Parking Rules & Regulations

Parking on campus is enforced at all times including nights, weekends, and holidays. A paid parking permit is required at all times and in all areas of campus. Vehicle registration is required for all parking permit purchases. Permit costs can be found on Permits & Parking on Campus. Purchase of a parking permit does not guarantee parking within a specific lot or structure on campus. Signs and other markings are posted to denote permitting requirements and reserved parking areas.

Vehicles must be parked properly within the limit lines, with the license plate visible from the aisle.

Vehicles that are not linked to a paid parking permit, not parked with plates properly displayed, plate entered incorrectly, or in unauthorized areas are subject to violation and will receive a citation. Please visit https://transportation.sdsu.edu/citations/citationbailamounts for more information.

Vehicles that have been issued 5 or more unpaid parking violations that are past due (21 days or more) are in violation of CVC 22651 and may be immobilized with a Barnacle device or boot. SDSU may initiate vehicle towing if parking violation fines are not paid. Additional details can be found here.

Review the campus map and Transportation Services for parking areas and authorizations.

San Diego State University (SDSU) parking permits are non-transferable and can only be used by the individual that purchased the permit. Permit privileges may be revoked for any individuals found sharing permits or in violation of other SDSU Parking Rules & Regulations.

Title 5, Article 7, Section 42201(a) of the California Code of Regulations regulates parking on CSU campuses. While possession of a valid and current university parking permit entitles the possessor to parking privileges, the university retains ownership rights and permits may be revoked, canceled, or recalled for cause at the discretion of Transportation Services.

The State of California, California State University, SDSU (and its employees) shall not be held responsible or liable for any damage or loss by theft, fire, accident, or any other cause whatsoever to any vehicle, or contents thereof, that occurs on university property.

Parking Permit Refund Policy

Monthly and semester permit refunds will be prorated per calendar day. Refunds due to customer error or purchasing decisions are subject to a $21 administrative processing fee. Refunds will be prorated based on the date that the refund is requested via email and when a mailing address is received via email. No refund is made for amounts of less than $5.

Refunds due to user error and/or if the permit could have been used will not be approved.

To request a parking permit refund, please email [email protected] and include full name, RedID (if applicable), and the permit or receipt confirmation number. Refund requests cannot be submitted over the phone or through Gchat.

Refunds often take six to eight weeks to process. The amount of the refund is rounded down to the nearest dollar. Refund credit may first be applied to any outstanding debt with the university.

The last day to request a refund for the semester parking permit is:

• October 15th for the fall semester
• March 15th for the spring semester
• July 15th for the summer semester

Payroll Deductions Refund Policy

Refunds for payroll deductions will not be offered. By signing the authorization form, employees acknowledge it is their responsibility to submit a written notice to [email protected] should they wish to discontinue their payroll deduction.

MTS Transit Pass Proration & Refund Policy

Refunds are not available for activated semester or monthly passes, which means that the pass has been loaded onto your PRONTO account. Prorated refunds for unactivated MTS semester transit passes will be issued according to the refund schedule below. MTS semester transit passes are not eligible for a prorated refund after the sixth Friday of each semester.

Unactivated monthly passes are not eligible for a refund after the last 7 days of the month in which the pass was purchased.

To request a refund, please email [email protected] with your full name and RedID number. Refund requests cannot be submitted over the phone or through Gchat.

Refunds often take six to eight weeks to process. The amount of the refund is rounded down to the nearest dollar.No refund is made for amounts of less than $5. Refund credit may first be applied to any outstanding debt with the university.

Event Parking

Refunds are not offered. License plate changes/adjustments must be made during business hours (Monday - Friday between 8am - 4pm) and prior to the start date and time of the event. Changes/adjustments must be submitted via email to [email protected].

Rental Car and Leased Vehicles

SDSU is not responsible for fees assessed by rental car companies or car dealerships due to citations received while in SDSU parking facilities. Refunds will not be issued to rental car companies or car dealerships. Customers should reach out to their rental car agency.

Bicycles, skateboards, and scooters ("devices" or "wheeled devices") may only be operated on streets and designated paths. In other locations, devices should be dismounted. SDSU affiliates are encouraged to register their devices with Transportation Services in the event their device is stolen. Devices shall be parked only in designated racks and areas. Devices attached to railings or other fixtures not designated for bicycle parking are subject to removal and impoundment.

