Towson University has established a parking policy and accompanying procedures pursuant to the USM policy VI-9.00, Policy on Establishment of Institutional Traffic Regulations (https://www.usmd.edu/regents/bylaws/SectionVI/VI900.html). For more information, refer to the current parking regulations, which can be found at https://www.towson.edu/parking/.
Affiliated: An individual who has a recognized affiliation with the University to include, but not be limited to: faculty/staff, students, vendors, contractors, community program participants and retirees.
Faculty/Staff (F/S): Faculty/Staff are defined as any employee who works for the University. This includes both regular and contingent positions.
Commuter Student: Commuter students are defined as individuals who are taking courses at the University and do not live in Towson University residence halls or on-campus housing owned or managed by an outside entity.
Resident Student: Resident students are defined as individuals who are taking courses at the University and live in Towson University residence halls, including on-campus housing owned or managed by an outside entity.
Department of Housing & Residence Life - Live-In Staff: Individuals designated by Department of Housing and Residence Life as full-time, live-in staff, and any approved household member, if applicable.
Department of Housing and Residence Life - Student Staff: Individuals designated by Department of Housing & Residence Life as student staff who live in a University residence hall.
Board Members: Members of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, the Towson University Alumni Board, Towson University Board of Visitors and/or the Towson University Foundation Board.
Visitor/Guest: An individual who has no affiliation with the University, which shall include, but not be limited to: visitors, athletic fans and performing arts guests
Community/Outreach Programs: Non-affiliated participants in designated programs that are specifically designated as collaborative programs between the University and the community by Parking and Transportation, in its discretion.
Emeritus Faculty: Recognized Faculty, Professor and Librarian Emeriti who have retired from Towson University and are designated as such by University administration
Retired Faculty and Staff: Faculty and Staff who have retired from Towson University.
Volunteer: An individual who is not affiliated with the campus and is providing their time and service to the campus at no charge or personal gain, to include course credits.
Special Programs: Recognized programs for individuals who are attending classes and not pursuing a degree, which may include, but not be limited to: Golden ID and The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Vendor/Service Representative: Employees of vendors or service entities that provide periodic (up to 2 times per month) services to the campus, which may include, but not be limited to: maintenance, service, delivery, or approved sales representatives.
Joint Academic Programs: Formal joint academic programs that are recognized by Towson University and which have a reciprocal written agreement with regard to parking permits.
Alumni Fitness Membership: Burdick gym membership that is available to Towson University alumni.
Contractor: Employees of a recognized company who work on campus on a regular basis to include, but not be limited to: food service and/or housekeeping services, on-site banks and long-term facilities contractors, such as roofers and electricians
Contractor Vehicles: Company vehicles that are kept on campus, for a short-term or long-term period and are used in a fashion similar to state vehicles.
Construction Worker: Those employees of companies completing short term and long-term campus construction projects.
Parking Violation Notice/Citation/Ticket: State of Maryland document used to cite individuals for violation of Towson University or State of Maryland parking regulations.
Special Events: Events or programs that require special parking arrangements for 10 or more non-affiliated guests/attendees. Events that require special parking arrangements for 10 or more F/S or students.
Responsible Executive:
Vice President for Administration & Finance and Chief Fiscal Officer
Responsible Office:
Parking & Transportation Services
This Policy applies to all members of the University community, including students, faculty, staff, guests, and third parties, as well as visitors and guests of the University.
Authority - Towson University has authority to establish parking policies pursuant to Maryland Code Annotated, Transportation Article, Section 26-301. Responsibility for administering this Policy is shared by Parking and Transportation Services and the Towson University Police Department.
Management - All parking areas will be managed exclusively by Parking and Transportation Services. Any individual utilizing parking resources will be required to obtain a permit, unless parked in metered parking. Large events held during hours in which a permit is not required may be subject to event fees, which may be collected prior to parking, in order to properly manage parking resources. Lot and/or space designations are subject to change.
Lot designations, permit eligibility and parking area assignment may be modified at the discretion of the University. The full-time status of an individual takes precedence over any other status.
Lot/Space Type Overview – Signs at the entrances of all parking areas designate the type of parking available and the associated enforcement hours. Regulatory signs within parking areas designate the type of permit required and the associated hours.
Overflow – Overflow lots or spaces are designated for use by individuals who have any valid Towson University permit. At the discretion of the University, some individuals may be assigned to “Overflow” areas based on specified criteria.
Reserved or Specifically Designated Spaces – Vehicles parked in spaces marked as reserved or restricted to a specific type of permit or vehicle must meet criteria of the posted signs and possess the appropriate permit if applicable. Spaces include, but are not limited to: reserved, vendor, state vehicle, accessible, and pick-up/drop-off.
