Disabled Parking

The university provides disabled parking spaces around campus in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Iowa law.

On the UNI campus, disabled persons wishing to use disabled parking stalls must display both the appropriate university parking permit (except R, see below under Maps & Enforcement) and the state disabled identification permit.

This means if you have a valid state-issued disabled placard or plate, and a current UNI parking permit (except R, see below under Maps & Enforcement) you may use a any disabled parking stall on camps, regardless of lot designation. However, overnight parking is not allowed, even in disabled parking stalls, in A, B, G and Gm lots. Overnight parking is allowed in disabled parking stalls in all C Preferred (CP) parking lots.

State law requires either a valid, state-issued, disabled removable windshield placard, or on a vehicle as a plate or sticker to park in a designated handicap stall - Iowa Code Chapter 321L.4.

Notes claiming a disability, or from a medical facility stating eligibility for disabled parking, are not recognized by the State of Iowa or UNI as authorization to park in a designated disabled parking stall.

Maps & Enforcement

The Department of Public Safety enforces disabled parking stalls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

For designated disabled parking areas, you can visit our Parking Maps page to see either our current UNI Parking Map or Google interactive disabled parking areas map.

Parking regulations covering disabled parking, as approved by the Iowa Board of Regents, can be found in our Parking Manual and are as follows:

5. Disabled Parking

5.1 Permanently disabled persons wishing to use the university disabled parking facilities must display the appropriate university parking permit and the state disabled identification permit. Application forms for the state disabled identification permit may be obtained from any County Treasurer's Office. Persons who have short-term disabilities may apply for disabled parking privileges at the UNI Department of Public Safety, 30 Gilchrist Hall. Temporary disabled permits are valid for a maximum of twelve (12) weeks within an academic year.

5.2 R permits may be used with a valid state issued disabled identification permit after 4pm Monday thru Friday.

5.3 Disabled parking areas are reserved solely for the holders of disabled parking permits with the appropriate university parking permit. The disabled parking stalls located within residence halls and UNI Apartments parking areas are enforced twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week. All other disabled areas will be enforced from 7:00 a.m. through 1:00 a.m., seven (7) days a week with no parking from 1:00 a.m. through 7:00 a.m.

Temporary Short Term Disabled Parking

Effective July 15, 2022, the Department of Public Safety and Student Accessibility Services (SAS) implemented new policies concerning temporary, short-term handicap parking:

Any UNI student, faculty, or staff can present official documentation from their doctor seeking a short-term handicap parking permit to the UNI Department of Public Safety/Parking Division.
Documentation should include the physician’s name and contact information of their office, clearly stating the need for handicap parking, and state how long access is needed.
The UNI Department of Public Safety/Parking Division provides short-term parking for up to twelve (12) weeks within an academic year. The appropriate UNI parking permit must also be used with a handicap permit.
All decisions related to short-term handicap parking are provided through UNI Public Safety, specifically the Parking Division.
Individuals who may need access to handicap parking for longer than twelve (12) weeks, are encouraged to follow the processes outlined by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Individuals wanting a state issued handicap parking pass should complete an Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking for Iowa Residents and turn it in to the nearest DOT or County Treasurer's office.
The Department of Public Safety/Parking Division can provide a temporary handicap parking permit to cover an individual until the receipt of a state issued one.