OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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Virtual Permits rely on license plate recognition (LPR) technology, which is a system of cameras and accompanying software placed in Transportation Services’ vehicles to scan license plates.
Your license plate is your permit instead of plastic handtags, paper permits or removable decals. Multiple vehicles can be attached to a permit, as long as only one vehicle is parked on campus at a time.
You spoke - we listened. We are adjusting our business operations to meet the current demands of our campus population, provide better customer service, and move towards more sustainable practices. LPR increases parking efficiency on campus, provides convenience for the parking customer and greatly reduces the amount of paper and plastic waste produced.
Individuals will register their vehicle plate information into the online parking system when purchasing their virtual permits. The LPR software then combines this information with the individual’s payment and generates a virtual permit linked to that vehicle’s license plate number.
When a vehicle parks on campus, the license plate is captured by cameras mounted on enforcement vehicles. LPR works similar to a supermarket scanner with your license plate functioning as the barcode. When read, the numbers of your plate are automatically referenced against the parking database to verify a valid permit and the proper parking privileges for the lot location. If the license plate and vehicle information are not associated with a valid virtual permit or the vehicle is parked in the wrong zone, then the vehicle may be subject to a citation.
The license plate information collected in this process will only be referenced against the campus database for the strict purposes of verifying OSU parking permits on the Corvallis campus. The enforcement rules will not change because of this new technology.
Learn more about the Oregon State University policies and standards on parking.
Virtual permits rely on license plate recognition technology, which is a system of cameras and accompanying software placed in Transportation Services’ vehicles to scan license plates. Keeping your account information up-to-date ensures your parking permissions are recorded accurately.
Failure to update vehicle license plate information may result in a citation. It is also important to request to remove old vehicle listings from your account. If your vehicle has an outstanding citation, documentation may be required showing transfer of ownership to remove the vehicle from your account.
It is imperative that your license plate and vehicle information is current and correct in order to avoid a citation. Please visit your online Transportation Services account to update your information immediately after any change in license plate number for your vehicle has occurred.
If you sell a vehicle or will no longer be driving it to campus, please submit a permanent vehicle change request if you have a replacement vehicle. If you do not have a replacement vehicle, please submit a Request to Remove a Vehicle form. If your vehicle has an outstanding citation, documentation may be required showing transfer of ownership to remove the vehicle from your account.
As long as your plates are legal for driving, our system will be able to read them.
Virtual permit technology can recognize new vehicles without license plates. If you have a new vehicle with a temporary paper license, please type in temporary license plate number when registering your vehicle online.
Do not provide incorrect information, such as "TEMP," "RENTAL" or "NOPLATE," as these are not valid license plates.
Once your DMV-issued license plates have arrived, you will be required to immediately update your information on your online parking account. If your existing vehicle has an outstanding citation, you may be required to provide proof of ownership transfer to remove the vehicle from your account. Failure to add the new vehicle license plate information may result in a citation.
Your information can be viewed and updated via your online parking account. You will be asked to login with your ONID user name and password.
No. Carpool members should list their personal vehicle only on their account. Carpool permits will also be virtual, so make sure all carpool members keep their account information up-to-date.
Temporary changes should be submitted if you are driving a vehicle for a short amount of time. This includes rental cars, loaners, or temporary vehicles. The system will remind you when your temporary vehicle is about to expire.
If you sell a vehicle or will no longer be driving it to campus, please submit a permanent vehicle change request if you have a replacement vehicle. If you do not have a replacement vehicle, please submit a Request to Remove a Vehicle form.
If your existing vehicle has an outstanding citation, you may be required to provide proof of ownership transfer to remove the vehicle from your account.
If you have a replacement vehicle, log in to Update your Plate and select Permanent Vehicle change to switch out the vehicles on your account.
If you need to permanently delete a vehicle and do not have a replacement, please submit a Request to Remove a Vehicle form. Requests to remove a vehicle may take 3-5 business days to be reflected on your online account. If your vehicle has an outstanding citation, documentation may be required showing transfer of ownership to remove the vehicle from your account.
Individuals are allowed to register multiple vehicles under the same virtual permit. The virtual permit technology will recognize the first vehicle on campus as valid, but any additional vehicles found on campus at the same time, under the same virtual permit, will be subject to citation.
Two vehicles listed under the same virtual permit may be on campus at the same time if the second vehicle purchases daily or a monthly parking permit.
Individuals are allowed to add/remove vehicles to their parking permit at any time; this includes loaner vehicles and rental cars. It is important that you remove vehicles from your account as soon as your use of the temporary vehicle has ended.
The virtual technology will recognize the first vehicle on campus as valid, but any additional vehicles under the same virtual permit on campus at the same time will be subject to citation.
Two vehicles listed under the same virtual permit may be on campus at the same time if the second vehicle purchases a daily or monthly parking permit.
All permits are non-transferable and can only be used by the individual who purchased it.
Permits are required 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, year-round, in all commuter zones.
Metered parking is available on campus 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Permits are not valid in meters.
Residential zones, Reserved, Dedicated and Service parking spaces require a parking permit at all times. Contact Transportation Services for more information about these spaces.
OSU Commuter, Annual, Term, Monthly and Daily permits are not valid for OSU Football games.
Location: OSU parking permit options include commuter zones (A1, A2, A3, B1,B2, B3 and C) and residence hall zones (R). Zone Map.
Type: Permit options support a variety of parking types, including general commuter and residence hall parking, motorcycle, ADA parking, carpool and conference or event parking.
