Parking Permits
Individuals parking a vehicle in identified campus parking lots must obtain and clearly display a valid St. Cloud State University parking permit. State Fleet vehicles are not required to display a parking permit; however, they are only permitted to park in Service Vehicle Spaces. For a list of all valid parking permits consult the Parking Services website.
St. Cloud State University permits are required in all lots except when parked in:
- The parking ramp using the pay-as-you-go option
- Metered spaces
- Visitor parking lot using the pay station
- Loading/unloading zones
- Areas designated as public parking for a special event
- Signed Visitor/Guest spaces with the appropriate guest permit as required
- City street parking (city permit may be required)
Faculty, staff, and students must purchase permits online through the Parking Services webpage. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to select the correct permit type. Failure to purchase the appropriate permit may result in delayed permit delivery or in parking citations.
Annual parking permits expire June 30th: New permits must be purchased and in place by July 1st. Failure to display a current parking permit can result in a parking citation.
Permit Fees, Payments, Refunds, and Returns– A full schedule of parking permit fees, payment options, and refunds is available on the Parking Services website. Permits must be returned in person at the Public Safety office for a refund to be issued. Retiree permits, as well as temporary and guest passes, are non-refundable.
Permits must be returned upon termination of employment. The balance owed on the permit will be billed to the employee for unreturned permits.
Lost, Stolen, or Fraudulent Permits– The University is not responsible for lost or stolen permits. Lost or stolen permits should be reported immediately. Citations issued prior to reporting the permit lost or stolen will be the responsibility of the permit holder. Replacement permits can only be purchased after completing and signing a form at Public Safety, as well as paying a replacement fee.
Any alterations of a permit will render it invalid. Ownership and use of parking permits are not transferable to any other person.
Any vehicle displaying a lost, stolen, forged, or altered permit is subject to one or more of the following administrative actions through Public Safety and/or Parking Services:
- A $200 fine for displaying a forged/altered permit or lost/stolen permit,
- An immediate tow/impound of the vehicle,
- A loss of parking privilege for the remainder of the academic year,
- Other fines for any separate violation, and
- Vehicle immobilization by a boot.
A fraudulent report may also result in criminal action, SCSU disciplinary action, and/or loss of parking privileges.
Additional Permit Information
Motorcycle Permits– All permit holders are eligible to receive one motorcycle decal at no charge each permit year or they can be purchased separately. Additional motorcycle decals can be purchased by permit holders (limit 2). Motorcycle decals must be affixed to the rear bumper in close proximity to the rear license plate in order to be considered valid. Any motorcycle parked on campus must be registered with SCSU Parking Services and display a valid motorcycle decal.
Motorcycles are permitted to park in the hash marks of their assigned lot, providing they are not creating a safety hazard, parked in a no parking zone (indicated by a sign), parked in handicap hash marks, or blocking any roadway/walkway. This does not include metered or timed zone spaces.
Motorcycles cannot be stored on campus during winter months.
Temporary Permits– Visitors may purchase temporary permits through Parking Services. These permits are valid only in the zones and on the dates indicated on the pass. Temporary permits are not to be resold, traded or shared.
Guest Parking Passes– Campus visitors are subject to University parking regulations at all times and citations issued to a guest or visitor are considered valid. Citations sent to Parking Services will not be waived simply because “guest” or “visitor” is written on them. It is the responsibility of the inviting student, faculty, staff, or department sponsor to clearly disseminate parking options and regulations to their guests. Not doing so may subject the guest or visitor to fines for violations incurred.
The event sponsor is responsible for coordinating with Parking Services and submitting an Event Parking Request Form to Parking Services at least two weeks prior to the event. Vendors and consultants receiving payment for services that require them to be on campus should not receive an administrative or departmentally issued guest pass, rather they should purchase a guest permit directly from Parking Services.
Emeriti Permits– As a courtesy service, retired SCSU faculty and staff may be eligible for an annual parking permit at no charge. Eligible retired faculty and staff should select their SCSU Emeriti Parking Permit online as with all other permits. Permits held by retired faculty and staff cannot be resold, traded, shared, or gifted.
Parking Lots and Spaces
St. Cloud State University parking lots are primarily for use by standard motorized vehicles such as cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and motorcycles. No personal property or vehicles (including boats, trailers, motor homes, etc.) may be stored or parked on the campus without prior permission from SCSU Parking Services. Such property or vehicles are subject to impoundment. Motor homes are not permitted to be parked overnight in any SCSU parking lots or zones under any circumstances.
Liability for Protection of Motor Vehicles– SCSU, its officers, and employees, are not liable for the care and/or protection of any motor vehicle or its content at any time while on/in any area subject to University jurisdiction. Theft or damage that occurs should be reported to St. Cloud State Public Safety Department.
Employee and Student Lots– Parking permits for employees and students are coded by letter designation. Permit requirements for each lot may vary by time of day. For a complete and most updated list of lot designations and permit required times, refer to the Parking Services website.
