Campus parking options for undergraduate, graduate and other students.
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Student Parking Program
About the program
The Student Parking Program provides a limited number of parking permits to eligible students who need on-campus parking on weekdays.
Please note: eligibility and application submission do not guarantee a permit.
Available permit options
The permit types available through the Student Parking Program are base lot permits and UW Accessible permits.
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About base lot permits for students
Base lot permits allow parking in a designated lot and are also valid in other campus lots after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.
- Base lot permits for students are available in lots 34, 41, 59, 67, 76 and 83.
- Check available locations.
About UW Accessible permits for students
UW Accessible permits allow parking in these locations across campus:
- UW Accessible (disabled) stalls
- State of Wisconsin disabled stalls
- ParkMobile stalls (30 minutes or longer)
- Unreserved permit stalls
More accessibility resources
Parking permit policies
Vehicles may not remain parked in a parking facility without exiting for more than 72 hours without authorization by Transportation Services.
Permits are not valid when a lot is reserved for a special event or closed for construction. Permit holders receive notification and relocation options when a lot is closed.
Refer to Transportation Services policies for complete rules and restrictions.
Eligibility
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Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students may be eligible for the student parking program if they meet one or more of these criteria:
- Commuting students from outside Madison. This is defined as one mile beyond Madison Metro Transit’s service area.
- Working students who use their vehicle at least three times a week for employment off campus. A signed letter from the employer listing scheduled work hours is required.
- Students who need accessible parking accommodations, primarily as approved by the McBurney Disability Resource Center. Students who believe they are eligible under this qualification should fill out a pre-approval application AND contact the McBurney Center about their application.
Graduate students with a "student help" employment appointment, or no appointment
Graduate students without any campus employment appointment, or with an appointment classified as “student help” must submit the student parking pre-approval application to be entered into the parking application system. However, they do not need to meet the criteria for undergraduate students to be approved to apply for parking.
Interested in a reduced cost base lot permit?
Once approved to apply for parking, only apply in these lots where reduced cost permits are available for eligible students: 41, 59, 67, 76 or 83. Check available locations.
Graduate students with an employment appointment
Graduate students with employment appointments (such as a teaching, research or project assistantship) are considered UW employees by the parking division and are eligible to apply through the process for UW employees. They are not eligible to apply for parking through the Student Parking Program.
Please refer to the process for UW employees to apply for a daytime campus parking permit or a UW Accessible permit.
Approval process
Step 2
You will be notified by Transportation Services if you are approved to apply for parking.
Step 3
Follow the steps provided by the Student Parking Program to apply for a permit.
More student parking options
Many parking options are available to most students with a valid NetID for online purchase, unless otherwise noted. No pre-approval is needed.
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Afternoon permits
Afternoon permits are valid in designated campus lots from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and all day on weekends.
Check the afternoon permit policy for valid locations and more details.
Night permits
Night permits are valid in designated campus lots from 4:30 p.m. to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, and all day on weekends.
There are two types of night permits:
- Night garage permits are lot-specific.
- Night surface permits are valid in the lots specified in the night permit policy.
Check the night permit policy for valid locations and more details.
Semester permits
UW graduate students and professional students may purchase a semester permit depending on availability, regardless of employment status. Undergraduate students are not eligible.
Semester permits allow parking in a designated lot at all times.
Availability is very limited.
- Fall semester permits are valid September 1–December 31. They are available to purchase online in early August.
- Spring semester permits are valid January 1–May 31. They are available to purchase online in early December.
Temporary UW Accessible permits
Temporary UW Accessible permits are valid for the same length of time as a temporary state disabled permit, or up to two months with a doctor’s note.
Renewal requires a valid State DOT disabled permit.
Permits can be purchased with required documentation at any Transportation Services office.
More accessibility resources
Moped parking & permits
Any moped on campus must park in a designated moped parking stall with a moped permit; in a timed parking stall with payment and within posted time constraints; or in a vehicle stall with a valid temporary permit displayed. Parking anywhere else will result in a citation.
Motorcycle parking & permits
A motorcycle permit or ParkMobile payment is required in motorcycle parking areas.
Go to the motorcycle permit policy for more information about motorcycle permits.
Go to the visitor parking page for information about hourly motorcycle parking.
E-scooters
E-scooter users must follow Transportation Services parking policies and all traffic laws.
E-scooters may only park at bike racks or in designated e-scooter parking areas on the UW-Madison campus. No permit is required.
E-scooters may not be parked at or locked to any object on campus other than a rack designated for that purpose. E-scooters may not be parked at or locked to utility poles, trees, bollards, railing, signs posts, or fences.
If your e-scooter was parked on UW-Madison property in a non-designated area, it may have been impounded. Complete the e-scooter claim form for more details.
The City of Madison and other off-campus communities may have different rules and regulations than the UW-Madison campus. Check with these groups for more details.
Off-campus parking options (non-UW)
Campus Area Housing offers a marketplace where individuals rent out parking spaces near UW–Madison. Transportation Services is not affiliated with the marketplace.
This can be a convenient option if you’re looking for something close to campus and flexible.
Help Center
Do you have more questions about parking at UW-Madison?
Find answers to our top questions about permits, student parking, accessible parking, citations, and more.