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Permit Enforcement
Learn when permits are required and how enforcement works so you can avoid citations on campus.
When are parking permits enforced?
Permits are required at all times. Pay-by-plate parking must be paid for each time you park using Parkmobile. Reserved and ADA spaces are enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Are permits required on weekends?
The CRI Deck requires a permit or payment at all times. Permit holders may park on Level 2 and above. Elsewhere, permits are not enforced on Saturdays and Sundays except during football home games — then all vehicles must have a valid UNC Charlotte permit or game-day permit.
Do I have to purchase a permit to park on campus?
Yes. A permit or visitor parking payment is required whenever the University is open (24 hours, Monday through Friday). PaTS offers several permit and payment options so you can choose what works best for your needs and budget.
Where can I park without a permit?
Visitors without a permit may park in visitor decks or pay-by-plate parking areas.
May I back into a space?
You may only back into a space if your vehicle has both front and rear state-issued plates or you purchase a custom front plate through PaTS.
The front plate option prints your state-issued number on a UNC Charlotte plate readable by license plate recognition (LPR) equipment.
To order a front plate, purchase your permit online first, then email pats@charlotte.edu with the subject line “front plate” and include your vehicle’s license plate number(s). You will be notified by email when payment is available in the MyPark portal. The plate costs $20 and does not need to be renewed unless your rear plate number changes.
Permit Purchasing and Registration
Learn how to buy your permit, explore payment options and manage vehicles on your account.
How do I purchase a parking permit?
- Go to MyPark and log in with your NinerNET Credentials.
- Click the “Buy Permits” icon.
- Select the permit type that is best for you and add your vehicle(s).
- Select a payment option.
Can a first-year student purchase a permit?
Yes. All enrolled students may purchase a parking permit.
What documents do I need to buy a parking permit?
To purchase online, you’ll need:
- Your NinerNet login (username and password)
- The license plate number and vehicle information for the car you plan to park on campus (must be accurate)
- Debit or credit card information
To purchase in person, bring:
- Your UNC Charlotte 49er ID
- Your vehicle registration card
- Proof of insurance (if your vehicle is registered in a state other than North Carolina)
What if I have to wait on a financial aid refund before I can buy a permit?
If you can’t purchase a permit before enforcement begins, you may set up your MyPark account and buy temporary single-day permits for $8 per day. When you’re ready, you can return to MyPark to complete your purchase of an annual or semester permit.
Can I register more than one vehicle on my account?
Yes. Faculty and staff may register up to three vehicles; students may register up to two. Only one vehicle per account may be parked on campus at a time (unless parked in a visitor area). All vehicles must comply with Parking Ordinance Section 2-1.
May I add my roommate’s vehicle to my virtual permit account?
No. You may only register a vehicle owned by yourself, your spouse, parent or guardian, or one assigned to you by your employer (proof of employment required).
What should I do if I temporarily need to drive another car to campus?
You can temporarily link your permit to another vehicle, such as a rental car, in two ways:
- Call the PaTS Communication Center (704-687-0161) to add the vehicle.
- Add the temporary vehicle yourself through your MyPark account, if:
- You haven’t reached the maximum number of vehicles allowed on your account
- The temporary vehicle is associated with you, as stated in Section 2-1 (5) of the UNC Charlotte Parking Ordinance
- The vehicle is not already linked to another student account
Don’t forget to remove the temporary vehicle from your account when you’re done driving it. Otherwise, any future citations tied to that license plate may still be linked to your account.
Are there special permits for carpools?
Yes. Each carpool uses a single virtual permit with multiple vehicles registered, and every vehicle must be listed with PaTS. To learn more, stop by the PaTS Office or call 704-687-0161. Looking for carpool partners? ShareTheRideNC.org offers free matching services.
Credit Card on File
Learn how to update your credit card details and understand what happens if your Credit Card on File (CCoF) payment fails or is canceled.
How do I update my credit card on file for scheduled payments?
Saved credit cards may be updated in MyPark, but must be changed prior to a scheduled payment.
- Log in to MyPark with your NinerNET credentials.
- Click on My Wallet from the menu on the left of the screen.
- Select Replace to the right of the listed card information.
- Add the new card information as prompted and confirm. You may only have one card saved to your wallet at a time.
- Contact the PaTS office to complete the card switch in the system.
What happens if an automatic payment fails?
