8/9/25

Navigating ARC Parking at Kennesaw State: A Resident’s Unofficial Guide

Hey everyone, if you're gearing up to live at the Austin Residence Complex (ARC) at Kennesaw State University, you’re probably getting excited about the year ahead. But let's be honest, there's one topic that causes more low-key stress than almost any other on a college campus: parking. Where can I park? Will I get a ticket? What if my parents want to visit?
Honestly, figuring out the parking situation can feel like a class in itself. But don't worry, I've dug through the official docs, scoured the forums, & put together this deep-dive guide to help you understand EVERYTHING about parking as an ARC resident at KSU.

First Things First: Yes, You ABSOLUTELY Need a Permit

Let's get this out of the way. You cannot just park your car in a lot near ARC & hope for the best. KSU's Parking & Transportation department enforces parking rules 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That includes weekends & holidays. If you have a car on campus, you need a permit linked to your license plate.
KSU uses a pretty slick system called License Plate Recognition (LPR). This means your license plate is your permit. There are no physical decals or hang-tags to worry about, which is convenient, but it also means you HAVE to make sure your vehicle information is 100% accurate in the KSU Parking Portal. If you get a new car or even just new plates, your first stop should be the portal to update your info.
You can register up to five vehicles on your permit, but here’s the crucial part: only ONE of those vehicles can be parked on campus at a time. If you & a family member you share a car with are both on campus, you're risking a double-citation.

The Golden Ticket: Which Permit Do ARC Residents Need?

This is where it gets specific. As an ARC resident, you don't just get a generic "residential" permit. You have a few designated options, & your permit is only valid in specific zones.
According to KSU's official parking information, residents of the Austin Residence Complex are eligible for one of the following permits:
  • Campus Loop Residential permit
  • Marietta Drive permit
  • Austin Residence Lot permit
A campus map shows the Austin Residence Complex located at grid coordinates C-15 & D-14, with the "Austin Residence Lot" right there. This is your primary designated parking area. You might also hear students refer to this as needing a "South Pass," as mentioned in a few Reddit threads.

How & When to Get Your Permit

Permit selection is a big deal, & it's time-sensitive. Fall semester parking permit selection for all students typically opens on a specific date in late July. For Fall 2025, for example, the portal opens Friday, July 25th at 10 a.m.
Here’s the process:
  1. Log into the KSU Parking Portal with your NetID.
  2. Go to the "Get Permits" tab.
  3. Select your permit type from the available residential options.
  4. This is important: You have to read & accept the university's parking rules & regulations.
  5. Add your vehicle(s). Make sure the license plate number & state are correct.
  6. Review everything on the "Purchase Overview" page & complete the process by transferring the fee to your Owl Express account.
  7. You should get a confirmation email from Parking & Transportation. KEEP THIS.
A word of warning: Permits are NOT guaranteed. They can and do sell out, especially for popular residential areas. Mark the date on your calendar, set an alarm, & be ready to go when the portal opens.

The Million-Dollar Question: What's This Going to Cost?

While KSU's official site doesn't list a price for every single permit type individually, the documents give us a very clear idea. A "Resident Hall Student" permit was listed at $198 for the year in a 2022-2023 price list. Another document from Spring 2022 shows a price of $54 per semester for residential permits. So, you can expect it to be in that ballpark.
When you go to purchase, you’ll likely see two options: a Fall/Spring permit or a single-semester permit. If you know you'll be at ARC for the full academic year, getting the Fall/Spring permit is the smart move. It secures your spot for both semesters, though you'll be charged for both upfront on your Owl Express account. If you only get a fall permit, you'll have to go through the whole process again for spring.

What About My Friends & Family? The Visitor Parking Lowdown

This is a HUGE point of confusion for students. Your friends cannot just pull into the Austin Residence Lot to visit you for the weekend. All guests must park in designated visitor parking areas & pay for their spot.
Here’s how it works for them:
  • Pay-per-Plate: KSU has specific visitor lots on both the Kennesaw & Marietta campuses. The primary method of payment is via pay-per-plate kiosks in the lots or, more conveniently, through the ParkMobile app.
  • ParkMobile Zones: Each visitor lot has a specific zone number. For example, on the Kennesaw campus, Lot J has zone number 35105 & the Lot A Visitor lot is 35104. Your visitor will need this number to start a parking session in the app.
  • The Cost: Visitor parking isn't free. The rates are something like this: $3 for an hour, $6 for two hours, & up to a maximum of $12 for the day.
It's your responsibility to make sure your guests know the rules. "I didn't know" won't get them out of a citation, & any tickets issued to a car are ultimately tied back to you if they're visiting you.

What if the Visitor Lots are Full?

This can definitely happen, especially during busy times like move-in, parent's weekend, or major campus events. It's a reality of a large, active university. Sometimes, finding a convenient spot on campus is tough. This is where thinking outside the box can save a lot of headaches.
For situations like this, services like Prked.com are becoming a game-changer. Prked is a platform that connects people who need parking with homeowners & local residents who have extra space in their driveways or private garages. So, if your parents are visiting for a weekend & the campus lots are a mess, you could potentially find a homeowner just a short walk from campus renting out their driveway. It’s a pretty cool way to find a guaranteed, reserved spot without circling the official lots. It can be more affordable & WAY less stressful than fighting for a limited number of university-controlled visitor spots.

The Unspoken Rules & Pro-Tips for ARC Parking

The official rules are one thing, but there's always the stuff you learn from experience. Here are a few insider tips:
  • Don't Park in Faculty/Staff Spots. Ever. Even if the lot is empty at 10 p.m. on a Saturday. Faculty/staff spots are marked with a green stripe on the pavement & are off-limits to students at all times (unless Flex Parking is officially announced). It’s a quick way to get a ticket.
  • The Big Owl Bus is Your Best Friend: Once your car is parked in its designated ARC spot, leave it there! KSU has an awesome, free shuttle service called the Big Owl Bus that runs all over both campuses. It's WAY easier than trying to drive from ARC to a class on the other side of campus & finding a new (legal) parking spot.
  • Game Days Change Everything: If there’s a home football game or a big event at the Convocation Center, expect parking to be nuts. Lots may be closed or have restricted access. Plan ahead & check the KSU Athletics or Parking and Transportation websites for special event parking info.
  • Non-Operable Vehicles: Your car has to be legally registered & in working condition. You can't just store a car that doesn't run in your spot. Housing & Residence Life has the right to have non-operable or abandoned vehicles removed.
  • Don't Get Creative: Parking on the grass, in a loading zone, or in a spot that isn't clearly marked for your permit type is a bad idea. It might seem harmless, but it's a guaranteed citation.

A Final Word

Look, parking at a big university is never going to be perfect. With over 16,000 parking spaces across both campuses, KSU does a massive job managing it all. The key as an ARC resident is to know your specific rules. Get the right permit, get it early, make sure your license plate info is always current in the portal, & teach your visitors how to use the pay-per-plate system.
And if you ever find yourself in a jam, remember there are always other solutions, whether it's hopping on the Big Owl Bus or finding a convenient off-campus spot through a service like Prked.
Hope this was helpful & takes some of the stress out of your move-in. Welcome to KSU & enjoy your time at ARC! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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