vehicle
  • Category C
    • $40 Fine
      • Absence of current AU permit
      • Meter violation/expired meter
      • Failure to obey stop sign/traffic regulations
      • Vehicle Parked in more than one parking space
    • $30 Fine
      • Unauthorized parking – parking with a permit in the incorrect parking facility or in a designated reserved parking space, service vehicle space.
      • Exceeded loading period – 20 minutes unless otherwise specified on loading permit
    • $10 Fine
      • Failure to display the appropriate, valid parking permit.
    • $0 Fine
      • Warning

Vehicle Immobilization (Booting)

  • Vehicles with 3 or more open citations past 30 calendar days are subject to vehicle immobilization via the application of a vehicle immobilization device: a "boot." American University assumes no liability during the application or removal of the boot. Any vehicles on University property meeting the above criteria are subject to booting.
  • Once a vehicle is immobilized, the boot will only be removed after all open citations have been paid
  • Vehicles displaying a falsified, lost, stolen, or unauthorized permit may be immobilized immediately. Individuals found to have caused, committed, or benefited from the falsification of permits, possession of lost permits, the possession of a permit reported to be stolen, or the improper possession of a permit issued to another individual/program/office are subject to Public Safety investigation, and referral to Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution Services, Employee Relations, or the office of the Provost as appropriate.
  • After a vehicle remains booted in excess of 30 calendar days without the vehicle owner contacting Department of Public Safety, the vehicle is considered abandoned and subject to the following:
    • The vehicle may be investigated and/or ticketed by the Metropolitan Police Department.
    • The vehicle may be towed and impounded by the Metropolitan Police Department.The vehicle may be towed by a contractor at the University's discretion.
  • The University assumes no liability for impoundment or impounded vehicles.
  • At the time of impoundment, the vehicle owner is responsible for payment of all impoundment, storage, and disposal fees assessed by the towing company. Once impounded by a private contractor, the vehicle owner has 30 days to pay the contractor before the vehicle is disposed-of by the contractor.

Payment of Citations

Fines can be paid at the Department of Public Safety office from 8:00am until 7:30pm, Monday through Friday. Once a vehicle has been immobilized, the boot will not be removed unless all citations are paid in full or the release has been authorized by a supervisor. Payment may be made with cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, money order, or certified check. Personal checks will not be accepted as payment for booted vehicles. Payment may be submitted via mail by mailing a check or money order made payable to American University and indicating your name, citation number and/or vehicle license plate. For an additional small processing fee, payment may be submitted via phone by dialing 1 (866) 757 – 5842 or online by visiting www.parkingticketpayment.com/american. Payment by check may be submitted in the Department of Public Safety office or by mail. Checks and money orders should be made payable to American University and mailed to:

American University
Department of Public Safety
Payment Processing Center
P.O. Box 2064
Tarrytown, NY 10591

When the Department of Public Safety office is closed, immobilized vehicles with prior authorized clearance from the Parking Enforcement Coordinator can be released by Public Safety officers, provided that proof of payment in full is supplied to the OIC or dispatcher on duty.

If a check is returned by the bank for insufficient funds, the payment will be reversed and an additional fee will be assessed. AU reserves the right to immobilize the vehicle until payment is rendered in full.

Collections

Citations open in excess of 30 calendar days are subject to a referral to a collections agency. These notices are sent to the vehicle's registered owner as reported by the appropriate state department of motor vehicles.

  • All citations open in excess of 30 calendar days will be referred to a collections agency
  • Violator's addresses are provided to the collections agency by state departments of motor vehicles.
  • Failure to comply with collections notices may result in the initiation of legal action against the violator.

Appeal of Citations

  • If a violator believes a citation has been issued unfairly, the citation may be appealed.
  • Appeals for American University parking tickets must be made within 30 calendar days from the date the ticket is issued.
  • Individuals may appeal parking citations by submitting completing an appeals form in the Department of Public Safety office or by completing an online appeal form available through the Department of Public Safety Web site at http://www.american.edu/finance/ts/fines.html.
  • The Appeals process is an administrative process; an in-person hearing will not be conducted.
  • Appellants will be notified by mail of the decision. The decision of the Appeals Panel is final and binding. In order for your appeal to be processed in a timely manner, pertinent documentation, if available, should be submitted when the appeal is filed.
  • Class A citations are not eligible for appeal.

