Navigating Parking at the University of Louisville: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of Louisville (UofL) provides parking facilities to support university business for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. These facilities operate under regulations established by the Board of Trustees, as authorized by KRS 164.950-164.990. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of parking regulations, permit options, enforcement policies, and appeal procedures relevant to parking on university property.

Understanding University Liability and Driver Responsibility

It is important to note that the university assumes no liability for vehicle damage or loss while parked on university property. The responsibility of finding an authorized parking space rests solely with the driver. Lack of parking, mechanical problems, or inclement weather are not valid excuses for parking violations. A parking permit grants the opportunity to park in a specified area but does not guarantee a specific parking space, except for red reserved permits. Drivers should be aware that spaces in prime locations fill up quickly.

Key Parking Regulations

Several key regulations govern parking on university property:

Permit Ownership and Use

A parking permit signifies the privilege of parking on university property, but it remains the property of the university. Permit ownership is non-transferable. Copying or altering a parking permit is strictly prohibited and will result in fines, towing, impoundment, and loss of parking privileges. Lost or stolen permits must be returned to the Parking Office immediately. Possession or use of a lost/stolen or forged/altered permit will result in a fine, tow and impoundment of vehicle and loss of parking privileges.

Stall Designation

Parking is permitted only within marked stalls in paved lots. Stalls are typically marked by two white lines on either side, with some accessible spaces marked with yellow/blue/white lines. Bumper blocks may also designate valid parking spaces. Yellow and red curbs and hashed-out areas are designated fire lanes or no parking zones and are tow-away zones.

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General Prohibitions

Parking is prohibited in the following situations:

Without displaying a valid permit
In reserved spaces without a proper permit
In areas or spaces closed by barricades or other traffic control devices
Blocking an accessible space or access ramp
In fire lanes or driving lanes
Blocking a doorway, dumpster, fire hydrant, or emergency exit
In tow-away zones

The fact that one vehicle occupies more than one space is not an excuse for another operator to do the same.

Motorcycle and Motor Scooter Parking

Motorcycles and motor scooters must be parked in designated spaces or areas. The same rules apply to motorcycles as to cars, except that more than one motorcycle/scooter may be parked in one regular parking space. A motorcycle or licensed moped/scooter must have a valid UofL parking permit. Non-licensed scooters/mopeds must be parked at a bicycle rack.

Vehicle Maintenance

Vehicle maintenance is prohibited on university property, except for emergency repairs, and the Parking Office must be notified.

Permit Types and Parking Privileges

The type of permit determines parking privileges. Parking areas are indicated online at louisville.edu/parking under campus maps and in parking areas by signs. In cases of conflict, signs and markings take precedence over any conflicting parking map designation.

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Belknap Campus Permits

Red Permits: Restricted from parking in resident spaces.
Blue Permits: Allow parking in Blue, Third Street South, and Purple designated areas, but are restricted from parking in resident spaces.
Resident Permits: Allow parking in resident areas designated by their permit color. Resident permit holders are not permitted to park in other resident parking zones, but all Resident permits allow parking in Purple. Daily, Resident permits may park in any Blue and in non-24 hr.
Third Street South Permits: Allow parking in this designated lot only. Daily, Third Street South permits may park in Blue and in non-24 hr.
Purple Permits: Allow parking in Blue and in non-24 hr. When classes are not in session (e.g., Reading Day, Spring Break) and the #94 Shuttle does not operate, Purple permits allow parking in any resident parking lot, Third Street South lot, and the Blue permitted areas of the Floyd Street Garage.
Stadium Parking: Parking at the football Stadium is prohibited on football game days or other identified events, the day before the event, or the vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Health Sciences Center (HSC) Permits

