Permits and fees

If you are visiting campus as a guest, or if you simply need to purchase a daily parking permit, there are a few options.

• Daily permits may be purchased at our office, located on the corner of North Virginia Street and 16th Street. Daily permits are available for the West Stadium Parking Complex (Silver 17 zone) for $7 per day per vehicle. This parking complex is located on 16th Street, just west of Mackay Stadium.
• Daily permits may also be purchased on the top floor of the West Stadium Parking Complex via the pay and display permit dispenser machines for $7 per day per vehicle. The Parking and Transportation Services Department will not issue refunds for pay and display permits purchased in error. All transactions are final.
• Guests who wish to purchase an ADA daily permit may also do so at any pay and display permit dispenser for $5 per day. A state-DMV-issued ADA placard must be displayed in conjunction with the ADA daily permit, and the placard owner must be in the vehicle. Again, the Parking and Transportation Services Department will not issue refunds for pay and display permits purchased in error. All transactions are final.

To purchase an annual or semester permit online, you will need to log in using your Net ID (not student ID number) and password. If you have not set up and activated your NetID, please contact the University's Help Desk.

Faculty and staff who are eligible for payroll deduction may elect to have the permit fees deducted, pre-tax, from their paycheck on a monthly basis. For more information, or to determine if you are eligible, please contact Parking and Transportation Services at (775) 784-4654.

Please view the permit information for UNR at Lake Tahoe.

Please read carefully, as some zones have changed.

University of Nevada, Reno's parking system is based on a zone parking system. Parking permits are valid in the zone designated on the front of the permit. Additionally, any valid permit (excluding Circus Circus and Free Friday permits) may park in the West Stadium Parking Complex after 3:30 p.m., and after 5:30 p.m. may park in any Silver, Tan, Green or Blue 1 zoned area and at meters, PayByPhone and permit dispenser spaces excluding areas and/or spaces designated "enforced 24 hours per day/7 days per week". Carpool spaces are reserved until 8 p.m. daily.

Unless otherwise noted below, permits do not allow for overnight parking. For faculty and staff overnight parking inquiries or exceptions, please contact Parking Services directly.

Current permit fees can be found on the parking permit fees page.

Commuter Parking Permit Options

Commuter permit options do not allow overnight parking.

