Permits - Employee


Faculty and staff have several permit options based on eligibility, including a combination of their age and years of service. Employees may only have one permit at a time, but can choose a different type of permit from year to year. In some cases, employees may be able to change their permit type during the school year.

Annual faculty/staff permits can be ordered online. Employees who purchase annual permits have the option of paying through payroll deduction. Permits on payroll deduction must be renewed by the employee each year; renewal notices are sent in May/June. Cancellation requests or changes to permit must be made by completing the online form (log in required).

Red Permit - $378/year

All faculty and staff are eligible to purchase a Red permit for parking in any Red or Yellow zone, the Park & Ride lot and most Housing lots.

Blue Permit - $424/year

Employees are eligible for a Blue permit if their combined age and years of service at the University add up to a minimum of 62. A Blue permit allows parking in any Blue, Red or Yellow lot, the Park & Ride lot, and most Housing lots. If you are eligible for a Blue permit, the option should automatically be available in the KU Parking portal.

Gold - $570/year

Employees are eligible for a Gold permit if their combined age and years of service at the University add up to a minimum of 70, and their primary work location is located in the central core of campus. A Gold permit allows parking in any Gold, Blue, Red or Yellow lot, the Park & Ride lot, or most Housing lots.

Note: Gold permit eligibility is not automatically assigned in the KU Parking portal. Employees must contact KU Parking to determine their eligibility to purchase a Gold permit.

Garage Permits

Red $470/year; Blue $517/year; Gold $663/year

All employees are eligible to purchase a Garage Red permit. Employees who are eligible for Blue and Gold permits are eligible for the corresponding garage permit.

Faculty and staff with garage permits may park in their designated parking facility (below) or in surface lots matching the color of the permit, except for surface lots located in close proximity to their designated garage:

Garage permits are only valid in their specified facility and are not valid in other campus garages.

Yellow Permit - $302/year

All faculty and staff are eligible to purchase a Staff Yellow permit for parking in any of the yellow lots on campus. Space in some yellow lots is very limited, and vehicles with a Staff Yellow permit compete with students to find available parking. If you are arrive at work before 8 a.m., you will probably find a parking space in your preferred lot. Large lots such as 57, 59, 90 and 94 generally have open stalls at any time of day.

Park & Ride - Closed Permanently Fall 2022

Parking permits no longer available. Bus service continues from yellow lot 302 with route 42 or 44, and runs 7 a.m. - 10:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. The full schedule is available at the Lawrence Transit website.

Carpool Program

Two to four employees may form a carpool and purchase a permit. Learn more about the carpool program and how to apply.


Please note:Parking in some parking lots and the parking garages is preempted during home basketball and football game days. Signs will be posted 48 hours in advance of each home game. Please remove your vehicle from the parking lot or garage before the stated time on the specified dates.


New Employees

New employees receive a one-week temporary "onboarding" permit, valid in Red and Yellow zones, when they begin their paperwork. Once the employee's paperwork is entered into the system, they can purchase a permit online or in the KU Parking office.


    Graduate Students

    Graduate assistants (GTAs, GRAs and GAs) are not eligible for faculty/staff parking permits. See graduate student permit options.


      KU Retirees

      Faculty and staff who have retired from KU are eligible to choose between two types of parking permits:

      • Retiree permit valid in any color parking lot and all garages for $110/year
      • Free permit for lot 302 only. Bus service (route 41) to the central core of campus runs 6:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m., Monday–Thursday, and until 7 p.m. on Fridays. The full schedule is available on the Lawrence Transit website.