College Student Motor Vehicle Parking and Regulations

All student motor vehicles, including students living in non-Sewanee owned housing (off-campus apartments), are required to be registered each academic year with the University. Applications for permits must be submitted online. Preference in lot assignments are given to those who apply early and by class year seniority, maximum one vehicle per student.

First year students will receive a lot assignment on the periphery of campus. Sewanee is a small, residential University and we pride ourselves on our tight knit community, the Passing Hello, community wellness, and our commitment to environmental sustainability. All these are benefitted by a community who primarily moves through campus by foot instead of vehicle. Vehicles are intended for use in facilitating off-campus travel.

Regulations/Registration

This policy shall be in effect on the first day of college classes Advent term up to the first day of winter break, and from the first day of college classes Easter term through College Commencement, including midterm breaks and spring break (except for the sections regarding moving violations and parking in restricted areas, which apply all year). The full general policy, including college student policy, can be found here. 

  • While attending Sewanee, students are not permitted to drive or possess motor vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other such licensable motor vehicles) within the campus and village of Sewanee except as outlined in the policy. Those students who do not register their vehicles or who incur five (5) or more violations in a semester will be asked to remove their motor vehicles from Sewanee.

  • Applications for student permits are required, and are to be submitted via the online Student Vehicle Registration Application. Students will be issued a parking permit which must be picked up and affixed to the rear bumper of the vehicle on or before the date specified on the approval. Students who register during the summer will pick up their sticker with their room key from Residential Life. Those who register after the summer deadline will pick up their sticker from ???. 

  • A fee of $90 per semester or $175 for the full academic year will be charged for parking a motor vehicle on campus. If students have arranged to store vehicles elsewhere which provides an off-campus parking space (e.g., renting a garage) they may do so. The vehicle must still be registered with the University.

  • Students temporarily possessing a motor vehicle for a contiguous time period of up to two weeks must obtain a temporary parking permit. These permits may be applied for using the online Student Vehicle Registration Application. Vehicles issued a temporary permit must park in the lot assigned. There is no fee for a temporary parking permit. Students are limited to one temporary parking permit per academic term.

  • Students leaving their vehicle on campus during the winter or summer breaks must obtain permission and parking assignment from the Dean of Students Office. Failure to obtain such permission may result in the owner being responsible for necessary towing and storage fees.

Where to Park

  • Your assigned parking location (zone) is the only place on campus you are allowed to park during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside of these hours, students may park in any legal parking spot, with the exception of spots marked for a specific group (ADA, Visitor only, Service, etc.). 

    • During winter break you may park in any designated student parking lot during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Per University policy, students cannot park vehicles on city streets at all, any day of the week or time.

Citations/Complaints/Fines

Fines imposed for violations of the Student Motor Vehicle regulations or Sewanee parking policy will be due and payable in the ??? upon receipt by the student of a vehicle citation. All fines must be paid prior to the end of the semester they occurred or the University may withhold grades and/or registration. 

The speed limit on campus and in the Sewanee Village is 20 miles per hour unless otherwise posted.

The following are parking violations:

  • Failure to display a valid permit.

  • Parked over time limit.

  • Use of stolen/fraudulent/lost/altered parking permit.

  • Parked where prohibited.

  • Parked in visitor stall.

  • Parked on sidewalk, lawn or boulevard.

  • Parked along yellow or red curb.

  • Parked in traffic lane, double parked, parked in or obstructing driveway.

  • Parked over or outside stall lines.

  • Parked within ten (10) feet of a hydrant.

  • Parked in a fire lane.

  • Parked in or obstructing a posted handicapped stall (MSA 169.346).

Current fines include:

  • Possession of an unregistered vehicle: first offense $60 fine and $175 registration fee. Vehicle will be automatically registered and issued a permit.  

  • Improper display of vehicle registration: first offense $60; subsequent offenses $60 fine and/or tow or loss of parking privileges in Sewanee.

  • Parking in a handicap stall: first offense $120 fine; second offense $140 fine; third offense $160 fine; subsequent offenses $180 fine, and/or tow.

  • Parking on a city street or parking in an area other than assigned lot or where otherwise restricted: first offense $60 fine; subsequent offenses $60 fine, tow, and/or loss of parking privileges in Sewanee.

  • Parking in a fire lane: first offense $120 fine; second offense $150 fine; subsequent offenses $180 fine, tow, and/or loss of parking privileges on campus.

  • Careless or reckless driving on any campus road or walkway: fines and consequences by SPD officer discretion. This is a TCA violation. 

  • All other violations of Sewanee parking regulations: fines are subject to discretion of the Sewanee Police Department

  • If five (5) or more violations are incurred within a semester: a student vehicle may be towed and will be banned from Sewanee for the remainder of the semester. Student vehicle registration and parking privileges will be suspended. 

  • The fact that a person parks in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation and does not receive a citation, does not mean that the law, ordinance or regulation is no longer in effect.

When a violation is accompanied or characterized by other behavior such as careless driving, driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or other behavior in violation of the EQB Honor Code, the student may be charged with additional violations of the Honor Code and/or Tennessee State Statutes.

All complaints against students concerning Student Motor Vehicle Policy violations shall be submitted to the Division of Student Life. Complaints may be filed by any member of the University community, as well as by any resident of Sewanee. Reports should include the following information if available: a description of the vehicle, its license number and state, the location, time, and date of the alleged violation, and details concerning the nature of the incident. University personnel shall have the right to question any students concerning their relationship to a specific vehicle should a reasonable suspicion of a violation exist.

Appeals

If a student wishes to appeal a citation, the request must be submitted online to the Traffic Appeals Committee for consideration within 48 hours after delivery of the citation. The right to appeal is relinquished by failing to submit an appeal within the prescribed time period. Lack of space shall NOT be considered a valid excuse for violation of established parking regulations.

Neighborhood Parking

On-street parking on campus and in the village is prohibited. Out of respect for residents who live near the University, please avoid parking your vehicle on the street in the neighborhoods adjacent to campus whenever possible.

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