Parking Regulations & Tips

Parking on the SDSU campus is a privilege, not a right. Our primary interest is to foster convenience and safety for all people working and visiting the campus and to facilitate the efficient operation of the University.

Please acquaint yourself with the current regulations governing campus parking.  It's the best way to avoid a ticket or loss of privileges. Ignorance of the regulations will only hurt you.

There are no free parking areas on campus! All parking lots are constructed, maintained, operated, and administered through parking fees, which are paid by all patrons. Parking Regulations for South Dakota State University are published on an annual basis, both in print and on this web site [External Hyperlink]. The parking and traffic committee are the approving authority for these regulations.

Best ways to avoid a parking ticket:

1. Register your vehicle.

2. Don't park in reserved spaces.

3. Stay out of yellow zones.

4. Park in your assigned area/lot.

5. Don't park in a service vehicle space.

6. Don’t park in a handicapped space.

7. Limit yourself to 20 minutes in those designated areas.

8. Limit yourself to 2 hours in those designated areas.

9. Hang your decal while parked. Forgetting only works once.

10. Follow meter instructions.

If you do get a ticket, save your self a late fee and pay it within 96 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) as instructed on the ticket.

How to avoid towing on campus:

Don't park in a Handicap zone. Parking in a Handicap zone will earn you a $100 dollar fine with the possibility of having your vehicle towed. Cost of towing depends entirely on the type of vehicle you have.

Don't accumulate $50 in tickets. If you have outstanding parking tickets totaling over $50 dollars your vehicle will be towed to Dakota Service. In order to get your vehicle out you have to first pay your tickets on campus in cash and all fees associated with towing and amount of time your vehicle has been at the facility.

Don't park in reserved spaces. Parking in someone else’s reserved space not only cost you $50 dollars, but also prevents the owner of the space you’re parked in from parking there. Additionally, if your vehicle is not moved within the hour of being ticketed it will be towed to Dakota Service. In order to get your vehicle out you must pay your tickets on campus in cash and all fees associated with towing and the amount of time your vehicle has been at the facility.

Other Tips

You are responsible for anyone parking your vehicle on campus.

All students, faculty, staff, and visitors must register their vehicle or obtain a parking permit to park on campus.

You are responsible for all fines assigned to your vehicle.

If you have visitors attending campus, have them first stop at the University Police Department to pick up a visitor pass.

Vehicle Registration

1. All vehicles on-campus must have a university parking permit

2. All parking lots are designated student or faculty/employee. Student lots are divided into several different classes.

3. Students are assigned a parking class depending on where they live while attending school.

4. A map of all parking lots and which class of parking lot is designated along with a copy of the Parking and Traffic Rules [External Hyperlink] are available from UPD.

5. University parking and traffic rules are mandated by the University Parking and Traffic Committee.

6. All parking rules are strictly enforced by UPD.

7. All parking tickets may be appealed to the Appeals Committee.

Reserved Stalls

1. An individual can buy a parking stall that is specifically reserved for him or her.

2. Owners of reserved stalls are only allowed to park in the stall that they have reserved.

3. There are only a limited number of reserved stalls available.

4. Reserved stalls are sold on a first come first serve basis.

5. Individuals parking in someone’s reserved stall will be fined $50.00 and the vehicle may be towed at the vehicle owner's expense.

6. Reserved stalls are enforced on the basis of a complaint from the owner of the reserved stall.