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 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.

    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.

    Parking Permit Online Sale Information

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

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

    Please have 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.

    Spring Semester Online Sale

    The Spring Semester parking permit online sale will open to students based on their completed credit hours.[2] All permit sales open at 10:00 a.m. (MT). As the sale opens for each student group, campus residents will select from available residential lots, and commuters will select from available commuter lots.

    Sales Open for:

    Graduates/Veterans Monday, January 6, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)
    Seniors (90+ credit hours[2]) Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)
    Juniors (60 - 89.99 credit hours[2]) Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Sophomores (30 - 59.99 credit hours[2]) 

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

    		 Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)
    Freshmen (Residence Hall) & Non-degree seeking students (0 - 29.99 credit hours[2]) Friday, January 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    [2]To verify credit hours:

    • Log on to MyCUInfo
    • Click on Register for Classes
    • Click on the gold "Menu" button and select "Term" information from the drop down menu
    • Click "View my term summary information" from the menu
    • This will display students' total credit hours

    Pricing

    • Spring semester 2020 permit rates are $221.00
    • 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. When campus lots are closed/impacted for events and maintenance, permit holders will receive an email with an alternate parking option.

    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

    The Fall 2019 permit waitlist will be deleted Friday, December 20, 2019. If a permit is not available at students' time for purchase, they will need to add their name to the Spring 2020 permit waitlist.

    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 (Student IdentiKeys are not active for the sale until the Spring 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.

    Spring Semester Online Sale

    The Spring Semester parking permit online sale will open to students based on their completed credit hours.[2] 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/Veterans Monday, January 6, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)
    Seniors (90+ credit hours[2]) Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)
    Juniors (60 - 89.99 credit hours[2]) Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    Sophomores (30 - 59.99 credit hours[2]) 

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

    		 Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)
    Freshmen (Residence Hall) & Non-degree seeking students (0 - 29.99 credit hours[2]) Friday, January 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (MT)

    [2]To verify credit hours:

    • Log on to MyCUInfo
    • Click on Register for Classes
    • Click on the gold "Menu" button and select "Term" information from the drop down menu
    • Click "View my term summary information" from the menu
    • This will display students' total credit hours

    Pricing

    • Spring semester 2020 permit rates are $221.00
    • 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. When campus lots are closed/impacted for events and maintenance, permit holders will receive an email with an alternate parking option.

    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

    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 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).