Parking Procedures
- Permits or parking passes are required for academic school years to park in any parking lot on campus – this includes all visitors. When purchasing a permit, you acknowledge that you have reviewed the parking procedures and regulations. The purchaser is responsible for selecting the correct permit and understanding any applicable restrictions.
- Your license plate is your permit after it is registered and the permit fee is paid. Your license plate information must be 100% accurate, or you may receive a ticket.
- Purchasing a parking permit does not guarantee a parking space, but affords the permit holder an opportunity to park in authorized parking areas when a space is available.
- Vehicle Registration: License plate information is required for all annual permits. Please have this information available when you order your permit online.
- License and Registration: All vehicles operated on the CMU campus must have a valid state license plates and vehicle registration, either from Colorado or from the state of residence of the owner/operator.
- Only one vehicle is allowed on all parking permit types. For multiple car households, contact the Parking Manager 970.248.1922 or 970.248.1931 to allow for more than one vehicle per permit.
- You are responsible for updating your permit with the current plate number (i.e. new car, new license plate, etc). Failure to do so may result in a parking citation.
- Colorado Mesa University assumes no responsibility for the care and protection of any motor vehicle or its contents at any time that the vehicle is operated or parked on Colorado Mesa University property.
- Parking Conduct: Any behavior deemed a physical or verbal threat to any Parking Services staff may result in the immediate revocation/denial of campus parking privileges.
When and where is parking enforced?
Residence Hall, Value and Faculty/Staff lots are enforced from 6 am-6 pm Monday-Friday unless otherwise posted.
Commuter lots, Faculty/Staff lots, Residence Hall Reserved lots and retail lots* are enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends.
Pay-to-Park lots, retail parking, Residence Hall Reserved lots, Reserved lots, loading zones, handicapped parking spaces and fire lanes are enforced year-round, including during university breaks and move-in and move-out periods.
* Retail parking near Lucero Apartments and Suites, True Value, Jimmyz, Subway and Little Caesars is reserved for customers of those businesses.
Parking Regulations
Statement of Authority: These rules shall be in effect from Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027.
1.2 "Employee" means a person who is employed by Colorado Mesa University as a full-time, part-time, temporary employee, or adjunct as defined in the Department of Human Resources policy manual.
1.3 "Contractor" means anyone conducting business under contract of the University and who is not included under the definitions for faculty/staff, student or visitor.
1.4 "Student" means a person who is enrolled to take classes at Colorado Mesa University during any semester of the current fiscal year.
1.5 "Student Employee" means a person who is employed by Colorado Mesa University as an enrolled student, non-enrolled student or work-study student. This person is considered to be a student.
1.6 "Distinguished Visitor" is a permit issued from the Office of the President to visitors.
1.7 "Visitor" a visitor is anyone visiting the university who is not included under the definitions for faculty/staff, student or contractor.
1.8 "Traffic Control Devices" include all permanent or temporary signs, signals, markings, cones, barrels, barricade tape and traffic lights installed by Parking Services for the purpose of regulating, warning, prohibiting, or guiding pedestrian or motor vehicle traffic.
1.9 "Motor Vehicle" all vehicles which are self-propelled by an engine or mechanical device (other than bicycles) that may or may not require a state license, including but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and motor scooters. Does not include trailers, busses, motor homes or limousines.
1.10 "Bicycle" any device propelled by human power upon which a person can ride (including skateboards). It may have one or more wheels.
1.11 "Park/Parking" leaving a motor vehicle, occupied or not, with or without the engine running.
1.12 "Citation (Notice of Violation)" a document issued by a Parking Enforcement Officer for a violation of Colorado Mesa University Parking/Traffic Rules and Regulations.
1.13 "Abandoned Vehicle" a vehicle parked on Colorado Mesa University property for 14 consecutive days and not registered with the Parking Services Office.
2.3 Student motor vehicle registration must be completed by the start of classes each semester and session.
2.4 Employee motor vehicle registration must be completed within three calendar days of their hire date.
2.5 Vehicle registration is complete only when the permit fee has been paid.
2.6 Parking permits expire whenever one of the following occurs:
- The expiration date is reached.
- The eligibility for parking privileges changes.
- Parking privileges are revoked.
2.7 Parking permits may only be used by the person to whom the permit was issued.
2.8 Employees, students, and people residing on campus who wish to register a vehicle must provide the Parking Services Office with their current residential address and must notify the Parking Services Office of any change in their current residential address and contact information, including phone number and email address.
