University Parking

Recommended By
: 
Administration and Finance
Approved
: 
Judy K. Sakaki, President
Issue Date
: 
Tuesday, April 26, 1988
Current Issue Date
: 
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Effective Date
: 
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Contact Office
: 
Police and Safety Services
Policy number
: 
1988-4
  1. Authority
    • Title 5 California Administrative Code Sections 42200 – 42203
    • California Education Code Sections 90013, 89030, 89031, 89700, 89701
    • California Vehicle Code Section 21113
    • Chancellor's Office Coded Letter--ABS 87-36

    The Parking Policy for Sonoma State University was developed in accordance with regulations set forth in Title 5 of the California Administrative Code, Education Code, Vehicle Code and applicable California State University policies. This policy supersedes the existing Parking Policy, which was originally developed April 26, 1988 and last revised on December 13, 2012.

    The availability of sufficient parking at Sonoma State University has a significant impact on the quality of life of campus community members. The parking facilities and operations of the California State University receive no state funds and are totally self-supporting. Parking revenues pay for construction and maintenance of parking lots. It is the policy of the California State University [Title 5, Article 7, Section 42201(a) of the California Code of Regulations] that faculty, staff, students and guests pay to park on university owned or leased property.
  2. General Parking Provisions
    1. Any person in control of a motor vehicle (including a motorcycle) who wishes to park or leave standing on campus are subject to the provisions outlined herein. 
    2. Vehicles parked on the campus of Sonoma State University must display a valid parking permit.  Parking fees are required of faculty, staff, students, and visitors parking on campus, with the exception of Official University Guests, as defined in this document.
    3. Should a parking permit machine be temporarily inoperable for any reason, a parking permit is still required to park in the affected parking lot. Drivers must acquire a parking permit from an alternate machine or from the Information Booth, if available.
    4. Vehicles parked on campus must be in operable condition, currently registered with DMV and display proof of current registration.
    5. Parking is permitted in designated parking spaces only. Parking along campus roadways, interior paths, or on campus landscaping is prohibited without expressed consent from Police & Parking Services. There is an exception for construction vehicles when parked within marked construction zones.
    6. Vehicles must be parked facing into spaces and within the designated lines when such spaces are located in a directional lane or aisle indicated for one way traffic.
    7. Double parking is prohibited on any campus roadway.
    8. Sleeping overnight in vehicles on campus is prohibited.
    9. No vehicular repairs or maintenance will be made on campus except under emergency conditions with the approval of Police and Parking Services.
    10. Notification must be made to Police and Parking Services to temporarily store a vehicle on campus (e.g. an employee storing a personal vehicle while a state vehicle is being used for business travel). Such vehicles must be parked in compliance with this policy and must display the appropriate parking permit during the temporary storage.
    11. The consumption of alcoholic beverages in a parking lot or on any campus roadway is prohibited unless a valid permit has been issued by the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. “Alcohol” refers to any substances as defined in the Business and Professions Code, Section 23004, known as the “Alcoholic Beverage Control Act”. Violation of this section is an infraction.
    12. Abandoned vehicles, vehicles with 5 or more outstanding citations, or those that pose a serious hazardous condition may be towed away at the owner’s expense.

  3. Publications of Parking Regulations

    University parking regulations, including lot designations, enforcement hours, and parking fee rates, are updated annually and published in the document “Parking Regulations,” available at Parking Services and on the Parking Services web site.

  4. Parking Designations
    1. The following types of parking are regulated by this policy:
      1. “General” Parking: General parking is available to any vehicle displaying a valid parking permit.
      2. “Housing” Parking: Housing parking is designated for persons with a valid agreement to reside in the campus residential community.
      3. “Reserved” Parking: Reserved parking is premium parking that is designated for vehicles displaying a reserved permit or are otherwise authorized under this policy.
      4. “Executive” Parking: Executive parking is designated premium parking spaces for employees in positions designated by the University President and/or their official guests.

    The designation for each lot is established in the Parking Regulations. Conditional authorization for use of a parking area that is outside of its usual designation is subject only to the specified condition and does not alter the designation of that area.