Faculty/Staff Lots & Permits – Parking area restricted to individuals in possession of a valid F/S parking permit. Individuals who are eligible for a F/S permit are: current faculty and staff, Emeritus Faculty, contractor staff (personal vehicles), construction managers (personal vehicles), graduate assistants working 20+ hours, volunteers and Campus Ministries. At the University’s discretion, additional criteria may be used to determine eligibility.
Lot/Space Type Overview – Parking area restricted to students in possession of a valid commuter “Core” parking permit during peak hours. “Core” lots become overflow lots during non-peak hours. Students who are eligible for a “Core” permit are: non-resident students, participants of joint academic programs, and Collegetown Network participants not required to take a class at TU. Additional criteria may be used to determine eligibility at the University’s discretion.
Resident Lots & Permits –
Parking area restricted to individuals in possession of a valid resident parking permit at all times. Individuals who are eligible for a resident permit are: non-freshman resident students, including Department of Housing and Residence Life student staff, and residents of other campus housing managed by outside companies.
Resident permits are lot specific and will be sold on a space available basis and distributed by criteria determined by the University, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Freshman resident students, which are those with less than 30 units, are restricted from having a vehicle on campus or purchasing a permit, unless they meet the criteria for and are granted an exception.
Department of Housing and Residence Life (HRL) Reserved Spaces & Permits – Parking spaces restricted to designated individuals at all times. Individuals eligible to obtain a HRL permit are those who are designated full-time, live-in, HRL staff and any approved household member (if applicable).
Reserved Spaces – Parking space restricted to a designated individual at all times. Individuals who are eligible to park in a reserved space are: University president, vice presidents, deans, athletic director, and others as may be approved in writing by the University president.
Accessible Spaces – Parking space specifically designated for use by individuals who are in possession of a valid, state-issued disability placard or license plate.
TU Vehicle Spaces – Parking spaces restricted to use by any vehicle with state government (SG) license plates or contractors with a TU Vehicle permit. Those vehicles which have TU Vehicles permit can park in TU vehicle spaces, vendor spaces, F/S, commuter, resident and visitor spaces.
Construction Lot & Permits – Parking spaces/lot designated for construction worker permits. Vehicles parked within an approved fenced construction site are not required to have a permit.
Vendor Spaces & Permits – Parking space restricted to use by vehicles with state license plates or vehicles with a vendor permit. Vendor permits are valid in vendor spaces, F/S and commuter spaces. Vendors and service representatives, as defined by Parking & Transportation Services, are eligible for this type of permit.
General Visitor Lot/Space & Permits
General Visitor Lot/Spaces for those individuals who are not affiliated with the campus: Visitors will be required to park in a designated visitor lot or overflow lots where all permits are valid. Visitor spaces may also be used by campus community members provided they are in possession of a valid “Visitor” permit. Visitor permits will also be available for overflow lots. Unless approved by the University, visitor spaces are not designated for a particular department. Parking in a visitor space requires the purchase of a daily visitor permit or to be in the possession of a department guest permit.
Athletic Events: Those attending athletic events may be charged a fee to cover parking and/or associated parking management costs. Parking & Transportation Services, in collaboration with the Athletic Department, will determine the fee amount and fee collection procedure.
Center for the Arts: Individuals attending performing arts programs must purchase a daily guest permit unless the fee is incorporated into the performance ticket price.
Loading/Unloading - Time-Limited Spaces – Parking spaces designated by signs that are for the express purpose of loading/unloading items. These spaces may only be used once, for the designated timeframe, and after such timeframe, the vehicle must be moved to a legal space without time limits. Unless stated otherwise on posted signs, a loading/unloading permit is required while parked in these spaces.
Pick-Up/Drop-Off Spaces - Outreach Programs – Spaces designated for picking up or dropping off participants of a recognized outreach program. These spaces may only be used for a designated period of time and require a permit
Motorcycle Spaces – Motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and like vehicles, whether required to have a license plate or not, must be parked in a designated motorcycle parking area and be in possession of a valid motorcycle parking permit.
Board Member Permits – Board Member permits are valid in all F/S, commuter and visitor lots. Individuals who are eligible to obtain a board member permit are: Board of Regents members, Towson University Alumni Board members, Board of Visitors members, Towson University Foundation members and the current SGA President. (Note: The SGA President will pay the applicable permit rate reflective of student status.
Company Vehicle Permits – Upon approval, companies may obtain TU Vehicle permits for company vehicles requiring increased access around the campus. TU Vehicle permits will not be issued for personal vehicles.
General
Related Policies
USM Policy VI-9.00, Policy on Establishment of Institutional Traffic Regulations
Approval Date: 08/30/2006
Approved by: President's Council
Effective Date: 08/30/2006
Revised: 09/09/2009, 02/10/2021
This online version of the policy may include updated links and names of departments. To request a PDF of the original, signed version of this policy, email the Office of the General Counsel, generalcounsel AT_TOWSON.