The parking lottery âÄî a chance for students to nab a contract for a parking spot on campus âÄî opened Monday.

Before each semester begins, students enter the lottery for the chance to purchase a parking spot at one of the UniversityâÄôs parking facilities. Winners will be notified via email, according to an email from the University of MinnesotaâÄôs Parking and Transportation Services.

The lottery will close Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m.

Drawings for more than 2,100 available parking spaces will take place on Dec. 2, Dec. 7 and Dec. 13. Students can choose their top three picks out of 11 possible lots on the East Bank, West Bank and St. Paul campus.

Prices for parking spots range from $230 per semester for a surface lot to $450 per semester for a spot in a garage.

About two out of three students get a parking contract for a guaranteed space, according to the PTS website.

Students living in residence halls will be assigned spots that are closest to their dorm room.

All unclaimed contracts go on sale Jan. 9. To enter the lottery, go to http://parklot.umn.edu.