Parking FAQs
This page provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions
(Last updated August 2024) Parking for 2024-2025 goes on sale August 26, 2024
***DALHOUSIE DOES NOT USE PHYSICAL PERMITS
AV俱乐部 has contracted with HotSpot for parking services and individual license plates will now indicate whether you have paid for a parking. This is called a VIRTUAL PERMIT.
To park on any听Halifax campus,听you will need to purchase this virtual permit or download the HotSpot app for short-term parking where applicable.听
The Agricultural Campus听does not require a parking permit. Vehicles do not need to be registered. For those from the AC who travel to Halifax Campus please use short-term parking through the HotSpot app.
Accessible and individual reserved parking spaces听require special permits and are not for general use. Ownership of a permit is not transferable. Only one permit per person allowed but more than one license plate may be added to an account for those who own more than one vehicle. 贰尘补颈濒听parking@dal.ca听for more information.
Parking pass support is available by calling HotSpot at听1-855-712-5888
Your license plate is now seen as your parking permit.听
Here are answers to a few key questions about the registration process:听
Receipts:听 There is no need to place a receipt on your dash as the virtual permits replace the need for paper or physical hangtags.听
NetIDs:听NetIDs typically look like this: ac123456. However, they used to include a combination of letters from first and last name. These old netIDs may have trouble authenticating and showing permits, so please contact HotSpot to have yours manually adjusted:听support@htsp.ca听or 1-855-712-5888
Vehicle information:听This new system was not preloaded with existing vehicle information, so first-time users will need to enter vehicle information in order to buy a permit. Once you've added your vehicle(s) and select a default one, click on "purchase a permit." Adding a vehicle is a must before purchasing. Yes, you can have multiple vehicles on a permit but only one in use.
How do I add a vehicle to my account?
Why doesn鈥檛 a permit guarantee me a parking spot? That鈥檚 not fair?
I work at the Agricultural Campus in Truro. Where do I get my parking pass?
If I don鈥檛 have a permit hanging in my windshield, how do you know I鈥檝e paid for parking?
My family has two cars, and I don鈥檛 bring the same car every day. How does that work?
I see reserved parking lots with empty spaces, why can鈥檛 I park there?
Why are reserved spots so expensive?
Why isn鈥檛 there a parking space for everyone?
I only have classes two days a week, what are my parking options?
How do I put my name on a waiting list for the Dunn Lot?
Can you put your name on more than one waiting list at the same time?
I have a parking permit 鈥� why did I get a ticket?
How do I use the metro buses to get to the Halifax Campuses?
How much does it cost to ride the bus?
Can I park in a motorcycle spot in the winter when people are not driving motorcycles?听
Why can't I see the yellow AV俱乐部 button I need to click in order to buy a permit?
Do I have to pay for the HotSpot App?
I don鈥檛 have a smart phone so can鈥檛 use the HotSpot App. How do I park on campus for a short time?
How do I park at the Agricultural Campus in Truro for a short time?
Permit rates vary. Check our Rates page for the latest information. Passes are available online through the HotSpot website, (NOT the App).
You have to be a AV俱乐部 staff member or a student with a valid AV俱乐部 ID in order to apply for a parking permit. You can purchase parking permits online through HotSpot beginning August 26, 2024 using your Net ID, password and vehicle information. You can only purchase a permit if all outstanding tickets are paid.
There are several different types of permits available 鈥� general, outdoor reserved and indoor reserved. Some guarantee reserved spots, while others do not guarantee a spot. Customers who opt to pay for their virtual permit using a Credit Card or Payroll deduction can do so through the link at听.
Staff at the Security House, located at 1252 LeMarchant Street, will still be available to assist in-person with the virtual permit transaction for any customer wishing to pay using cheque, cash or debit.
I work at the Agricultural Campus in Truro. Where do I get my parking pass?
Members of the AV俱乐部 community at the Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill will not be required to register vehicles for parking at that campus. If required to travel to Halifax campuses, they will need to purchase short-term parking options using parking meters or through the HotSpot App.
If I don鈥檛 have a permit hanging in my windshield, how do you know I鈥檝e paid for parking?
AV俱乐部 Parking Services will scan the license plate of your parked vehicle into a mobile device to validate your听virtual permit. You will no longer need a hangtag: virtual permits will replace those previously used for General and Reserved passes.
To buy a virtual permit, customers will sign-in to Hotspot through a link at听听and will need to authenticate using their AV俱乐部 NetID and password. This ensures that only active AV俱乐部 accounts are permitted to purchase parking. You can pay online with credit or payroll deduction.
If your license plate cannot be validated, you will get a parking ticket and/or your vehicle can be booted or towed.
My family has two cars, and I don鈥檛 bring the same car every day. How does that work?
You can register more than one vehicle when you purchase your yearly virtual permit, but you must make one the default. Each day you bring a different vehicle you will have to log in to your account online and change the default vehicle. Parking enforcement who scan the plate will see that it is tied to the permit.
