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Rules and Regulations

  • Parking rules and regulations are in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
  • There is no free parking on the University of Houston campus. This includes the UH Technology Bridge and the University of Houston at Sugar Land.
  • A valid UH parking permit is required. If a vehicle does not have a permit, then paid visitor parking should be used.
  • There are certain lots on campus that prohibit overnight parking between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. Violators will be towed on first violation.

Parking Permits

  • Permits cannot be shared among individuals. Only the permit owner can use it.
  • Permits can only be used with vehicles that are registered to it. A permit holder can have multiple vehicles on their parking account. Students can have up to three of those vehicles listed as the "active" vehicle on their permit, while faculty-staff can have five.
  • Permit holders are responsible for ensuring whatever vehicle they park on campus is listed as one of the "active" vehicles on their parking permit.
  • The only permits that can be shared among individuals are COAST carpool permits.
  • Parking and Transportation Services uses license plate reader technology. Please make sure that the license plate number of the vehicle(s) is correctly entered into your myParking account.
  • Vehicles parked on campus must have a license plate easily visible and scannable from the drive lane. License plates must be attached to vehicle based on manufacturer specifications. A license plate placed on the front or back dashboard is not acceptable.
  • Parking permits cannot be transferred between individuals. A permit holder may not sell his/her permit to another individual. The permit holder is responsible for any and all citations issued to the permit.
  • You must park where your parking permit designates if it is Monday-Thursday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. If it is after 3 p.m. Monday-Thursday, or any time on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you can still park in your designated area, but you can also park in any unrestricted space in any ungated and uncovered zone parking lot on campus. Restricted spaces include reserved, disabled, unloading and text to pay.
  • Anyone who parks in a text to pay space must pay the fee, even if they have a valid UH parking permit.
  • Vehicles are not allowed to remain parked in a certain location for an extended period of time. Permit-holders who need for their vehicles to remain parked on campus in the same location for more than 72 hours (such as during winter break or spring break) should notify Parking and Transportation Services in advance at parking@uh.edu or 832-842-1097.

On-Campus Apartments

Loading Zones

  • Loading zones are restricted to vehicles loading and unloading. Vehicles must be moved when finished.
  • All loading zones have a maximum twenty (20) minute time limit.
  • Loading zones are clearly designated by green curbs and/or signage.

Gated Lots

  • Gated lots are strictly for use of permit holders assigned to a particular lot.
  • A malfunctioning gate arm is not an excuse for parking in a gated lot without the correct permit.
  • Some gated lots have reserved areas within them. These areas are strictly for use by reserved permit-holders for that lot.

Violations

  • University parking rules and regulations are enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and university holidays.
  • Violators of the parking rules and regulations may receive citations, immobilizations and/or towing.
  • The university reserves the right to tow any illegally parked vehicle or vehicles with excessive citations.
  • Habitual or flagrant disregard of the rules and regulations is grounds for suspension of campus parking privileges or stronger action by the university.
  • The registered driver and/or permit holder is responsible for any parking citations issued to a vehicle displaying their parking permit.
  • In the event the vehicle is not registered with Parking and Transportation Services, motor vehicle records from the Texas Department of Transportation will be used to determine responsibility.
  • Vehicles that are parked in visitor parking locations are subject to immobilization or towing if found to have UH parking violations that have not been paid.
  • LIST OF VIOLATION FEES

Escalation Policy

  • The university reserves the right to tow any illegally parked vehicle or vehicles with excessive citations.
  • The following escalation policy is for repeat offenders per academic term:
    • First Offense: Citation only
    • Second Offense: Orange sticker may be applied to vehicle, and citation
    • Third Offense: Vehicle may be immobilized or towed, and citation
    • Fourth and Subsequent Offense(s): Tow and citation
  • Academic term definitions are as followed:
    • Fall: First day of fall classes thru Dec. 31
    • Spring: Jan. 1 thru last day of spring classes
    • Summer: Last day of spring classes thru first day of fall classes

Removing a Violation Sticker

Recommended procedures for removal are:

  • Heat the sticker with a hair dryer or hot water
  • With the edge of a scraper or razor blade, lift a corner of the sticker enough to hold it with your fingers. If the window is laminated, do not use a razor blade or metal scraper to remove the sticker. Instead, use a plastic scraper or the edge of a plastic credit card.
  • Slowly pull the corner back at a 90-degree angle and carefully use the scraper or razor blade at the edge of the exposed adhesive.

To ease removal and to remove any adhesive residue, use glass cleaner or WD-40. Care should be taken to prevent staining when using WD-40.

Appeals

  • The parking citations appeals process is intended to provide an objective process to review a citation. There must be substantial and valid evidence that the parking violation was not committed or that it occurred due to circumstances beyond the appellant’s control.
  • For more information about the appeals process, visit the appeals web page.

Citation Non-Payment

  • Citations not paid within 10 calendar days of the date of issuance or the appeal decision date are doubled and transferred to the Bursar’s Office for collection via student financial accounts, to include any applicable late fees applied by the Bursar. Faculty/staff unpaid citations are transferred to the employee financial account. 
  • Ownership of vehicles not registered with UH Parking and Transportation Services will be determined via Department of Motor Vehicle records. Upon owner identification, citations that remain unpaid will be doubled and transferred to a collection agency, and the amount due will be adjusted to include a 25% collection fee.

Immobilization

  • For habitual offenders or at the discretion of Parking and Transportation, an immobilization device may be used in lieu of towing.
  • For more details, visit the immobilization page.

Towing

  • The university reserves the right to tow any illegally parked vehicle or vehicles with excessive citations.
  • Vehicles are towed to an on-campus tow lot located at 4224 Elgin St., adjacent to the Elgin Street Garage.
  • In addition to the $150 tow fee, a $5 per day storage fee will be assessed commencing the second day the vehicle is maintained in the tow lot.
  • Visit the towing page for more information.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

  • EV charging station spaces should only be occupied by electric vehicles that are charging.
  • For more details, visit the EV charging station page.

Bicycles

  • All bicycles and scooters used and/or kept on campus must be registered with the University. 
  • Operators of all bicycles and scooters (motorized or otherwise) must operate their devices in a safe manner at all times.
  • Operators of all bicycles and scooters (motorized or otherwise) must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at all times.
  • Operators must obey all rules of the road, including traffic signs and signals, and must follow all applicable state and local laws and ordinances.
  • Reckless or negligent operation of all bicycles and scooters (motorized or otherwise) on any part of campus is prohibited.
  • Bicycles and scooters must be parked and locked only to designated bicycle parking racks.
  • If bicycles and scooters are tied to, locked to, fastened to or leaning on other items outdoors such as light poles, trees, benches, stairwells, fencing, etc., they are subject to removal.
  • Bicycles and scooters are not allowed inside buildings. Bicycles and scooters found inside buildings are subject to removal.