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Parking Permits

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A valid UCSC permit or ParkMobile payment is required to park in all parking spaces on campus. Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) has transitioned to a virtual permitting system for campus parking. With virtual permitting, TAPS will no longer issue physical parking permits in most situations. Instead, you will register your vehicle and license plate number when purchasing your permits. Your registered license plate will act as your parking permit through Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR). Eligible affiliates will be able to purchase and/or renew both long-term and daily permits through this system.

UCSC Parking Permits

Select your affiliation with UC Santa Cruz below to see your parking permit options and learn how to purchase.

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Undergraduate
Parking

Graduate
Parking

Employee
Parking

Retiree Permits &
Bus Passes

Disabled &
Medical Parking

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UCSC
Departments

Contractor &
Vendor Parking

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Visitor & Guest
Parking

Hourly & Daily Parking via ParkMobile

ParkMobile is available on the residential campus, Coastal Science Campus, and Westside Research Park. On the residential campus, parking is available for $2.50/hour, $10/day, or $5 evening/weekend flat rate in select locations, plus a $0.45 transaction fee. Check the UCSC Parking Map for enforcement hours, as they vary by area. Use the ParkMobile app to find the most updated zones and rates.

Non-ParkMobile permits, such as A, C, R, event, and contractor permits, are not authorized to utilize marked ParkMobile spaces without additional payment. Please observe posted signage to avoid receiving a citation.

Check for ParkMobile signage in the zones below for available spaces and areas. Failure to adhere to signage or pay ParkMobile fees in a designated area or space will result in a citation.

UCSC ParkMobile Zones

Scroll through the table below to find the ParkMobile zones and their time limits. Find each lot on the Campus Parking Map.

New to ParkMobile?

Download the ParkMobile App on the Google Play or Apple App Store and set-up your profile with license plate and payment information.
Enter the ParkMobile zone number.
Select parking duration (daily or hourly rate as applicable).

If you prefer to pay by phone, call 877-727-5718.

When Can I Park for Free?

After 5pm and Weekends

Parking permits are not required in the East (Lot 104) and West (Lot 127) Remote lots after 5:00pm weekdays or during weekends. In addition, most of the lots near the base of campus don’t require permits after 5pm weekdays or on weekends (parking map):

Carriage House (Lot 115)
Campus Facilities (Lot 116)
Granary (Lot 118)
Cardiff House (Lot 151)

After 8:30 pm and Weekends

In addition to the lots mentioned above, most other lots on campus (including the Core West Parking Structure and North Perimeter Lot 150) don’t require permits after 8:30 pm on weekdays or during weekends. Please check the UCSC Parking Map for details, and always double-check the enforcement hours on each parking lot entry sign.

Permits Required on Weekends

Permits are required in the following lots on weekends (parking map):

Arts (Lot 126)
Cowell/Stevenson area (Lots 107, 108, 109, 110)
Crown/Merrill Apartments (Lots 152, 153, 154, and 155)
College 9/John R. Lewis area (Lots 164, 165, 166, and 167)
East Field House (Lot 103A)
Kresge (Lots 143, 145, and 147)
Porter College (Lots 124 and 125)

ParkMobile

Please follow the posted requirements for payment in ParkMobile spaces and zones.

Holidays

The TAPS Sales Office (parking office) is closed on holidays.

In general, permits are not required on the main campus during University holidays, with the following exceptions:

In lots where permits are required at all times*
In posted reserved parking spaces
When parking attendants are present during a special event

* Permits are required at all times in parking lots marked red on the UCSC Parking Map. You can also check the information signs located at each parking lot entry.

Permits are not required on the holidays listed below as long as you adhere to the guidelines stated above:

December Campus Closure (Note: Campus Closure dates vary each year; from approximately Christmas Eve day through New Year’s Day)
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Presidents Day
Cesar Chavez Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday after Thanksgiving

UC Parking Reciprocity

To expedite university business between UC campuses and/or UCOP, UC Santa Cruz offers reciprocal parking for faculty and staff members for up to 5 days per calendar year.

Each campus has unique circumstances relating to various parking issues (space availability, rates, access by gate, kiosks, specific designated lots). Because of these differences, the permit holder must:

Contact their campus parking office to arrange reciprocal parking. Have them email the TAPS Sales Office with the following information:
- Confirmation of a valid permit
- Requestor’s full name
- Requestor’s vehicle information (license plate number, make, model, and color)
- Date of the parking request.
Once this is confirmed, you will receive a virtual permit to park on the UCSC campus on the date requested in any non-reserved A parking space (parking map)

If an employee from another UC campus is working or teaching at UC Santa Cruz longer period than five days, they must purchase a permit appropriate to the host campus.

Student permits do not have reciprocity. Students from other UC campuses must purchase parking at each individual campus according to the availability and rate for that campus.