Wheeled devices shall only be operated on designated bike paths, Aztec Circle Drive, Hilltop Way, Scripps Terrace, and Avenue of Arts. In other locations, skateboards or similar wheeled conveyances must be walked.

Hoverboards are not permitted in residence halls and may not be operated in university buildings.

Devices shall be permitted, operated, parked or locked on ramps that provide ADA access. Individuals shall walk their devices on access ramps.

Pedestrians shall have the right of way at all times. People using wheeled devices are expected to yield to all pedestrians, bicycles, wheelchair users, and motorized vehicles.

An 8 miles per hour speed limit shall be observed, except for bicycles riding on curbed streets.

Motor scooters, motorbikes, and motorcycles shall be operated only on curbed streets and vehicular thoroughfares. They shall not be ridden or walked elsewhere on campus, but shall be parked in areas designated for motorcycles and not in bicycle/scooter areas. 

These prohibitions shall not apply to persons in wheelchairs, to children in carriages or strollers, or to persons using a motorized or non-motorized conveyance as an approved ADA accommodation.

Student permits (denoted by “S” and “N”) are valid parking stalls that are unmarked if the area does not have signage or striping. Students may not park in spaces marked as Faculty/Staff (F/S). Students may not park in spaces marked as Service/Vendor (S/V), Special Permit (SP), or Disabled Person (DP) unless accompanied by a special permit, DMV placard/plate.

Student permits are not valid in PayByPhone only locations in Parking Lot 6B, Parking Lot 8, Parking Lot 10 and Mission Valley.

Students may not share the same permit with another student's vehicle. 

Each vehicle parked on campus must have its own valid parking permit at all times.

Student Day-Time Permit

• Student Day-Time Permits grant access to park in any "S" student parking location from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Day-Time Permits are not valid between 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
• Authorized Parking Locations:
  • P1, Levels 3-5
  • P2B
  • P2C
  • P3
  • P4
  • P7
  • P12, Levels 3-8
  • P15
  • P17
  • P17A
  • P17B

Student 24-Hour (Overnight) Permit

• Student 24-Hour Permits are valid 24 hours. Vehicles should not be left for more than 72 hours. Transportation Services reserves the right to close a parking area with advanced notice.
• Authorized Parking Locations:
  • P3
  • P4
  • P17
  • P17A
  • P17B 

Motorcycle Permit

• Motorcycle permits are valid in any "M" motorcycle stall, 24/7.
• Authorized Motorcycle Parking Locations:
  • P1
  • P2
  • P2B
  • P3
  • P4
  • P6
  • P7
  • P12
  • P14
  • P15
  • P17A

Faculty/Staff (“FS”) parking stalls are painted green and marked F/S at parking area entrances.

Faculty/Staff permits are valid in F/S and student areas at all hours.

Faculty/Staff may not park in spaces marked as Service/Vendor (S/V), Special Permit (SP), or Disabled Person (DP) unless accompanied by a special permit or DMV placard/plate.

Faculty/Staff permits are not valid in PayByPhone only locations: Parking Lot 6B, Parking Lot 8, and Parking Lot 10.

Faculty/Staff may not share the same permit with another employee or student's vehicle. A shared permit citation may be issued if two vehicles are found in SDSU parking facilities while sharing a permit.

Authorized Parking Locations:

• P1
• P2
• P2A
• P2B
• P2C
• P3
• P4
• P6
• P7
• P12
• P14
• P15
• P16
• P17
• P17A
• P17B

Incoming first-year students who live on campus will not be permitted to bring a car in their first year at SDSU. First-year students with documented hardships are able and encouraged to apply for a waiver. Please visit First-Year On-Campus Resident Parking Policy for more information.

Transportation Services does not manage residential parking for Aztec Shops properties or M@College. More information for Aztec Shops parking can be found at https://aztecservice.sdsu.edu/ReservedParkingV2/. For M@College, please email [email protected] or call 619-399-3099.

Special Permit “SP” areas are parking stalls that are reserved for departments on campus and are reserved for special permit holders exclusively. These spaces may not be occupied by anyone other than the SP permit holder. SP permit holders may only park in the SP number they have been assigned by Transportation Services.

