Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Permits

Citations

 

Where is the Lake Street Garage?
At the corner of Prospect Road and Center Avenue. Our office is located on the first floor in the southwest corner.

What are your hours?
Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. From May 23rd through July 15th, The Parking Services office will close at 11:30 AM on Friday. Enforcement will continue as normal, please see signs posted in each lot for enforcement hours.

Where can I park?
All parking on campus requires you to either purchase a parking permit you are entitled to or pay for parking at a meter or pay-to-park station. To find out what permit you are entitled to purchase, or where pay stations and metered areas are located, check out our website at pts.colostate.edu, contact us by phone (970) 491-7041, or stop by our office located in the Lake Street Garage at 1508 Center Avenue.

Where is the free parking area?
There is NO free parking on campus. By state statute, parking must pay for itself at CSU. This means revenue must be generated by parking permit fees to pay for parking maintenance, operations and the construction of new parking lots and garages. Please contact us with questions regarding your parking options.

Why do I have to pay to park on campus?

By state statute, parking must pay for itself at CSU. This means revenue must be generated by parking permit fees to pay for parking maintenance, operations and the construction of new parking lots and garages.

Where can I buy a parking permit?
Online or in person at Parking Services. Daily permits can be purchased in specific lots or in person at Parking Services.

When are parking permits required?
Parking permits are required in most A and Z lots from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please watch out for areas in certain A lots where enforcement is until 7 p.m. The Q, W, and X lots on campus are enforced from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. All other parking areas are enforced as posted at all times. Please note: The Lake Street Garage is enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round.

Why do we have different parking permits? Why don’t we just have one student parking permit?
Parking Services designates parking lots for residence hall students, commuter students, and faculty and staff. Permits are designated for each parking lot for organizational and enforcement purposes.

Why does each residential hall have different parking permits?
When a student who lives in a residence hall student purchases an X, Q, or W permit, they are able to park in any residential parking lot marked with the corresponding designation. None of the residence halls require a specific parking permit valid at that hall only.

What if I change vehicles?
You can link the other vehicle to your permit (through Manage My Parking Account or by calling our office). Instructions can be found on our main Parking homepage at any time or you can bookmark this link.

Can I get a refund for my parking permit?
Depending on how you initially purchased your parking permit, you may be entitled to a prorated refund if you return or cancel your semester or annual permit. Please come to our office in the Lake Street Garage located at 1508 Center Avenue in person to request a refund. No refunds are issued on annual permits after March 31st.

What is the replacement policy for parking permits?
With our new virtual permit system this question is obsolete. You cannot lose a virtual permit.

I am visiting campus. Will I need a parking permit?
Yes, or pay a meter, as there is no free parking anywhere on campus. During enforcement hours visitors can purchase a daily permit or park at meters or in pay-to-park lots.

I’m only here for five minutes. Do I still need a permit?
Yes, all vehicles parked on campus will either need a parking permit or use a meter or pay-to-park station. Visitor parking permits are available at Parking Services and are good in all A, Q, W, X, and Z stalls. You may also use a loading zone for the posted time, but make sure to leave before your allotted time to avoid receiving a citation.

Where do I put my permit?
Virtual permits do not require anything be displayed. Other types of permits need to be displayed in the front windshield, either hanging from the rear-view mirror, affixed to the lower passenger corner of the windshield or on the dash.

What if I have a soft top, Jeep, or convertible, or my car won’t lock?
With virtual permits, your permit doesn’t not need to be displayed within a vehicle.

Why is the off campus student parking permit cheaper than the students living on campus parking permit?
Residence hall parking lots are used virtually 24 hours a day during the school year. The wear and tear on a residence hall lot is more excessive than on a lot with a different permit designation because they require more overall maintenance.

How long do I have to purchase a permit after I arrive at CSU?
Permits are required at ALL TIMES. New students may park at meters for the appropriated payment. Meters accept coins (nickels, dimes and quarters), Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and RamCard. Daily Z parking lot permits may be purchased from the University Square lot (#575). See our parking regulations for additional information.

My car is in for service and I have a loaner. What should I do?
If you have a valid CSU parking permit you can simply link the loaner vehicle to your permit (through Manage My Parking Account or by calling our office).

Why don’t you get a warning to move your car before you receive a citation?
Individuals who park on the CSU campus thereby agree to all parking regulations and should be aware of violations they may incur and how to avoid receiving a citation.

How do I pay a parking citation?
Citations can be paid online, by mail, over the phone, in person at the Parking Services office, or by placing your payment in the yellow envelope and dropping it in one of the drop boxes located on campus. Please do not mail cash. Payment types accepted are cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, RamCard, and from your student account.

How can I appeal a citation?
Appeals may be filed online or in person at the Parking Services office. Appeals must be filed within 14 days of citation issue date, and only one appeal may be filed on any citation.

The parking meter took my money but did not give me the appropriate time. What should I do?
Contact Parking Services at (970) 491-7041 to notify us of the situation. We will send maintenance out as soon as possible to correct the problem.

My leg is in a cast — I can’t walk from the parking lot. What should I do?
Students should  print a medical permit form online or contact the CSU Health Network for assistance in authorizing a medical parking permit. Employee should contact their family physician. If you have questions, please contact us by phone at (970) 491-7041.

Where does the money from parking tickets go to?
Fines collected from parking citations are used to fund the Parking Services operation. Parking Services is funded solely by permit fees, citation fines, and  monies received from metered parking. This funding is used for maintenance of existing parking lots and new parking projects such as parking garages.