2.9 All outstanding parking violations must be paid before a permit will be issued.
3.1 Registration fees shall be paid according to the following schedule:
- Reserved Parking Permits: $400
- Residence Hall Reserved Parking Permits: $425
- Residence Hall Parking Permits: $320
- Commuter Parking Permits: $215
- Faculty/Staff Parking Permits: $200
- Value Parking Permits: $120
- Motorcycle Parking Permits: $60
3.2 Refund Request:
- All refunds must be requested in person at the Parking Services Office during normal business hours or by email to [email protected].
- Requests for refunds by email must include: Full Legal Name, 700 number, and reason for the refund.
- No refunds will be accepted after eight weeks into the fall or spring semester if purchased in the spring.
- Prorated refunds will be granted at the end of the fall semester for graduating students and non-returning faculty and staff.
- All permit refunds are pro-rated based on the number of weeks left in the semester.
- All refunds are credited to student accounts.
- Credits will be applied to the balance on the recipient's student account. Any credit balance remaining will be mailed to the home address on file.
3.3 The registration of a vehicle on campus does not guarantee a parking space but affords the registrant an opportunity to park in permit-specific parking lots when parking space is available.
4.2 Parking in the interior lots may be difficult. Please plan ahead and allow sufficient time to walk to your desired destination. Possession of a parking permit, other than a Reserved permit, does not guarantee a parking space on campus. Parking for all permit holders is on a first come first serve basis. Lack of available parking is not a valid reason for parking outside of the parking rules and regulations.
4.3 Bike Racks: No bicycle rack shall be left attached to a vehicle if it obstructs the license plate in any CMU parking lot.
4.4a All vehicles must park within a parking space. Parking spaces are marked with white or yellow paint in all paved lots or with bumper blocks in all dirt lots. All vehicles must be parked aligned with the bumper block in all lots that have bumper blocks to be considered parked within the space.
4.4b Vehicles must be parked so that valid license plate or temporary registration is clearly visible from the drive lane immediately adjacent to their parking space.
4.5 Residence Hall Parking Lots: Only available to students living in the Residence Halls. Residence Hall only lots are RH5, RH10, RH14, RH16, RH17, RH20, RH23, RH28. Residence Hall or Value permits are the only types of permits that a student living on campus will be allowed to purchase. Students with a Residence Hall permit or living in on campus a may not purchase day permits. Residence Hall lots are designated yellow. These lots are enforced Monday-Friday, 6 am-6 pm, during the school year.
4.6 Purchasing a Residence Hall parking permit does not guarantee a parking space but affords the permit holder an opportunity to park in any parking lot allowed by the permit if a space is available. All Residence Hall spaces are on a first-come, first-served basis. Residence Hall parking lots are not specific or designated for the closest residence hall or area. If a lot is full, you must check for availability in other Residence Hall lots on campus where your permit allows you to park. Residence Hall Reserved lots and reserved lots are the only lots that are specific to an area or lot. Residence Hall permits are only valid in Residence Hall parking lots. Parking in any other lot after hours or on weekends will result in a parking citation.
4.7 In the event of a mechanical failure of a vehicle, the owner/driver is responsible for its removal within 48 hours. Absolutely no mechanical work of any kind on a vehicle is allowed in any CMU parking lots. Any vehicles being worked on can/will be towed at the owners expense.
4.8 Residence Hall Reserved Parking Lots: Only available to students living in the residence halls paying a premium rate for a parking space. Reserved Lots include RHR2, RHR10, RHR28, RHR29. Residence Hall Reserved lots are designated green. Persons with a reserved permit will be allowed to park in any spot within their designated specific reserved lot (e.g. An RHR2 permit can only park in lot RHR2, an RHR10 permit can only park in RHR10, etc). Parking in any RHR lot without the proper permit will result in a citation. (Students with these permits can also park in any RESIDENT HALL lots.) These lots are enforced seven days a week, year-round, including but not limited to weekends and move-in/move-out.
4.9 Commuter Parking Lots: Available to Faculty/Staff and off-campus students only. Commuter Lots are designated red on the parking map. Commuter only lots are CP1, CP3, CP6, CP8, CP11 (University Center Structure spaces 339-572), CP12, CP13, CP14, CP15, CP16 and CP19. These lots are enforced Monday through Friday, 6 am-6 pm, during the school year. Commuter Lot CP28 is enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the school year. Faculty/Staff Permits are NOT valid in the University Center parking structure.