All “SP” parking spaces are painted white at the foot of the stall with the designated SP number. All “SP” areas require a paid SDSU permit to accompany the SP permit. Employees issued an SP must have an active payroll deduction and have current vehicle information in the Transportation Portal. There is a fee in addition to the monthly payroll deduction.

Using accessible parking spaces at SDSU requires a valid paid SDSU permit at all times, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Accessible parking spaces are reserved for those persons with a valid DMV issued placard or plate. The placard/plate must be accompanied by a paid SDSU permit at all times. Drivers transporting a person with a disability may park in a DP stall as long as the disabled person’s DMV placard or plate is visible to parking enforcement staff. In the event that all accessible parking spaces are full, the vehicle may park in any visitor, student (“S” or “N”), faculty/staff (“FS”), service/vendor (“S/V”), or special permit (“SP”) 900 parking stall. 

All accessible parking spaces are marked with blue ground marking and signs posted.

Disabled persons may not park in SP areas other than SP 900 or EV stalls unless they have been assigned the special permit or are actively charging their vehicle. 

Disabled persons with the appropriate DMV placard or plate may park in P6B, P8, or P10 without the required PayByPhone payment if  SDSU permit has already been purchased and registered in the Transportation Portal.

SDSU is dedicated to ensuring the proper enforcement of accessible parking spaces to ensure proper access to those who have a legal right to use them. Transportation Services staff may request DMV DP registration at any time per CVC 22511.56(a). Failure to present requested identification and evidence of valid registration may result in placard or plate confiscation (CVC 22511.56(e)). Additionally, fraudulent use of a deceased person’s placard/plate or use of a placard/plate in which the registered placard/plate owner is not present may result in penalty in the form of a parking citation per CVC 4461(c) and CVC 4461(d).

Authorized Parking Locations:

• P1, Level 6
• P2C
• P3
• P4
• P5
• P6
• P6A
• P7
• P8
• P10
• P12
• P14
• P15
• P16
• P17A
• Campus Interior

Faculty, staff and vendors can obtain a complimentary one-hour service vendor (S/V) permit for loading and unloading of materials.  S/V permits can be obtained online at https://www.offstreet.io/location/KTI0USGE. Additional hours can be purchased if needed.

S/V parking stalls are marked yellow with signs placed in front of the stalls.

Authorized Parking Locations:

• P4A
• P6A
• P7
• P8
• P14
• P15
• P16
• P17A
• Calpulli Garage
• Student Services Garage
• Various locations throughout the core of campus

Business permits are authorized for vendors and contractors who have been contracted by the university to perform specialized services on campus. 

Vendors and contractors who meet this criteria may contact Transportation Services for more information.

Business permits are valid in service vendor (S/V) areas up to one hour and then in student spaces the remainder of the time on campus during the hours of 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday. For all other hours, this permit is valid in S/V spaces for unlimited periods. Should the service being performed on campus during business hours require visiting different buildings on campus, this permit will allow you to park at different S/V locations for up to one hour each.

Authorized Parking Locations:

• P3
• P4
• P15
• P17
• Various S/V locations throughout the core of campus

For questions about applying to receive a media permit, contact the SDSU Strategic Communications and Public Affairs' Media Relations team by emailing [email protected]. Each recognized local news organization must submit an application for all vehicles requiring a media permit. The permit is valid from July 1 - June 30 of each year. Upon expiration of the permit, a new application will need to be filed. Additional information on the university’s media parking policy can be found on the SDSU media relations webpage.

The university is under San Diego State University Police Department (UPD) jurisdiction. As aligned with Title V of the Education Code, San Diego Police Department (SDPD) media parking permits - and any other permit that is not issued by SDSU - are not valid at SDSU.

Parking Policy

The complimentary media permits can be used in marked faculty/staff or student spaces. Parking in reserved, special permit (SP), or other specially marked spaces will result in citation.

At no time is media parking permitted:

• In front of Hepner Hall
• On Campanile, Centennial and Cuicacalli Walkways
• Next to red curbs or in roadways
• In any ADA parking space or ADA access ramp (this includes the ADA route in front of Viejas Arena on 55th Street)
• Special permit (SP) and/or other specially marked areas

Parking in these areas will result in a parking citation. Failure to comply with university parking regulations will result in the revoking of the permit.

