UCLA Parking: A Comprehensive Guide to Permits, Regulations, and Sustainable Transportation
Navigating parking at a large university like UCLA can be challenging. This article provides a comprehensive overview of UCLA parking permits, regulations, alternative transportation options, and other essential information for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
The Bruin ePermit System
UCLA utilizes an advanced parking technology called the Bruin ePermit system. This system replaces traditional paper permits or plastic hangtags with virtual permits linked to a vehicle's license plate. Think of it as a supermarket scanner, where your license plate functions as the barcode. Individuals register their vehicle license plate information into the online parking system when purchasing their parking permits. Permit holders register their vehicle and pay for their parking permits online through the Bruin ePermit system. Permits are exclusively available online through the Bruin ePermit Portal.
Who is Eligible for Parking Permits?
Eligibility for parking permits varies depending on affiliation with UCLA:
- University Employees and Students: Must cancel their parking permit upon withdrawal, academic leave, or a one-term absence from the University if they paid for parking.
- Emeriti/Retirees: New Emeriti/Retirees should contact the Emeriti Retiree Relations Center at (310) 825-7456 to determine permit eligibility.
- Campus Volunteers: Volunteers providing uncompensated services to UCLA, on campus no more than two times a week and no more than four hours each visit, are eligible for a Volunteer permit. If a volunteer is on campus more than four hours, two days a week, a full-fee permit should be purchased.
- Clinical Faculty: Clinical faculty providing uncompensated services to UCLA, on campus no more than two times a week for no more than four hours each visit, are eligible for courtesy parking. Compensated clinical faculty must purchase a full-fee employee parking permit on a quarterly or annual basis.
- ASUCLA Vendors: Contact the ASUCLA Human Resources Department at (310) 825-7055.
- Consultants/Contractors: Consultants and contractors hired through outside agencies (i.e., those not on UCLA payroll) are not eligible for the staff parking rate. If allotted by their department, these employees may purchase short-term or quarterly parking permits for the duration of their job assignment.
- Employees Appointed at 43.75% Time or More: UCLA faculty and staff, career or limited appointment, who are benefits eligible and employed at least 43.75% time in UC Path, are eligible to purchase a monthly auto-renew, quarterly, short-term, or daily parking permit.
- Employees Appointed Below 43.75%: UCLA faculty and staff employed below 43.75% are eligible for quarterly, short-term, or daily parking permits only.
- Faculty and Staff with a DP Placard: Faculty and staff with accessible needs who have a valid parking permit may park in any legal parking stall when displaying their DMV-issued DP placard/license plate. They will need to display their DP placard/license plate at all times when parking in UCLA structures. This does not include gated parking structures (e.g. Medical Plaza, Luskin, STR 35, STR 36, STR 37, and STR 39).
- Students Employed by UCLA: UCLA students employed by the university are not eligible for employee parking through payroll deduction unless they are employed at 100% time and are eligible for quarterly or short-term permits only. Students employed by the university under 100% time must apply for parking through the appropriate parking process.
How to Cancel a Parking Permit
To cancel a parking permit, follow these steps:
- Select “Permits” from the top navigation bar.
- Click on the “Reason for Return” drop-down menu and select the reason for your return.
Permit Fees and Refunds
Permit Fees are based on a 14-day proration from the first Monday of a permit's effective date. Permit Refunds are calculated by subtracting the 14-day cost of daily parking from the cost of the permit.