Pay Lots–Pay lots are enforced 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week. Parking fees are collected immediately prior to the rental of the space. Selection and rental of a Pay Lot parking space will take place through the University contracted parking app provider.
Parking Ramp– The parking ramp serves permit holders, event guests and pay-as-you-go users. The student resident permits are valid 24 hours per day/7 days per week via card swipe access. Commuting student and employee permits are valid from 7:00am to 3:00am.
Pay-per-hour parking is open on all levels. If a student resident forgets their swipe card and pulls a ticket to enter the ramp, they will be responsible to pay-per-hour for that transaction. For pay-as-you-go pricing refer to Parking and Services website.
State Vehicles Only and 15 Minute Spaces– These spaces are marked by signs and enforced 24 hours per day/ 7 days per week.
Disability Parking Spaces– In compliance with MN Statute 169.346, use of a disability parking stall is restricted to only those vehicles with a state-issued Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) certificate or hang tag, and/or license plates. Employees and students with a state issued ADA certificate or hang tag who will park more than four hours must display both the SCSU disability permit and the ADA hang tag. Vehicles with both the ADA insignia and a SCSU disability permit are authorized to park in any marked disability parking space. If a hang tag is used the SCSU permit should be displayed in front of the ADA hang tag—visible from the front outside of the car.
Requests for ADA hang tag and/or license plate must be made with the State of Minnesota Department of Vehicle Services (DVS).
Faculty, staff, or students who have a valid SCSU parking permit and request short-term (two weeks or less) accessible parking must bring documentation of medical need from their doctor to SCSU Parking Services. SCSU Parking Services will issue a two-week temporary parking pass, to the closest available lot, at no additional charge. If the individual does not have a valid SCSU parking permit, they can purchase a temporary permit by the day or the week (up to two weeks) allowing for parking in an area nearer the building they will be using.
Penalty for displaying a forged or altered ADA placard, or an ADA placard issued to another individual may result in a $200 fine and disciplinary action even if the placard is correctly displayed. If an ADA placard is found being used by an individual other than the DVS issued owner, the ADA placard will no longer be valid on campus and fraudulent use may be reported to law enforcement. Subsequent use of the placard on campus will result in a citation and possible impoundment regardless of who is driving the vehicle.
Media Parking– Media are asked to contact Parking Services to make special parking arrangements for satellite trucks. News media is permitted to park on campus while displaying a valid SCSU vendor or temporary permit. Permits are issued by the Parking Services for a lot near the location of the news story.
In the event of an emergency on campus (active threat, weather, etc.) an area for all media will be designated by University Communications. During an emergency on campus, vendor and temporary permits issued to media will not be valid.
Parking Citations, Fines, and Appeals
Warnings– Warning citations may be issued at the discretion of the issuing officer and will result in a record of a parking infraction. Future violations of the same infraction incurred by the same vehicle may result in a citation that will not be waived, or other action taken by SCSU Public Safety or Parking Services.
Citations– The person in whose name a motorized vehicle is registered at the time the citation is issued, or the person who normally operates that vehicle, will be held responsible for all citations identified with the vehicle. If a parking permit is displayed, then the owner of the parking permit is responsible for that citation unless they have previously reported the permit lost or stolen. For a list of parking offenses refer to Parking Services website.
A vehicle may be issued multiple citations and fines for multiple violations at one time. A vehicle may be issued additional citations for the continued noncompliance of parking policy, not to exceed one citation per eight-hour period for the same violation. Frequent or recurrent violations may result in suspension of parking privileges.
Any reduction of a citation will only occur through the appeal process. Citations shall not be voided, reduced, waived or otherwise administratively changed outside of the appeal process unless done to correct an error.
Proof– It is impossible to determine whether or not a citation was on the vehicle when the owner returned. Therefore, SCSU’s record on file that a citation was issued constitutes sufficient evidence that a violation occurred at the location, date, and time referenced on the citation record and also that the permit holder or registered owner was the user of the vehicle at the time of the violation.
When it is determined that a St. Cloud State student, faculty, or staff member (past or present) has the same address or last name as the registered owner of a vehicle with outstanding citations, a review will be performed to determine who is the responsible party. Based upon the information obtained from SCSU and the State of Minnesota DVS, if the student, faculty or staff member is believed to be responsible the outstanding citations will be assessed to their parking account. Questions related to these charges are to be filed with Parking Services.
Fines– Citation fines may be paid online, in person, or by mail. Violation notices (citation or statement) should accompany payment. Payment is due upon issuance of citation. It is the responsibility of all students, faculty, and staff to check their parking and/or campus accounts for charges that may be present. Failure of a citation to transfer to a campus account does not release the responsible party from liability of payment.
Accounts with excessive violations may be immobilized until all fines are paid in full. Vehicles may be immobilized when the account has three or more unpaid citations or when they exceed $75 in unpaid parking fines; or at the discretion of SCSU or Public Safety.
Individuals who park on campus after having their parking privileges suspended are subject to a citation and $100 fine each time their vehicle is found on campus, and their vehicle may be towed at their own expense.