V. PARKING PERMITS:

All individuals parking on campus between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday are required to both possess and properly display a valid AU parking permit, or pay for daily parking available at Pay-As-You-Go machines. The issuance and use of AU parking permits is restricted according to the following regulations, categories and conditions. Failure to comply with the regulations may result in the issuance of citations, fees, fines, vehicle immobilization, collections, and/or further legal action.

Parking Permit Eligibility

Faculty and staff must purchase a faculty and staff parking permit. Students must purchase a student parking permit. If an individual is both a student and faculty/staff member, their full-time status determines which permit they may purchase. If an individual is part-time student as well as part-time staff, the individual must purchase a staff permit.

Parking Permit Fees

A copy of the University's current fee schedule for parking permits is available at the Department of Public Safety Web site at http://www.american.edu/finance/ts/rates.html. The University reserves the right to adjust parking rates as needed.

Student Parking Permits

Resident Students: A "resident student" is any student living on the University's main campus, Tenley campus, or AU-operated apartment building. Permits are available to resident students with the following conditions and restrictions:

  • Resident Student permits are available for the duration of the academic year only. Commuter Students taking classes during the summer semester must purchase a Summer Semester parking permit, available at the posted summer parking rate.
  • Main Campus Resident Students: All eligible resident students who use a car while at the University must register their vehicle with Department of Public Safety and purchase a parking permit. Parking permits are issued to individuals and their respective vehicles and may not be transferred to any other individual or vehicle without the expressed consent of Department of Public Safety. The permit allows eligible resident students to park at all times during the week and weekend in either the Centennial Garage (CG), the McDowell lot (MH), or Nebraska Hall (NH) depending upon the student's residence hall. Every effort will be made to assign parking based on residence hall assignments, but no guarantee can be made. All resident student permits are valid in the Nebraska Avenue Lot (NBL) and Katzen Arts Center Garage (KATZ) in case of overflow.
    • If a resident student acquires a car at any time during the academic year, the car must be registered with Department of Public Safety and a parking permit must be purchased for that vehicle.
    • Resident students may have only one vehicle on campus, and shall only be issued one parking permit. If a resident student replaces their vehicle with another vehicle during the academic year or summer session, the student must cancel the original permit and acquire a permit for the new vehicle according to the regulations stipulated in this policy.
    • Resident students who have parking permit and whose student-status changes from resident to commuter during the academic year must promptly notify the Department of Public Safety office of their status change in order to transfer their permit to reflect their new status. Such a permit change-over is free of charge if the student returns the original permit.
  • Freshman resident students are not permitted to have cars on University property or in the neighborhood surrounding the University's main campus, Tenley campus, and/or Washington College of Law.
  • Washington Semester (WSM) Students are not permitted to have cars on University property or in the neighborhood surrounding the University's main campus, Tenley campus, and Washington College of Law.
    • Washington Semester Students may be granted an exception to this regulation with the written permission of the Dean of the Washington Semester. Such written authorization allows the Washington Semester Student to purchase a parking permit for the NBL.
  • Tenley Resident Students (Non-WSM): Limited parking for Tenley campus resident students may be available. Resident Advisors (RA) living in the Tenley Campus dormitories are granted preferential treatment in applying for these parking spaces. Such student parking is extremely limited and restricted to Tenley Campus RAs.

Commuter Students: A "commuter student" is any student living in a non-University owned or leased property. Permits are available to commuter students with the following conditions and restrictions