Why doesn鈥檛 a permit guarantee me a parking spot? That鈥檚 not fair?
General parking permits are oversold on campus assuming that not everyone with a permit will be on site at the same time. In most surface parking lots where only a general permit is needed, parking is on a first-come, first-served basis 鈥� starting each morning at 6 a.m. Most spots are filled by 8:15 a.m. with minimal turnover until the end of the day at 4:30 p.m.
We understand the frustration from those who paid for a permit and cannot find a spot. However, it is clearly stated at the time of purchase that a general parking permit doesn鈥檛 guarantee a parking spot.
There are more than 20,000 people who come to Dal during peak times, and only 2000 parking spots.
I see reserved parking lots with empty spaces, why can鈥檛 I park there?
There are a limited number of reserved parking spots and reserved permits are much more expensive than general permits. These spots must be available for people who have paid for reserved parking. Most of our reserved lots are full with people waiting for spots to open up. If you鈥檇 like to put your name on a waiting list, you can email听reserved.list@dal.ca. In your email, please state your name, banner number and which parking lot(s) you鈥檇 like to be on a waiting list for. Anyone who parks in a reserved spot without the proper permit will be ticketed, booted or towed.听 听
Why are reserved spots so expensive?
Reserved permits are more expensive than General permits because a spot is guaranteed. Rates increase every year because of higher annual operating costs such as snow removal, salaries of those who patrol and maintain the parking areas, utilities and yearly upkeep. Pricing is set by Senior Administration based on recommendations from AV俱乐部鈥檚 Transportation and Security Committee.
In order to be placed on a list for reserved parking, you have to email听reserved.list@dal.ca听and indicate the reserved lot(s) you are interested in. Parking spots in the most popular reserved lots are already taken and there is a long waiting list to get a spot. There may be reserved spots in some underground heated lots available at the highest parking rate price.
Why isn鈥檛 there a parking space for everyone?
Parking is a challenge everywhere on the Halifax peninsula and AV俱乐部 is no exception. More than 20,000 people come to the AV俱乐部 campus every day, and there are only 2,000 parking spots available. AV俱乐部鈥檚 available land is prioritized for teaching and learning. It is very likely that in the future there will be even more buildings and fewer parking spaces. Currently, the Rosina Lot at Sexton Campus is a parking lot, but the land was purchased for future development as identified in the Campus Master Plan. Eventually that parking lot will cease to exist.
Why aren鈥檛 there reserved spots on every part of campus 鈥� why can鈥檛 I buy a reserved spot for Sexton?
There is no new reserved parking available at Sexton Campus. The reserved parking spots that exist at Sexton Campus were grandfathered for staff who already had reserved spots before the AV俱乐部 amalgamation. The nearest reserved parking permits are available on Studley Campus and may not be readily available. However, you can always put your name on a waiting list by emailing听reserved.list@dal.ca. On the email, you should state your name, banner numbers and which parking lot(s) you鈥檇 like to be on a waiting list for. You will be emailed when your name comes up in sequence.
Why are people from other parts of campus allowed to park where I work? (e.g., people from Carlton parking in the Sexton lot)
General parking spots are available to anyone with General permits on a first-come first-served basis, no matter where they work, live, or study. This policy was created by AV俱乐部鈥檚 Transportation and Security Committee.
How do I put my name on a waiting list for the Dunn Lot?
贰尘补颈濒听reserved.list@dal.ca听and state your name, banner numbers, and which parking lot you鈥檇 like to be on a waiting list for. You will be emailed when your name comes up in sequence. This popular reserved parking lot is currently full and already has a long waiting list of several hundred people. It will be several years before a spot becomes available in that parking lot.
Can you put your name on more than one waiting list at the same time?
Yes, by emailing听reserved.list@dal.ca听and providing your name, banner number, and the parking lot(s) that you鈥檇 like to be on a waiting list for. You will be contacted when your name comes up in sequence.
I have a parking permit 鈥� why did I get a ticket?
There could be several reasons you received a ticket:
a)听听听听 A valid permit is expected at all times. If not, it can result in a parking ticket and having your vehicle towed or immobilized. Parking will be enforced by ensuring your license plate is tied to a permit.听
b)听听听听听 All vehicles must display a proper provincial/state license plate/temporary sticker at all times.
c)听听听听 You may not be parking in the proper spot 鈥� if you have a General Parking Permit you cannot park in a reserved spot or lot. You also cannot park in a motorcycle parking lot, no matter what time of year. Also, you must obey all parking lines and parking signage.
d)听听听听 The absence of a 鈥楴O PARKING鈥� sign doesn鈥檛 necessarily indicate that parking is permitted in a particular area.
e)听听听听 听All vehicles must not park in no parking zone.
How do I use the metro buses to get to the Halifax Campuses?