  5. Parking Permits:
    1. Parking permits are required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
    2. Parking permits must be properly displayed and visible to be valid. Permits must be placed on the lower driver’s side windshield or dashboard or hanging from the rear-view mirror.
    3. Parking permits are not transferable between parties; they can be used only by the person to whom the permit was assigned.
    4. All parking is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Possession of a valid parking permit does not guarantee a parking space.
    5. Parking Permit Types:
      1. General Parking: General parking permits are valid in all designated “General” lots at all times. Any employee, student, or visitor of Sonoma State University is eligible to purchase a General Parking Permit. Additionally, general parking permits are valid under the following conditional authorizations:
        1. General parking permits are valid in designated “Housing” parking lots between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
        2. General parking permits are valid in designated “Housing” parking lots beginning the Monday following spring Commencement, until the Monday prior to the beginning of the fall academic semester.
        3. General parking permits are valid in designated “Reserved” parking lots between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
      2. Housing Parking: Housing parking permits are valid in all designated “Housing” and “General” lots at all times. Any person with a valid contract with Housing Services to reside in the residential community is eligible to purchase a Housing parking permit. Additionally, housing parking permits are valid under the following conditional authorization:
        1. Housing parking permits are valid in designated “Reserved” parking lots between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
      3. Reserved Parking: Reserved parking permits are valid in all designated “Reserved” and “General” lots at all times. Any employee, student, or visitor of Sonoma State University is eligible to purchase a Reserved parking permit. Additionally, reserved parking permits are valid under the following conditional authorizations:
        1. Reserved parking permits are valid in designated “Housing” parking lots.
      4. Executive Parking: Executive parking permits are valid in all designated “Executive,” “Reserved,” “General,” and “Housing” spaces at all times. The University President will designate executive employees who are eligible to purchase Executive parking permits.
      5. Motorcycle Parking: Motorcycle parking permits are valid in any designated motorcycle parking space at any time. Any employee, student, or visitor of Sonoma State University is eligible to purchase a motorcycle parking permit.
        1. Motorcycles, mopeds, and other powered cycles are prohibited from parking at bicycle racks. All such vehicles must utilize the motorcycle spaces provided in the parking lots.
      6. Official University Guest Parking Permit: Official Guest permits are valid in General and Reserved parking lots or spaces designated for “Official University Guest” parking. All conditional authorizations that apply to general and reserved parking permits apply to Official University Guest Parking Permits. Additionally, selected Official University Guest Permits may be authorized by the University President or his/her designee to park in designated Executive parking spaces.
  6. Parking for the Disabled
    1. A number of parking spaces on campus have been reserved for the disabled. These spaces are typically located in the lots and rows closest to buildings.
    2. All vehicles using disabled parking spaces must display a valid Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license plate or placard. A 30-day University medical permit may be issued to persons with a bona fide injury/disability.
    3. Vehicles parking on campus with a DMV disabled placard or license plate or a University medical permit are required to display a valid parking permit (California Education Code, §67301).
    4. Vehicles displaying a valid DMV license plate or placard or 30-day University medical permit may park in green time-restricted zones in excess of the posted time. A valid SSU parking permit is required when parking in excess of the posted time limit.
    5. A small number of spaces are designated “restricted” disabled parking and are assigned based on need and availability to disabled employees or students dependent on motorized scooters stored on campus. These spaces are located adjacent to the scooter storage facility in A lot.
    6. Any unauthorized use of a disabled space will result in a base fine of $288 which is not typically cancelled on appeal.
    7. Students with a disability may qualify for a fee waiver or reimbursement through the Financial Aid office.
  7. Plug-In Electric Vehicle Charging

    Sonoma State University has Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Charging Stations available for public use. These stations allow PEVs to charge using a third party program. PEV spaces are intended to be used only by those actively charging a Plug-In Electric Vehicle for no longer than the posted time limit.