  • Commuter Student Permits are available for the duration of the academic year only. Commuter Students taking classes during the summer semester must purchase a Summer Semester parking permit, available at the posted summer parking rate.
  • Commuter Students All full-time and part-time commuter students driving to campus between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday must register their vehicle with the University and purchase a commuter student permit or pay for parking using the Pay-As-You-Go machines. Parking permits are issued to individuals and their respective vehicles and may not be transferred to another individual and/or vehicle. The permit allows commuter students to park at all times during the week and weekend in the Nebraska Ave. Lot and Katzen Arts Center Garage.
    • Commuter students who have already purchased a permit from the University may register additional vehicles at no extra cost. Each vehicle must be issued a unique permit—and display that permit—in order to park legally. If a permit is found to be displayed in a vehicle other than the vehicle to which the permit was issued, that vehicle is subject to a citation for falsification. See Enforcement for further information.
    • To park on District of Columbia streets, commuter students must register their vehicles with the District. Commuter students from Maryland or Virginia must register their vehicles with the District and receive a DC license plate. Commuter students not from Maryland, Virginia, or the District may register their vehicle and keep their out-of-state license plate by purchasing a reciprocity sticker from the District. The reciprocity sticker allows the out-of-state student to keep their out-of-state license plate. Commuter students who purchase a reciprocity sticker from the District of Columbia may deduct the purchase price of the reciprocity sticker from the cost of the Commuter Student permit.
      • This deduction is determined by the duration of the commuter student permit. The full price of the reciprocity sticker is deducted for a full academic-year permit. Half the cost of the reciprocity sticker is deducted for a semester permit. Part-time commuter students are not eligible for this discount. Proof of purchase must be presented within 30 days of the issuance of the Commuter Student Permit to receive the discount.
      • Further information concerning reciprocity stickers may be obtained by referencing the DC DMV website at http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/main.shtm.
    • In accordance with the University's "Good Neighbor" policy, students acknowledge that they must park on campus property, in a manner consistent with the AU parking regulations, when conducting business at AU. Failure to park on campus constitutes a breach of AU parking policies and shall result in the issuance of a citation to the vehicle in violation.

Washington College of Law, First-Year Commuter Students are prohibited from parking in the WCL garage. However, First-year WCL students may purchase a permit from Department of Public Safety which allows them to park in the Nebraska Avenue Commuter Lot as well as the Katzen Arts Center Garage. All other WCL students must purchase their permit directly from WCL. Such permits are also valid in the Nebraska lot and the Katzen Arts Center Garage.

Summer Students & Summer Interns may purchase parking permits according to the following categories and conditions.

  • Summer Students are officially enrolled resident and/or commuter students of AU who wish to park on campus during the summer semester. Summer resident students may purchase a parking permit for the closest facility, depending upon availability. Summer commuter students may only purchase a parking permit for the NBL.
  • Summer Interns are not officially enrolled as AU students or WSM programs, but are living on AU's campus while participating in conferences or other programs. Parking for such groups is managed through the Housing & Dining and a fee for parking is included in the participant's housing fee.

Faculty and Staff Parking Permits

Full-Time Faculty & Staff who wish to drive to and from the University must register their vehicle with the University and purchase a faculty/staff permit. Faculty/staff permits are valid at all times during the week and weekend in all faculty/staff lots according to the following categories and conditions.

  • Full-Time Faculty & Staff may pay for their parking permit via payroll deductions or up-front in the Department of Public Safety office. Payroll deductions may be made pre-tax or post-tax. A full-time faculty/staff member is under no obligation to purchase a full year of parking.
  • Faculty/Staff permits are not valid in the following parking lots
    • Resident student parking lots,
    • The President's office building parking lot,
    • University designated parking,
    • Off-campus parking facilities such as the New Mexico Avenue building lot, the Brandywine building garage, 4600 Wisconsin, and 4620 Wisconsin. Access to these lots is restricted to each respective building's staff and is subject to availability.
  • Faculty/Staff parking permits are valid in the WCL garage if the Faculty/Staff member is parking in that garage on official business. WCL faculty/staff permits are valid in all main campus faculty/staff lots. WCL adjunct faculty permits are valid in the Nebraska Ave. Lot and Katzen Arts Center Garage.
  • Faculty/Staff permits are required to park in off-campus garages. A Faculty/Staff permit allows an individual working in an off-campus building to receive a parking space in that garage. An individual is required to have both a Faculty/Staff permit and the building manager's and/or Department of Public Safety' approval to receive parking in an off-campus building garage.
  • Full-Time Staff who work evenings, overnights, or weekend shifts may be eligible to purchase parking at a part-time rate. These purchases require verification of the employee's work schedule by the employee's supervisor prior to permit issuance. Department of Public Safety reserves the right to periodically verify your work schedule.
  • Part-Time Staff must register their vehicle with the University and purchase a part-time staff permit. Part-time staff permits are valid at all times during the week and weekend. Part-time staff are not eligible for payroll deductions and must purchase their permit up-front at Department of Public Safety. Verification of part-time status may be required prior to permit issuance. Parking permits may be purchased in any monthly increments.
  • Adjunct Faculty are eligible to receive a free parking permit valid in the Nebraska Ave. Lot and Katzen Arts Center Garage. Verification of an applicant's adjunct status is required prior to permit issuance. Adjunct permits are issued by academic semester. Adjuncts are considered part-time. If an Adjunct professor is also either a full-time staff or full-time student, that adjunct must purchase the appropriate full-time permit. Should they wish, an Adjunct may purchase a faculty/staff parking permit at a part-time rate.
  • Emeriti Faculty All emeriti faculty may request a faculty/staff parking permit free of charge. This permit has no expiration date, but will be subject to periodic permit changes.
  • Car Pool permits are available for interested full-time faculty/staff. These permits are valid for a minimum of two and maximum of four vehicles, and may be signed up for by a minimum of two and a maximum of four full-time faculty/staff members. Enrollment in a car pool requires up-front payment for parking. Members of a car pool may only register 1 vehicle per person. If a car pool member drives to campus using a different vehicle than the vehicle they have registered in the car pool, the individual must park and pay using the Pay-As-You-Go machines in the NBL or Katzen Arts Center Garage. To cancel—or make any adjustments to—a car pool permit, the permit must be returned to Department of Public Safety.

