Parking at Colgate University is a shared resource that supports the safety, access, and smooth traffic flow of our campus community. All community members and visitors are expected to follow established guidelines and New York State traffic laws.
Parking Permits and Registration
Parking permits are free of charge. All students, staff, and faculty vehicles must be registered with Campus Safety and have a properly displayed permit decal. Improperly displayed decals may result in tickets or towing.
Vehicles must be registered within 24 hours of being on campus. You may register your vehicle and obtain a parking permit online or at the Campus Safety office (88 Hamilton Street). Parking decals must be properly affixed to the vehicle's driver side rear window. Vehicles not properly displaying a valid decal or permit are considered to be unregistered.
It is the responsibility of students, faculty, and staff to ensure their visitors and guests obtain temporary parking permits online in advance, or from Campus Safety upon their arrival at Colgate and that their visitors and guests park legally. Institutional hosts are responsible for the fines of their visitors and guests.
A temporary parking permit may be issued if a vehicle is temporarily replacing the vehicle to which a decal has been previously issued. Temporary parking permits are also issued to vehicles that will only be on campus for a few weeks or less. Apply for temporary permits online or at Campus Safety.
Colgate University does not issue accessibility parking permits, but may issue a temporary, short-term permit to approved students, faculty, and staff who have applied for and are waiting for the issuance of a government-issued permit for qualifying persons with disabilities.
RideAssist Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Students, faculty, and staff with accessibility needs are encouraged to obtain authorization for Colgate’s RideAssist Non-Emergency Medical Transportation door-to-door service, alleviating the need for an accessibility parking permit on campus.
Students with government-issued handicap permits should use RideAssist Non-Emergency Medical Transportation to the upper campus during those hours.
Colgate community members may register their bicycles and scooters with Campus Safety. Once registered, a uniquely numbered sticker is affixed to your bicycle or scooter. In the unfortunate event of loss or theft, this identification sticker significantly increases the chances of recovery. Campus Safety and law enforcement agencies can quickly identify and return the property to its rightful owner.
To register, bring your bike or scooter to the Campus Safety office.
Parking Regulations and Lots
Parking regulations are in effect 24 hours a day throughout the year, including academic breaks, and in rare instances when the University is closed. On campus, overnight parking is prohibited in all parking lots and roadways from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. Vehicles may only be parked in clearly designated, white lined legal parking spaces.
- General Use Lot
- 113 Broad Street Lot
- Andy Kerr Stadium Lot (except between 3 a.m. – 7 a.m.)
- Any Broad Street Housing Parking Lot
- Townhouses Parking Lot
- Any College Street Apartments (Newell, Parker, University Court) Parking Lot (From 3 a.m. – 7 a.m., parking is only allowed in the rear lots.)
Student parking restrictions on campus are lifted between 4:30 p.m. and 3 a.m. Monday - Friday, and all day Saturdays and Sundays. During those times, parking is permitted in any legal parking space on campus, with the exception of the faculty and staff spaces at Case-Geyer and the staff spaces at the residence halls.
- 100 Hamilton Street lot
- 113 Broad Street
- Academic Drive
- Alumni Hall lot
- Andy Kerr Stadium lot (open parking for all registered vehicles)
- Benton Hall lot
- Burke Hall lot
- Broad Street lots
- Bryan Roadway/Heating Plant/Base Camp lot
- Case-Geyer (Library) lot
- Chapel House lot
- Class of 65 Arena lot
- College Street Apartments (Newell, Parker, University Court)
- Conant House lot
- Coop lot
- Dana Arts Center lot
- Drake Hall lot
- Facilities lot
- General Use lot
- Human Resources lot
- Huntington Gym lot
- James B. Colgate lot
- Lally Lane
- Lineberry lot
- Merrill House parking lot
- North Reidway lot
- Office of Undergraduate Students lot
- Pinchin Hall lot
- Saperstein Jewish Center lot
- Spear House lot
- Athletic facilities: Campus visitors using athletic facilities may park at 113 Broad Street, Lineberry Natatorium, and the north side of Reid Athletic Center.
Accessible parking spaces on campus are designated by signs bearing the International Symbol of Access, also known as the Universal Wheelchair Symbol. These spaces are for use by students, faculty, staff, and frequent visitors with temporary or permanent accessible parking needs who hold valid, government-issued disabled parking placards or plates, and who possess a Colgate University–issued parking permit.
If a space designated for accessible parking cannot be located, permit holders can park in any space not otherwise reserved and marked for other purposes. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Prohibited Parking
- Parking overnight (3 a.m. - 7 a.m.) except at the Broad Street lots, General Use lot, 113 Broad Street lot, and the rear College Street lots
- Parking in areas with signs or yellow pavement painting indicating restricted or no parking zones
- Parking in or along the roadway, in any travel lane, or on the lawn
- Taking more than one parking space, or blocking another vehicle, loading docks, or fire lanes
- Driving or parking on any sidewalks or pedestrian walkways
- Parking, stopping, or standing at the COOP mailroom, Academic Drive, or around Frank
Enforcement of Regulations
There are financial penalties and progressive levels of enforcement for student parking violations.
- Fines for parking in faculty/staff-designated areas start at $25 and double for each subsequent repeat violation, up to a maximum of $100.
- Students with excessive parking violations may also be subject to a vehicle boot, student conduct hearing, and/or loss of parking privileges.
A person ticketed has the option of paying the fine at the Office of Accounting and Control within ten days of receipt of the ticket, or appealing the ticket through the Parking Portal. Students must pay all outstanding fines before grades and transcripts will be released.
All vehicles towed are at the owner's expense.
- University registered vehicles will be towed to 175 Utica Street and assessed a tow fee of $145 plus tax. (Vehicles properly displaying a valid decal or permit are considered to be registered.)
- Unregistered vehicles will be towed to VonBank’s Collision and Service Center. Fees start at $165 plus tax. (Vehicles not properly displaying a valid decal or permit are considered unregistered.)
- A storage fee will also be assessed by the tow company starting at the time of the tow. A tow claim slip must be obtained from Campus Safety and then presented to the tow company before any vehicle will be released.
- Any vehicle eligible for towing in which the owner returns to the vehicle, or the vehicle is moved before the arrival of VonBank’s Collision, shall be assessed a drop charge of $85 plus tax.