HSC permits are restricted to their respective garages/lots.
Belknap Campus Red and Blue permit holders may park at Health Sciences Center Campus in spaces designated for Belknap Campus permit holders located on Madison Street adjacent to the 620 HSC Garage and behind the Chestnut Street Garage accessed from Jackson or Preston streets.
Health Sciences Center employee permits may park on Belknap Campus in spaces designated for Health Sciences Center employee permit holders located on First Street.
620 HSC Garage permits possessing a resident sticker are restricted to resident parking areas.
620 HSC Garage student permits are not permitted to park in HSC identified spaces on Belknap Campus.
All non-resident 620 HSC Garage permits allow parking in Blue, Third Street South lot, or purple permitted spaces at the Stadium on Belknap Campus.
Students enrolled in more credit hours at Health Sciences Center than Belknap Campus must possess a Health Sciences Center permit.
Students completing a co-op at the Health Sciences Center must have a Health Sciences Center permit.
Students who have more credit hours on Belknap Campus and who possess a valid permit will park in the 620 HSC Garage in non-reserve or carpool spaces.

Other Permit Types

Scratch-off Permits: Allow parking in non-reserve permitted spaces on each campus and are only valid for the day indicated on the permit. Any scratch-off permit indicating a future date will be subject to a citation as a non-valid permit.
Payroll Deduction Permits: Belknap Campus Faculty and Staff who choose to use payroll deduction as their payment method will be able to purchase a permit with no expiration date. This permit will be paid for at the beginning of every fiscal year. Communication will be sent out in late spring about the upcoming cost of the permit and will be automatically renewed through the payroll system. If payroll is terminated for any reason and payment is not authorized, the permit will be deactivated and is no longer valid.

Enforcement and Penalties

University parking rules and regulations are in effect all year, including periods when classes are not in session. The individual who purchases a parking permit is responsible for non-moving violations by any vehicle bearing that permit. Motor vehicle operators are responsible for all moving traffic violations, which are adjudicated through the appropriate district court.

Fines and Payment

Multi- and single-space parking meters are available to visitors, students, and university faculty and staff. After 14 days, fine amounts double. Students and employees with unpaid parking citations cannot purchase a new parking permit. Students will have a financial hold placed on their registrar accounts and may be subject to a loss of university services until the fines are paid and financial hold is released by the Parking Office.

Fraudulent or Stolen Permits

As provided for in KRS 164.975, a person using a fraudulent parking permit, in possession of a lost/stolen parking permit, or found to be a “habitual violator” may be denied permission to park or operate a motor vehicle on property owned or controlled by the University of Louisville. Incidents involving UofL registered students will be referred to the Dean of Students for administrative review.

Vehicle Removal and Impoundment

Parking and Transportation Services is authorized to remove, impound, and immobilize motor vehicles on university property at the owner’s expense under the following circumstances:

When a vehicle is unattended or left under circumstances which indicate it has been abandoned (has not been moved for an extended period of time and/or appears to be inoperable).
When a vehicle is parked illegally or blocking an accessible space or access.
When a vehicle is parked illegally in a Red reserved space.
When the displayed parking permit has been reported lost or stolen or appears to be forged or altered.
When a vehicle is parked in a fire lane or driving lane; blocking a doorway, dumpster, fire hydrant, or emergency exit; or in a tow-away zone.
When any vehicle is determined to have three or more unpaid parking citations charged against it.

Impounded vehicles will be held until all outstanding citations and charges have been satisfied.

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Tow Warnings

Vehicles with two (2) or more outstanding violations may have a tow warning affixed to the driver’s side window. The owner/operator then has 24 hours to clear all citations and fees outstanding on the vehicle and customer account(s) before the vehicle will be towed and impounded. Vehicles with four (4) or more outstanding citations will not be provided a courtesy tow warning sticker and are eligible for tow immediately when found on university property.

When a Tow Warning has been issued for a vehicle, the vehicle will not be towed if there are outstanding citations currently under appeal. Any new citations issued to the vehicle must be paid in full before an appeal for those citations will be considered. All citations not paid after 14 days of issuance will escalate, and the vehicle will be subject to immediate immobilization and/or tow without the issuance of a new Tow Warning.

