Parking Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you have a question about?

Below are some frequently asked questions about parking on campus.

Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty/Staff
Frequently Asked Questions for Students
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Enforcement

Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty/Staff

What are my parking permit payment options?

If you are eligible, you may purchase your parking permit through payroll deduction. The monthly deduction is $12.50/month or $6.25 per pay ($150 for the year June 1 through May 31). If you choose to purchase your permit through payroll deduction, the cost of your parking permit will be deducted from your gross pay before the calculation for federal and state income taxes as a pre-tax benefit. This allows you to realize savings since it reduces your taxable income. You may also purchase your parking permit by using cash, check or credit card; however the pre-tax benefit will not apply to these payment options.

I'm a graduate assistant or teaching fellow. Do I qualify for a Faculty/Staff permit and payroll deduction?

No. Graduate assistants and teaching fellows are student appointments. You must order your student parking permit online. Parking permit options according to your class standing will be listed once you login.

I was on medical leave/sabbatical for the last few months and I didn't know I had to return my permit; can I now get a refund?

No. If you leave the University for any reason, it is your responsibility to return your parking permit to Parking Services. As long as you have the permit in your possession you are required to pay for it. When a person has an active permit on payroll deduction and the amount is not applied to a paycheck the amount accumulates in arrears until another paycheck is issued. The total amount outstanding will then be taken on your next paycheck.

I am leaving the university, is my permit automatically cancelled when I leave?

No. Your permit is not cancelled until it has been returned to Parking Services and it has been cancelled in our system. Once we receive your parking permit, your payroll deduction will be stopped and you will be issued a refund, if applicable.

If I need a permit beginning on the 12th of the month do I have to pay for the whole month?

No. Your permit is prorated on a daily basis. If you purchase a permit in the middle of the month, you will pay for the remainder of the month.

I don't have my Kent State ID number yet. Can I still sign up for payroll deduction?

Yes, as long as you have a copy of your employment offer letter or your contract.

I'm going to retire soon. How do I get my retiree permit?

If you are eligible to receive a Retiree permit, you must bring in your current permit and your retiree Flashcard in order to stop payroll deduction or to get a prorated refund. Your retiree permit will then be issued to you. NOTE: The retiree Flashcard is issued in the Flashcard office located on the first floor of the Student Center.

As a retiree, can I renew my Retiree permit by phone or by mail?

No. All retirees must come to the Parking Services office in order to have the retiree permit renewed.

I am part-time faculty or a temporary employee. Do I qualify for payroll deduction?

No, part-time faculty members or temporary employees are unable to enroll in payroll deduction. You may purchase your permit by using cash, check or credit card. In addition to yearly or semester permits, daily, weekly or monthly permits can be purchased to match the length of your University employment.

As part-time faculty, I may have to teach a course in the fall. How do I go about getting a permit for fall, and if I get one now and the course is cancelled, what do I do?

Bring your contract, offer letter, copy of contract or copy of Personnel Action Form (PAF) to the Parking Services office. Since we do not start to sell fall permits until mid-August, look online for sales dates prior to coming to the office. If your class is cancelled and you want a permit refund, return the permit as soon as possible since the refunds are prorated.

I have been hired to teach an evening class. Do I need a permit?

Yes. Bring your contract, offer letter, copy of contract or copy of Personnel Action Form (PAF) to the Parking Services office and we will sell you an R-Evening permit .This permit allows parking after 4 p.m. in your assigned employee (R) lot, and also offers day-time parking in the Allerton Sports Complex and Summit East lots. During summer, winter and spring break, you may park at any time in the "R" lot designated on your permit. The cost of the R-evening permit is significantly lower than the regular employee permit.

How do I purchase a disability permit?

Students, faculty or staff with a temporary or permanent disability may be eligible to purchase a Kent State University disability permit upon receipt of proper documentation. Instructions for obtaining a disability permit can be found in the “Disability Permits” section of this website.

Frequently Asked Questions for Students

I am getting a new car. What information do you need?

If you keep the same plates, just send an email to parking@kent.edu with the new make/color and we can update your account. If you get new plates, email the new plate information as well.

Are freshmen residence hall students allowed to bring a car to campus?

Yes. All residence hall students are eligible to purchase a parking permit. However, freshmen who have earned less than 30 credit hours may only purchase a stadium permit. See the campus parking map for the stadium location. PARTA bus service transports students to campus. The bus service runs every 8-12 minutes from the stadium. There is on-site security 24 hours/day, 7 days/week at the stadium.