Parking Frequency: To meet the varied needs of our campus community, visitors and vendors, permits are sold in the following increments:
Permit prices are based on a zonal parking system, which allows each person to determine the level of convenience and cost savings that best meets their needs.
Pricing ensures distribution of vehicles to ease congestion in high demand areas.
Permit prices are available online: OSU Parking Permit Prices.
Parking permits can be purchased online or in person at Western Building located at 850 SW 35th Street at the intersection of 35th and Western Boulevard (Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.).
See the Visitor page for information on buying short-term parking permits.
OSU supports carpooling. In addition, priority carpool spaces are located around campus, and only people with a carpool permit may park in these spaces.
If a carpool member is unable to carpool on certain days, they may purchase a Daily permit online.
Motorcycles and mopeds need a motorcycle permit to park on campus in any designated motorcycle parking space. Motorcycles are not allowed to park in vehicle parking spaces, and vehicles other than motorcycles are restricted from motorcycle spaces. Motorcycles and mopeds may park in meter spaces if the meter fees are paid.
Short-term parking is available at any metered space or in other short-term visitor parking locations throughout campus.
Vendors may park without a permit for up to 30 minutes in Loading Zones. Vendors whose work requires immediate access to a building can purchase a Service permit. If immediate access is not necessary, vendors can purchase Daily or Monthly permits for a commuter zone, as available. Short-term parking areas for hourly and daily parking exist throughout campus as shown on the parking map.
Oregon State operates a zonal parking system that includes a "park down" feature. This means that you may park in your assigned zone as well as in any commuter zone at a lower price level. There are three different zones at the A price level (A1, A2 and A3) and the B price level (B1, B2, B3) and the C zone. If you purchase an A1 permit, you can park in the A1 lot, as well as any B or C Zone lots. Or, if you purchase a B2 permit, you can park in the B2 lot, as well as any C Zone lot.
Large parking signs identifying the zone are posted at the entrances to each parking area. You may reference the parking map as well.
R Zone permits allow parking in any lot within the R zone, not just one location. Residential parking permits historically have sold out, so we advise that you secure a permit before bringing a vehicle to campus.
| If you purchased this permit: | Valid Locations | Invalid Locations: |
|---|---|---|
| A Daily* | A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C | R, meters, short term, hourly or special use spaces |
| B/C Daily* | B1, B2, B3, C | A1, A2, A3, R, meters, short term, hourly or special use spaces |
| Dixon Rec Hourly | Dixon Rec in the hourly parking spaces | A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C, R, Sackett Hall hourly spaces, meters or specialty spaces |
| Sackett Hourly | Sackett Hourly in the hourly parking spaces | A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C, R, Dixon Rec hourly spaces, meters or specialty spaces |
*Includes Infrequent Driver permits
Motorcycles and mopeds can park in any motorcycle parking space on campus with a valid motorcycle permit. Parking in a regular parking space is not permitted.
Motorcycles and mopeds may park in at a meter if the meter fare is paid.
The Corvallis campus is unable to accommodate vehicles that take up more than one parking space. Vehicles that are unable to park in a single parking space will need to relocate to an area off campus, such as the Benton County Fairgrounds or RV campground.
Overnight parking in an RV or camper is not permitted on the OSU Corvallis campus, per University Standard 07-025. Exceptions to this policy are made for Football Game day parking only.
ADA parking spaces require both an OSU parking permit and a valid DMV placard.
Visitors to campus with a valid ADA placard, may obtain a three-hour guest permit at no charge at Transportation Services in the Western Building.
More information about accessible parking is available on our ADA parking webpage.
If you have any questions about parking on campus, don't hesitate to contact Transportation Services. To avoid citations, make sure that you:
If you have any questions about parking on campus, call Transportation Services.
If you wish to appeal a citation, please carefully review the information on the appeals process, or by contacting Transportation Services at 541-737-2583.
Parking operations and maintenance are self-funded, which means it does not collect funds from tuition, student fees or taxes. We provide a breakdown of annual expenditures and income on our website.
OSU parking permits are not valid in metered spaces. If you choose to park in one of the many metered parking spaces available on campus, you will need to pay the meter between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Transportation Services offers customers the ability to purchase time at meters through Passport Parking, an app/mobile site that allows for online meter payments, notifies the user when time is about to expire and allows the customer to add time from anywhere on campus. Learn more about paying at meters with the Passport Parking app.
Departments may purchase Daily or Monthly permits for their guests through the Transportation Services' website or in-person at the Western Building using an index code. These permits are virtual and rely on the guest to input their license plate.
The driver will be responsible for any citations if the permit is used incorrectly, or if the guest inputs their license plate incorrectly.
Departments expecting 20 or more guests should contact Transportation Services to make special parking arrangements.
The OSU campus is well served by public transit with most routes stopping on campus and at least one bus running through campus on 26th Avenue at least every 30 minutes. Corvallis Transit System (CTS) and OSU continue to look for ways to improve transit service to campus.
The Beaver Bus, OSU's free shuttle system, is available to everyone. Download the Beaver Bus app to track the route in real time.
Red curbs are designated fire lanes. Individuals may park momentarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers, per ORS 811.560(3).
According to the City of Corvallis municipal code, yellow-painted curbs are used to denote no-parking zones. Parking is not permitted in these areas. If you need to load/unload items from your vehicle, consider parking in a Loading Zone.
The Corvallis Fire Department gives special permission to allow temporary loading/unloading in fire lanes during your scheduled move in day. Parking in fire lanes or yellow curbs is not permitted the rest of the year, so please obey all posted signs and painted curbs during your future visits!