Tow and Storage Fees

The fee for a vehicle tow is $150. If an immobilizer or wheel lock is used in lieu of towing a vehicle, the fee is $75. Tow fee applies when vehicle is hooked up to wrecker. Tow and impoundment fees are subject to change based on the terms of the contract for providing the service. Any vehicle towed and impounded will be charged a storage fee of $5 per day if not claimed within 72 hours.

A vehicle is deemed to be impounded when it has been located by an officer of Parking and Transportation Services and the towing process has been initiated, even though the tow truck has not yet arrived, or when a wheel lock has been placed on vehicle. Unauthorized removal of an impounded vehicle may result in criminal prosecution and revocation of parking privileges on university property.

Disposal of Unclaimed Vehicles

Impounded vehicles not claimed within 30 days will be considered abandoned and will be disposed of as per provisions of state law.

Appeal Procedure

To dispute a parking citation, a written appeal must be submitted on the parking appeal form within seven days of receiving the citation online at louisville.edu/parking or at one of the Parking Offices. Parking appeals will not be accepted after seven days. If an appeal is denied, a personal appeal may be requested. Failure to appear for personal appeals will result in a denial of appeal. The Parking Appeals Committee is composed of faculty, staff, and students who will adjudicate written appeals.

Reasons for Appeal Rejection

The Appeals Committee will not accept appeals for the following reasons:

Person submitting appeal has other outstanding escalated parking violations
Person submitting appeal has other parking violations issued from same location and for the same offense
Person was in possession of a lost/stolen or forged/altered permit
Person wants to appeal tow fees/immobilization fees
Accessible space/blocking access ramp
Fire lane

All decisions of the Parking Appeals Committee are final.

Permit Availability

Purple parking permits are available to all members of the university community, alumni, and university affiliates.
Resident parking permits are available to all students who live in a University of Louisville residence facility or Greek housing on campus. Student residents will be permitted to purchase only one Resident parking permit.
Red parking permits are available to faculty and staff.
Blue permits are available to faculty, staff, and graduate students.
Third Street South permits are available to employees, graduate students, residents, and undergraduate students based upon availability.
Retirees may purchase Blue, 620 HSC Garage, or Purple permits.
Chestnut Street Garage permits (Magenta designation) and Jewish Hospital Parking Garage permits are available to faculty and staff.
620 HSC Garage permits are available to faculty, staff, and students.
Gold permits are issued to members of the Board of Trustees, and Silver permits are issued to members of the Louisville Foundation and Athletic Association.
Accessible parking permits and accommodations are available to students, staff, and faculty with medically verified disabilities.

Permit Placement

To be valid, a permit must be clearly visible, hanging from the rearview mirror post of a vehicle. An adhesive permit must be clearly visible on the driver’s-side rear bumper. A permit must not be defaced or altered in any way.

Visitor Parking

All visitors to campus can use the I-1 Garage for parking, located on the South East corner of Ithan and Lancaster Avenues. Upon entry, a ticket must be obtained at the gate. Before exiting the garage, payment (cash or credit) must be made using the machine located by the Main Pedestrian Entrance/Exit on Floor 2 to validate the ticket. If parking is required elsewhere than the I-1 Garage, then a temporary parking pass must be obtained. The department that has invited the guest can request a guest pass prior to their guest’s arrival by submitting the Guest Pass Request through the Parking Portal. Guests will need to supply their vehicle plate information to obtain the pass. Departments with frequent event speakers or vendors will be provided a unique login to the Parking Portal for a Guest Pass Request.

ADA Parking

Villanova University provides for ADA Parking through the use of approved signage and space marking in accordance with PA State Regulations. University members with ADA or temporarily disabled requiring transportation should notify the Department of Public Safety dispatcher (Ext. 9-5800) to request the Mobility Shuttle. Guest and Visitors should discuss ADA Parking with the department inviting them or the Parking Office previous to their visit.

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