• Silver Zone Permit. Silver 10, 17 and 21 are available to students. All other Silver zones are available to faculty and staff only (please call our office to be placed on a waitlist.) Silver zone permits allow for parking in the Silver zone designated on the front of the permit, as well as Tan, Green and Blue 1. Silver 17 and Silver 21 are available in limited quantities on a semester basis, however, please note semester permits do not include the winter or summer sessions.
• Silver Zone 21 RESERVED Permit. The Silver 21 RESERVED permit is available to faculty, staff and students, based on availability. The Silver 21 RESERVED zone permits allow for parking in the corresponding RESERVED numbered space reflected on the front of the permit, on level 4 of the Gateway Parking Complex. If the assigned reserved space is occupied, the permit is authorized to park in the Silver 21 zoned space and the permit holder should contact Parking Services at (775) 784-4654 to report the issue. These spaces are reserved for authorized permit holders Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., for the permit holder only and cannot be transferred or used by others without the authorized permit displayed. Silver zone 21 RESERVED permits may park in Tan, Green and Blue 1 signed zones. After 5:30 p.m., this permit is valid in other Silver zones and metered areas, excluding carpool spaces, reserved spaces and meters marked ‘enforced 24/7’. Overnight parking is prohibited with this permit.
• Tan Zone Permit. Tan zone includes parking for both commuter and residential parking. Tan commuter (TAN) permits are available to students, faculty and staff, and allow parking in either of the Tan zone lots, and in Green or Blue 1.
• Green Zone Permit. Commuter permit available to students, faculty and staff that allow parking in the Green or Blue 1 zones. Available as an annual or semester permit, however, the semester permit does not include parking for the winter or summer sessions.
• Blue 1 Zone Permit. Commuter permit available to students, faculty and staff, and allows parking in the Blue 1 zone only. Available as an annual or semester permit, however, the semester permit does not include the winter or summer sessions.
• Blue 2 Zone Permit. Available to College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources (CABNR) students only. Valid only in the Blue 2 signed zone located at the Agriculture Education Building and the Equestrian Center on Valley Road. Department approval is required.
• East Campus Resident Permit. Annual permit available to The Highlands and the YOUnion apartment residents. The parking permit is valid after 3:30 p.m. in the West Stadium Parking Complex Silver 17 zone and after 5:30 p.m. in Silver, Tan, Green and Blue 1 zones. This permit is not valid in any space marked ‘Enforced 24/ 7” or carpool spaces. This permit is not authorized for overnight parking on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. This permit also includes a shuttle bus access card which is required for residents to ride the PACKTransit Shuttle serving these specific apartment complexes.
• American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Permit. Annual permit available to students, faculty and staff that is issued a valid DMV disabled placard or plate. These permits are valid in any ADA-accessible space on campus. The owner of the ADA placard/plate must be in the vehicle to park in an ADA-accessible space. Using an ADA placard that is not your own constitutes fraud and is punishable by state law. Please visit the Disability Access page for additional information. 
• Evening Permit. Available to students, faculty and staff. These permits are only valid after 3:30 p.m. in the West Stadium Parking Complex and after 5:30 p.m. in Silver, Tan, Green and Blue 1 zones. This permit is not valid in any space marked "Enforced 24/7" or carpool spaces. This permit does not allow for overnight parking.
• CarPool Permit. Available to students, faculty and staff and allow parking in designated carpool spaces in Green, Silver 11, Silver 17 and Silver 21 zones. Permit allows parking in the carpool designated zone on the front of the permit. These permits are available in limited quantities and require 2 or more members. All members of the carpool are allowed to bring their own personal vehicle to campus on Fridays and park in their designated zone.
• LEV permit. Available to students, faculty and staff who drive low-emission vehicles per DMV designation. Currently sold out. Please call our office for more information.
• Motorcycle Decal. Annual permit available to faculty, staff and students. These permits are valid in motorcycle areas only. Mopeds, motorcycles and motor scooters parked in designated motorcycle parking areas must be registered with the Parking and Transportation Services Department and must display a valid University motorcycle permit on the right fork or fender. They may be parked in regular vehicle spaces, as long as the registered owner holds a valid University permit for that specific zone and the permit is clearly displayed on the motorized vehicle in a locking display pouch. Locking permit display pouches are available for purchase, at the Parking and Transportation Services office. Designated motorcycle parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If a preferred parking area is full, riders are expected to find a different designated motorcycle parking area. Do not move other motorcycles in an attempt to make additional room. Motorized vehicles must not be driven on sidewalks or pedestrian access routes and must be driven with due regard for the safety of pedestrians.
• Circus Circus Permit. This free permit is available in limited quantities and is valid Monday-Friday, on the two top floors of the West Tower Circus Circus Garage only, located at the corner of West 6th Street and North Sierra Street. Additionally, overnight parking is prohibited.  If you need to park anywhere on the University campus, including during evenings, you must purchase a temporary parking permit from the Parking and Transportation Services Department. Individuals may not have a Circus Circus permit and another vehicle parking permit at the same time. Parking exceptions during breaks do not apply to Circus Circus Permits.

Resident Parking Permit Options

Resident permits provide overnight parking for those individuals living in a University resident facility, such as a resident hall or Ponderosa Village only. Overnight parking privileges are only authorized in the zone designated on the front of the permit. Residents can purchase one vehicle permit OR one motorcycle permit, with overnight access.

• Yellow 1 Zone Permit. Annual permits are available to resident hall students only and are not transferable (cannot be given or sold to another person). Doing so deactivates the permit and fines will be assessed. These permits are available in limited quantities and are valid only in the Sierra Street Parking Complex, Sierra Hall Parking Complex, the parking lot on the southeast corner of Sierra Street and 11th Street and the top floor of the Brian Whalen Parking Complex. Parking in these four locations is ‘first come – first served’ for Yellow 1 permit holders. This permit is required for overnight parking and is enforced 24 hours per day / 7 days per week.
• Yellow 2 Zone Permit. Annual permits are available to residents of Ponderosa Village only and are not transferable (cannot be given or sold to another person). Doing so deactivates the permit and fines will be assessed. These permits are available in limited quantities and are valid in the Yellow 2 zone only. This permit is required for overnight parking and is enforced 24 hours per day / 7 days per week.
• Orange 1 Zone Permit. Annual permits are available to residents of Ponderosa Village and the resident halls only and are not transferable (cannot be given or sold to another person). Doing so deactivates the permit and fines will be assessed. These permits are available in limited quantities and allow parking in the Orange 1 zone only. This permit is required for overnight parking and is enforced 24 hours a day / 7 days per week.
• Tan North Resident Permit. Tan resident (TNRS) permits are only available to residents of University Residence Halls or Ponderosa Village, and allow parking in the North Tan zone parking lot, directly north of the Center for Molecular Medicine only. Tan resident permit is required for overnight parking and is enforced 24 hours a day / 7 days per week.
• American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Permit. Annual permit available to students, faculty and staff that is issued a valid DMV disabled placard or plate. These permits are valid in any ADA-accessible space on campus. The owner of the ADA placard/plate must be in the vehicle to park in an ADA-accessible space. Using an ADA placard that is not your own constitutes fraud and is punishable by state law. Please visit the Disability Access page for additional information. For individuals living in a residential facility, please indicate this when purchasing the permit and an overnight access decal will be applied to the permit for overnight access to ADA spaces.
• Motorcycle Decal. Annual permit available to faculty, staff and students. These permits are valid in motorcycle areas only. Mopeds, motorcycles and motor scooters parked in designated motorcycle parking areas must be registered with the Parking and Transportation Services Department and must display a valid University motorcycle permit on the right fork or fender. They may be parked in regular vehicle spaces, as long as the registered owner holds a valid University permit for that specific zone and the permit is clearly displayed on the motorized vehicle in a locking display pouch. Locking permit display pouches are available for purchase, at the Parking and Transportation Services office. Designated motorcycle parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If a preferred parking area is full, riders are expected to find a different designated motorcycle parking area. Individuals living in a residential facility may purchase either one vehicle parking permit OR one motorcycle permit, with overnight access. Do not move other motorcycles in an attempt to make additional room. Motorized vehicles must not be driven on sidewalks or pedestrian access routes and must be driven with due regard for the safety of pedestrians.

