Parking Regulations
This page provides most information needed to understand the parking regulations at Sonoma State University. The entire policy may be found at the University Policies web site. Additional information about parking fees may be found on the Parking Permits page.
Enforcement Hours
Other Regulations
All other parking regulations, including timed zones, are enforced 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Reserve and General Parking
Parking permits are required in all General and Reserved parking lots at the following times except holidays when the campus is closed:
- Monday through Thursday from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
- Fridays from 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Please refer to the campus map for areas designated as Reserved or General.
Housing Lots
A Housing parking permit is required in the Housing lots 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. General parking permits are honored in the Housing lots between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ONLY. Housing permits will be strictly enforced after 5:00 p.m.
Please refer to the campus map for areas designated as Housing parking. These lots are designed with a circled "H" on the map.
Reserved Parking
Reserved parking is located primarily in A and D lots and on Juniper Lane. Reserved parking is on a first-come first basis. A reserved permit is required to park in a reserved area for any period of time. Evening reserved permits are valid in reserved spaces after 5:00 P.M. All reserved permits are also valid in general parking lots. Reserved permits are honored in Housing lots between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ONLY.
Visitor and Short-Term Parking
Official University Guests
Official guests of the University may obtain a visitor parking permit at one of the Parking Information Centers or at Police & Parking Services. After obtaining the visitor parking permit, visitors may park in any general parking space or in areas specially designated for visitors. Employees on campus who are hosting official University guests should request visitor parking in advance by contacting Parking Services. Additional information on Official University Guest parking is available.
Limited Use of Timed Parking
A vehicle's usage of a timed parking zone is limited to once in a four hour period.
General Public
Visitors (other than faculty, staff or students) may park without a permit in any timed zone (except yellow loading zones). Other visitors may purchase a daily parking permit from any of the permit machines or from either of the Parking Information Centers.
Parking for Disabled Persons
A number of parking spaces on campus have been reserved for the disabled. These spaces are located primarily in parking lots A, B, C, E, G, L, M and in residence hall lots. Vehicles displaying a valid disabled parking placard or plate AND a University parking permit may also park in green timed limited parking spaces in excess of the posted time.
- Unauthorized use of a disabled space will result in a $275 citation which is typically not cancelled on appeal.
- Effective January 2010, California state law requires that repeated unauthorized use of a disabled space will cause the fine to double for each subsequent violation, up to $1000.
- All vehicles using disabled parking spaces must display a valid DMV license plate or placard.
- Unauthorized use of a disabled placard may be punished with fines up to $3,500 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months.
- All vehicles using disabled parking spaces must also display a valid parking permit.
- Disabled students receiving financial aid may be eligible for a waiver of parking fees. Please contact the Financial Aid office for details.
Motorcycles & Bicycles
Motorcycles, mopeds and motorized bicycles are not allowed to park in bicycle racks. All such vehicles must utilize the motorcycle parking areas provided in A, G, H, and J lots, the residence hall lots and at the south main entrance. Bicycles must be parked at bicycle racks; otherwise they are subject to impound. Free bicycle registration is available at Police Services.
For more information on bicycles and other alternate transportation, please visit the University Affairs site for the Alternate Transportation Policy.
Other Parking Regulations
- Parking is permitted in designated (marked) spaces only.
- Parking in driveways, walkways or on campus roads, including along curbs and fire lanes, or any area where stalls are not clearly marked is prohibited.
- Unauthorized parking on construction roads or other unpaved areas is prohibited.
- Vehicles must be parked within the designated lines.
- Vehicles must be parked facing into spaces in lots where stalls are positioned at an angle, representing a one-way traffic direction.
- General permits or daily parking permits are valid in the housing lots only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Housing lots are strictly enforced for housing permits after 5:00 p.m.
- Yellow zones are for the loading and unloading of vehicles, not to exceed the posted time limit.
- Vehicles must be in operable condition to be parked on campus. No vehicular repairs will be made on campus except under emergency conditions and with the approval of Police and Parking Services.
- Abandoned vehicles will be towed away at the owner’s expense.
- Permission must be obtained to temporarily store a vehicle on campus (including during school breaks and business-related travel).
Traffic Regulations
California Vehicle Code
All sections of the California Vehicle Code are enforceable on campus.
- Permission to enter or drive on campus may be revoked or refused at any time.
- The vehicle speed limit:
- on campus roads: 25 mph
- on parking lots: 15 mph
- on access roads: 5 mph unless otherwise posted
- No vehicles (including motorcycles, mopeds and motorized bicycles) are allowed beyond placed bollards without specific permission from Police and Parking Services.
- All vehicles on campus must be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- All vehicles on campus must display proof of valid registration.