Students

Eligible students who would like on-campus parking must apply for parking each semester.

Eligibility to apply does not guarantee that you will be assigned a permit. Because of the fluctuating demand from semester to semester, no student is guaranteed the right to purchase a parking permit.

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

  • Students who live on campus and have fewer than 60 cumulative credit hours on file with the Office of the Registrar are not allowed to park on campus.
  • Students living on campus must have 60 or more cumulative credit hours earned and on file with the Office of the Registrar at the time that assignments are made to be eligible to apply for College parking.
  • Commuting students (students not living on campus), regardless of credit hours earned, are eligible to apply for College parking.
  • Eligible resident students living at a qualifying campus residential address (an even-numbered, CofC-assigned Bull Street house) may request on-street residential parking (CR).

Eligible students are assigned parking based on seniority (cumulative hours on file with the Registrar’s Office at the time assignments are made). In the event of identical credit hours earned, applications received first will have priority.

When can I apply for a permit?

Here are some general dates and deadlines for the permit process. Current students will get an email from Campus Services with specific dates and instructions for each upcoming semester. Please add our email, campusservices@cofc.edu, to your safe sender list.
  • Fall Semester

    Mid- to Late April: Current students get an email with application information for fall semester parking

    Early June: Deadline to apply for student parking for the fall semester

    Early to Mid-July: Fall semester parking assignments are emailed to students who applied by the deadline

    Early to Mid-August: Deadline to pay for fall semester assignment; fall parking permits mailed to students who have paid for their assignment; First Come, First Served sale begins

    First Day of Fall Classes: Fall parking permits become valid

  • Spring Semester

    Mid- to Late September: Current students get an email with application information for spring semester parking

    Late October: Deadline to apply for student parking for the spring semester

    Early to Mid-November: Spring semester parking assignments are emailed to students who applied by the deadline

    Late November: Deadline to pay for spring semester assignment

    December: Spring parking permits mailed to students who have paid for their assignment; First Come, First Served sale begins

    First Day of Spring Classes: Spring parking permits become valid

  • First Come, First Served Sale

    Newly enrolled, eligible students (see bulleted list below) can purchase permits during the First Come, First Served Sale. This sale generally takes place shortly before the upcoming semester begins. Watch your email for information in August (fall) or December (spring) if you are in one of the following groups:

    • transfer students
    • new graduate students
    • residential students who have 60 credit hours on file at that time
    • incoming, first-year students who will not live on campus

    This is an online-only sale.

How do I apply for a parking permit?

The most important thing you can do is follow the instructions and deadlines you’ll receive in an email from Campus Services about the parking application. Eligible students who wish to park on campus must apply for a permit each semester.
  • Instructions

    Eligible students can follow these steps to apply for parking during the application window each semester. If Get Permits is not an option (see Step 4), then we are not accepting online applications at that time. Please refer to the dates below and in your email.

    1. Log into MyPortal using your standard login. 
    2. Click on the “Parking & Transportation” tile. (Look for a large P.)
    3. A new window will open, titled “Customer Authentication.” Reenter your MyPortal login info. 
    4. Select Get Permits on the bottom right of the screen.
    5. Select four lots or garages in order of preference. You MUST select four unique locations. Enter and select the information for the vehicle(s) that will be associated with your permit. Click “Save” at the bottom of the page. If you are not taken to a screen called “Receipt for Your Permit Application,” then you have not filled out the selections properly and your application will not process.
    6. Look for a confirmation email to your College of Charleston address. If you do not get one within two hours of submitting your application, contact campusservices@cofc.edu or call 843.953.1100. 
  • Spring 2025 Dates

    September 18, 2024: Spring 2025 parking application opens for returning, currently enrolled students

    October 21, 2024: Deadline to apply for parking

    November 2024: Spring 2025 parking assignments will be emailed to returning students who applied prior to the application deadline. If you are a returning student who applied for a permit and received a confirmation email and don't receive your assignment email, please email Campus Services HQ at campusservices@cofc.edu immediately.

    November 2024: The permit payment deadline will be provided in our November assignment email.

  • Spring 2025 First Come, First Served Permit Sale

    December 10, 2024: First Come, First Served permit sale begins online

    This date is subject to change.

    All enrolled students will be sent an email from Campus Services in December with detailed information. 

  • Fall 2025 Dates

    Fall 2025 dates will be emailed to all currently enrolled students in mid- to Late April.

  • Fall 2025 First Come, First Served Permit Sale

    All enrolled students will be sent an email from Campus Services in early August 2025 with detailed information about this sale. Please review it carefully.

    August 2025 (subject to change): First Come, First Served permit sale begins online for:

    • transfer students
    • new graduate students
    • residential students who have 60 credit hours on file at that time
    • entering first-year students who will not live on campus

Alternatives to Parking on Campus

Between limited parking availability downtown and the option to ride CARTA for free, we encourage students to leave their cars at home.
  • CARTA

    Commuting students without a parking permit should take advantage of the CARTA Express routes. CARTA Express is free to students; just show your Cougar Card to the driver upon boarding the bus. CARTA Express routes currently include:

    • James Island and North Charleston
    • Mount Pleasant and West Ashley
    • Dorchester Road and Summerville

    Resident students are also encouraged to take advantage of CARTA bus services. All students can ride regular CARTA routes and the Airport Express route for free simply by showing their Cougar Card to the driver upon boarding the bus. For more information about CARTA routes, visit the CARTA Maps and Schedules website.

  • Off-Campus Parking

    We encourage all students to leave their cars at home. If that’s not an option and you are ineligible for parking or did not otherwise get a student parking permit, please refer to this listing of Alternative Parking spaces leased to students. These are not affiliated with the College of Charleston.