How do I purchase a parking permit?

Parking permits are only sold ONLINE on the Parking Services website. Web sales generally begin two months prior to the start of fall and/or spring classes, and 1 month prior to the start of summer classes. Before you apply online for a fall or spring semester permit, you must be registered for classes, and your FlashLine account has to be active. Permits may be charged to your student account at the Bursar's office, charged to a credit card, or paid by an online electronic check. Check this website for online sales dates to purchase your permit. Daily, weekly or monthly parking permits are available in the Parking Services office located at 123 Schwartz Center from 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

How do I purchase a disability permit?

Can I return my permit if I don't need it?

Student parking permits that are no longer needed can be returned to the Parking Services office within the first week of classes for a complete refund. Prorated refunds will be issued after the first week of classes and are prorated on a daily basis with no refunds issued after the cut-off date. These dates change each semester.

What if my permit is lost or stolen?

If your permit is lost or stolen, you must come to the Parking Services office to fill out a lost/stolen report form and pay a replacement fee in order to receive a new permit. If you find the permit that was reported lost or stolen, DO NOT DISPLAY IT! The lost or stolen permit will be placed on a "Hot List" and any vehicle found displaying the permit will be booted and/or towed at the drivers expense, and may result in a referral to Student Conduct and/or the suspension of parking privileges on campus. Return the found permit to Parking Services.

Can I put a copy of my permit on my rearview mirror?

No. Do not make, possess or display an altered or counterfeit permit. Any vehicle displaying an altered or counterfeit permit is subject to booting and/or towing at the driver's expense and may result in a referral to Student Conduct and/or the suspension of parking privileges on campus.

I no longer need my permit. Can I sell it to my friend?

No. If you no longer need your permit, return it to us for a pro-rated refund. Permits can only be purchased from Parking Services. We investigate all reports of misuse of permits and lost and stolen permits. Purchasing a permit from someone other than Parking Services can result in immobilization or towing of the vehicle and referral to Student Conduct for disciplinary action. In addition, if any person uses your permit and receives tickets, you will be responsible for the payment of any tickets issued to your permit number.

Where can my visitor park?

Residence Hall visitors can obtain a free "after 4 p.m." parking permit from any area desk. Parking Services also offers a special long-term visitors permit to frequent visitors to Kent State University. Contact Parking Services for more information about this permit. All other visitors should:

Park at a parking meter. Rates are posted on each meter.
Purchase a permit from a Pay and Display machine located within the Ice Arena lot, the Student Recreation and Wellness center lot and the R-12 Schwartz Center lot.
Park at the Student Center visitor's lot. The charge is $6/day maximum per visit. There is no charge after 6 p.m. on Fridays and on weekends. Please note that the lot is closed from 3 a.m. – 5 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Purchase a "One Day Only" permit for $3 from Parking Services.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Enforcement

What if I receive a parking ticket?

Parking illegally may result in parking tickets, booting and/or towing of your vehicle, and loss of your parking privileges on campus. If you receive a ticket, please follow the instructions on the back of the ticket. Tickets can be paid or appealed on the Parking Services website. Payments may also be dropped in a red courtesy box (located in or near most metered areas) or mailed. Payments or appeals must be received within 7 days to avoid a late fee.

Ticket fines are based on the total number of tickets issued to a specific license plate number during an academic year – from fall through summer. All vehicles revert to the $15 ticket fine at the start of each fall semester.

The ticket rates automatically increase as follows:

Ticket 1-2, the charge is $15 each.
Ticket 3-8, the charge is $35 each.
Ticket 9 and over, the charge is $50 each.
A $5 late fee will be added to any unpaid ticket after 7 business days.
All unpaid student tickets will be transferred to the Bursar's office if not paid within 10 business days (It is possible to owe both the Bursar's office and Parking Services for outstanding tickets).
A license plate that has been issued 9 or more tickets (paid or unpaid) is considered a "Frequent Violator" and is subject to towing or immobilizing (booting) after the 9th ticket. At this point, the vehicle is issued an Orange tag that indicates that the vehicle has reached Frequent Violator status.
If you are issued an IOU to pay the parking fee in the Kent Student Center Visitor Lot and it is not paid within 5 days, the amount will increase to the regular ticket fee based on the total tickets to the license plate according to the above schedule.