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Here are some examples of permit types and rates with parking occupancy tax:
- Commuter Student Parking: $324.03/Quarter
- Residence Hall/Weyburn/University Apartments Student Permit: $405.04/Quarter
- Residence Hall/Weyburn/University Apartments Student Permit (Spring Quarter): $482.20/Spring Quarter
- Night and Weekend Permit: $187.94/Quarter
- Two-Person Carpool: $272.18/Quarter
- Three-Person Carpool: $168.50/Quarter
- Four-Person Carpool: $100.45/Quarter
- Semester Permit: $486.05/Semester
Important Dates for Student Parking Permit Applications
Undergraduate and Non-Professional Graduate Students
| Fall Quarter | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Period | August 4 - 24, 2025 | November 3 - 23, 2025 | February 9 - March 1, 2026 |
| Payment Period | September 2 - 6, 2025 | December 1 - 5, 2025 | March 9 - 13, 2026 |
| Permit Effective Dates | September 15 - December 31, 2025 | January 1 - March 22, 2026 | March 23 - June 14, 2026 |
| Quarter Begins | September 22, 2025 | January 2, 2026 | March 25, 2026 |
| Instruction Begins | September 25, 2025 | January 5, 2026 | March 30, 2026 |
Professional Graduate Students
| Fall Quarter | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available for Purchase | August 25 - December 31, 2025 | November 24, 2025 - March 22, 2026 | March 2 - June 14, 2026 |
| Permit Effective Dates | September 15 - December 31, 2025 | January 1 - March 22, 2026 | March 23 - June 14, 2026 |
| Quarter Begins | September 22, 2025 | January 2, 2026 | March 25, 2026 |
| Instruction Begins | September 25, 2025 | January 5, 2026 | March 30, 2026 |
Law School
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | |
|---|---|---|
| Available for Purchase | July 28 - December 31, 2025 | November 24, 2025 - May 17, 2026 |
| Permit Effective Dates | August 11 - December 31, 2025 | January 1 - May 17, 2026 |
| Instruction Begins | August 13, 2025 (Short Course)August 25, 2025 | January 2, 2026 (Short Course)January 14, 2026 |
Summer Quarter Parking
All summer permits for student parking are first come first served. Your Commute Coordinator is responsible for the administration of your parking needs. Contact your Commute Coordinator to make your parking arrangements.
UCLA employees who do not wish to have a long-term permit have access to daily discounted parking that can be purchased through the Bruin ePermit Portal.
Student Parking Exemption Requests
Student parking exemption requests for Winter 2026 are no longer being accepted. If you have extenuating circumstances that necessitate having a car on campus, then you must complete and submit the online Exemption Request by the quarterly application deadline. (See Parking Rates & Fees for more information.) Exemption requests must be submitted for each quarter with the exception of Summer. Exemption offers are considered on a case-by-case basis, are dependent upon available parking allocations, and are not guaranteed.
Altering any documentation (ePermits, receipts, third party receipts, student exemption parking forms/requests, etc.) from its original form may result in loss of parking for up to four (4) years and/or result in a referral to the Dean of Students for violating the student code of conduct.
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How to Apply for an Exemption:
- Log in to the Bruin ePermit Portal
- Click on "Special Permit Requests”
- Select “Dorm/Student Exempt Request”
- Specify in the “notes” section the criteria for your exemption (see below)
- Attach required documentation
Exemption Reasons and Required Documentation:
- Child Care: Applicant must be a legal parent or guardian. The child must be newborn-12 years of age, currently attending out-of-home school or day care, or have special needs.
- Must provide the following:
- Birth certificate, legal documentation, or letter of live birth
- Verification of enrollment in school, day care, etc.
- Must provide the following:
- Illness of Family Member: Applicant must be an eligible care provider for a spouse, child, or parent/legal guardian who has a serious health condition.
- Must provide the following completed forms:
- Certificate for Illness of Family Member's Serious Health Condition
- Declaration of Relationship
- Provide one or more of the supporting documents listed on the form to confirm family relationship.
- A new and up-to-date Certificate for Illness of Family Member's Serious Health Condition form is required every academic quarter for those without a lifelong or permanent condition.
- Those with a lifelong or permanent condition will be required to submit a new and updated Certificate for Illness of Family Member's Serious Health Condition form annually.
- Not Accepted: Care directive, medical records, hospital admission and discharge papers, medical appointment schedules, doctor’s letter or prescription note, x-rays, third party letter, disabled placard, supplemental security income, or state supplement payment
- Must provide the following completed forms:
- Recent Death: Applicant must have a recent death of parent/legal guardian, spouse, child, grandparent, aunt or uncle within the previous or current quarter. This exemption is only granted for one quarter.
- Death certificate
- Academic Need/Professional School: Applicant must provide original documentation of internship required as part of a curriculum, late admission, or re-enrollment after withdrawing.
