Student parking permit options and eligibility requirements

Parking options for UW undergraduate and graduate students, and information about eligibility for UW undergraduate and graduate students to apply for and/or purchase a base lot parking permit or UW Accessible permit.

Undergraduate students must have a valid Wiscard and NetID and meet at least one of these criteria to be eligible to apply for a base lot parking permit:

  • Commutes to/from one mile beyond the limits of the Metro Transit system. 
  • Uses vehicle at least three times a week for employment off campus. A signed letter from the employer listing scheduled work hours on business letterhead is required. 
  • Has unusual or unique needs (must provide justification).

Undergraduate students with a valid, state-issued disabled parking permit placard (or a physician's note) are eligible for a UW Accessible parking permit (annual or temporary).

Graduate students without an employment appointment (or an employment appointment classified as "student help") may be eligible to apply for a base lot permit through the student parking process, but do not need to meet the criteria for undergraduate students to be approved to apply for parking.

Graduate students with employment appointments (such as a teaching, research, or project assistantship) are considered UW employees and are eligible to apply for a parking permit through the process for UW employees. They do not need to meet the criteria for undergraduate students or apply through the student parking process. 

Questions about employment status should be directed to the graduate student's department administration.

Other parking options:

Any student with a campus NetID may purchase off-peak, short-term, moped, and motorcycle parking permits online. There is no additional eligibility criteria or application process required to purchase these products.

Related resources



Keywords:
parking, permit, base lot, apply for parking, UW accessible parking, ADA parking
Doc ID:
146738
Owned by:
Lauren V. in UW Transportation Services
Created:
2024-12-05
Updated:
2025-07-07
Sites:
UW Transportation Services