Exceptions to the above ticket charges:

Displaying a lost or stolen permit: $100
Displaying an altered or counterfeit permit: $100
Parking in a Handicap space: $100
Misuse of a permit: $50

If I decide to appeal a ticket, what do I do?

Parking tickets can only be appealed online on the Parking Services website here. The appeal must contain the ticket number and any facts or circumstances relevant to the ticket complaint. Once submitted, a parking enforcement supervisor or designee will review the appeal and issue a written reply not more than 30 calendar days following receipt of the ticket appeal.

I heard that I could get my first ticket voided. Is that true?

Parking Services may void one ticket per license plate as a courtesy. This courtesy does not apply to violations involving a fire lane or handicap zone. You must either complete the requested information on the back of the ticket or file an appeal online.

What is a boot?

Parking Services uses a vehicle immobilization device (boot) to enforce parking regulations A boot is a brightly colored clamp that is usually affixed to the front driver's side wheel. A bright yellow sticker warning the driver that a boot has been locked on the vehicle will be placed on the window.

My vehicle has a booting device (boot) on it. What do I do?

If your vehicle has been booted, do not attempt to drive it – severe damage may occur. Instead, contact Parking Services at 330-672-4444 for instructions. Vehicles may be booted for unpaid parking tickets, frequent violator status (9 or more tickets, paid or unpaid), or for displaying a lost, stolen, altered, or counterfeit parking permit. There is a $50 boot fee that must be paid before the boot is removed.

What are Red, Yellow, Green, or Orange warning stickers?

A RED TAG is a large, bright red warning sticker which may be placed on the vehicle as the final warning that the vehicle is on the Parking Services' hot list and can be towed or immobilized (booted) even if parked legally. This tag is placed on vehicles for the following reasons:

Vehicles that have unpaid tickets
Vehicles that are displaying a lost/stolen permit, revoked permit, altered permit, or counterfeit permit
Vehicles that are in violation of a previous suspension of parking privileges

If your vehicle has received this warning, DO NOT PARK ON CAMPUS, (including meters and the Student Center Visitor Lot) until you have contacted Parking Services.

A YELLOW TAG is a large, bright yellow warning sticker which is placed on the vehicle as a warning that the vehicle has been immobilized (booted). If your vehicle has been booted, CONTACT PARKING SERVICES IMMEDIATELY!

Do not attempt to drive your vehicle while the boot is attached. Severe damage to the vehicle may occur.
Do not attempt to remove the boot yourself. Any person(s) who tampers with or damages a boot will be held responsible for any and all damages to university property, and may be referred to Judicial Affairs. In addition, a $100 tampering fee will be added to the ticket (s) and booting fee. If you do not contact Parking Services by 6 p.m. your vehicle may be towed and impounded at additional expense to you.

A GREEN TAG is a bright green warning sticker placed on a vehicle which is parked in a lot that frequently becomes full and causes complaints from valid permit holders, or because the vehicle has been ticketed previously in the same lot. If this vehicle is parked illegally in a lot where it was previously "green tagged", the vehicle will be towed or immobilized (booted) at the owner's expense regardless of the status of previous tickets.

An ORANGE TAG is a bright orange warning sticker placed on a vehicle to warn the violator that the vehicle is now under "Frequent Violator" status, having had 9 or more tickets – paid or unpaid. This vehicle can be towed or immobilized (booted) any time it is found parked illegally on university property. Continued violations may also result in referral to Student Conduct, and/or the suspension of parking privileges.

The meter or pay station where I am parked is not working. What should I do?

Malfunctioning meters or pay stations should be reported immediately to Parking Services. Please relay the meter letter and number, or the machine and the location to the dispatcher. Your call will be logged and a Parking Services employee will be dispatched to check/repair the machine. After the offices are closed, you can email Parking Services with the meter or pay station information to: parking@kent.edu

What do I do if my car won't start?

If your vehicle or a visitor's vehicle becomes disabled while parked on campus, call the Parking Services dispatcher at 330-672-4444. A Parking Services representative will assist you with a battery jump start, vehicle unlock, gas transport or tire inflation. These services are limited to on-campus assistance, and are provided at no charge. If you require a gas transport, you will be required to pay for the gas. The hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. Summer and break times may vary. Phone the Campus Police Department at 330-672-2212 if you need assistance after hours or during the weekend.