Campus Service Providers and Vendor Parking Permits

Campus service providers and vendor parking permits are available to those entities whose employees work on campus but are not employed by the University. These entities may purchase parking permits—in advance and in full—from Department of Public Safety. Campus Service Providers & Vendors may purchase permits in bulk and distribute them to their employees, or individual employees of these companies may purchase their permits directly from the Department of Public Safety office in any monthly increments. Employment and employment status with a campus services & vendor may be subject to verification prior to permit issuance. This permit is sold to the employer/employee according to the applicable Faculty/Staff rate—full-time or part-time—and is valid in all Faculty/Staff lots, subject to all Faculty/Staff permit restrictions. Advance and bulk purchases must be made through GL account transfers or invoice/check purchases. Individuals may purchase permits using cash, personal check, money order, cashier's check, Visa, Master Card, or Discover/NOVUS.

 

Medical/Handicap Parking Permits

Handicap Parking Permits, either state-issued or AU-issued, are required at all times to park in all AU handicap spaces. Handicap permits may be issued by American University upon receipt of a letter from the requestor's doctor's office requesting a handicap parking permit. For faculty and staff, these letters must be directed towards Employee Relations. For students, these letters must be directed to Disability Support Services. Employee Relations or Disability Support Services will determine what parking accommodations are to be made, and communicate these accommodations to Department of Public Safety.

Temporary Handicap Parking Permits may be requested by anyone requiring a temporary handicap permit. Individuals can be issued an AU handicap permit, or any other permit which meets their medical/physical needs, for up-to three days at a rate of $12/day or in addition to a valid AU permit. After three days, medical documentation from the requestor's medical provider must be provided to Employee Relations or Disability Support Services, as appropriate, to receive any additional amount of time of handicap parking.

Service Parking Permits

Service parking permits are required for vehicles parking in University designated service vehicle parking spaces.

Loading Permits can be requested from the Department of Public Safety office. The standard loading permit is valid for one day only, and restricted to 20 minutes of loading time.

  • Loading permits are not required during designated move-in and move-out periods.
  • Loading permits may be requested for University employees by the employee's supervisor. These permits may be issued for up-to one calendar year/three academic semesters. Supervisor approval is required before any replacement loading permits may be issued; an expired loading permit is does not constitute an authorized request for a new loading permit.
  • Clearly labeled vendor vehicle such as a UPS, Coca-Cola, or Aramark truck are not required to display a loading permit in the course of their work on campus.

Contractor Parking Permits are not required for clearly labeled vehicles. These vehicles may load and park in service vehicle spaces without displaying a parking permit. Any contractor driving and/or otherwise utilizing a personal vehicle in the course of their work at American University must purchase a contractor's parking permit, sold at the prevailing parking permit rate.

Service Parking Permits are required to park in University designated service vehicle spaces. Designated AU service vehicles do not require a permit to park in AU designated service vehicle spaces. Clearly labeled vendor's and contractor's vehicles also do not require a permit to park in service vehicle spaces or loading areas.

