Student and Employee Permits

Permit Types

The following permit types are available, based on employment/student residency status. (If you're a student employed by the Student Employment Office or the Graduate School, you're considered a student for parking purposes.)

Yellow: Commuter Students and Northern View Residents

• For students who do not live in an NIU residence hall
• Allows parking in unreserved yellow spaces

Purple: Neptune Hall Residents

• Allows parking in level five of the parking garage off Normal Road, as well as other unreserved purple spaces west of Annie Glidden Road

Brown: Gilbert Hall Residents

• Allows parking in parking lot V off Kishwaukee Drive, as well as other unreserved brown spaces west of Annie Glidden Road

Orange: Grant Towers/Patterson Complex (New Hall)/Stevenson Towers Residents

• Allows parking on the west side of campus by the residence halls in unreserved orange parking spaces; may not park in lots designated for Neptune/Gilbert residents

Blue: Faculty/Staff

• For employees and contracted non-university personnel working on campus
• Allows parking in unreserved blue spaces
• New employees who are unable to log into the parking portal to purchase a permit should contact Parking Services at parking@niu.edu for assistance.

Green: Remote Parking

• For students and employees
• Allows parking in lot K (southeast of Huskie Stadium) for no charge
• You must register for this permit in order to utilize this lot.

Reserved Spaces

• For an additional fee, you may be able to upgrade to a reserved parking space. Reserved spaces are good in your specific parking space, as well as in regular parking spaces in your permit areas.
• Students: Annual and fall semester only reserved spaces are available for purchase through the online portal. Students living in a residence hall are restricted to the reserved spaces for their designated hall. Commuter students will have a list of available parking lots to choose their space from. Reserved spaces are sold on a first come first served basis. For those students who are interested in obtaining a reserved space for the spring semester, please contact parking@niu.edu for further assistance and availability.
• Faculty/staff: Reserved spaces are only available through the online portal if you have had a reserved space the prior year. For those employees who are interested in obtaining a reserved space, please contact parking@niu.edu to inquire about available locations and space availability.
• If someone parks in your reserved space, find an appropriate unreserved space to park in and contact us to report the unauthorized vehicle (815-753-1045, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). After hours, contact the NIU police at 815-753-1212.

Remote Work Parking Recommendations

If you primarily work remotely but occasionally come to campus, we recommend the following:

• Hourly: Most cost-effective if you only come to campus periodically. Best if you are on campus for less than 18 days per fiscal year.
• Daily: Utilize if you will be on campus periodically, for more than five hours at a time. Best if you are on campus for less than 22 days per fiscal year.
• Weekly: Ideal if you are not on campus every day but will be on campus for the duration of two or more days during a week. Best if you are on campus for less than 11, weeklong periods per fiscal year.
• Monthly: Most economical if you are on campus for periods of time longer than two consecutive weeks. Best if you are on campus for a maximum of four days, one-month time period per fiscal year.
• Yearly: Most practical if you will be on campus more than 18, five plus hour days per fiscal year.

Additional Vehicles

You can register two vehicles on your permit. The additional vehicle cannot belong to another student or employee, and only one of the vehicles may be parked on campus at a time. Only one registered vehicle may be parked on campus, additional vehicles parked on campus at the same time will be ticketed accordingly.

Motorcycles

There is no extra charge for including a motorcycle as your additional vehicle. Or you can purchase a motorcycle permit. Motorcycles/scooters can park in designated motorcycle parking spaces, 15-minute spaces and in pay parking areas (must pay in pay parking areas). Those who have purchased a reserved parking space may park their motorcycle in their reserved space.

Rules and Regulations

Parking regulations are enforced when the university is open, whether or not classes are in session. Take care to park in a space appropriate to your permit type and follow the regulations.