Parking System FAQs

General FAQs (SMU Students, Employees and Visitors)

Updated as of August 27, 2025

Q. I am an SMU student or employee. How do I get a virtual parking permit?

A. The University issues virtual parking permits to SMU students, faculty and staff. SMU uses license plate recognition software to validate permits in the system. The is your one-stop shop for all things parking, including ordering virtual parking permits, appealing and paying citations and managing your vehicle information.

Q. When is parking enforced on University-owned property?

A. To park in any lot or parking center, you must have a valid virtual SMU parking permit at all times – including nights, weekends, and any campus events occurring outside regular business hours. Permit parking will be enforced between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters.

Q. When is parking enforced on University-owned property during the summer months? Where can I park during the summer and break periods? 

A. During the summer (May 19 - August 8, 2025), permit parking will be enforced between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Employees with a valid SMU permit may park in the following designated yellow surface resident parking areas: Lots D, G, and V. Parking is available on a first come, first served basis. The parking centers and lettered blue employee parking areas will remain by assignment only. Permit parking will not be enforced when the University is officially closed.

Q. What after hours parking options during the week are available to SMU faculty, staff and students with valid parking permits?

A. While permit parking is enforced from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters, SMU faculty, staff and students with valid parking permits may park in the following employee surface lots after 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends:

• P, Q, R, U2, U3, W3, W4 and W6
• Daniel Parking Center (N)
• Level one of the Meadows Parking Center (F)

 

Q. I have a virtual SMU parking permit. What if there is no space available in my assigned lot or parking center? Where do I park?

A. Overflow parking for SMU faculty, staff and students is available on the East Campus. Employees should park in the W4 lot, and students should park in the W6 lot.

Q. I work on the main campus and have several meetings every week across Central Expressway on the East Campus. Will I be able to drive my car and park on the East Campus?

A. No. Due to the high demand for parking, we can no longer accommodate the flexibility to allow SMU students, faculty and staff to park in multiple locations during normal business hours. Employees may only park in their assigned lot or parking center. Faculty and staff who have become accustomed to driving across campus to attend a meeting or event should use the SMU Express shuttle service or walk.

Q. Where are the accessible parking options for SMU students and employees?

A. Accessible spaces on campus require an SMU parking permit and a state-issued disabled placard or plate or an SMU temporary handicapped accessible parking permit.  Individuals with short-term accessible parking needs should contact their physician for a doctor’s note. The doctor’s note can be emailed to parking@smu.edu or faxed to 214-768-7678 for completion, and the permit can be picked up in the Parking and ID Services office once it is processed.  A short-term temporary accessible permit can be obtained from the Parking and ID Services office for a maximum of six (6) weeks for on-campus use only. Drivers with longer than expected recovery periods should file with the state for the state disabled permit.

Q. I have a mobility impairment. Where can I park?

A. A map of the accessible parking spaces available on the SMU campus is available online.

Q. I like to work out at the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports. How does the new parking system impact my ability to park near that facility?

A. During the fall and spring academic terms, SMU faculty and staff with a virtual parking permit may park in Level One of the Meadows Parking Center after 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, space permitting. During the summer, SMU faculty and staff with a virtual parking permit may park in any available orange commuter or yellow resident parking area.

Q. What are the visitor parking options?

A. Campus visitors should park in designated visitor parking areas only. Visitor parking information is available online.

Q. Can students, faculty, and staff park in designated visitor spaces?

No. Students, faculty, and staff must park in their assigned parking lot or parking center. Violators are subject to ticketing.

Q. Where can retired SMU employees (Emeriti) park on campus?

A. SMU retirees may park in any available commuter (orange) parking lot or center on campus. The updated parking map is online here. Please make note of the designated commuter (orange) levels in the various parking centers as detailed on the parking map.

Q. How are arrangements made for event or guest parking?

A. As is the case today, every effort will be made to accommodate event and guest parking requests, space permitting. SMU employees with event and guest parking requests, including for Bishop Blvd., should submit them using STABLE. 

