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.
  • Carpool - Use cucommute.com by WayToGo to search for a carpool match.
  • Car and bike shares - Use eGo Carshare, Zipcar and Boulder B Cycle to get around town without your car. Memberships are either free or significantly price reduced for CU affiliates.

    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 "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.

    Parking Permit Online Sale Information

    To review the location of the permitted lot you are purchasing please review the CU Boulder Parking Map[1].

    Please have 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 Session Permit Online Sale

    The 2019 summer session parking permit online sale will open Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 10 a.m. (MT) and be available through 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2019. Summer session permits may be charged to a credit card or placed on your Student Tuition and Fee bill.

    Term B permits will be available for purchase online beginning Sunday, July 7, 2019. You will select a Term D permit, which will be prorated for the final five weeks of summer semester.

    Augmester Permit Online Sale

    The 2019 Augmester parking permit online sale will open 10 a.m. (MT), Tuesday, July 30, 2019 and be available through 4:30 p.m. (MT) Friday, August 16, 2019. Students who need to purchase parking permits for Augmester after August 16th should call Parking Services 303-735-PARK (7275.)

    Augmester 2019 permit rates are $37.50 per Augmester session and must be charged to a credit card.

    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 above listed semester schedules. Our Customer Service Specialists are able to create a personalized permit for the weeks you need! Contact: 303-735-PARK (7275).

    Fall Semester/Academic Year Online Sale

    The Fall Semester/Academic Year parking permit online sale will open to students based on their academic class year. All permit sales open at 10:00 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:   Monday, August 5, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Seniors:   Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Juniors:   Friday, August 9, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Sophomores:  Monday, August 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Freshmen:   Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Pricing

    • Fall semester 2019 permit rates are $191.25 - $221.00
    • Academic year 2019-2020 permit rates are $382.50 - $442.00
    • Students may pay for their permit with a credit card or place the charge on their Student Tuition and Fee bill.

    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 GV Zone, EC Zone, SC Zone, RG Zone, 169, 308, 391, 402, 470, 543 or 576.

    View the CU Boulder Parking Map for locations[1]

    Morning/Evening and Weekend Parking

    Several main campus parking lots don’t require a permit (no-charge parking) weeknights from 5:00 PM - 7:30 AM and on weekends (starting 5:00 PM Friday evening - 7:30 AM Monday morning). The largest such lots are 169, 308 and 436. Always read the signs in the lot you park in, or call Parking Services at 303-735-PARK (7275) for more information.

    If you need campus access in the morning, evening, or weekends (for classes or work), an AM/PM permit may benefit you. AM/PM permits may provide closer parking to your campus destination than the free lots, and they are available in several time increments. Visit our AM/PM permits page.

    Parking Permit Online Sale Information

    To review the location of the permitted lot you are purchasing please review the CU Boulder Parking Map.[1]

    Please have 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 Session Permit Online Sale

    The 2019 summer session parking permit online sale will open Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 10 a.m. (MT) and be available through 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2019. Summer session permits may be charged to a credit card or placed on your Student Tuition and Fee bill.

    Term B permits will be available for purchase online beginning Sunday, July 7, 2019. You will select a Term D permit, which will be prorated for the final five weeks of summer semester.

    Augmester Permit Online Sale

    The 2019 Augmester parking permit online sale will open 10 a.m. (MT), Tuesday, July 30, 2019 and be available through 4:30 p.m. (MT) Friday, August 16, 2019. Students who need to purchase parking permits for Augmester after August 16th should call Parking Services 303-735-PARK (7275.)

    Augmester 2019 permit rates are $37.50 per Augmester session and must be charged to a credit card.

    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 above listed semester schedules. Our Customer Service Specialists are able to create a personalized permit for the weeks you need! Contact: 303-735-PARK (7275).

    Fall Semester/Academic Year Online Sale

    The Fall Semester/Academic Year parking permit online sale will open to students based on their academic class year. All permit sales open at 10:00 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:   Monday, August 5, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Seniors:   Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Juniors:   Friday, August 9, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Sophomores:  Monday, August 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Freshmen:   Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Pricing

    • Fall semester 2019 permit rates are $191.25 - $221.00
    • Academic year 2019-2020 permit rates are $382.50 - $442.00
    • Students may pay for their permit with a credit card or place the charge on their Student Tuition and Fee bill.

    Where Resident Students Park

    Housing assignment determines parking lot options. Examples of lots that may be available include KIT Zone, WV Zone, SC Zone, 125, 136, or 618. The specific lot or zone will be selected during the permit purchase process based on availability at that time.

    View the PS parking map for locations[1]

    Morning/Evening and Weekend Parking

    Several main campus parking lots don’t require a permit (no-charge parking) on weeknights from 5:00 PM - 7:30 AM and on weekends (starting 5:00 PM Friday evening - 7:30 AM Monday morning). The three largest such lots are 169, 308 and 436. Always read the signs at lot entrances for specifics, or call Parking Services at 303-735-PARK (7275) for more information.

    If you need to access campus in the morning, evening, or weekend (for classes or work), an AM/PM permit may benefit you. These permits help provide closer parking to your campus destination than the free lots, and they are available in several time increments (to help you avoid having to rush to move your car by 7:30 AM). Visit our AM/PM permits page. 

    Purchase Student Parking Permit

    Reciprocal Parking for Students

    CU Boulder students who hold parking permits and will be taking classes at other CU campuses may be eligible for free 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 also cancel by visiting Parking Services' Customer Service office (1050 Regent Drive/across from the Engineering Building.) Please have photo identification available if cancelling in person.

    You may be entitled to a prorated refund if three weeks remain in the semester. 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.

    [1]The map on this page is not fully accessible for users who employ screen readers and other assistive devices. If you use assistive technology and need assistance with parking lot locations please contact our Customer Service Specialists at (303) 735-PARK (7275).