Parking at Drake University is managed by Campus Public Safety to support safe, accessible, and well‑organized transportation across campus. Whether you’re a student, employee, or visitor, clear parking information helps you navigate campus with confidence.
Find details on parking registration, short-term/daily parking, campus parking maps, rules and regulations, parking FAQs, and snow routes/ordinances to help you plan where and how to park.
Drake has three types of parking lots, designated by signage:
- Commuter Lots: Open seven days a week, 6 to 2 a.m.
- Residential Lots: Open 24/7
- Visitor Lots: Open seven days a week, 6 am - 2 am
Parking Maps
Use the interactive campus parking maps to explore parking locations, navigate campus, and find the best place to park before you arrive.
Parking Registration
Log in to your Drake account and follow the on‑screen steps to complete your parking registration. The online portal for fall permits opens July 1, 2026.
Please note that parking passes are not fully refundable after the add/drop period of the fall or spring semester, and lost permits are not replaced at no cost. You’ll receive instructions by email on when and where to pick up your permit.
Parking Permit Types
Current Parking Permit Rates are listed in the registration portal.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Commuter Permit |
Those who commute to campus, including students, may purchase a commuter permit for a particular zone, based on their parking and price preferences. High demand lots cost more, while low demand peripheral lots cost less. Commuter parking permits are limited to lots within the selected zone. **A commuter parking permit guarantees you a spot in a commuter lot, but not necessarily one next to your specific academic building. |
| Resident Students |
Valid 24 hours a day in all resident / overnight lots. **A residential parking permit guarantees you a spot in a residential lot, but not necessarily one next to your specific residence hall. |
| Evening Permits | Valid from 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. and all day on weekends in any commuter lot. |
| Visitor/Temporary Permits |
It is the responsibility of students, faculty and staff to ensure their visitors and guests obtain temporary parking permits either prior to their arrival through the campus Eventbrite site or by paying via the ParkDsm App for the visitor parking lot located at 25th and Carpenter (Lot 1A) or University and 29th street (Lot 20).
|
| Accessible and Medical Parking Permits | Faculty, staff and student vehicles that possess state-issued accessible license plates or permits must still possess a valid Drake University parking permit to park on Drake property. |
Parking Rules & Regulations
Parking regulations are in effect throughout the year (all 365 days), including breaks in the academic calendar.
- Vehicles may only be parking in clearly designated legal parking spaces.
- Areas posted with signs restricting parking (accessible, service vehicles, loading zones, fire lanes, etc.) must be observed and complied with.
- Parking in any travel lane, taking more than one parking space, blocking another vehicle, or parking on the lawn are all prohibited.
- It is neither possible nor desirable to post all areas on campus where vehicles may not park. Specifically, vehicles are prohibited from all lawns, except when specifically authorized.
- Driving or parking on any sidewalks or pedestrian ways is strictly prohibited.
- Commuter lots are designated by signage and are available seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.
For Faculty & Staff
All employees who wish to park on campus must register their vehicles with the Department of Public Safety. Upon completion of a vehicle registration, employees receive a commuter permit. Employee permits are valid in their designated zones Monday - Friday from 6 am - to 4:30 pm and in any commuter lot from 4:30 pm until 2 am weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. The valid permit must be properly displayed from the rear view mirror facing outward. Vehicles not properly displaying a valid permit are considered unregistered and are subject to ticketing and/or towing.
Parking illegally because the lot is full, other vehicles are parked illegally, or because the staff member may be late are not valid excuses. Overnight parking for faculty and staff is not available except for Residence Life live-in staff. If faculty or staff are traveling on official University business, they may receive a travel permit from the Public Safety Department allowing them to park their car overnight in Lot 4 or 29.
For Students
All students wishing to park on campus must register their vehicles with the Department of Public Safety. Upon completion of a parking registration:
- Commuter students are eligible to receive a commuter permit
- On-campus resident students are eligible to receive a resident permit
Eligible students may choose to purchase annual, spring semester, or summer permits. The permit must be properly displayed from the rear view mirror facing outward. Vehicles not properly displaying a valid permit are considered unregistered and are subject to ticketing and/or towing.
