Parking - reserving and using a department service permit

Nelson Institute Service Permit – Intended Use Statement

The Nelson Institute invests in a Service Permit to support intermittent parking needs of staff and faculty. To ensure the permit remains accessible, we ask that it be used for brief, task‑specific needs rather than extended parking. Appropriate uses include transporting event or outreach materials, moving equipment or supplies, assisting guest speakers, helping visitors with short loading/unloading needs, or facilitating quick campus errands tied directly to Nelson Institute programs. Keeping Service Permit usage focused on these short‑duration activities helps meet demand, especially during busy event periods or when hosting guests.

UW–Madison service/vendor permits are authorized for parking in designated service stalls for short-term (typically a few hours) work-related, maintenance, or delivery needs. 

• Valid Locations: Only valid in marked "Service," "Vendor," or "Service/Vendor" stalls. They are not valid in metered, timed visitor, ADA-accessible, or reserved stalls.
• Time Limits: Intended for short-term use, typically a few hours.
• Usage Restrictions: Employees cannot use a service permit to park in or near their assigned annual permit lot.

Contact: Shelly Strom, slstrom@wisc.edu 

How to Reserve the Nelson Institute Service Permit

From your Outlook calendar, right click on "My Calendars">Add Calendar>From Address Book>search for "Nelson Service Permit Parking Pass". You will be able to view the calendar to see if the service permit is available when you need it.

If available, send a meeting request from your Outlook calendar, inviting Nelson Service Permit Parking Pass (servicepermit@nelson.wisc.edu), on the date/time you want to reserve the permit and entering your name for the Title.

Once reserved, Shelly Strom will email you to coordinate pick up and drop off of the parking permit.

• A service permit is only valid in service/vendor permit stalls, which are located in a large number of garages and lots. See stall locations and counts on the Service/Vendor Parking Map (PDF).
• The permit may be displayed and used in any department or personal vehicle.
• Permits are not for employees to park closer to their office than their assigned base lot.

If the service permit is not available when you need it, please contact Shelly Strom (slstrom@wisc.edu) for other parking alternatives.

Roles & Responsibilities

Nelson Institute faculty, staff, and affiliates: responsible for requesting service permit through Outlook Calendar; returning service permit promptly after use; using permit in accord with Service Permit policy.

Dean's Office: maintaining reservation calendar; coordinating pick up and drop off of permit; keeping permit in secure location; annually ordering the service permit for Nelson Institute; informing users of service permit policy.

Note: UW employees who also have their own personal permit – such as a base lot or Flex permit – must be in paid status while parked with a service permit. This is accomplished by displaying both the personal permit and service permit when parked, and Flex permit holders must be in paid status with ParkMobile using their primary lot’s zone code.  (They check license plates since your base or flex permit is tied to your plate number)

However, if a Service permit user doesn’t have a Base lot permit or Flex permit (due to taking a bus or bike to campus), then only the Service permit will need to be displayed. 

Related Policy, if applicable

Permit Types and Permit Information (Transportation Services): https://transportation.wisc.edu/permits/#Permits

Service Permit policy (UW-Madison Policy Library): https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-6140