Departmental Permits

Full-Day and Half-Day Guest Permits

Departments can use the recharge process to order permits for their guests. One-day guest A permits cost $10; four-hour A permits cost $5. A parking-specific recharge form for ordering these permits is available for downloading.

Please Note: Per University of California regulations, departmental permits are for guests only and may not be used by UC Santa Cruz affiliates.* Failure to adhere to this regulation may result in the suspension of departmental permits for your unit.

Permits issued directly to departments must be returned after expiration in order to receive new permits.

*There are rare exceptions to this policy; contact the TAPS Sales Office to find out if an exception applies to your situation.


The following permit types are recharged annually. Please contact the TAPS Business Office (831-459-1682) for more information.

Official Use Permits

Official Use permits extend expanded parking privileges to personal vehicles while being used for university business. Vehicles displaying an Official Use and A permit may park as follows:

  • in University Vehicle spaces
  • in ParkMobile spaces without paying the fee for up to the maximum time posted
  • in time zone spaces (e.g., 10-, 15-, or 20-minute spaces) for up to one hour
  • out of marked spaces for no more than two hours

Approved rates: $990

University Vehicle Permits

Please Note: When parking out of marked spaces, blocking vehicles or obstructing traffic may result in a citation. Drivers of University vehicles who receive a parking citation are responsible for payment of the citation.

University vehicles that have been assessed annual parking fees may park only as follows:

  • In A, B, or R parking lots
  • In University Vehicle spaces
  • In ParkMobile spaces without paying the fee for up to the maximum time posted
  • In time zone spaces (e.g., 10-, 15-, or 20-minute spaces) for up to one hour
  • Out of marked spaces for no more than two hours
  • At loading docks for no more than 30 minutes
  • In Commercial Vehicle zones

University vehicles that have been assessed annual parking fees may not park:

  • In spaces within Lot 141, 157, 158 or 159
  • In any Fire Lanes, Tow-Away, or No Parking spaces or zones.
  • In transit stops (unless otherwise posted)
  • In any spaces that are reserved for a specific individual or unit, except for the following:
    • In Departmental reserved spaces only while displaying the appropriate, valid TAPS-issued “RESERVED” placard (Official Use placards cannot be used).
    • In ADA/Accessible or medical spaces only while displaying the appropriate, valid placard or license plate.
    • In Vanpool "reserved" spaces (TAPS Vanpool vehicles only).

Approved rates: $900. 

University vehicles that have not been assessed annual parking fees, including those rented from Fleet Services or off-campus unit vehicles, may be parked at loading docks for no more than 30 minutes and in limited time zones for the maximum posted time. For all other parking, permits must be purchased from TAPS or through ParkMobile.

Departmental Reserved Parking Spaces

Departments (and on-campus vendors) may request a reserved parking space. The cost includes annual placards that must be displayed with a valid A permit when parked in the reserved space. Reserved space assignment may also be subject to sign production, installation and/or removal costs.
Approved rates: $1575

Title-Specific Reserved Parking Spaces

Reserved parking spaces for specific job titles may be requested. The cost includes annual placards that must be displayed with a valid A permit when parked in the reserved space. The issuance of reserved parking spaces via recharge for specific job titles will be limited to the Chancellor, Executive Vice Chancellor, Vice Chancellors, Deans and Provosts and those employees residing on campus as part of their job responsibility. Reserved space assignment may also be subject to sign production, installation and/or removal costs.
Approved rates: $2475