ADA access and disabled parking permits
In order to use campus parking spaces designated as ADA-accessible, vehicles must display the appropriate parking permits, placards and plates. Please note that except for Disabled Veteran License Plates, ADA placards or plates do not waive applicable parking fees. Depending on your needs, you may purchase an annual University ADA parking permit, a temporary University ADA permit or a daily ADA parking permit. The permit should be displayed along with the DMV-issued placard or plate. The person who owns the ADA placard must be in the vehicle. Using a ADA placard that is issued to someone else constitutes fraud and is punishable by state law.
Annual University ADA parking permits
Annual ADA accessible parking permits may be purchased at the Parking and Transportation Services office located directly off of 16th Street. The following items and information are needed when purchasing the permit:
- A completed parking permit application (Applications are available in our office.)
- A valid photo ID
- A DMV-issued placard or vehicle registration
- A DMV "Authorization Letter" indicating ownership of an ADA parking access placard. (This is not necessary if the vehicle has ADA license plates.)
Prior to being approved, all applications will be verified through the DMV. Once your information is on file, you will be able to renew future annual parking permits by mail. In the event that an eligible individual cannot pay the entire permit fee in advance, payment arrangements may be provided.
Temporary University ADA parking permits
Temporarily disabled individuals are eligible to purchase a temporary University ADA permit. The same requirements listed for the annual permit above apply to temporarily disabled individuals; however, the expiration date of the temporary ADA parking permit will coincide with the expiration date of the temporary DMV placard.
Parking for visitors with disabilities
Visitors with disabilities may purchase a one-day parking permit at the Parking and Transportation Services office or at parking permit dispensers at the following locations:
- The lower level of the Brian Whalen Parking Complex and the E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center
- The top floor of the West Stadium Parking Complex
- The Silver 10 parking lot just southeast of the Center for Molecular Medicine
- In the meter parking lot east of the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center
- In the meter parking lot east of Lombardi Recreation Center
Daily permits may be used at any designated ADA-accessible parking space throughout the day indicated on the permit. The permit should be displayed on the dash alongside the DMV-issued placard.
There are also ADA-accessible metered spaces located on campus. These spaces do not require a campus parking permit; however, a DMV-issued placard or plate must be displayed and the meter fee must be paid. Please see the ADA Parking Map for locations of ADA-accessible parking meters.
Disabled veterans
Veterans who have a 100 percent service-connected disability may be eligible for a State of Nevada Disabled Veteran License Plates. Those who are interested in obtaining this type of license plate should check with the State of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles to determine eligibility. These license plates allow the registered plate holder to use ADA-accessible parking and exempt their vehicle from Nevada State and local parking fees.
Two Purple Heart parking spaces are available on campus. One is located on the first floor of the Brian Whalen Parking Complex and the other is located on the fourth floor of the Gateway Parking Complex. These spaces are reserved for veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal and have a state-issued Purple Heart license plate. These license plates allow the registered plate holder to use the Purple Heart spaces for free.
Additional information
To view the standards for ADA-accessible parking spaces please visit ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Nevada laws regarding ADA accessibility are listed under NRS 484B.467.
About disability access
Once a University ADA, temporary ADA or daily parking permit is purchased, it allows the permit owner to park in any ADA space on campus. If you wish to use an ADA space located in a gated area, you may request access from the Parking and Transportation Services Department. Although only one ADA-accessible permit is issued, it is valid in any vehicle registered with the Parking and Transportation Services Department. In order to use an ADA parking space, the vehicle must properly display a University of Nevada, Reno ADA permit or daily permit along with the DMV-issued ADA placard or plates. The registered owner of the University ADA permit and DMV-issued ADA placard or plates must also be present.
Vehicles displaying the State of Nevada Disabled Veteran License Plates are exempt from parking fees and may use any of the ADA parking spaces available on campus. Per the State of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, eligibility for Disabled Veteran and Disabled Female Veteran plates is for those with 100% connected disability. These license plates allow the registered plate holder to use ADA parking and exempt their vehicle from Nevada State and local parking fees.
It is imperative that individuals with disabilities park in ADA parking spaces. If all ADA spaces are full, you may park in a regular space. We request that you contact the Parking and Transportation Services Department when this occurs so that we can determine the demand for ADA parking spaces within a given area. Please familiarize yourself with the various ADA spaces on campus.
Campus ADA permits or daily permits are required in the ADA parking areas from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. At all other times, including weekends, DMV placards or plates must be displayed in order to use the ADA parking areas.
Vehicles may not park in spaces designated as ADA unless they are eligible and displaying a university ADA parking permit or daily permit alongside the appropriate DMV placard. Vehicles parked in a ADA parking space but not displaying the approved ADA placards or permits will receive a $250 fine.
The first time an ADA patron is found parked on campus using only the Department of Motor Vehicle license plate or placard, they will receive a warning. In addition, they will receive an informational flyer explaining the University of Nevada, Reno's ADA parking policy. After one warning, a "No Parking Permit" citation will be issued.
If an ADA placard or ADA parking permit is used by anyone other than the registered owner of the placard, a citation in excess of $250 will be issued.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact Parking and Transportation Services at (775) 784-4654.