Avoid tickets and towing: Know SC State’s parking regulations

Author: Sam Watson, Executive Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing|Published: August 21, 2026|All News

Students who park on the South Carolina State University campus are reminded to follow all parking regulations.

Campus construction has reduced available parking, making it especially important that vehicles are parked only in areas designated for student use.

Vehicles parked in unauthorized areas may be ticketed and/or towed.

Parking decals

All students who intend to park on campus must have a current parking decal.

Students may be ticketed for:

• Failing to display a current parking decal.
• Parking in an area not designated for student parking.

A parking decal does not guarantee a parking space. Each student operating a vehicle is responsible for finding a space designated for student use. Lack of available parking is not a valid reason for violating parking regulations.

Where students cannot park

Students are not permitted to park in:

• In and around construction zones
• Administration/Lowman Parking Lot.
• Belcher Hall Parking Lot.
• Nance Hall Parking Lot.
• Leroy Davis.
• Turner Hall D Wing.
• Crawford-Zimmerman Lot.
• Brooks Health Center Parking Lot.
• Brooks Health Center white-line spaces, except when visiting Brooks Health Center or the Counseling & Self-Development Center. These spaces are not for students attending class.
• The front of Hugine Suites along the yellow curb on the State Room and Hugine Office side.
• Geathers Street on the Student Center side.
• Geathers Street on the Hodge Hall and ECS building side.
• Handicap spaces without proper authorization.
• Red numbered reserved spaces, even if the paint is faded.
• Red unnumbered reserved spaces, even if the paint is faded.
• Areas blocking trash dumpsters.
• Curbs marked with yellow lines.
• Fire lanes.
• Visitor spaces. Student vehicles parked in visitor spaces will be ticketed regardless of whether they have a student parking decal.

Where students can park

Students may park in the following areas:

• Gravel area behind Earle Hall next to the Den.
• SHM white-line spaces.
• Williams Hall white-line spaces, if available.
• Grass area behind Poplar Hall.
• Parking spaces past the Planetarium.
• Grass area beside the Crawford-Zimmerman building near the fence.
• Behind Belcher Hall on Russell Street with a current decal.

Updates will be posted at www.scsu.edu/public_safety/parking.php

Home football game day parking

A current parking decal is required to enter campus on home football game days.

Beginning after midnight Friday before a home football game, vehicles may not be parked in the following areas:

• Geathers Street.
• Nix Hall.
• SHM parking.
• Softball Field.
• Behind Truth Hall.
• Small lot at the library.

Vehicles left in these areas after midnight Friday before a home game or on game day will be ticketed and towed.

Avoid parking violations

The following are not valid reasons for having a parking ticket voided:

• Lack of knowledge of parking regulations.
• Failure to obtain a current parking decal.
• Failure to obtain a temporary parking permit.
• Lack of available parking.
• Parking illegally for only a short period.
• Other vehicles being parked improperly.
• Another improperly parked vehicle not receiving a ticket.
• Not having received a ticket previously for a similar violation.
• Believing a parking officer specifically targeted your vehicle.
• Not being personally informed that parking was prohibited in a particular area or space.
• Parking in reserved or nonreserved spaces because markings are faded.
• Failure to comply with a notice to remove vehicles.
• Failure to notice parking signs or markings.
• Being late for class or an appointment.
• A parking lot being full.
• Having the wrong decal for the space being used.
• Disagreement with the amount of a fine.
• Inability to pay the fine.

Students are responsible for knowing and following campus parking regulations. Please park only in areas designated for student use to avoid being ticketed or towed.

Contact information SC State Department of Public Safety 803-536-7188 803-378-4754 SC State Parking and Vehicle Registration Office P.O. Box 7516 Orangeburg, SC 29117 Phone: 803-536-8685 Fax: 803-536-7163