Special Status Parking Permits

Special status parking permits are available for all individuals who are not specifically mentioned in the preceding policy. These permits are available according to the following categories and conditions. Additionally, departments may choose to issue guest permits to the following categories (see Department Guests section for further information).

  • AU Community Members, including but not limited to, Jacobs Fitness Center members who are not otherwise affiliated with AU and special program participants such as Curl-Burke swimmers, may purchase parking permits for the SPG or NBL. The cost of these permits is calculated at the University's hourly rate and the amount of days needed. These permits may be purchased up-front by the special programs and distributed to program participants.
  • Contracted Service Providers (CSPs) may include, but not be limited to, athletic officials, contracted media, non-staff coaches, and health center physicians. CSPs, or their sponsoring department, are required to purchase a parking permit. If the permit purchased is for an hourly basis, the hourly rate applies. If the permit purchased is for a monthly basis, the monthly rate applies. Permits are sold to the particular department which hires such auxiliary staff members at the appropriate parking permit rate. If the CSP is parking for a few hours per-day, the department must purchase a permit at an hourly rate. If the CSP is parking on a regular basis throughout the month, the department must purchase a parking permit at the appropriate faculty/staff rate. These permits are valid in faculty/staff lots and are sold at the prevailing parking permit rate.
  • University Chaplains are considered Contracted Service Providers for the Kay Spiritual Center. Billing and permit availability rules for CSPs apply. Payment may be submitted by individual chaplains at Department of Public Safety, or by GL account transfer made by Kay Chapel. Parking permits for chaplains are sold at the prevailing parking permit rate.
  • Volunteers, Interns, & Externs or their sponsoring departments, are required to pay for parking permits. Payment may be submitted by individual volunteers at Department of Public Safety or Pay-As-You-Go machines, or by GL account transfer made by the sponsoring department. Parking permits for volunteers are sold at the prevailing parking permit rate. Interns working with the University on a part-time basis may pay for their permit with payroll deductions. These deductions must be approved in advance by Payroll on a case-by-case basis.
  • Institute & Program participants, or the department sponsoring the program or institute, must purchase parking permits. Payment may be submitted by individual participants at Department of Public Safety, or by GL account transfer made by the sponsoring department. Parking permits for institutes and programs are sold at the prevailing parking permit rate.

Complimentary Parking Permits

Open Parking Days are days during which parking permit enforcement is suspended. These days include, but are not limited to, AU preview days, New Student Orientation, Move-In and Move-Out, Welcome Week, and Parents & Alumni weekend.

Complimentary Parking Permits are provided to the University departments for distribution to the department's guests. For the purposes of this policy, a department guest is an individual whose participation with -- and subsequent parking at -- AU is specifically requested by a department for the purposes of contributing to the academic and/or institutional mission of the department.

  • Departments will be issued guest permits, in bulk, at the beginning of each semester.
  • Department Guest permits are Red, "Valid One Day Only" hangtags
    • These permits are valid only in the NBL and Katzen Arts Center Garage at all times
    • To be valid, these permits must have the current date / date of use clearly written in the "permit date field" – the white rectangle on which "Valid Today Only" is printed.
    • To be valid, these permits must have the sponsoring department's name written in the "Location field"
    • All permits must clearly display both the sponsoring department's name and current date/date of use
    • To be valid, these permits require a Department of Public Safety stamp or security punch from Department of Public Safety.
  • Sports Center Garage Guest Permits will be provided to departments on a limited basis.
    • Sports Center Garage permits require both a Department of Public Safety stamp and security punch to be valid
    • For Sports Center Garage permits only, the "Location" field will read "SPG."
    • Only Guest Permits stamped "SPG" with a stamp and security punch will be valid in the Sports Center Garage
  • Special Circumstances Guest Permits
    • Department guests requiring parking accommodations will be issued a parking permit to meet their needs by Department of Public Safety.
    • Only Department of Public Safety can issue a Special Circumstances Guest Permit
    • Special Circumstances Guest Permits require both a stamp and security point to be valid.
    • Departments hosting a guest in need of parking accommodations must notify Department of Public Safety of the parking accommodation needed in advance of the guest's visit.

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