New to the university?
Learn about options for commuting and
where to park on your first day.
Permit eligibility and waitlists
University of Iowa faculty and staff employed 50% time or more in a permanent position are eligible for a parking assignment to a Faculty/Staff parking facility. An employee’s eligibility for a specific parking facility is based on their campus work address. See the Faculty/Staff Permit Parking Assignment Policy for full detail.
Many parking facilities on campus are assigned to capacity. Since demand exceeds the capacity of many parking facilities, Parking and Transportation maintains waiting lists for each facility. Most assignments are made from these waiting lists. Turnover primarily defines the rate at which new assignments are made. See the Parking Waitlist page for details and instruction on how to access the waitlist.
More than likely your preferred parking lot will have a waitlist. While you wait to receive an offer in your preferred parking lot, you can buy a permit in an “open” lot. Open lots can vary based on campus parking demand, as such, the most up to date list of open lots is published below under Permit Types. The Hawkeye Commuter lot is always “open” and available for permit purchase.
Permit types and rates
Parking and Transportation offers a range of permit types at various price points. Information about each permit type is shown below. See the Parking Map to confirm lot location and the rates page to confirm permit costs.
If a lot shows as “Open” under Permit Distribution, and you work in a qualifying building you can apply for that lot via the Parking Portal. Be sure to check the “Permit Distribution” column for availability before requesting a given permit as most options have waitlists.
| Permit Type | Monthly Fee | Permit Location / Lot # | Permit Distribution | Open Lots | Parking Privileges |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramp Reserved | $110 | 6, 9, 10, 12, 20, 21, 30, 50, 60, 62, 72, 80 and 92 | Waitlist required for all unless noted in Open Lots | 20 | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* |
| Parking Permit A | $62 | 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 13,18, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 57, 64, 67, 68 and 91 | Waitlist required for all unless noted in Open Lots | 36 | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* |
| Parking Permit B | $49 | 55 and 75 | Waitlist required for all unless noted in Open Lots | 55 | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* |
| Sport Medicine Parking Permit | $49 | 45 | Waitlist required for all unless noted in Open Lots | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* | |
| Iowa River Landing | $49 | IRL | Available for immediate purchase | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* | |
| IRL: Intermodal | $27 | IRL | Available for immediate purchase | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* | |
| Commuter | $27 | 65 and 85 | Waitlist required for all unless noted in Open Lots | 85 | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* |
| Carpool | Available for immediate purchase | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* | |||
| Support Services Building (SSB) | $17 | SSB | Available for immediate purchase | 24/7 access to assigned lot, N/W rights* | |
| Night Weekend (NW) | $17 | Provides access to UI public parking facilities between 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, and all weekend. | Available for immediate purchase | ||
| Motorcycle | $14 | University motorcycle lots on campus. | Available for immediate purchase | ||
| * NW charges incurred during business hours are automatically deducted from employee paycheck one month after use. | |||||
Offsite Facilities
The University of Iowa and University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics maintain facilities offsite of the main campus in Iowa City. Parking and Transportation manages some parking and provides transportation options where possible for several of these facilities. View complete details of offsite facilities parking and transportation.
Motorcycle Parking
For the purposes of university parking policy, motorcycles, motor scooters and mopeds are categorized and referred to as motorcycles. Motorcycles with valid University permits are able to park in any University motorcycle lot on campus. See the motorcycle parking page for more information.
Carpool Permits
Have a parking permit? Want to share the driving? Turn your parking permit into a carpool arrangement. For more information see our Carpool Permits page.
Temporary and Part-Time Employee Parking
Temporary and part-time employees may purchase parking permits by the day, week or month in lots with available space that do not have a current waitlist. West side employees are typically provided Lot 85 (Hawkeye Commuter) while east side employees are placed in lot 55 (Hancher) or lot 36, based on current availability. A temporary permit is not a guarantee of future permit availability. Temporary permits cannot be payroll deducted and are prepaid in the Parking & Transportation office.
Graduate Medical Education (GME) Parking
Parking and Transportation maintains a limited set of parking permits for the GME program on the west campus. The allocation of permits to GME programs and their trainees are determined by the GME office. Questions about program permit allocations can be directed to the Graduated Medical Education Office.
GME Access Card Program
Parking and Transportation also maintains a supplemental parking program intended to provide limited weekday access to parking in Hospital Ramp 1, Hospital Ramp 3 and the Newton Road Ramp for UIHC Medical Residents and Fellows. Details about the GME Access Card Program can be found on the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Access Card Program page.
Emeritus Parking
Parking and Transportations offers approved Emeritus parking privileges in a wide range of university parking facilities. Emeritus status is determined by the Provost Office. Full details about the permit offerings can be found on the Emeritus Parking page.
Night and Weekend (NW) Privileges
Night and Weekend (NW) parking privileges allow free parking for permit holders in some gated UI parking facilities during specific night and weekend hours, generally between 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. Monday – Friday and all weekend long.
Parking in these same parking facilities during regular business hours, while using your parking access card, will result in hourly parking charges. For a full list of parking rates and fees, please visit our rates page.
