Purchase Permit Visitor Parking Plan Your Commute
Stanford
Transportation

Parking Enforcement

Parking enforcement on the Stanford and Stanford Redwood City campuses is managed through a third-party agreement. Find out when and where parking is enforced on campus to avoid a citation. If you have questions about enforcement or suspect a vehicle(s) is parking without the appropriate permit or permissions, please request enforcement by contacting Stanford Transportation via email at transportation@stanford.edu or by phone at (650) 723-9362.

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Enforcement hours

Commuter and Resident parking

  • Unless otherwise posted, ‘A,’ ‘C,’ ‘C-SRWC,’ ‘E,’ ‘Z,’ and ‘shared’ resident/commuter lots and service vehicle spaces are enforced Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. This includes commuter parking at Stanford Redwood City.
  • ‘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, seven (7) days a week.
  • Resident permits (i.e., ‘EA,’ ‘ES,’ ‘SJ,’ 'SH,' ‘SO,’ ‘WE,’) are valid only at Stanford Redwood City in the Bay Lot in marked spaces during enforcement hours.
  • ‘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, seven (7) days a week.

Please refer to our Parking & Circulation Map for current parking designations.

Holiday parking permit enforcement

Parking in Residential and Special Zones is enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in:

  • Residential lots (except shared lots)
  • Special zones include disabled parking, red zones, fire lanes, and special permit-only spaces.

For the remaining areas of the Stanford and the Stanford Redwood City campuses, parking enforcement remains as posted, including winter closure, except on university holidays.

Visitor parking

  • Unless otherwise posted, visitor parking is enforced Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m..
  • Visitor parking at Beckman Center/Li Ka Shing Center Lot (L-15) is enforced Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Visitor parking at Stanford Redwood City is enforced Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Hourly visitor parking is available through the ParkMobile app or website.
  • Posted time limits in visitor parking areas continue to apply.
  • Visitor parking at Stanford Redwood City is available on the first floor of the Barron Parking Garage and in all surface lots. Spaces are enforced from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Refer to our parking at SRWC webpage to learn more.

Stanford visitors, including those visiting residents, have two options for purchasing parking:

Citations/parking tickets

  • Parking tickets range from $41 for a permit violation to $753 for illegally parking in a disabled space.
  • SP+ issues citations. Stanford Transportation does not administer and cannot change parking citations. For questions about paying or appealing a parking ticket, refer to Parking Citations.

Observe the signs

Before you park, check the signs at the entrance to the lot. Many of our lots are "shared" between resident students and commuters. For example, these lots may be marked 'SO' or ‘C’. You can park in this lot with a 'SO' or 'C' permit.

Park only in marked spaces

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

Car covers

Stanford's parking regulations require that car owners keep their license plates visible so the parking enforcement officer can see them. We also need the license plate number written on the windshield portion of your car cover using a permanent marker.

With these options, parking enforcement officers can verify if a covered car 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 are at the owner's expense.

Violations of parking permit terms and conditions

Anyone found to violate Stanford Transportation's parking permit terms and conditions is subject to revocation of 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 violating Stanford parking policies and/or failing to adhere to its tour bus protocol will be cited and/or towed or banned from Stanford property. Operators ignoring Stanford property rights may face legal action from the University.