Alternate Transportation Permit

Alternate transportation permits are for those individuals not bringing a vehicle or motorcycle to campus. This includes biking to campus or using the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) local area bus service.

• Bicycle Decal. Bicycles used on campus must display a valid University bicycle permit and must be registered each year with the Parking and Transportation Services Department. Bicycle permits are complimentary, and bicycle lockers are available for rent. Please contact the Parking and Transportation Services Department to determine bike locker availability. Bike racks are provided throughout campus to ensure proper parking, as bicycles may not be parked (except in racks) on the sidewalks, in pedestrian access routes to buildings or inside buildings. Bicycles parked in buildings and deemed to be in violation of fire and/or safety codes will be impounded at the owner's expense. Bicycles may not be chained to any object other than a designated bicycle rack. Bicycles not displaying a University bicycle permit are subject to citations.
• Circus Circus Permit. This free permit is available in limited quantities and is valid Monday-Friday, on the two top floors of the West Tower Circus Circus Garage only, located at the corner of West 6th Street and North Sierra Street. Additionally, overnight parking is prohibited.  If you need to park anywhere on the University campus, including during evenings, you must purchase a temporary parking permit from the Parking and Transportation Services Department. Individuals may not have a Circus Circus permit and another vehicle parking permit at the same time. Parking exceptions during breaks do not apply to Circus Circus Permits.
• U-Pass. This service is operated by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). Please visit the U-Pass website for more information.

• Metered Parking – Metered Parking and Permit Dispensing Machine Areas are enforced Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. See our campus parking map for metered lot locations. Please note that parking at a non-functioning meter will result in a citation.
• Public/Visitor Parking – The public/visitors may purchase a temporary daily parking permit at the Parking Services office on 16th Street. Additionally, all-day permits may be purchased at permit dispensers located on the top floor of the West Stadium Parking Complex for $7. Hourly parking is available on the 1st level of the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex and the Gateway Parking Complex at $2 per hour, with a 4-hour maximum. Parking on other levels or going over the purchased time will result in a citation. The Parking and Transportation Services Department will not issue refunds for pay and display permits purchased in error. All transactions are final.
• Exempt Vehicle Parking – With a valid Service Vehicle permit, vehicles with exempt (EX) and government license plates may park in Blue 1 designated parking areas free of charge during the day. Overnight and long-term parking in Blue 1 is prohibited. Departments that wish to park their EX or government vehicle closer to lower campus or overnight will need to purchase an authorized parking permit for each vehicle, based on availability. For short-term deliveries or errands, Service Vehicle spaces are located throughout the campus and are valid for 30 minutes. Vehicles using a designated Service Vehicle space must also display a Service Vehicle parking permit. Temporary Service Vehicle permits are available free of charge at the Parking and Transportation Services office and are valid for 30 minutes in a Service Vehicle space. EX vehicles parking in the EX Long Term parking area, located on the north side of campus, must purchase and display the EX Long Term permit. Parking exceptions during breaks do not apply to EX Long Term permits or Service Vehicle permits. EX vehicles that are not registered with the Parking and Transportation Services Department found to be parked long-term or considered abandoned will be issued a notice. If no response is received within 30 days, the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense and the vehicle may be surplused through the Purchasing Department.

Full refunds

Permit holders may receive a full refund of the Spring 2025 semester permit or Spring/Summer 2025 permit purchase price if the parking permit is physically returned to Parking and Transportation Services within two weeks of purchase or by January 31, 2025, whichever is later.

Partial refunds

Permit refunds are based on the following dates when the permit is physically returned to Parking and Transportation Services:

Annual permits – Fall/Spring/Summer permit purchased during Fall 2024

• 50% of purchase price through January 31, 2025.
• 25% of the purchase price from February 1, 2025, through March 14, 2025.
• No refunds after March 14, 2025

There is no refund value for Summer 2025 with these permits, as the summer session is included at no charge with annual permits purchased Fall 2024.