Accessible Parking

Students who require accessible parking should complete an accessible parking permit application each semester in Campus Services HQ at 162 Calhoun St. Please see the section regarding Accessible Parking for more information.

Available Parking and Fees - Spring 2025

Eligible students may apply for parking in the following lots and garages. (Availability is subject to change.)
  • Core Parking

    Surface Lot Parking: $550 per semester

    • G - Rutledge-Rivers Residence Hall (12 spaces)
    • H - 13 Coming Street (18 spaces)
    • P - 97-107 Wentworth Street (29 spaces)
    • PL - 99 St. Philip Street (48 spaces)
    • V - 61 Vanderhorst Street (32 spaces)
    • W - 298-300 Meeting Street (6 spaces)
    • WP - Warren Place (116 spaces)
    • YW - 106 Coming Street (60 spaces)
    • 411 Meeting Street - (40 spaces)
  • Motorcycle/Moped Parking

    $200 per semester

    • Designated spaces in: PP lot (MP), the north side of Berry Residence Hall next to McAlister (MM), in the AD Lot near the Addlestone Library (MA), and next to the Treasurer's Office on Calhoun Street (MW).
    • Motorcycle permits are valid only in designated motorcycle spaces.
  • Perimeter Parking

    Perimeter Garage Parking: $500 per semester plus $20 refundable card deposit, on CARTA DASH route

    • AG - Aquarium Garage at Washington and Calhoun Streets (300 spaces) FOURTH FLOOR AND ABOVE ONLY

    Perimeter Lot Parking: $300 per semester

    • Valid in the LK Lot ONLY, which is located at 176 Lockwood Blvd. (between the Marriott and the Charleston Police Department)
    • This permit is not valid in any other location at any other time.
    • LK Lot is located several blocks from campus. The CARTA DASH route #213 services this area, but students will need to allow 20-30 minutes to get to campus from Lockwood.
    • Not valid on motorcycles/mopeds
  • City Residential Parking

    $10 per semester

    • CR - On-Street City Residential Parking (ELIGIBLE RESIDENT STUDENTS ONLY)
  • Student Handicap Accessible Parking

    $300 per semester

    Read more about accessible parking permits.

  • Student Evening Permit

    $200 per semester

    • Valid in any STUDENT surface lot after 3:00 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends.
    • Not valid on motorcycles.
    • Resident students are not eligible to purchase an Evening permit.

Available Parking and Fees - Maymester and Summer Sessions 2024

Taking summer classes? Here’s what you need to know about purchasing a summer parking permit.
  • How to apply for summer parking

    • There is not an application period in advance of the summer terms. All 2024 summer permits will be sold at Campus Services HQ beginning Monday, May 6, at 8:30 a.m. We do not sell out of summer permits, and we rarely sell out of any particular lot or garage over the summer. If you do not need your summer permit starting May 13 (the effective date for summer 2024 permits), you may purchase one any time after May 6. Please do not worry that we will be sold out of spaces in the core of campus if you wait.
    • You will need to bring your vehicle registration with you to Campus Services HQ to get a summer permit.
    • Summer permits will be valid beginning on the first day of Maymester, which is May 13, 2024. Summer permits expire on the last day of Summer II exams, which is August 6, 2024.
    • Unlike the spring and fall semesters, there is no minimum number of earned credit hours required to be eligible to purchase a summer permit.
    • The cost for a summer permit covers all three summer terms: Maymester, Summer I and Summer II. If you do not need a permit for all three terms, you can request a refund or will be charged a pro-rated price:
      • If you purchase the permit in advance of Maymester or Summer I and return it prior to the Summer II term, you will be eligible for a pro-rated refund. To get the refund, you must peel the permit off of your vehicle and bring it with you to Campus Services HQ. Refund checks are issued by the Controller’s Office and usually take 2-3 weeks to process.
      • If you purchase the permit for one or both of the summer terms after the conclusion of the Maymester term, you will be charged a pro-rated price.
    • For the exact locations of the lots and garages listed below, please review the parking map.

  • Available Summer Parking

    Core Surface Parking: $300 for all three summer terms

    • Available lots: G, H, P, W, WP
    Core Garage Parking: $300 for all three summer terms
    • PG
    Perimeter Garage Parking: $250 for all three summer terms, plus $20 refundable card deposit
    • AG - Aquarium Garage at Washington and Calhoun Streets (200 spaces) FOURTH FLOOR AND ABOVE ONLY
    Motorcycle/Moped Parking: $100 for all three summer terms
    • Designated spaces in: PP lot (MP), the north side of Berry Residence Hall next to McAlister (MM: not available summer 2023), in the AD Lot near the Addlestone Library (MA), and next to the Treasurer's Office on Calhoun Street (MW).
    • Motorcycle permits are valid only in designated motorcycle spaces.

    Handicap Accessible Parking: $125 for all three summer terms

    Evening Permit - PG Garage: $200 for all three summer terms

    • Valid in PG Garage ONLY after 2:50 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends.
    • This permit is not valid in any other location.
    • Resident students are not eligible to purchase a PG Evening permit.
    • Not valid on motorcycles/mopeds
    Evening Permit - Surface Lot: $150 for all three summer terms
    • Valid in any STUDENT surface lot after 3:00 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends.
    • Not valid on motorcycles.
    • Resident students are not eligible to purchase an Evening permit.

    Perimeter Surface Lot: $100 for all three summer terms

    • Valid in the LK Lot ONLY, which is located at 176 Lockwood Blvd. (between the Marriott and the Charleston Police Department).
    • This permit is not valid in any other location at any other time.
    • LK Lot is located several blocks from campus. The CARTA DASH route #213 services this area, but students will need to allow 20-30 minutes to get to campus from Lockwood.
    • Not valid on motorcycles/mopeds