Disability access and disabled parking permits
In order to use campus parking spaces designated as disabled accessible, vehicles must display the appropriate parking permits, placards and plates. Please note that, with the exception of Disabled Veteran License Plates, disabled placards or plates do not waive applicable parking fees. Depending on your needs, you may purchase an annual university disabled parking permit, a temporary university disabled permit or a daily disabled parking permit. The permit should be displayed along with the DMV-issued placard or plate. The person who owns the disabled placard must be in the vehicle. Using a disabled placard that is issued to someone else constitutes fraud and is punishable by state law.
Annual University disabled parking permits
Annual disabled 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 the disabled access placard. (This is not necessary if the vehicle has disabled 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 the disabled individual cannot pay the entire permit fee in advance, payment arrangements may be provided.
Temporary University disabled parking permits
Temporarily disabled individuals are eligible to purchase a temporary university disabled permit. The same requirements listed for the annual permit above apply to temporarily disabled individuals; however, the expiration date of the temporary disabled 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:
- Lower level of the Brian Whalen Parking Complex and the E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center
- 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 disabled 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 disabled-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 Disabled Parking Map for locations of disabled-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 disabled parking and exempts their vehicle from Nevada State and local parking fees.
In November 2023, two Purple Heart parking spaces were added on campus. The spaces, one of which is located on the first floor of the Brian Whalen Parking Complex and one located on the fourth floor of the Gateway Parking Complex, are reserved for veterans that 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 disabled-accessible parking spaces please visit ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Nevada laws regarding disabled accessibility are listed under NRS 484B.467.
About disability access
Once a University disabled, temporary disabled or daily parking permit is purchased, it allows the permit owner to park in any disabled space on campus. If you wish to use a disabled space located in a gated area, you may pay a refundable deposit and obtain a transponder from the Parking and Transportation Services Department. Although only one disabled accessible permit is issued, it is valid in any vehicle registered with the Parking and Transportation Services Department. In order to use a disabled parking space, the vehicle must properly display a University of Nevada, Reno disabled permit or daily permit along with the DMV-issued disabled placard or plates. The registered owner of the University disabled permit and DMV-issued disabled 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 disabled parking spaces available on campus. Per the State of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, eligibility for Disabled Veteran and Disabled Female Veteran plates are for those with 100% connected disability. These license plates allow the registered plate holder to use disabled parking and exempts their vehicle from Nevada State and local parking fees.
It is imperative that individuals with disabilities park in disabled parking spaces. If all disabled 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 disabled parking spaces within a given area. Please familiarize yourself with the various disabled spaces on campus.
Campus disabled permits or daily permits are required in the disabled 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 disabled parking areas.
Vehicles may not park in spaces designated as disabled unless they are eligible and displaying a university disabled parking permit or daily permit alongside the appropriate DMV placard. Vehicles parked in a disabled parking space but not displaying the approved disabled placards or permits will receive a $250 fine.
The first time a disabled 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 disabled parking policy. After one warning, a "No Parking Permit" citation will be issued.
If a disabled placard or disabled 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.