Parking Essentials

Accessible Parking

In order to park in authorized ADA accessible parking spaces on campus, students and employees must have the following:

• State-issued ADA placard/hangtag or license plate registered with USC Parking & Transportation Services (PTS).  Read more about Accessible Parking Registrations.
• Valid USC parking permit

Once your state issued documentation has been registered and approved by PTS, parking access is as follows:

Garage Parking Permit:
Access to ADA parking spaces within that permitted garage, plus access to any ADA parking spaces in any surface lot.  Parking permit and registered ADA placard or license plate must be displayed.

Any Surface Lot Parking Permit:
Access to any ADA parking spaces in any surface lot or visitor area that is not  restricted by gate access.
Un-restricted visitor areas are:

• Pendleton Street Garage (levels 1a, 1b, 2a - enter from Pickens St.)
• Close-Hipp Lot (top level)
• College Street (1700 block)
• Capstone and Columbia Hall (on Barnwell St.)
• Sumter Street Garage (top level)
• Campus Village Garage (top level) 

Gated areas (Bull, Horizon, Discovery garages) require a permit for that garage.

Parking permit and registered ADA placard or license plate must be displayed.

Feeding Meters

Do not put anything but United States coins in parking meters. Inserting any slug, device or substitute for U.S. currency into a parking meter is a misdemeanor and will be tried by a magistrate.

Head-in Parking

You can only park head-in on campus. Pull-through parking and backing into a space is not allowed.

Parking Illegally or in Prohibited Areas

We realize it can sometimes be difficult to find parking. Please remember that your inability to locate a legal space in a parking area is never an excuse for parking illegally.

A standing vehicle is considered parked, even if someone is inside.

You will be towed if you park in certain areas:

• Fire Hydrants
• Fire Lanes
• Yellow Curbs
• Accessible Spaces (unless you have a accessible permit)
• Reserved Spaces
• Driveways, Alleyways, Walkways
• Sidewalks
• Grass Areas

Do not block these areas at any time:

• Curb Ramps
• Accessible Spaces
• Service Drives
• Trash Pickup Areas

All impounded vehicles are towed, stored and released in accordance with the State of South Carolina Code of Regulations 119-21. You assume all risks involved and are responsible for the full cost of impounding and retrieving your vehicle.

Permits

If you are using university parking, you must have a valid permit. Only one permit is allowed per person.

Learn more about permits »

Student Employees

Students employed on a part-time basis, regardless of capacity, are not eligible for faculty/staff parking permits.

Speed Limit

Unless otherwise posted, campus speed limit is 15 miles per hour. The speed in all garages is 10 miles per hour.

Traffic Signs

No unauthorized person may alter, deface, knock down or remove any official parking or traffic sign or erect any parking sign without the approval of the University Parking Committee.

Parking Tickets

Appeal Process

Submit appeals through your parking account.

Visit your parking account »

If you feel a ticket was issued in error or without just cause, you can make an appeal within 3 business days of the citation's issue date, 

No appeals will be allowed for any late tickets.

Appeal Review Committee
The Traffic and Parking Appellate Committee is composed of students, faculty and staff members. The Committee meets at least once per month during the fall and spring terms to hear in-person appeals. Written statements are reviewed more frequently.

Timeline
If you appear in person to present your appeal, the decision will be made the day of the hearing. If you choose to submit a written statement instead, you will receive a decision within 30 days of the appeal. All Appellate Committee decisions are final.

Citation Fines - Effective August 16, 2024

Violation	Description	Fine
Meter Violation	Issued to vehicles parked in a metered spot without paying the hourly fee or exceeding the time that was paid for the space.	$20
Parking Improperly	Issued to vehicles failing to park evenly between lines, more than one foot away from the header/curb, or occupying more than one space.	$20
Parked Out of Permitted Zone	Issued to vehicles parked out of their designated zone as indicated by the permit.	$20
Permit Improperly Displayed	Issued  to vehicles that fail to accurately display permit.	$25
No Permit	Issued to vehicles with no permit for the zone.	$25
Parking in Loading Zone or Service Space	Issued to vehicles parked in a designated loading zone, service space, or otherwise reserved.	$30
Failure to Register Vehicle	Issued to vehicles not registered with PTS - to include vehicles with a valid permit.	$50
Failure to Register ADA Placard	Issued to vehicles displaying an ADA plate or placard that has not registered the placard/plate with PTS.	$50
Blocking Driveway or Access	Issued to vehicles parked in a manner that obstructs the movement or flow of vehicles, or prevents the access to driveways or other spaces.	$60
Parking in No Parking Areas/Yellow Curb	Issued to vehicles parked, stopped, or standing in an area with signage that states "No Parking" and to vehicles parking, stopping, or standing next to an area marked with a yellow curb or by yellow hash marks.	$60
Parking Along Fire Lane	Issued to vehicles parked along a red curb or where signage indicates the area is a designated fire lane.	$75
Parking in Reserved Space	Issued to vehicles parked in a space reserved for an event, particular vehicle, department, person, etc.	$75
Parking at Fire Connection	Issued to vehicles parked at or near a fire hydrant.	$75
Parked in ADA Accessible Space	Issued to vehicles parked in an ADA accessible space without displaying valid ADA plate, placard, or ADA ID.	$350
Blocking ADA Accessible Access	Issued to vehicles parked in a manner that obstructs access to an ADA accessible access point.	$350

If you haven't paid or appealed your citation within three business days, it will increase by $3.

Loss of Parking and Academic Privileges
If you fail to pay your parking fines, you may have your parking privileges revoked and your vehicle impounded. Students who have unpaid parking fines at the end of the semester will not be allowed to register for classes or receive diplomas until the fines have been paid in full.

Breakdowns, Storage and Security

Vehicle Breakdowns

If your vehicle breaks down on campus, notify University Police (803-777-5160) or Parking Enforcement dispatch (803-777-3351) immediately.

Get your vehicle to a legal parking space or have it removed from campus as soon as possible. If the vehicle has not been moved in 24 hours, it will be towed at your expense.

Stored and Abandoned Vehicles

Please do not store your vehicle in university lots or garages. Vehicles that appear to be stored or abandoned on campus will be towed.

Vehicle Security & Valuables

The university cannot accept responsibility for the care or protection of your vehicle or anything inside it. Please lock your vehicle after you park it, and take all valuables with you.

Reporting Theft or Damage

Contact the University Police Department at 803-777-4215.

Motorcycles and Mopeds

You need a permit to park your motorcycle or moped on campus. Only park in designated motorcycle spaces in surface lots.

Do not park in regular spaces anywhere on campus. Operating a motorcycle or moped on sidewalks or walkways is strictly prohibited.

Do not store your motorcycle or moped in a building on campus. It will be removed and impounded

Bicycles

Any bicycle parked on campus must be registered. Read more.