AV俱乐部 offers all members of our community discounted bus passes. For more information on the pass program visit听/dept/sustainability/smart-trip/transit/transit-passes.html.
How much does it cost to ride the bus?
Current fees can be found here听. AV俱乐部 offers all members of our community discounted bus passes. For more information on the pass program visit听/dept/sustainability/smart-trip/transit/transit-passes.html.
Can I park in a motorcycle spot in the winter when people are not driving motorcycles?听
No. Motorcycle parking spots are not big enough for cars and must be kept available for those who do ride year-round. During the winter after heavy snow, the motorcycle parking spots are used to store excess snow.
I鈥檝e parked in AV俱乐部 parking lots without a permit and nothing has happened. Why should I bother buying a permit?
AV俱乐部 is continually increasing its use of 鈥渂oots鈥� or devices which immobilize a vehicle until a fee is paid. AV俱乐部 keeps track of the license plates of all vehicle ticketed. Vehicles which have been previously ticketed are much more likely to be booted.听 AV俱乐部 may also tow vehicles to an impound lot at its discretion. If that happens, vehicle owners need to pay the ticket, find their way to the impound lot out of town, and pay another fee there to retrieve their car.
Why can't I see the yellow AV俱乐部 button I need to click in order to buy a permit?
Permits are distributed by NETid, your account may not have your NETId associated with it. Please contact听HotSpot support听by email at听support@htsp.ca听on over the听phone at听1(855)712-5888听and let them know your current听HotSpot account email听address听and your听NetID.
Sometimes when I get to work there is construction work going on where I usually park. Why didn鈥檛 you tell me that?
During the year there are often times when the parking lots need upgrades, or part of the lot needs to be blocked off for maintenance work. Everyone who purchases a permit should take responsibility to remain informed about upcoming work. The easiest way to do this it by subscribing to听Today@Dal, a daily email that includes construction information.听The Subscribe now! option is in the right column. 听
I only have classes two days a week, what are my parking options?
Short-term parking is available by downloading the HotSpot app.听听You must download this app to your phone.听
Where on campus is short-term parking available?
A new short-term parking area can be found on the west side of Alumni Crescent (directly across from the Dalplex Fitness Centre on South Street). To park here, download the Hotspot app and register听your license plate听and听听or parking lot number听to initiate a parking session.
HotSpot also works with the new听听pay stations on the streets around the Halifax campuses and throughout downtown Halifax.
The HotSpot App is available on all smart phones and is used by HRM for parking in downtown Halifax as well as many cities across Canada. 听This option is more convenient by:
- Notifying users when their meter is close to expiring
- Giving听users the option to add more time听up to the maximum for the space
- Giving users the option to听cancel their session early and be refunded for any unused time听
Do I have to pay for the HotSpot App?
The service offers a pay-per-use option that adds $0.25 to the cost of the individual session. Frequent users may consider other HotSpot membership options found at听听based on their parking needs.
I don鈥檛 have a smart phone so can鈥檛 use the HotSpot App. How do I park on campus for a short time?
A limited number of parking meters still accept coins.
How do I park at the Agricultural Campus in Truro for a short time?
Free parking is available at the Agricultural Campus.
What if I have trouble buying my permit on the website and can't see the yellow AV俱乐部 button I need to click in order to buy a permit?
Permits are distributed by NETid, your account may not have your NETId associated with it. Please contact听HotSpot support听by email at听support@htsp.ca听on over the听phone at听1(855)712-5888听and let them know your current听HotSpot account email听address听and your听NetID.听
How do I add my vehicle to my account?
Parking enforcement is based on plate numbers, so you need to add your vehicle to your account.
Some points to ponder before you start adding your vehicle:
- If you drive more than one vehicle, we recommend that you add all vehicles you might park with. For example, if you have two vehicles in your household, and might drive the other vehicle even on a random day, you鈥檒l save time and possibly a ticket, if you add both vehicles now. Each day you bring a different vehicle, you must log on and make that day's vehicle the default vehicle. If you don't, the plate will not read as being connected to a virtual permit and you may get a ticket.听
- If you rent a car and park with it, either with your permit or street-side parking, we recommend that you add the rental vehicle plate.
- If you add more than one vehicle, you can make one of the vehicles the default vehicle and another other vehicle 鈥渢emporary鈥�.
Adding Your Vehicle on your HotSpot Mobile App
- Open the app.
- Press听Manage My Vehicles.
- Press听Add Vehicle.
- Enter your vehicle鈥檚 details.
- If this is a rental or not your regular car, press the听Temporary Vehicle听toggle.
- Press听Add Vehicle.
Adding Your Vehicle using the HotSpot Web Dashboard
- Open a browser window.
- Go to听听and click听Log In.
- Click the听Vehicles听tab.
- Enter your vehicle鈥檚 details in the right panel, and click听Save Vehicle.
听