Parking Violations, Fines, and Appeals
Standard parking fines are $25 with the exception of Fire Lanes which are $50 and Accessible Spaces which are $100. There is an automatic minimum charge of $100 if a vehicle is towed or booted. Parking tickets may be appealed within 14 days of receipt (date of the ticket).
| Violation | Description |
|---|---|
| Parked on a sidewalk | Vehicles parked on sidewalks are strictly prohibited. Vehicles in violation may be towed at the owners’ expense. (See towing below). |
| Accessible space | Only vehicles that display a valid state-issued accessible license plate or permit and has a valid Drake parking permit may park in an accessible space. Vehicles in violation may be towed at the owner’s expense. (See towing below). |
| Fire Hydrant | Vehicles may not park within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Vehicles in violation may be towed at the owners’ expense. (See towing below). |
| Fire Lane, Roadway, or Tow Zone | Vehicles may not park in any designated fire lanes, travel lane or tow away zone. Vehicles in violation may be towed at the owners’ expense. (See towing below). |
| Restricted Space | Vehicles may not park in a reserved space between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday (unless the space is marked reserved 24 hours). |
| Vehicles parked on the grass | Except for specifically approved events, vehicles may not park in the grass. |
| Unregistered vehicle or invlaid parking permit | All vehicles on campus must be registered with the Department of Public Safety. Vehicles parked on campus that are not registered with the Department of Public Safety and do not possess a valid parking permit may be towed at the owners’ expense. (See towing below). |
| Illegal parking space | Vehicles may only be parked in clearly designated legal parking spaces. These violations include but are not limited to, parking in a travel lane, blocking another vehicle, taking more than one parking space. |
| Loading zone | Loading zones allowing access to buildings must be kept clear of vehicles, particularly at the bookstore, mail center and at all dining halls. |
| Warnings | Vehicles may only be parked in clearly designated legal parking spaces with a valid parking permit. |
Tickets issued by the Department of Public Safety can be paid in the Student Services Center with debit card, credit card, or Bulldog Bucks. If possible, bring the ticket or your license plate number to the office to properly record payment. You can also send checks to:
Student Services Center
Johansen Student Center, First Floor
2803 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
Invoices for citation payments are emailed whenever possible. If you didn't receive an emailed invoice for your citation, you can reach out to us (providing us with your license plate number to look up your citation) at studentservices@drake.edu.
Failure to pay a fine within 30 days from the date the ticket is issued will result in an additional late fine of $15. After 30 days, unpaid fines will be treated as any other past due obligation to the University and may result in withholding of transcripts and denial of permission to subsequently register for any classes.
Ticket Appeals
The following are situations that are typically not accepted as valid extenuating circumstances for parking in violation of Drake University parking regulations:
Public Safety Officers will issue a parking ticket to any vehicle parked in violation of regulations. An appeal that states the vehicle was only parked for two minutes, five minutes, etc. is not considered valid. A parking restriction holds for parking for any period of time.
It typically requires a few minutes to locate a parking space within the campus’ extensive parking system. It is suggested that faculty ans staff members plan their schedules to allow sufficient time to find and park in a legal space.
Parking regulations are in effect throughout the entire calendar year (all 365 days), including breaks in the academic calendar.
Any vehicle that does not receive prior authorization from the Department of Public Safety Office and displays a permit is in violation of parking regulations. Approval cannot be granted after the fact for loading / unloading.
- It is the driver’s responsibility to note and comply with all posted signage, notices, and line markings.
- It is well publicized that faculty, staff and students are responsible for obtaining a valid parking permit for their guests and should ensure that their guest parks legally.
All vehicles must be registered with the Department of Public Safety. No matter how short a period you might have the vehicle on campus or if you are waiting for new plates, your driver’s license or vehicle registration, etc., a temporary parking permit can be issued. Vehicles not properly displaying a valid permit are considered unregistered.
Faculty, Staff, Students, and/or Guests who experience a vehicle malfunction should contact the Department of Public Safety office for assistance. Public Safety can assist with on-campus vehicle jump-starts and unlocks, or will assist with contacting a service garage for you.
Four-way flashers/hazards are designated to warn other motorists that your vehicle may be a hazard. Use of four-way flashers does not allow you to park illegally for any period of time.
If you would still like to appeal your ticket, you can do so by using this form.