Tips for commuting without your car
It is possible to get around Boulder (and campus) without a car. Please visit our short term parking and getting around campus webpages for information on pay-to-park and sustainable transportation options.
  • Bus - Use RTD's Trip-Planner and/or RTD Park-n-Rides to make busing more feasible, and download the Transit app to get real-time bus info.
  • Car and bike shares - Use Colorado Carshare, Zipcar and Boulder B-cycle to get around town without your car. Memberships are either free or significantly price reduced for CU affiliates.

    Parking Services encourages students to use alternate options for getting to and around campus. If there are no parking permits available for purchase, please place your name on the parking permit waitlists. Parking Services continually monitors lot availability and will contact students if a permit becomes available.

    CU Boulder features "virtual" parking permits, with no need for printed hang tag permits. The vehicle's license plate information is registered and associated with the permit, so your license plate is your parking permit and is valid to park in only the specific lot or zone you purchase. Parking at meters and pay station lots requires additional payment. For more information, please review the Virtual Permits for Students webpage.

    Every campus parking lot requires lot specific permits or payment. Please read all parking signs carefully before leaving your vehicle to avoid receiving a citation.

    1. Students should review either "Commuter" or "Campus Resident" details and sale dates listed below.
    2. To purchase your student permit select the "Purchase Student Parking Permit" button (below.) Important! During high volume times you may be directed to a waiting area until the next space in line is available. Once in the queue your position number will display, but will reset if you are using a mobile device and your IP address changes or cookies are reset.
    3. Parking Services understands that some students need personalized parking permits when the weeks you need for classes, research and work don’t align with the listed semester schedules. Our Customer Service Specialists are able to create a personalized permit for the weeks you need. Contact: 303-735-PARK (7275).

    Parking Permit Online Sale Information

    Review and confirm the location of the permitted lot you are purchasing on the CU Boulder Parking Map prior to completing your parking permit purchase.

    The student parking permit sale is based on class standing, per the Campus Registrar's cumulative hours.

    You will need the following information available prior to logging on to the parking permit website:

    • Your student IdentiKey and password (Student IdentiKeys are not active for the sale until the upcoming term student download has been completed, shortly before the sale begins.) 
    • License plate number of the vehicle you plan to park on campus
    • Year, make, model and color of the vehicle you plan to park on campus

    You may pay for your permit with a credit card or place the charge on your Student Tuition and Fee bill. (Maymester and Augmester may only be paid with a credit card.)

    Student permits are "virtual", which means there is no physical hangtag to pick up. The vehicle's license plate information is registered and associated with the permit, so your license plate is your parking permit and is valid to park in the specific lot or zone you purchased. Parking at meters and pay station lots requires additional payment.

    Summer Online Sale

    The Summer parking permit online sale will open Monday, May 24, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Augmester Online Sale

    The Augmester parking permit online sale will open Monday, July 26, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Fall and Academic Year Online Sale

    The Fall and Academic Year parking permit online sale will open to students based on their completed credit hours[2] per the campus Registrar's cumulative hours. All permit sales open at 10 a.m. (MT). As the sale opens for each student, campus residents will select from available residential lots and commuters will select from available commuter lots.

    Sales Open for:

    Graduates/Veterans

    Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Seniors 90+ credit hours[2]

    Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Juniors 60–89.99 credit hours[2]

    Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Sophomores 30–59.99 credit hours[2]

    & Off-Campus Freshmen (0–29.99 credit hours[2])

    Monday Aug. 9, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Freshmen (Residence Hall) & Non-degree seeking students 0–29.99 credit hours[2]

    Wednesday, Aug.11, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    [2]To verify credit hours:

    Where You'll Park

    Permits are assigned to specific lots. The specific lot or zone will be selected during the permit purchase process based on availability at that time. Examples of lots that may be available include 169, 282, 308, 391, 402, 436, 470, 543, 560 or 576. The specific lot will be selected during the permit purchase process based on availability at that time. View the CU Boulder Parking Map for locations. When campus lots are closed/impacted for events and maintenance, permit holders will receive an email with an alternate parking option.

    Off Peak Time Parking

    If you need campus access in the morning, evening, or weekends (for classes or work), an Off Peak permit may benefit you. Off Peak permits may provide closer parking to your campus destination. Visit our Off Peak permits page. Verify lot restrictions by reading signage in parking lots before parking your vehicle, or call Parking Services at 303-735-PARK (7275) for more information.

    Parking Permit Online Sale Information

    Review and confirm the location of the permitted lot you are purchasing on the CU Boulder Parking Map prior to completing your parking permit purchase.

    The student parking permit sale is based on class standing, per the Campus Registrar's cumulative hours.

    You will need the following information available prior to logging on to the parking permit website:

    • Your student Identikey and password
    • License plate number of the vehicle you plan to park on campus
    • Year, make, model and color of the vehicle you plan to park on campus

    You may pay for your permit with a credit card or place the charge on your Student Tuition and Fee bill. (Maymester and Augmester may only be paid with a credit card.)

    Student permits are "virtual", which means there is no physical hangtag to pick up. The vehicle's license plate information is registered and associated with the permit, so your license plate is your parking permit and is valid to park in the specific lot or zone you purchased. Parking at meters and pay station lots requires additional payment.

    Summer Online Sale

    The Summer parking permit online sale will open Monday, May 24, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Augmester Online Sale

    The Augmester parking permit online sale will open Monday, July 26, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Fall and Academic Year Online Sale

    The Fall and Academic Year parking permit online sale will open to students based on their completed credit hours[2] per the campus Registrar's cumulative hours. All permit sales open at 10 a.m. (MT). As the sale opens for each student, campus residents will select from available residential lots and commuters will select from available commuter lots.

    Sales Open for:

    Graduates/Veterans

    Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Seniors 90+ credit hours[2]

    Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Juniors 60–89.99 credit hours[2]

    Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Sophomores 30–59.99 credit hours[2]

    & Off-Campus Freshmen (0–29.99 credit hours[2])

    Monday Aug. 9, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    Freshmen (Residence Hall) & Non-degree seeking students 0–29.99 credit hours[2]

    Wednesday, Aug.11, 2021 at 10 a.m. (MT)

    [2]To verify credit hours:

    Where Resident Students Park

    Housing assignment determines parking lot options. Examples of lots that may be available include KIT Zone, 125, 136, 556, 610, 618 or 622. The specific lot or zone will be selected during the permit purchase process based on availability at that time. View the CU Boulder parking map for locations. When campus lots are closed/impacted for events and maintenance, permit holders will receive an email with an alternate parking option.

    Off Peak Time Parking

    If you need campus access in the morning, evening, or weekends (for classes or work), an Off Peak permit may benefit you. Off Peak permits may provide closer parking to your campus destination. Visit our Off Peak permits page. Verify lot restrictions by reading signage in parking lots before parking your vehicle, or call Parking Services at 303-735-PARK (7275) for more information.

    Purchase Student Parking Permit

    ADA Parking

    Please review the process for purchasing a permit for ADA Accessible Parking.

    Reciprocal Parking for Students

    CU Boulder students who hold parking permits and will be taking classes at other CU campuses may be eligible for no-charge or discounted parking at these campuses. For more information, visit the Reciprocal Parking section of our site.

    How to Cancel Your Permit

    If you no longer need your parking permit, please email ParkingPermits@colorado.edu from the permit holder's "Colorado.edu" email address, stating that you wish to cancel your permit. 

    You may be entitled to a prorated refund if three weeks remain before expiration. Call 303-735-PARK (7275) to verify any unpaid citations, including those that may have been transferred to the student's tuition and fee bill.