4.10 Faculty/Staff Parking Lots: Lots can be used by Faculty/Staff permit holders only. Faculty/Staff-only parking is available in FS1, FS2, FS3 and FS4. These lots are enforced 6 am-6 pm Monday-Friday during the academic year, except FS3, which is enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Faculty/Staff lots are designated in purple.
4.11 Value Parking Lots: Only available to Value permit holders. Value-only lots are V2, V3 and V5. Value permits are available to students living on or off campus and to faculty and staff. Value lots are designated in orange. These lots are enforced 6 am-6 pm Monday-Friday during the academic year. This permit is valid only in Value lots.
4.12 Reserved Parking Lots: Only available to Faculty/Staff paying a premium rate for a parking space. Reserved Lot include R7 and R8. Reserved Lots are designated blue. Persons with a reserved permit will be allowed to park in any spot within their designated reserved lot (Ex. Permit R709 can only park in lot R7). This lot is enforced 6 am-6 pm, Monday through Friday, year round.
4.13 Pay-to-Park lots: Pay per hour parking ($2.35 per hour) is available to faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Pay Lots include the University Center Parking Structure (P1) (spaces 311-338), P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6. Pay Lots are designated brown. These lots are enforced 6 am-6 pm, Monday through Friday, year-round, including holidays not observed by CMU. (6 am-4 pm, M-F for P6 only).
4.14 Motorcycle Parking: There are nine motorcycle parking lots:
- East of Lowell Heiny Hall, off 12th Street;
- University Center Parking Structure (CP11), in designated corner spaces marked with motorcycle signage;
- Two designated motorcycle parking areas in Lot CP8, west of Walker Field;
- Lot CP1, in designated corner spaces marked with motorcycle signage;
- North end of RH16, near the Health Sciences Building;
- Southwest corner of RH5;
- West side of CP6.
- Elm Ave by Confluence Hall CP3, and
- South end of CP16.
Motorcycles must have a visible permit and are not allowed in any of the other lots, motorcycles can park in Pay lots but must pay for their space. Motorcycle lots are designated Black and are small and rectangular. Motorcycle Parking Lots are enforced from 6 am-6 pm, Monday through Friday, during the school year.
4.15 Distinguished Visitor Passes: Distinguished Visitor Passes allow visitors to park in any lot except for Reserved Lots. Distinguished Visitor Passes are issued only by the Office of the President.
4.16 Retail Parking: Retail parking located at Lucero Suites on North Avenue and the lots near: True Value, Jimmyz, Subway and Little Caesars at 12th Street between Mesa Avenue and Orchard Avenue is strictly for the customers frequenting those businesses. Do not park in retail spaces or lots. These are designated light blue on the parking map.
5.2 Your license plate is your permit. Vehicles must be parked in a manner in which the license plate can be easily seen by a Parking Enforcement Officer.
5.3 Only one vehicle per permit is permitted on campus.
6.3 Any visitor permit other than the permits issued out of or approved by the Parking Services Office will be invalid and subject to penalties and fines.
7.3 Faculty and staff may only purchase Reserved, Faculty/Staff, or Value parking permits.
7.4 Service Contractors may obtain contractor permits from the Parking Services Office.
8.3 If all handicapped parking spaces are full in an area, a vehicle displaying a handicapped license plate or handicapped placard may park in any available non-reserved parking space in any other lot that you have a valid permit for. (Commuter, Resident Hall, Faculty/Staff)
9.2 For certain events, entire lots or portions of the lots serving certain facilities may be restricted to vehicles with permits for the event.
10.2 Fines are payable to Colorado Mesa University. All payments can only be paid online or at the Student Accounts desk located in Lowell Heiny Hall. Open citations may be viewed at parking.coloradomesa.edu
10.3 Persons who accumulate five or more parking violation notices or more than $100 dollars in unpaid fines will be subject to the following additional penalties:
- A hold will be placed on student registration for classes and academic transcripts.
- CMU vehicle registration will be denied.
- The vehicle may be impounded or fit with a boot.