- Must provide one of the following:
- Signed Course Contract
- Program/Internship verification and letter from UCLA department confirming internship is part of class curriculum
- Late admission offer letter or re-enrollment after withdrawing
- Hilgard Graduate HousingApplicants must have a contract with UCLA graduate housing and have applied for parking.Letter of parking waitlist
- Must provide one of the following:
- Job Commute - Residence Hall and tenants living in Gayley Court Apartments, Gayley Heights Apartments, Glenrock Apartments, Gayley Towers, Glenrock West Apartments, Landfair Apartments, Landfair Vista Apartments, Laurel Apartments, Levering Terrace Apartments, Palo Verde, Tipuana Apartments, Westwood Chateau Apartments, or Westwood Palms Apartments Only:
- Commuter students are ineligible
- Job locations in 90024 and 90095 do not qualify
- Application must have a local, verifiable, current, and regularly scheduled off-campus job or paid internship within the last two calendar months.
- *Must drive to an off-campus work site
- **Not paid via cash only
- ***Within the last two calendar months
- Must provide a 1099-MISC or a dated letter from your employer on company letterhead* verifying your employment status, date of hire, work address (street, city, state, and zip code) and pay duration, and must provide one of the following:
- Two recent paystubs dated within the last two calendar months from exemption submission date.
- Bank statement verifying two recent direct deposits within the last two calendar months from exemption submission date.
- Two recent company-canceled checks** (front and back copy is required) dated within the last two calendar months from exemption submission date.
- *A new, up-to-date letter is required every academic quarter.
- **Canceled checks are checks that have been paid by the bank they are drawn on. After the money is deducted the bank will cancel the check, so it can no longer be used and is marked as processed by the bank. And a letter on letterhead from their training facility confirming the training facility’s offsite address and frequency of how often they train.
Note: Parking exemption requests submitted due to missed parking application deadline or missed payment deadline will not be considered. Exemptions remain confidential and all supporting documentation will be destroyed at the end of each quarter. To request access to purchase a parking space, please complete this form.
Important Parking Regulations
PLEASE NOTE: You may not park in red zones, loading zones, university vehicle parking stalls, or areas not specifically marked as parking stalls.
Alternative Transportation Options
Due to traffic congestion, air quality concerns, and limited parking, UCLA encourages students to carpool to campus. In fact, parking is not guaranteed to individual students. UCLA Transportation offers many alternative commute options, including bicycling, carpooling, vanpools, and car sharing. Explore Student Campus Access to help you decide which commuting option is the best fit for you.
Here are some alternative transportation options:
- BruinGO! With BruinGO!, commuting students use their BruinCard to travel to and from campus at a reduced rate on any Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and Culver CityBus lines. On-campus residents can go round-trip to dozens of off-campus destinations.
- Go Metro: Go Metro is an unlimited quarterly bus pass sold at a 50% discount to eligible UCLA students. It provides unlimited rides on all Metro Bus and Metro Rail lines.
- LADOT: UCLA Transportation subsidizes 50% of the cost of LADOT Commuter Express monthly bus passes. Line 573 offers express bus service to campus from the north San Fernando Valley and Encino.
- City of Santa Clarita Transit: Take advantage of convenient express trips on City of Santa Clarita Transit, offering direct service between several Santa Clarita communities and UCLA/Westwood.
- Pedal Power: Extend your range and go farther, faster! Bike to the bus stop and then take your bike on the bus. Nearly all buses provide bicycle racks.
- BruinBus: The BruinBus is a free, year-round bus serving the UCLA campus and Wilshire Center. Everyone is welcome to board at one of our many stops. BruinBus also offers charter and driver services to UCLA departments and student organizations.
- UCLA Safe Ride (Evening Van Service): UCLA Safe Ride provides complimentary safe, reliable, evening campus transportation between campus buildings, on-campus housing, and nearby residential areas.
- Car Sharing with Zipcar: No car on campus? No problem! UCLA Transportation has teamed up with Zipcar to give Bruins access to vehicles parked around campus for mobility when you need it.
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