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Welcome Visitors to the University of North Florida

With more than 17,000 students taking classes and many scheduled events for the public, things can get pretty busy at UNF, especially on weekdays. Parking regulations are strictly enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, first for safety and efficiency, but also to respect students, faculty and staff who have purchased annual parking permits.

Before you buy

A parking permit is not required Saturdays or Sundays unless there is a special event on campus. Please visit the main calendar to verify the occurring special events.

If you purchased an event admissions ticket, you still need to purchase a $5 visitor permit from a Pay-by-Plate kiosk or the smartphone Flowbird app. Helpful hint: take a picture of your license plate, this information will need to be entered into the kiosk or the app because the license plate becomes the permit. Permit enforcement is Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After you buy

You must park your vehicle "nose in" to a parking space. This way your license plate can be quickly scanned by our license recognition camera trucks.

Visitors to campus must abide by the UNF rules and regulations or risk getting a ticket. If you receive a parking ticket, you have the option to make payment (must be paid within 14 calendar days to avoid receiving an additional $10 late fee) or you may file an appeal by submitting online by going to the link, Ticket Appeals.

  • What is the permit enforcement timeframe?
    Days Enforcement Hours
    Monday - Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

     

    No permit is required from 5 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Monday, unless there is a special event on campus. To verify special events, Master Calendar. 

    University Police Department enforces 24 hr./day 7 days a week for all non-permit violations. 

    If visiting the Herbert University Center (Building 43) for a special event or class, no permit is required to park in Lot 16 (located in front of the center).

  • No physical permits are distributed

    Our system is based on virtual permits, where you register your vehicle's license plate to be the virtual permit. This method includes our visitor permits that can be purchased from the free mobile phone app Flowbird or through Pay-by-Plate kiosks. 

    All vehicles must be parked "nose-in" so our enforcement tag recognition cameras can scan the plates efficiently. A vehicle "backed-in" to a parking space, making the license plate not visible to our enforcement cameras, will receive a parking ticket. 

  • How much do the visitor permits cost and do they expire?

    If you are visiting UNF, there are two options: $5 or $2 visitor permits. These permits can be purchased from the Flowbird app or the Pay-by-Plate kiosks. To view the Pay-by-Plate Map for locations, units will accept debit or charge cards. The $5 visitor permit allows parking in Blue or Gray Lot spaces and the $2 visitor permit is valid for Gray Lot Parking Only. These designated colored lots are located in the above-mentioned Pay-by-Plate Map. 

    The permits are valid only for the calendar day you purchased it, not for a 24-hour period from the time that it was purchased. A Consecutive Multi-day Permit is not available, you must purchase a visitor permit each day you park on campus.

    Once you have purchased a visitor permit, it is non-refundable.

  • Flowbird - The convenient phone app to purchase a visitor permit

    This program will give you the convenient opportunity to pay for your visitor permit by mobile phone or the web.

    To get started follow the below steps:

    • Download the free Flowbird phone app on your smartphone or visit www.Flowbirdapp.com
    • Create an account
    • Enter your license plate number
    • Select the "pin" on the map that is closest to the location you wish to park in
    • Select time
    • End with payment confirmation

    Don't forget:

    • Enter your license plate number correctly (FL license plates only use zeroes and NOT the letter Os)
    • No need to display a physical daily permit or a receipt; your license plate is your daily virtual permit
    • Park nose-in so that the rear license plate is visible to our tag recognition cameras
    • A $5 visitor permit allows parking in both Blue and Gray Lots. A $2 visitor permit is valid for Gray Lot parking only. 
  • How to purchase a visitor permit from a Pay-by-Plate Kiosk
    1. Drive up to the kiosk at campus entrances, or park in the preferred lot and walk to the nearest kiosk. Pay-by-Plate Kiosk map  
    2. Make sure to park "nose-in" so that your license plate is visible from the driving lane. 
    3. Take note (or take a picture) of your vehicle license plate to enter to the kiosk. 
    4. At Kiosk, press the START button on the keyboard (located below the screen) All prompts will be done on the keyboard (this is not a touch screen system)
    5. Then, Press 1 for PARKING; PAY BY PLATE PARKING WITH CARD
    6. Next, enter your license plate number, and then press the green Print button (bottom right side of the keyboard) Note: The State of Florida does not use the letter O, only number zeros. 
    7. Finally, enter your payment method
    8. A receipt may print as a confirmation that the daily virtual permit has been purchased--this does not need to be placed in the vehicle window.
  • Where are the Pay-by-Plate kiosks located?
    Pay-by-Plate Kiosk Map
  • Where to park with a visitor permit?

    Visitors with a $5 visitor permit may park in:

    • Blue and Gray Lots, designated with Blue and Gray lot signs. These spaces are located in most surface lots and on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floor of the Arena Garage (Garage 38) 
    • avoid parking spaces marked and assigned for Faculty/Staff and Reserved permits
    • 2nd, 3rd and fourth floor of the Fine Arts Center Garage (Garage 44) 
    • 4th floor of Garage 44A (new garage section of the Fine Arts Center Garage and accessible from the 3rd floor). 
    • These lots can be viewed on the campus map.

    Visitors with a $2 visitor permit, may only park in the Gray Lots such as Lots 14, 18, 53 and 60.

  • What parking spaces are off limits with the visitor permit?
    • Lot 7, next to Skinner-Jones Hall (Building 4)
    • First floor of the garages and the ramp leading up to the 2nd floor of the Arena Garage (Garage 38), Faculty and Staff spaces indicated with orange lines, spaces labeled Restricted or Reserved
    • Spaces within Lots 16 or Housing Lots 10, 11, 12, 15, 17 and 55. 
    For a quick reference view the campus map.
  • Can you purchase a visitor permit for motorcycle parking?

    Yes and can be done from the Flowbird app or Pay-by-Plate kiosk, please view the map of kiosk locations. You may park in any designated motorcycle spaces on campus. 

    Note: You will need to park your motorized vehicle "nose-in" so that the license plate can be easily read by our tag recognition cameras. 

  • Can visitors use the Osprey Shuttle Service?
    Yes, it is a complimentary service. Please refer to Shuttle and Parking Information for Guests.
  • Do you need a visitor permit for the lot in front of Hicks Hall (Building 53)

    Yes. You may purchase a visitor permit from the Flowbird app or from the Pay-by-Plate kiosk stationed near Building 53, Ann and David Hicks Hall, within Lot 53. Once you purchase a $2 permit from either the app or kiosk, take note that you are only allowed to park in Gray Lots such as Lots 14, 18, 53 and 60. Please refer to the campus map, for the location of these lots.

    For additional Welcome Center or One Stop questions, please contact (904) 620-5555 or onestop@unf.edu. 

  • Do I need to purchase a permit?

    The orientation and campus tour departments will schedule dates and parking locations.  

    In advance, these departments may coordinate event parking codes for your vehicle. The team may also enter these codes upon your arrival or you can enter the supplied code in the Flowbird app or a Pay-by-Plate kiosk. Details about the app and kiosk are mentioned above in the section listed 'Event validation codes--What are they and Who issues them' and 'How do I use the event code'. 

    For additional non-parking assistance, please contact:

    Orientation department
    904-620-1722
    newtounf@unf.edu

    Welcome Center
    904-620-1722
    visitunf@unf.edu

Have a question, concern or suggestion?

Please e-mail us at parking@unf.edu