10.4 Habitual offenders receiving 10 or more parking citations risk having campus parking privileges revoked.
10.5 All citations not paid or not appealed within 10 days will be billed to student or faculty/staff accounts.
10.6 The following constitute parking violations and penalties:
a. Parking on a curb or sidewalk: $30 fine
b. Failure to display permit properly: $30 fine
c. Failure to park within the boundaries of a space: $30 fine
d. Overtime in a pay lot: $30 fine
e. Contractors not permitted on campus: $30 fine
f. Parking in violation of a posted sign: $30 fine
g. Parking without obtaining proper permit: $30 fine
h. Motorcycle or moped in unauthorized area: $30 fine
i. Parking a vehicle in a motorcycle area: $30 fine
j. No parking zone: $30 fine
k. Parking in a service drive: $30 fine
l. Obstructing crosswalk or alley: $30 fine
m. Overtime in a loading zone: $30 fine
n. Unauthorized trailer parked on campus: $30
o. Shared Permit Violation: $30
p. Parking in a reserved lot without proper permit: $75
q. Driving on grass or landscape: $50 fine
r. Driving into a barricaded area: $75 fine
s. Obstructing access to a fire lane: $100 fine
t. Parking in a manner that obstructs traffic: $75 fine
u. Parking in a handicapped space: $150 fine
v. Displaying a permit not issued to vehicle: $75 fine
w. Displaying a permit reported lost or stolen: $75 fine
x. Unauthorized parking in a Retail Space: $50 fine
y. Removing or attempting to remove an immobilization device: $75 fine
z. Boot Fee: $15 fine
11.1 Citations may be appealed to the Parking Appeals Committee within 10 days of the citation issue date. You must submit your appeal online; paper forms and in-person are no longer accepted. Appeals should be submitted online at parking.coloradomesa.edu.
11.2 The Parking Appeals Committee will review the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the citation(s) and provide a decision to the appellant. This decision is considered binding and constitutes the final disposition of the appeal.
11.3 Any person receiving a notice of violation/citation for a parking violation on campus has the right to appeal the citation. All appeals must be received online within 10 days of issuance of the citation. Failure to file an appeal within this time will result in the violator's forfeiture of the privilege of appeal.
11.4 The burden of proof in the appeal lies with the appellant. Denial of an appeal makes the designated fine due and payable within 10 days of the decision.
11.5 The following are not grounds for appeal: (1) lack of available parking, (2) unfamiliarity with College parking rules and regulations, (3) short time in violation areas, (4) failure to observe posted signs, (5) class/instruction ran late, (6) non-receipt of the violation.
12.1 RVs, campers and trailers are not allowed to park on campus without obtaining prior permission from Parking Services.
12.2 RVs, campers and trailers parked on campus without permission are subject to fines and may be towed.
13.1 Motorcycle and Low-Power Scooter parking is restricted to motorcycle parking areas. Parking in automobile spaces is prohibited in all areas except Pay-to-Park Spaces when paying for hourly parking.
13.2 Motorcycles parked on Colorado Mesa University property must be registered with the Parking Services Office by obtaining the proper permit.
13.3 Low-power scooters parked on campus must display a valid State of Colorado Low-Power Scooter Registration sticker.
13.4 Motorcycles, Low-power scooters, mopeds, and gas-motorized bicycles are prohibited from parking at bicycle racks and driving on campus sidewalks.
13.5 Mopeds and Motorized Vehicles on Campus:
Motorized vehicles are prohibited on campus except for in designated parking areas, as defined by the Campus Parking Map. This prohibition applies to the use, on any campus walkway, of motorcycles, mopeds, motorized scooters, motorized bicycles, or any other motorized transportation device.
Electric dirt bikes (or electric MX bike) and Low Power Scooters (mopeds) are NOT allowed on campus, unless they are made street legal and licensed according to the law. If made legal for street use, they are only allowed to be parked in designated motorcycle parking spaces AND the owner must have a valid CMU motorcycle parking permit. Electric dirt bikes (or electric MX bike) and Low Power Scooters (mopeds) are NOT allowed to be ridden on campus sidewalks, walkways, or pedestrian areas and may not be parked at bicycle racks.
14.1 Vehicles will be considered abandoned (does not have a valid permit) when parked on Colorado Mesa University property for 7 consecutive days, and are not registered with the Parking Services Office.
14.2 Vehicles considered abandoned (does not have a valid permit) on Colorado Mesa University property are subject to fines, and will be towed at the owners expense.