For full details about NW see the Night and Weekend Parking page.
Restricted Employee Parking
Hospital Parking Ramps 1, 2, and 4 are reserved for patients and visitors between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Employees are not permitted to use these parking facilities during these hours unless you have an appointment or are accompanying someone to an appointment.
Employees should use Hospital Parking Ramp 3 and Newton Road Parking Ramp during business hours to avoid receiving a parking citation. See the Parking & Transportation Regulations for more information.
For employees using the hospital ramps while they are a patient, see the Employee as Patient Parking page for steps needed to avoid a citation.
Assigned Parking Lot Full
Parking and Transportation manages parking capacity in all facilities across campus. An employee permit does not guarantee a parking place at all times; however, the department works diligently to ensure permit holders are able to access a parking space in their assigned lot. See our Assigned Parking Lot Full page for more information.
Applying for Permits
If you’re new to campus, be sure to check out the new employee resource page!
Find permit and bus pass costs on the rates page. Permit and bus pass costs are prorated from August 1st through July 31st.
Parking permit purchases can be made directly through the Parking Portal. Night / Weekend permits, motorcycle permits, Lot 85 commuter and open lot permits are available at all times. All other campus parking lots are assigned from a waitlist.
Visit the Parking Portal Info page to learn more about navigating the parking portal.
Employees will receive an email confirmation once parking credentials are valid. Parking permits take effect immediately once ordered and paid online.
Access Cards
Parking access cards are used to enter/exit assigned gated facilities, in addition to providing means for Night/Weekend privileges. Customers assigned to a gated facility will be automatically issued a parking access card. All other access card are issued on request. To obtain an access card, complete this form and choose your fulfillment options.
City of Iowa City permits also come with a City parking access card. Employees maintaining these limited permits in City facilities will receive a City and UI parking access card.
No access card?
For gated lot or ramp permits, customers who do not have an existing access card can pick up their parking access card from our office once a permit is issued.
Already have an access card?
For customers with existing access cards, access to newly assigned lots will be implemented on their existing access cards. Access rights can also be terminated as employees shift to new permits.
Payment Options and Parking Charges
Online parking purchases
- Monthly payroll deduction, if eligible. Employees in a permanent position working half-time or more are eligible for payroll deduction, as long as they are paid on a monthly basis (not biweekly).
- Credit card – Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.
In person transaction at the Parking and Transportation office
Permits must be paid in full by:
- Cash, check, money order.
- Debit card.
- Credit card – Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.
Payroll deduction explained
Permanent employees working 50% or more time who are paid monthly are eligible for Payroll Deduction. Employees who are eligible for payroll deduction will have their monthly parking permit charge deducted on a pre-tax basis.
Parking payroll deductions pay for the previous month’s parking. When you first get an employee parking permit, you will not be charged until your next check. If you get your permit after the 15th of the month, your initial deduction will not occur until the first full month afterward (i.e. if you get your permit on May 20, your initial deduction will be 1.5 month’s worth on your July check). When you cancel a permit, your last deduction will be on your next check.
NW parking charges
- If you use your parking access card to park in ramps on campus during the day, using your Night/Weekend privileges, you will be charged the normal hourly rate for that time.
- Night / weekend charges are deducted on a monthly basis two months after use
- An NW deduction in April would be for February parking, if any.
Viewing active parking charges
You can view your parking access card usage and applicable charges by visiting https://myparking.parking.uiowa.edu/
Permit Renewal
Employee virtual parking permits are non-expiring effective August 1, 2021. The monthly fees will continue to accrue while you have an active permit. It is the permit holders responsible to cancel the permit if the virtual permit is no longer needed.
Employees are responsible for keeping their vehicle and license plate information up to date. An annual email will be sent to all active permit holders with any rate and policy changes pertaining to your current parking permit.
Temporary permits will expire at midnight on the last date of the permit date allocation.
Canceling your permit and refunds
Virtual permits are non-expiring, meaning that they must be cancelled to stop incurring charges.
Employees leaving the University must notify Parking & Transportation prior to the last day of employment to terminate parking credentials and charges. You can cancel your permit by using the Cancel Permit Form. If a permit is not cancelled, charges will still accrue for the permit. It is the responsibility of the permit-holder to cancel permits in a timely manner.
Permits are pro-rated by the half month. For example, if you cancel your permit on the 1st-15th of the month, your final payment will only be a half-month's charge. Permits cancelled from the 16th to the end of the month will pay a full month’s charge.
If you have been issued a physical permit, then the permit needs to be returned to the office to be cancelled. Physical permits include but are not limited to: U-PASS, motorcycle permit, SSB and City Ramp permits.
Report a Lost or Stolen Permit, U-PASS or Access Card
If you have lost a physical permit, U-PASS or Access card, complete and submit the Lost form. The lost item will be deactivated within the next business day. You will need to stop by the Parking Office to pick up a replacement permit, U-PASS or access card. A $20 fee will apply to all replacement access cards, permits and bus passes.