FAQs about Permits

What are the requirements to purchase a permit?

• 49er ID Card
• Vehicle Registration
• Driver's License
• Proof of vehicle insurance (if it does not appear on registration or has changed)

You can pay by cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club or 49er Account.

Where can I purchase permit?

Permits may be purchased online or in the Parking Services Office, the brown building across from McMillan Greenhouse. Normal office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. During Fall and Spring registration, extended hours are available.

Are permits required on weekends?

Permits are not enforced after 4:00 PM Friday through 8:00 AM Monday.

How much is a permit?

Please see the Permit Prices Page.

What should I do if I have lost my permit?

File a complaint with the Campus Police and attach it to the affidavit available with Parking Services for a replacement permit. A *$15* fee will be charged.

Can I use a permit I have found?

No. Permits are registered to a specific person and vehicle. Permits found on vehicles that are not valid may be fined up to the value of the permit and may subject you to other penalties.

Return found permits to the Parking Services Office or Campus Police.

Parking decals may not be resold or reproduced in any manner.

Will I lose my parking privileges if I get too many tickets?

Parking Services has the authority to tow or boot a vehicle if violation tickets or unpaid deck vouchers total four (4) or more. All parking privileges will be revoked and your vehicle will remain on the Tow List until the account is cleared.

What should I do if I change my car?

If you have a sticker permit, return your old permit to the Parking Services Office to receive a replacement. (You may have to scrape the permit off and return the permit in pieces. That's fine; PaTS just needs to verify that permit is no longer attached to that vehicle.) A $5 fee is charged upon returning the old permit. If you have a hangtag, notify Parking Services so that the vehicle can be added to your multi-vehicle registration.

Where can I park if I forget my permit?

Visitor decks and parking meters are good places to park your vehicle if you are not displaying a valid permit. A temporary permit can be issued for up to ten days per year at no cost. Complete vehicle information, including insurance policy, will be required.

Are there special permits for motorcycles and carpools?

Yes, please visit or call the PaTS office for details.

Are permit refunds available?

People who return permits may receive a prorated refund based on the date of purchase and date of return. Night permits may not be returned after the second week of class that semester. There are no refunds for permits after April 15th. For more information, refer to the list of prorated refund amounts.

How are the proceeds from permits spent?

The vast majority of the permit proceeds and Visitor Parking fees goes towards construction of new decks, to pay debt on existing decks, and repairs and maintenance of all decks and lots. A small percentage is for the parking operations such as utilities to light the decks and lots, trash collection, grounds upkeep, personnel, equipment, etc.

Why are more permits sold than UNC Charlotte has spaces?

If permits were sold on a one-decal-to-one-space system, thousands of students would be denied the privilege to park while lots and decks would sit half empty. Few students occupy a space for more than 5 or 6 hours a day. Also, not everyone has classes or works here every day. Therefore, parking spaces turn over constantly. Sure, convenient, close-in parking is at a premium during workweek hours, but so far, Parking and Transportation Services has managed to maintain an acceptable percentage of open spaces most of the time. That's why drastic measures like permit sale limits and excluding freshmen residents from having cars, have so far been avoided.

Will rates continue to rise?

Yes, that's expected, unless/until demand for parking on campus decreases significantly.

FAQs about Citations

Where do I pay citations?

Citations may be paid by mail or in person at the PaTS Office. Citations paid within 10 days are automatically reduced by 50%.

When are parking permits and meters enforced?

Parking permits and meters are enforced 8:00 AM until 9:30 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Friday unless otherwise posted. All "Reserved" spaces as well as handicapped spaces are enforced 24 hours, 7 days a week.

What if I don't agree with the citation?

If you received a citation that you are not guilty of, a written appeal should be filed within ten (10) business days. A response will be mailed to you. An online appeal form is also available for submission.

What do I need to do if I need to unload something and I need to park near a building or my residence hall?

For short-term loading/unloading, use any emergency blue light telephone and give your vehicle information and location. You will be given 15 minutes and will be asked to have a licensed driver attend your vehicle.

Can I park at a malfunctioning meter?

No. If you find a malfunctioning meter, move your vehicle to another parking meter and report the malfunction to Parking Services so that it may be repaired.

Will I lose my parking privileges if I get too many tickets?

Parking Services has the authority to tow or boot a vehicle if violation tickets or unpaid deck vouchers total seven (7) or more. All parking privileges will be revoked and your vehicle will remain on the Tow List until the account is cleared.

I wasn't driving my car at the time of the citation. Why am I receiving the bill for it?

The faculty, staff, or student member to whom a vehicle Parking Permit is issued is responsible for parking violations of the vehicle for which the permit is issued.

In addition, any citation received by a vehicle not registered with UNC Charlotte Parking Services will be billed to the owner of the vehicle (this information is obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles).

How are the proceeds from citations spent?

According to North Carolina law, the university is only allowed to retain 20% of the money collected from parking citations. The remaining 80% must be remitted to the state to support local public schools (elementary, middle and high schools).

The 20% that UNC Charlotte is allowed to keep is earmarked to cover operating costs for parking enforcement.

Unfortunately, the cost of the enforcement program significantly exceeds this amount.

Why is is parking so tight when classes first start?

During the first two weeks of class, parking on campus is always challenging, especially at the onset of fall semester. That's because nearly everyone affiliated with UNC Charlotte comes to campus: full-time, part-time, graduate, evening, resident, commuting, and even online students, need to come and conduct business like paying tuition and buying textbooks, meal plans and parking permits, even if they're not here for a class. Add to that, all the faculty and staff, plus quite a few visiting families and friends and it's easy to see why it gets so crowded with cars here.  But soon schedules settle into a rhythm and more spaces become available.

What can students do to ease parking demands?

Plan for peak times. Based upon how classes are scheduled, the highest demand for parking is Mondays through Thursdays from 9:30 AM until 2:30 PM with the greatest pressure on Wednesdays (highest concentration of scheduled classes). If you have classes during that time, either arrive extra early or park in remote locations (such as Lot 8 or the lower portion of Lot 6) and take the Campus Shuttle in.

Remember these peak times when registering for classes. If you have the flexibility to take another section of a course at an off-peak time, it's worth considering.