Please note that your complimentary virtual permit is for your exclusive use as a recognized member of the media for the sole purpose of reporting on SDSU-related matters. Your permit is not authorized for non-media members that may use your vehicle, and it cannot be used for non-media purposes. Violations of this policy will be subject to citation and/or revocation of complimentary parking privileges.

Campus media relations personnel are unable to assist crews receiving citations. The individual who received the parking citation is fully responsible for addressing the citation.

SDSU offers reciprocity for parking permits that have been granted by certain collective bargaining agreements and/or the following institutions. Please note the requirements below to receive a reciprocal permit and request reciprocity by submitting an email to [email protected] at least 3 business days in advance with appropriate documentation. Requests without the appropriate documentation may be delayed. Reciprocal parking permits are valid in all faculty, staff, and students spaces. They cannot be used in SP, SV, or any other specially marked or reserved space. 

• CSU System-Wide Parking Permits: System-Wide Parking Permits are physical permits issued by the Chancellor’s Office and are valid at any University in the CSU System in Faculty/Staff (F/S) and Student spaces. Those who are using CSU System-Wide permits are encouraged to email [email protected] in advance to ensure parking enforcement is aware.
• CFA, APC, or CSUEU Employees of other CSU Campuses: Employees who are represented by CFA, APC, or CSUEU bargaining units and who are employed at two or more campuses are eligible for a complimentary reciprocal permit of the same type/duration. The employee must provide the following information at least 3 business days in advance in order to receive a reciprocal SDSU permit:
  • Employment verification that they are represented by CFA, APC or CSUEU
  • Copy of active permit, to include type of permit and effective dates
  • Vehicle information that includes the make, model and license plate number

           Fraudulent data will be reported to the Center for Human Resources.

• UCSD Joint Doctoral Programs (JDP): SDSU offers reciprocity for the Joint Doctoral Programs that require studies/research/activity at both UCSD and SDSU campuses. Send a UCSD parking permit receipt with valid dates and official correspondence that shows participation/acceptance in the JDP to [email protected] at least 3 business days before the permit is needed. The reciprocal permit will only be valid for the duration of the UCSD permit. Requests without the appropriate documentation may be delayed. Fraudulent data will be reported to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities.

To request a reciprocal permit, please contact Transportation Services via email at [email protected] at least 3 business days in advance.

Authorized Parking Locations:

• P1
• P2
• P2A
• P2B
• P2C
• P3
• P4
• P6
• P7, Level 2
• P12
• P14
• P15
• P16

Visitor parking stalls are unmarked. Visitor lots have a “P” on the signage at the entrance. Visitors may not park in spaces marked for Faculty/Staff, Service/Vendor (S/V), or Special Permit (SP).

Special events require payment for parking and are subject to space and availability. Parking fees for such events shall be charged on an individual event basis. Please visit our website for more information.

Campus units shall request and receive written authorization to store items in any public outdoor space, including but not limited to, parking areas, roadways, walkways, and other outdoor areas. 

To request a space for a trailer, storage unit, shipping container, or any other non-standard parking use, please contact Transportation Services at [email protected] with a detailed description that includes the dimensions, photos, intended use, and expected duration for storage. The specific contents of the trailer/storage unit, and the duration of storage, will be reviewed by Transportation Services before approval of the storage space can be granted. Transportation Services will collaborate with other campus units, such as Risk Management, as needed, for review. Note that daily or monthly parking fees will apply to storage units if using Transportation Services-maintained or funded areas. 

Trailer/storage units shall not contain any hazardous materials (HAZMAT). In accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, the storage of HAZMAT in trailers, storage units, vehicles and/or other devices is prohibited without written authorization from the Department of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS). Hazardous materials include but are not limited to, chemicals, biological materials, and/or radioactive materials. If hazardous materials may be stored in the unit, Transportation Services will contact EHS for review before an exception can be issued.

All trailers, storage units, containers, etc. shall be kept in a state of good repair. The authorized campus unit is expected to ensure removal of debris/graffiti, and ensure that repairs are made in a timely fashion. In the event that repairs, maintenance, or cleaning is necessary, the campus unit is expected to comply with a written request within 30 days or less. 

Transportation Services, in coordination with EHS and the trailer/storage unit owner, will visually confirm the contents of any trailer/storage unit, at least annually. Failure to adhere to this written policy will result in the removal of all equipment at the owner's expense. Advanced notice may be attempted, but shall not be required if removal is necessary.