Annual permits – Spring/Summer permits purchased at the start of Spring 2025.

• 50% of the spring permit fee and all of the summer fee from February 1, 2025, through March 14, 2025.
• Summer fee only from March 15, 2025, through May 23, 2025.
• No refund value after May 23, 2025.

Spring semester permits

• 50% of the spring permit fee and all of the summer fee from February 1, 2025, through March 14, 2025.
• No refund value after March 14, 2025.

Additional refund details

Annual permits purchased in Fall 2024 include the 2025 Summer session at no charge, thus there is no refund for summer with these permits. All refunds are processed through the Cashier's Office. If there is an outstanding balance on your account with the Parking and Transportation Services Department, the refund will be applied to this balance. The remaining refund amount will be sent to the Cashier's Office where the refund may be applied to any outstanding MyNevada student account balance. If no balance is outstanding, the refund will be forwarded to Accounts Payable for a refund check to be issued in the name of the account holder. Refund checks may take up to four to six weeks to process.

Faculty and staff on payroll deduction for their parking permit may cancel the deduction by physical permit to the Parking and Transportation Services Department; however, they are not eligible for a refund and there is no pro-ration of fees. Payroll deduction enrollment is authorized to pay the full value of the permit over the 12 months of the current fiscal year. Payroll deductions cannot be stopped and restarted, avoiding payment of the full permit value during the summer months.

• Monthly paid employees must return the permit by the 10 of the current month to not be charged for the current pay period.
• For semi-monthly paid employees, the permit must be returned within the first 7 days of the current pay period to not be charged for the pay period.

The Parking and Transportation Services Department will not issue refunds for temporary day permits or pay and display permits purchased in error. All transactions are final.

• The Parking and Transportation Services Department is not responsible for vehicle or property theft, vehicle damage or vandalism incurred on campus.
• Parking permits are transferable to any vehicle you register with Parking and Transportation Services, however, permits are not transferrable to other people (cannot be given or sold to another person). Doing so deactivates the permit and fines will be assessed.
• You are responsible for all vehicles registered and citations that vehicle incurs. All changes regarding vehicle registration must be reported to the Parking office immediately. Only one vehicle registered to a permit may be parked on campus at a time.
• Notes left on vehicles are not accepted as a substitute for a parking permit.
• Refunds for summer sessions do not apply to annual permits purchased in the fall.
• The sale, loan or gift of a permit to another person is prohibited and will result in a deactivated permit. Permits are only valid when purchased directly through the Parking and Transportation Office.
• Abandoned vehicles are considered "dead storage" and will receive a notice. If the notice is not responded to within 48 hours, the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense.
• Overnight parking of campers is prohibited except as approved for special events by the Parking and Transportation Services Department.
• With the exception of residents of campus housing, parking lots are designated primarily for daily commuter use. Parking permits are granted for the purpose of transportation to and from campus only. Motor vehicles may not be stored in campus lots in the absence of the owner/operator regardless of whether the vehicle is permitted. Overnight parking on campus is prohibited unless you are a campus resident student with the appropriate permit.
• Zone changes may occur throughout the year as needed.
• A $25.00 charge is assessed for returned checks.
• If a permit is lost or stolen, the owner may obtain a replacement permit for a fee of $30.00. Permit owners must notify the Parking and Transportation Services Department of all lost or stolen permits and complete replacement paperwork as needed.

Parking and Transportation Services offers the following special services:

• The PACKTransit campus shuttle service includes many convenient stops throughout campus and provides service to these stops in twenty minutes or less. During fall and spring instructional days, shuttles operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information regarding summer shuttle service, please call Parking and Transportation Services at (775) 784-4654.
• The Motorist Assistance Program provides assistance to individuals who need help with a flat tire, a battery jump-start or retrieving keys from locked vehicles on the main University of Nevada, Reno campus. This service is not available at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe campus. Motorist Assistance is available during regular business hours.
• The Carpool Program provides incentives for those carpooling to the University campus. Two or more passengers are required. Please visit our Alternate Transportation page or contact our office for more details.
• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations are located on the third floors of the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex and the West Stadium Parking Complex, and on level four of the Gateway Parking Complex. A current University parking permit, excluding the Circus Circus permit, must be displayed in order to use these stations. Additionally, a charging station is located in the ADA access spaces on level 4 of the Gateway Parking Complex, which requires a valid state-issued ADA placard or permanent plates to be displayed along with a valid ADA UNR parking permit. An active ChargePoint account is also required as the user will be charged directly for charging. The maximum time limit to park in these spaces is four hours. After the four-hour maximum charging time, the vehicle must be moved to the authorized zone designated on the UNR parking permit.