Parking Enforcement

Enforcement hours

Commuter and resident parking

  • ‘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., unless otherwise posted. 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, 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.

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

Visitor parking

  • Visitor parking will be enforced on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
  • Visitor parking at Beckman Center/Li Ka Shing Center Lot (L-15) will be enforced Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Visitor parking at Stanford Redwood City continues to be 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 SRWC surface lots. Visitor spaces are enforced 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Refer to our visitor parking at SRWC webpage to learn more.

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

Citations

  • Parking tickets range from $41 for a permit violation to $753 for illegally parking in a disabled space.
  • Citations are issued by Stanford’s Department of Public Safety and SP+. Stanford Transportation does not administer and cannot change parking citations. Pay or appeal a parking ticket.

If you believe people are parking in your lot who shouldn't be, request enforcement by calling:

  • Stanford police dispatch office at 650.329.2413 (main campus and hospitals); or
  • Parking Operations at 650.723.9362 (SRWC).

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 keep their license plates visible so the parking enforcement officer can see them. We also require the license plate 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

Stanford Transportation 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).

Parking enforcement in Hospital/Medical areas is managed by SP+.

Refer to Appeal a Parking Ticket for information about appealing a citation.

For questions about enforcement, please contact Parking Operations at parkingoperations@stanford.edu or 650.723.9362.

Violations of Stanford Transportation policies

Anyone found to be in violation of the Commute Club and/or parking permit policies set forth by Stanford Transportation 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.

Holiday parking permit enforcement

Visit our Latest News page close to each holiday for the most current information.