Find answers to common questions about parking permits, fees, and parking on campus. Review the Parking Rules & Regulations, or contact Parking Services with questions.

  1. Is there any place on campus I can park without a parking permit?
    No. Parking permits are required in all parking lots on campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  2. Where can students park?
    • If you are a commuter student (living off campus), you are required to park in designated commuter lots, shaded in green on the parking map.
    • If you are a resident student (living in on-campus housing), you are required to park in designated resident lots, shaded in blue on the parking map.
  3. What if I am only going to have my vehicle for a short time?
    Students and faculty/staff should use the HONK mobile parking payment system for temporary parking permits. Follow instructions on signs posted in parking lots.
  4. How do I pay for my semester parking permit?
    Apply and pay for semester parking permits online using a credit or debit card.
  5. If I purchase a two-semester parking permit and decide not to attend Behrend next semester or no longer have a vehicle, will I lose the money on my unused permit?
    No. To receive a refund, you must notify Parking Services. The refund will be prorated based on the date of notification. There is no refund for permits that have expired or when no notification has been given.
  6. How are permit funds used at Penn State Behrend?
    Money generated at the college is only used to support the program at Penn State Behrend; it is not used to support parking at any other Penn State campus. Parking permit sales DO NOT support personnel costs within Parking Services, University Police and Public Safety, or other departments. The money generated from selling student, faculty, and staff parking permits is used to:
    • Construct new parking lots
    • Maintain existing parking lots (repaving, repainting of lines, and upgrading lighting)
    • Administer the parking program (purchasing software for tracking permit sales and parking tickets, and handheld computers used to issue parking tickets)
  7. Why do parking fees increase?
    Due to the growth of the college, new parking lots have been built to meet the community's needs. The cost of building new parking lots is funded through loans. The loan, or debt service, must be paid off using parking permit fees. This has resulted in a debt service on 75 percent of all parking spaces. The creation of additional parking facilities, which may include decks, will increase the debt service. In addition, the cost of maintaining lots will grow as existing parking lots reach an age when they must be resurfaced. So the revenue generated from parking permit fees is needed to support debt service and maintain existing facilities.
  8. How do Penn State Behrend's parking fees compare to other campuses?
    Within Penn State, some campuses have not experienced the need to significantly expand their parking facilities since they have not grown to the extent of Penn State Behrend. Therefore, those campuses have not had to charge a parking permit fee to generate funds to pay debt service resulting from the construction of parking lots. Penn State Behrend parking fees are higher than some institutions outside of Penn State. However, not all institutions pay for parking in the same way. Unlike Penn State Behrend, some may use parking fees and a substantial amount from other revenue sources, including tuition, to pay for parking.
  9. How is the money generated from parking tickets used?
    Money generated from parking tickets goes to the Student Government Association and is then allocated to student clubs and organizations.
  10. Will more parking lots be built?
    There are currently close to 3,000 parking spaces on campus, and additional lots will be built as campus growth requires. The demand for parking during the beginning of a semester always places a strain on close-in parking, resulting in the need to park in the Jordan Road and Junker Center lots. Consequently, if you arrive between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., you should be prepared for the possibility that you may have a 10- to 15-minute walk.
  11. When will the Burke Parking Deck reopen fully?
    The commuter student portion of the deck remains closed for repairs and is expected to reopen in early December 2026. Until then, commuter students may also park in the lower level of the deck, which is normally reserved for faculty and staff. The lower-level gate is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The second-level exit is also available; the gate will open automatically as vehicles approach. Additional parking is available in the Junker and AMIC lots.
  12. What if I can't find a parking spot?
    If you have difficulty finding a parking space, please call Parking Services for assistance. If parking is not readily available, do not assume that you can park along roadways or on the grass.