Students returning to campus this fall will face stricter parking enforcement and higher citation fees, according to an announcement from Fairfield University’s Parking Office. The changes, which have taken effect immediately, revise key policies related to booting, towing, and unregistered vehicles.
Parking registration for the 2025–2026 academic year opened on Aug. 11 and Fairfield’s Department of Public Safety is urging students to register promptly to avoid penalties.
Under the updated enforcement guidelines, vehicles will now be booted after receiving three or more parking citations, down from the previous threshold of five. Additionally, vehicles may now be towed after two booting incidents, rather than three.
“These changes are aimed at improving compliance and ensuring fair access to parking across campus,” the Parking Office said in a written statement sent out to students before returning to campus.
Citation fees have also increased for unregistered vehicle violations and will now carry a fine of $80, up from $60 and unauthorized parking violations have increased from $40 to $60.
The university clarified that parking citations only count toward booting and towing thresholds if an appeal is not granted. Students who believe they received a ticket in error are encouraged to appeal promptly through the official process.
“The parking policies are not fair to the students at all,” junior Bella Bowden shared. “Students who pay to park are still getting tickets because all of the designated spots are full. The university should make more student spots and stop handing out so many parking passes to underclassmen.”
In addition to the revised enforcement policies, DPS reminds first-year and sophomore resident students that they are not authorized to have vehicles on campus, including on weekends. Vehicles found in violation of this policy will be ticketed, booted or towed, and may be subject to additional fines. Students who violate this policy may also lose future parking privileges.
Students requesting an exception to this policy must apply online through the University’s website. Bringing a vehicle to campus prior to receiving approval is prohibited, even if an exception request has been submitted.
Furthermore, juniors and seniors who register a vehicle owned by an underclassman will lose their own parking privileges.
Fairfield also reminded students that, under an agreement with the Town of Fairfield, students are not permitted to park on streets surrounding the University.
Replacement permits are available at 50% of the cost of a full-year permit. Ticket payments can be made in person at the Parking Office or Bursar’s Office by cash or t card.
For further information about parking regulations or permit questions, students are encouraged to contact the Parking Office at parking@fairfield.edu or (203) 254-4156.
