Parking Options While Conducting University Business

The University encourages faculty and staff to walk or bike when crossing campus. U-PASS holders and anyone with a little pocket change may also hop one of several buses that cross campus. However, when a car is needed for conducting University business, Parking Services has a number of products designed to assist faculty and staff permit holders. These include:

Departmental Out-Of-Area Permit: Departmental faculty and staff with a valid daytime permit may use a departmental out-of-area permit to access designated lots for up to 3 hours. Departmental out-of-area permits are issued annually. Departments may call (206) 221-3701 for additional information and to request an application or click here for an online order form. Departments may want to set up a system by which this permit is checked in and out.

Departmental Out-of-Area Parking Permit

Click here to go to the Department Fee Schedule.

Departments with employees who use or run errands to a number of different campus buildings may want to purchase the Departmental Out-of-Area Permit. The Departmental Out-of-Area Permit is used by employees along with their own valid SOV Permit. The permit is valid for parking up to three hours in the Central Parking Garage, lots N4, N5, N20, N21, N25, E2, E8, E10, E11, S1, W2, W10, W12 and W35. What better way to easily add flexible parking options for your employees?

Departments that purchase the SOV Permit :

• will purchase a Departmental-Out-of-Area Permit on an annual basis.
• may order multiple permits.
• may want to set up a system to check the permit in and out to ensure proper usage.
• should contact the Permit Issuance Office, 206-221-3701, prkissue@u.washington.edu for additional information.

How to Purchase

Submit an order form requesting purchase. You will be notified when the permit has been processed and ready for pick up. (Note: Departmental Out-of-Area Permits are non-refundable.)

Multiple-Area Designator: Employees with two or more work sites may request up to three area assignments when purchasing an annual or quarterly permit. An e-mail to prkissue@u.washington.edu from the department head verifying the need for this type of designator must be submitted prior to purchasing. Areas are assigned on a space available basis at no additional cost.

Universal (U) Designator: Personnel working at multiple sites may request a U designator that allows the user to park in most campus parking lots except those listed below. There is a cost for the U designator that is added to the permit price at the time of purchase. An e-mail to prkissue@u.washington.edu from the department head verifying the need for this type of designator must be submitted prior to purchasing. When approved, Commuter Services will notify you with the “how to” details before you come into the office.

Universal (U) Permit holders are required to park in the lot assigned on their permit. The U designator on a permit authorizes the permit holder to park in many lots when conducting University business based on job duties. U designator permits are not valid in parking spaces or lots as follows:

• Disability or wheelchair spaces or lots including N22 (HUB) unless disability parking is requested
• Restricted at "All Times, All Days" parking spaces or areas including C14 and C17
• Reserved parking spaces
• Spaces marked University Vehicles Only, Physical Plant Vehicles Only, Service Vehicles Only and Truck Only

U designator permit holders must pay when parking in metered spaces. U designator permit holders must adhere to the posted time limit when parking in load/unload zones.

Universal Limited (UL) Designator: Personnel working at multiple sites may request a UL designator that allows the user to park in several campus parking lots except those listed below. There is a cost for the UL designator that is added to the permit price at the time of purchase. An e-mail to prkissue@u.washington.edu from the department head verifying the need for this type of designator must be submitted prior to purchasing. When approved, Parking will notify you with the “how to” details before you come into the office. UL designator permits are not valid in parking spaces or lots as follows:

• Disability or wheelchair spaces or lots including N22 (HUB) unless disability parking is requested
• Restricted at "All Times, All Days" parking spaces or areas
• Reserved parking spaces
• Spaces marked University Vehicles Only, Physical Plant Vehicles Only, Service Vehicles Only and Truck Only
• S6, S7, N3, N4, N22, C7, C10, C12, C14, C15, C17

UL designator permit holders must pay when parking in metered spaces. U designator permit holders must adhere to the posted time limit when parking in load/unload zones.

Service (S) Designator: Vendors and service contractors needing to park at multiple sites may request an S designator that allows the user to park in several campus parking lots except those marked “Restricted All Times, All Days” such as C14 and C17 . There is a cost for the S designator that is added to the permit price at the time of purchase. The contractor can come into the Commuter Services office to pick up a form, take the form upstairs to the UW Purchasing Department for “contract sign-off” and return to Commuter Services to pay and pick up the service permit.

Parking after 4 p.m.: Faculty and staff who have a valid annual or quarterly permit or Individual Commuter Tickets may automatically park in any unrestricted area after 4 p.m. No need to stop at a gatehouse. Users should check the signs in the lot to be sure it is not restricted to specific types of permits. Personnel enrolled in the Pay-Per-Use-Parking (PPUP) program must stop at a gatehouse to receive an out-of-area permit before parking somewhere other than the West Campus Garage.

Load Zone parking: Valid permit holders may park in any load/unload zone for up to the posted time limit. Pay-Per-Use-Parking (PPUP) participants must first stop at a gatehouse to obtain a load/unload zone permit.

Intramural Activities Building (IMA) parking: Permit holders (excluding those that park in lot E10, E11, E12, E13, C12, C14, C15, and N24 may park in E8 when using the IMA facilities. No need to stop at a gatehouse! Pay-Per-Use-Parking (PPUP) participants must stop at the nearest gatehouse to receive an out-of-area permit.

University of Washington Club parking: Permit holders, excluding those assigned to N16, N18, N20, N21, and N24, may park in the UW Club (formerly the Faculty Club) lot (C19) while utilizing that facility. Pay-Per-Use-Parking (PPUP) participants must stop at the nearest gatehouse to receive an out-of-area permit.

Gatehouse Out-Of-Area Permit: Permit holders needing to park outside their assigned locations are filled on a space available basis. Assignments are generally made in larger parking areas and in the Central Plaza Garage (CPG) after 1:30 p.m.

Gatehouses accept permit fee payments in cash, check and Visa/Mastercard.

Click here for current parking rates.