These permits are issued as a privilege and may not be used by relatives or other persons employed by or enrolled at NIU.
Please note the following:
We use a virtual permit system, so you won’t receive a physical permit.
If you’re registered for a program or class through the Community School of the Arts (CSA), you can purchase a six-month or annual CSA parking permit for use in lots 2, 3, 4, 22 and E.
To purchase, access our parking portal and select "visitor, vendor, retiree, other permits". Then, select "Community School of the Arts permits" (specify six-month or annual).
If you purchased a Recreation Center membership, you can get a Recreation Center member parking permit for use in lots 15E, 20, C, 2, E, C3 and Stadium Drive East.
To purchase, access our parking portal and select "visitor, vendor, retiree, other permits". Then select "Recreation Center permits".
If you attend the Lifelong Learning Institute, you can get a parking permit for use in lots 5, 36 and the Carroll Avenue visitor lot.
To purchase, access our parking portal and select "visitor, vendor, retiree, other permits". Then select "Life Long Learning".
If you receive a pension from the State Universities Retirement System, have a retirement status with Human Resource Services and your last employer was NIU, you can purchase a retiree parking permit. You can use your retiree permit in any blue, brown, orange purple or yellow parking lot.
To purchase, access our parking portal. Select "visitor, vendor, retiree, other permits". Then select "retiree permit".
Or, fill out the retiree permit form (PDF) and mail it, along with your payment, to:
Northern Illinois University
Campus Parking Services
121 Normal Road
DeKalb, IL 60115
If you’re a vendor conducting business with an NIU department, you must purchase a day, week, month or year service permit to park on campus. The year permit is good for one year from the date of purchase. Contact Parking Services if your business has multiple vehicles.
Your service permit allows you to park in a reserved service space for the purpose of loading, unloading and delivering equipment and/or goods for up to one hour. After one hour, you must move your vehicle to any regular space in any color lot and the visitor lot located off Carroll Avenue.
The director of parking must approve requests for service permits. Please email parking@niu.edu and include the name and title of the requestor, the company name and a brief description of the nature of the business on campus.
To purchase, visit the parking portal. Select "visitor, vendor, retiree, other permits". Then "vendor contractor".
Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
The lobby is currently closed to in-person transactions.