    1. Plug-In Electric Vehicles may charge up to, but not exceed the posted time limit and must be actively charging while parked. PEVs parked longer than the posted time limit are subject to a citation. Time limits will be based on current technology and demand, and will be posted in the University parking regulations and on posted signs.
    2. PEV Charging Stations may be used by the same vehicle only once in each parking lot in a four (4) hour period.
    3. Parking in these spaces requires that a valid SSU or CSU parking permit be displayed. Any valid SSU or CSU permit is honored while a Plug-In Electric Vehicle is parked and charging.
    4. Plug-In Electric Vehicles parked in PEV charging spaces that are not actively charging must be moved to an appropriately-permitted parking space. Those in violation will be subject to a citation.
    5. Non Plug-In Electric Vehicles parked in PEV charging spaces are subject to citation.
    6. Parking Services reserves the right to enact further time limit restrictions at any time if deemed necessary. Time restrictions will be posted in the University parking regulations.
    7. Fees are determined by the third party service provider.
    8. Persons using third party charging stations on campus are subject to the terms and conditions of the designated vendor.
  8. Visitor Parking

    The campus has designated short-term, timed spaces. These spaces are intended for campus visitor parking for no longer than the posted time. Parking in these spaces is free and the time limits are strictly enforced.  General campus visitors intending to stay on campus longer than the short-term (timed) parking spaces allow must purchase a daily permit.

    1. Timed parking spaces may be used by the same vehicle only once in each parking lot in a four (4) hour period.
    2. Timed zones with yellow signs and markings are commercial loading zones designated for loading of commercial vehicles. Exemptions for disabled persons parking in excess of posted time limits do not apply to yellow commercial zones.
  9. Official University Guest Parking

    Campus departments may request parking permits for Official University Guests. The process for requesting permits is determined by Parking Services. University Guest Parking permits are authorized only for the purpose of conducting defined activities.  The designated parking fee may be required for guest parking permits. The conditions for the payment or waiver of parking fee will be published in the Parking Regulations.

    1. Official Guest parking permits are valid pursuant to Section E6, “Official University Guest Parking Permits,” of this policy.
    2. Official University Guests are defined as:
      1. Persons invited in an official capacity to meet with departments regarding SSU or CSU business.
      2. Guest speakers in academic classes.
      3. Appointed members of campus boards, committees or other official campus bodies.
      4. Appointed volunteers for a campus department. Permits issued to volunteers are valid only for the appointed term and on days/times when volunteering.
      5. Emeritus Faculty and Retired Staff who are holders of a valid Emeritus/Retiree Parking Permit.
      6. Campus suppliers/vendors with contracts requiring regular delivery and/or service to the campus.
    3. University Guest Permits may not be issued to anyone in the following categories:
      1. Current or continuing students.
      2. Employees of the campus or its auxiliaries.
      3. Consultants or contractors of the University.
      4. Participants in workshops, conferences, or events for which a fee is being collected. Event organizers may include the cost of parking into the tuition/fee and purchase permits for the participants (subject to restrictions of State fiscal procedures).
  10. California State University Parking Permits
    1. Valid California State University permits from other campuses and system-wide permits issued by the Chancellor’s Office are honored at Sonoma State University in General parking lots.
    2. Employees or students who are regularly assigned at Sonoma State University and possess a system-wide permit must display a valid SSU campus parking permit.
  11. Parking Enforcement
    1. Parking regulations, including permit requirements, are enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
    2. Parking violations and applicable fees will be published in the Parking Regulations and available from Parking Services and on the Parking Services web site.
    3. All parking enforcement activities, including the issuance of parking citations and citation appeals, will be conducted in a fair, equitable, and objective fashion and as prescribed by law.
    4. Parking citation appeals are considered pursuant to §40215 CVC. Appeal procedures are published in the “Parking Citation Appeals” brochure and on the Parking Services web site.
    5. General practice discourages the issuance of multiple violations in any instance. Typically, vehicles parked in violation of more than one violation will be cited for the most serious offense.
    6. Vehicles in violation of this policy may receive more than one citation within each 24-hour period under the following conditions:
      1. The most recent citation was issued in the previous calendar day and at least twelve (12) hours have passed.
      2. The vehicle was moved since the most recent citation.
  12. Related Traffic Information
    1. All California Vehicle Code sections are enforced on campus.
    2. The vehicle speed limit on campus is 25 mph on roads, 15 mph in parking lots and 5 mph on access roads unless posted otherwise.
    3. Barriers, fences, or posts will be placed by the University at any location deemed necessary for safety and for other reasons. Removal is forbidden. No vehicles (including motorcycles, mopeds and motorized bicycles) are allowed beyond placed bollards without permission from Police Services or Parking Services.
    4. The use of scooters, bicycles, electric carts, and other wheeled devices are subject to provisions outlined in the Alternative Vehicle Use Policy

Updated March 6, 2017 by SSU.policies@sonoma.edu