Students, Faculty or staff with unpaid citations will not be permitted to purchase new permits.
An account with unpaid fines or other outstanding charges may be referred to a collection agency for collection.
Saint Cloud City ordinances cover moving violations on the University campus and may cover standing or parking violations on city streets within the SCSU campus. Payment of these citations must be done through the City of Saint Cloud and not through the University.
Parking Appeals
A parking citation may be appealed within five (5) business days of the issue date of the citation. An electronic appeal form may be accessed at the Public Safety office or via the Parking Services website. Appeals that are submitted beyond the five (5) business day period or submitted to any addressee other than the online appeal form will not be considered.
An appeal for citation issued in a pay-as-you-go lot should include also an image of the receipt. Appeals that contain inappropriate, crude, or threatening language may be subject to additional action under applicable harassment, code of community standards or behavioral policies.
Substantial and valid evidence that the parking violation was not committed, or that it occurred due to circumstances beyond the customer’s control must be present for an appeal. Valid documentation of the evidence must be provided within one business day of when the appeal is submitted or attached directly to the electronic appeal form. Any information provided in an appeal that is found to be false, will result in an automatic denial.
The following reasons are not valid as a basis for appeal:
- Lack of knowledge of the regulations, for example, new to campus or have not reviewed regulations;
- Other vehicles were parked improperly;
- Only parked illegally for a short period of time;
- Stated failure of parking officer to cite previously for similar offenses;
- Late to class or appointment;
- Inability to pay the amount of the fine;
- Incorrect advice from a friend, professor, department, or any other source; or
- No other place to park.
All appeal findings will be distributed via e-mail within four weeks of appeal review meetings. For SCSU students, faculty, and staff the notice will be directed to their official SCSU e-mail address. Contact Parking Services if an appeal email is not received within the stated timeframe.
All appeal decisions are final.
Other Parking Related Procedures
State Property– Any individual caught tampering with parking services property may be criminally charged and referred to the Division of Student Affairs, SCSU Public Safety, or the individual’s supervisor. This includes, but is not limited to, damaging parking signs, ramps, meters, visitor pay stations, or immobilization devices.
The SCSU Parking Services Office and/or the Division of Student Affairs may exercise discretion to deal with special circumstances not covered by these regulations.
Behavior– Verbal, including the use of threatening or vulgar language, or the physical assault of Public Safety officers or parking staff will not be tolerated. Individuals engaging in this type of behavior are subject to the University disciplinary process and/or criminal prosecution.
Booting, Towing and Relocating Vehicles– Vehicles may be towed from the campus when they have been immobilized for more than 24 hours. They may also be booted, towed, or relocated at any time for reasons including, but not limited to:
- Displaying a stolen, altered, or counterfeit permit;
- Causing a safety hazard or concern (fire lane/fire hydrant);
- Blocking a roadway or driveway or otherwise interfering with efficient operation, traffic, or parking;
- Parking in an area not specifically designated for parking;
- Parking in a reserved space when the space is identified by signage;
- Parking in a location or manner in violation of this procedure;
- Failing to move a vehicle within reasonable amount of time after notification; or
- Failing to pay fines
All fines and charges for towing and/or storage fees are the responsibility of the owner/operator.
Abandoned Vehicles– A vehicle will be considered abandoned if it appears inoperable (i.e., flat tires, broken windows etc.) and has not moved for five or more days, regardless of valid license plate or permit. Abandoned vehicles will be towed after a tow notification has been posted on the vehicle for 36 hours stating date by which vehicle must be moved, unless the vehicle is proven to be operable.
Snow Removal– Snow removal on campus and in campus parking lots is a joint effort between Facilities Management, SCSU Public Safety, Parking Services and the campus community.
When alternate parking arrangements are necessary, such as to facilitate snow removal, instructions will be communicated to permit holders. It is the permit holder’s responsibility to remain aware of these parking instructions.
Parking Lot Preemption (Special Event Parking)– To request special event parking please see the Parking Services website or email parking@stcloudstate.edu. The event sponsor is responsible for coordinating with Parking Services and submitting an Event Parking Request Form to Parking Services at least two weeks prior to the event.
Information about such changes and alternate accommodations for faculty and staff with work-related parking needs will be communicated to the University community through signage and/or email notification. Lots reserved for an event (e.g., SCSU Athletics, concerts, etc.) are only to be used by those attending or involved with the event.
Individuals who are on campus for purposes other than the event must seek an alternate lot where they are permitted to park, even if that individual has a permit that would normally allow them to park in the lot that is reserved.
Maintenance, Emergency and Special Needs– The University may close any campus parking area at any time for maintenance, safety, or to meet other special needs.
Emergency personnel and emergency maintenance personnel performing duties may deviate from these regulations as required to conduct emergency activities prescribed by, or necessary to, the University.
Personnel performing routine or scheduled maintenance may deviate from this policy and procedure only after obtaining prior approval from Parking Services.