Parking Enforcement

Enforcement hours

Commuter and resident parking

  • ‘A’, ‘C,’ and ‘shared’ resident/commuter lots are enforced Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
  • ‘A’ parking at the Oval is enforced Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Resident student lots are enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • ‘ES’ / ‘C’ shared parking in Quillen Ct., McFarland Ct., Jenkins Ct., and Hulme Ct. and adjacent sections of Olmsted Rd. is enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Visitor parking

  • Meters are enforced 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
  • Pay-by-Space parking at Beckman Center / Li Ka Shing Center parking lot L-15 is enforced Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Meters at Lyman visitor lot (between Lyman Graduate Residences and Sterling Quad) are enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Citations

  • Parking tickets range from $45 for a permit violation to $348 for illegally parking in a disabled space.
  • Citations are issued by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety. P&TS does not administer and cannot change parking citations. Pay or appeal a parking ticket.

If people are parking in your lot who shouldn't be, request enforcement by calling the Stanford police dispatch office at 329-2413.

Observe the signs

Before you park, check the signs at the entrance to the lot. Note that many of our lots are "shared" between resident students and commuters. These lots may be marked, for example, "South Residences" or ‘C’. You can park in such a lot with either a ‘C’ or a "South Residences" permit.

Park only in marked spaces

Never park on unposted dirt, grass or along undesignated roadsides. If an area is not specifically marked for parking, assume you may not park there.

Car covers

Stanford's parking regulations require that car owners cut a small opening in the car cover so the parking enforcement officer can see the valid parking permit displayed on the driver’s side windshield. We also require the license plate number and permit number be written on the windshield portion of your car cover using permanent marker.

With these options, parking enforcement officers can verify if a car that is covered has a valid permit.

Abandoned vehicles

The police may tow any vehicle abandoned on campus or stored in a commuter lot for more than 72 hours without special permission. Storage and towing is at owner's expense.

Parking tickets/citations

Parking & Transportation Services does not issue or dismiss parking citations. We only issue parking permits.

Parking citations are issued in University commuter and resident lots and in Stanford residential areas by the Stanford Department of Public Safety (a division of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department). In the Hospital/Medical Center area, citations are issued by the Palo Alto Police Department. All parking citation revenue goes to Santa Clara County or the City of Palo Alto, not Stanford, so please buy a permit rather than collect citations!

Appeal or pay a parking citation

Violations of P&TS policies

Anyone found to be in violation of the Commute Club and/or parking permit policies set forth by Parking & Transportation Services (P&TS) is subject to revocation of transportation incentives and/or parking privileges. Instances of egregious misconduct may result in further administrative, disciplinary, and/or legal action, up to and including termination of employment or expulsion.

Tour bus operators found in violation of Stanford parking policies and/or failing to adhere to its tour bus protocol will be cited and/or towed, or may be banned from Stanford property. Operators ignoring Stanford property rights may face legal action from the University.

Limited holiday parking permit enforcement

During university holidays, parking permit enforcement is suspended in all ‘C’ parking lots, all visitor/meter spaces, and in most ‘A’ lots, with the exception of parking facilities serving the hospital and School of Medicine. ‘A’ permit parking, visitor/meter spaces, Service/University Vehicle spaces, and timed loading zones/spaces are enforced during the university holidays in these lots (list is subject to change; please check back for updates):

  • L-2 (Quarry lot)
  • L-3 (Quarry South lot)
  • L-9 (Quarry Extension lot)
  • L-15 (Beckman/LKSC lot)
  • L-16 (MSOB lot)
  • L-18 (Stock Farm lot)
  • Roth Way Garage (Campus Drive and Roth Way)
  • Additional areas may be announced closer to the holiday

Parking restrictions in residential lots (except shared lots) and special zones, such as disabled parking, red zones, fire lanes, and "Special Permit" stalls, are enforced 24/7.

For parking locations, refer to the Parking and Circulation Map.

This information is subject to change. Visit our Latest News page close to each holiday for the most current information.