Q. What is the University policy related to the use of SCUVs (i.e., golf carts) on campus?

A. Many departments across campus are utilizing Sub-Compact Utility Vehicles (SCUVs) to quickly maneuver around campus. Vehicles such as Gators, Metros, Club Cars, Toros, etc. are relatively inexpensive and take much less room to park than conventional vehicles. While the increased convenience may be time-saving, the SCUVs bring a new risk to occupants, pedestrians, and persons with disabilities. In addition, the cost to repair damage to hardscape and turf areas is considerable. Therefore, to reduce risk and unnecessary cost, the following procedures are to be followed.  SCUV’s, unless they are street legal, cannot be used to cross to and from the main campus and East Campus.

SCUV’s should only be parked and stored in designated areas only and NOT be parked in a parking space assigned to students, employees, or visitors, or on sidewalks that are not designated areas. Violators will be subject to ticketing.

Q. If I need to rent a car, or use a different one that’s in the parking system, do I still need to park in my assigned lot?

A. Yes, a driver simply adds the license plate and vehicle description of the rental or loaner vehicle to their current permit by logging in to their and selecting "Permit" and then "View Permits" and double-clicking on the permit and scrolling down to the prompt.

Q. Are there plans for SMU to build additional parking lots or parking centers in the near future?

A. There are no current additional parking lots or centers planned, but SMU will continue to identify and create new parking areas to help meet current and future parking demand when possible.

Q. What is the City of University Park ordinance regarding street parking adjacent to the SMU campus?

A. The City of University Park has established residential-only parking districts throughout the neighborhoods adjacent to the SMU campus. Street parking within established residential parking districts is restricted Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. University Park residents are allowed to park on city streets within the established residential parking districts with a displayed resident parking or guest permit issued by the City of University Park. Do no park on residential streets or at commercial establishments in areas surrounding the SMU campus.

Electric Vehicles

 Q. I am an SMU student or employee and drive an electric vehicle (EV). What EV charging options are currently available on campus?

A. SMU has transitioned the EV charging stations on campus to ParkMobile, our current vendor for paid and metered parking. This means drivers with a valid SMU parking permit will now need to pay to charge their vehicle at the locations, just like they would at home or any commercial charging station. 

Q. Where can I charge my EV on campus, and are there any rules for using these locations?

A. SMU students and employees with valid parking permits may use the EV charging locations on a first come, first serve basis in the lot or parking center in which they are assigned. Currently, ParkMobile charging stations are available in the following locations: Hillcrest (4 stations), Meadows (2 stations), Binkley (1 station), Moody (3 stations), Mustang (2 stations). The cost is $5 per hour (4 hour max). Given the limited number of EV charging stations on campus, we continue to encourage commuters to charge their vehicles at home or use commercial options in the DFW area. 

Resources For Those with Mobilty Impairments

Q. I have a temporary injury that impacts my ability to get around campus. What resources are available for me?

A. You can request a 6 week temporary accessible parking permit (see question above) in order to park in disabled parking in your designated lot. You can also familiarize yourself with the Passio Go app to request a daytime escort across campus, on a limited basis. This is not a guaranteed service, and only offered as a courtesy, when available. During busy times (9a-2p, M-Th), delays or unavailability may occur.

Students who might require assistance with a mobility aid, such as crutches, wheelchair, walker, knee scooter, etc. can pursue renting a device from one of the following vendors, who will also deliver to campus:

The Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS) office also can assist students with temporary injuries who might require a reasonable accommodation to access their building or otherwise participate on campus.

Edit existing question on the site:

Q. I have a mobility impairment. Where can I park?

A. A map of the accessible parking spaces and building access on the SMU campus is available online on the Campus Interactive Map.

B. You may also utilize the daytime escort (golfcart) across campus, when available. Familiarize yourself with the Passio Go app. This is not a guaranteed service and only offered as a courtesy. During busy times (9a-2p, M-Th), delays or unavailability may occur. Students and employees are responsible for acquiring any necessary personal device (e.g., wheelchair, walker) and getting themselves around campus. For accommodation assistance, students should contact Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies and employees and guests should contact Institutional Access & Equity. 

C. Access to gated lots not included in your permit assignment for disabiled spaces will require coordination with SMU Parking and ID Card Services. The Stable "ADA Registration or Temporary Medical" request can be used to register an ADA placard, ADA plate, or request temporary medical access parking. 

Q. How do I register my ADA placard or request temporary medical parking access for parking?

 A. An "ADA Registration or Temporary Medical" access request form is located on the Stable home screen on the lower right under "Services"  

Q. How do I obtain a Texas Disabilty Parking placard or license plate?

A. Information and application forms are available on the Texas DMV website