Payment is due the first of every month until the permit is fully paid. If the automated payment fails, then the permit holder has four days to resolve the issue by updating the card information. If not resolved, the permit will deactivate.
If your permit is deactivated due to failed payment it cannot be reactivated. You will be required to log into MyPark and complete a new permit purchase for access to permitted parking on campus.
Will I receive a refund for my permit if I cancel the CCoF payment plan?
Unfortunately, there will be no refunds on completed payments for payment plans. If you have any further questions, please call the PaTS Communication Center at (704) 687-0161). Your permit will be deactivated as soon as you cancel your plan.
Citations
Got a citation? Learn how to pay, appeal and understand how citation funds are used on campus.
Where do I go to pay my citation?
Citations for parking violations are sent to your charlotte.edu email account. You can pay a citation online, by mail or in person at the PaTS Office.
If paying a citation at the PaTS office, please have the vehicle’s license plate number or the citation number. Failure to provide this information may delay the processing of the payment.
Can I appeal a UNC Charlotte parking citation if I don’t agree with it?
Yes. Appeals must be filed within 10 business days through your MyPark account or in person at the PaTS Office. All appeals are reviewed, and decisions are emailed to you. Keep in mind that some appeals are rarely granted.
What are examples of valid and invalid reasons to appeal?
The following are valid reasons to appeal:
- The vehicle was not in violation of University parking regulations at the time of the citation.
- An extenuating circumstance beyond the operator’s control placed the vehicle in violation.
The following are NOT valid reasons to appeal:
- Lack of knowledge of parking regulations
- Overtime parking at meters, including parking at a malfunctioning meter
- Hazard lights are on
- Failure to notify Parking Services when a vehicle is inoperable
- Your vehicle was loaned/driven by someone else
- Forgetting to display a valid parking permit
- Inability to find a legally-marked parking space
- Parking in a reserved space without the proper permit
- Failure to obtain a temporary permit or loading permit
- Dropping off homework assignment or seeing the instructor
- Did not purchase the permit in time
- Held up late from an appointment or class
Why am I responsible if I wasn’t driving my car at the time of the citation?
Citations are the responsibility of the permit holder, no matter who was driving when the violation occurred.
What if I need to unload something near a building or residence hall?
For short-term loading or unloading, call the PaTS Communication Center at 704-687-0161 to request permission and provide your vehicle information and location. You may be given up to 15 minutes and must have a licensed driver remain with the vehicle. Be sure to request and receive permission before leaving your car.
What happens if I don’t pay my citation?
If you accumulate four or more citations, a combined total of seven unpaid deck vouchers and citations, or $250 or more in unpaid fees, PaTS may boot or tow your vehicle. Parking privileges will be revoked, and your vehicle will remain on the Tow List until your account is cleared.
How are citation proceeds used?
According to North Carolina law, the University is only allowed to retain 20% of the money collected from parking citations. The remaining 80% must be remitted to the state to support local public schools (elementary, middle and high schools).
The 20% that UNC Charlotte keeps is earmarked to cover operating costs for citation collections. Unfortunately, the cost of the enforcement and collections program significantly exceeds this amount.
License Plate Recognition Technology
Learn how LPR makes parking faster and easier – and what to do if your plate can’t be read.
What is License Plate Recognition (LPR)?
With LPR, your license plate is your permit. When you purchase a permit, your license plate information is linked to your account and your 49er ID.
Cameras at decks and lots scan plates as vehicles enter. If there’s a gate, the system signals it to lift. In ungated lots, vehicles without a valid permit are flagged for enforcement
Can I back into a parking space?
Generally, no — LPR cameras need a clear view of your license plate from the drive lane. If your state issues both front and rear plates, or if you purchase a custom front plate from PaTS ($20), you may back in. All plates must be properly mounted in the vehicle manufacturer’s designated location.
To order a front plate, first purchase your permit online, then email pats@charlotte.edu with the subject “front plate” and include your vehicle’s license plate number(s). You’ll receive an email when payment is available in MyPark.
What if the LPR system can’t read my plate?
If a plate can’t be read, your 49er ID serves as a backup credential. At gated decks, tap and hold your 49er ID at the equipment column until you hear a beep to raise the gate.
Plates that may be harder for cameras to read include:
- Plates with red characters
- Temporary paper plates
- Damaged, dirty, crooked or obstructed plates
- Specialty plates with images or stacked characters
- Plates on motorcycles, mopeds or unusually high vehicles
In these cases, always keep your 49er ID handy for quick entry.