Faculty & Staff
Who is eligible to purchase a U-M parking permit?
Please see Eligibility for more information.
What are the Annual Paid Parking Options?
Shown in order of lowest to highest parking fees.
Handicap Verification Permit
The handicap verification permit is used in conjunction with the state-issued handicap placard and appropriate U-M color-coded permit to authorize parking in handicapped parking spaces in University lots and structures. The permit is available in a static-cling style only and is provided free of charge.
Orange Parking
Orange parking is located in areas that typically require a short University shuttle or bus ride to campus core areas and within walking distance of some U-M buildings. The permit is available in either the hang tag or static-cling version. Orange lots not adjacent to buildings are served by U-M Transit and/ or UMHS shuttle bus services at 5-10 minute frequencies during daylight hours and at 15-20 minute frequencies during evening hours. Please refer to the University bus schedules for specific route information. See the Proration Schedule (pdf opens in new window) for current pricing.
Yellow Parking
Yellow parking is located outside campus core areas, but within walking distance of some U-M buildings. Most Yellow lots have U-M bus service to campus core areas. Please refer to the University bus schedules for specific route information. Yellow permits are also valid in Orange lots. The permit is available in AVI device, hang tag or static-cling styles.
On the medical campus, the Yellow AVI device is honored at M18 (Parking A) for entry from 5:45 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. and for exit from 5:45 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. for any day of the week; and at M22 (Simpson Circle Drive structure, commonly known as Mott Structure) from 5:00 p.m. Friday to 8:00 a.m. Monday. Please note: The access to M22 is only provided on the weekends. See the Proration Schedule (pdf opens in new window) for current pricing.
Blue Parking
Blue parking is located close to U-M buildings. Access to Blue parking in structures is controlled by gates. An electronic AVI device is required to use these areas. The Blue permit is also valid in Yellow and Orange lots. The Blue permit is available as an AVI device or hang tag. See the Proration Schedule (pdf opens in new window) for current pricing.
Gold Parking
The Gold parking program was established to address the needs of physicians who provide patient care and who require timely access to hospitals and clinics. Gold parking is also available to some individuals with daily teaching responsibilities on multiple campuses, and a few faculty and staff with unique positions. The original criteria was relaxed over time to allow general access by other faculty and staff that do not meet this criteria.
Unlike other U-M parking options, access to Gold parking is limited. Permits for this group are distributed by an annual Gold lottery, which takes place each June.
Gold parking is located in all structures and a few lots on Central, North, Medical and South campuses. Spaces are either signed or controlled by gates.
Gold permits are also valid in Blue, Yellow and Orange lots or structures. The Gold permit is available as an AVI device only. See the Proration Schedule (pdf opens in new window) for current pricing.
Daily Parking Options
'Daily' Blue parking is available for faculty and staff who do not possess an annual parking option but occasionally need to bring their vehicles to campus. Two types of daily parking options are offered: AVI or Scratch-Off permits.
At gate-controlled Blue structures, AVI permits are used that are programmed with prepaid parks purchased by the user. The access control system decrements one prepaid park from the AVI permit on each calendar day it is used, and then allows free access for the remainder of that same day, regardless how many entry and exits are made, or how many locations are used.
Daily AVI permits are light blue in color.
AVI permits must be displayed on the vehicle front windshield to facilitate entry and exit from the structures and for enforcement purposes.
- Prepaid parks may be paid by cash, check or credit card. Payroll deductions for prepaid parks are not available.
- Once an AVI device has been obtained, prepaid parks may be purchased by phone (764-8291) when paying with a credit card (Visa/MasterCard/Discover).
- At least three pre-paid parks must be purchased at one time. However, the maximum that may be purchased is ten per month.
- Payment of a one-time, refundable $20 security deposit is required for the AVI permit. The deposit may be paid by payroll deduction, cash, credit card or check.
At surface lots, Scratch-Off permits are used for single-day parking. To use them, scratch off the silver coating to reveal the month, day and year. When scratched, the date will appear in red lettering. Then, hang the permit from the vehicle rear view mirror, front forward. Improperly scratched permits are invalid and will not be honored. Permits are valid at Blue, Yellow and Orange lots. They are not valid at structures, meters, central pay station spaces, cashier-attended areas or at any individually signed spaces.
- Scratch-Off permits are sold in packages of ten only.
- Only one package may be purchased per month.
- Scratch-Off permits must be purchased in person at the Parking and Transportation Services office at 777 North University.
- Packages of Scratch-Off permits may be paid by cash, check or credit card. Payroll deductions for Scratch-Off permits are not available.
- All sales are final; refunds are not available.
Caution: Scratch-off permits provide a single day of parking (12:00 a.m. to 11:59:59 p.m.). Staff who work unusual shifts that cross-over two days should be cautious when using these permits. We highly recommend that the enforcement hours of the parking location be reviewed first to determine when permits are required. DISPLAY OF MORE THAN ONE PERMIT AT A TIME IS NOT ALLOWED.
For example, a hospital employee working a twelve-hour shift beginning at 11:00 p.m. and ending at 11 a.m. parks in a lot with enforcement hours of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Scratch-Off permit is required only for the second day of their shift as daily enforcement ended prior to their arrival time but resumes before the end of their work shift.
Scratch-off permits are not honored at structures, and the light-blue AVI permits are not valid at surface lots.
If both structures and surface lots are used, Scratch-Off permits and an AVI permit may both be purchased. However, the cap of ten parks per month still applies. If necessary, a number of Scratch-Off permits may be returned in exchange for prepaid parks.
What Parking Permit Styles are Available?
Parking permits are available as AVI devices, hang tags or static-cling permits. Please see information above for the permit styles available for each color parking tier.
A parking permit must be displayed whenever a vehicle is parked in any University lot or structure during posted enforcement hours. See Display for the proper placement of the permits.
What are the Parking Payment Options Available?
The University contributes a fixed amount toward the cost of an option for regular faculty and staff, reducing your out-of-pocket parking costs. (This contribution appears on your paycheck stub in the column listing Employer-paid Benefits.) Please note that parking fees are based on which tier you select, and are not prorated by an individual's appointment percentage.
Proration Schedule
See the Proration Schedule (pdf opens in new window) for current pricing.
Payment Options for Annual Hang Tag or Static Cling Permits
- Cash
- Check (payable to the University of Michigan). A $15 service charge will be assessed for returned checks.
- Credit Cards (Discover, VISA or MasterCard -- U-M PCards are not accepted)
- Payroll Deduction
Pre-tax payroll deductions are taken once a month only. (If you are paid bi-weekly, the deduction is taken from the second paycheck of the month.) You may choose the number of deductions from those available at the time of purchase. Fees will be divided by the number of deductions requested to determine the amount of each deduction. The maximum number of deductions available is 12 per year.
Payment Option for AVI Devices
The only payment option available for AVI users who receive a regular paycheck from the University is Continuing Payroll Deduction.
All payroll deductions are "pre-tax" - taken before taxes are withdrawn - which further reduces your actual parking expenses. The range of savings varies depending on your individual tax rates.
Monthly pre-tax payroll deductions are taken for as long as you possess the AVI device. The annual parking fee is divided by 12 each year, and this is the amount of the deduction. Notification of rate increases are sent each spring to AVI users for the upcoming yearly renewal.
Faculty and staff choosing payroll deduction are responsible for the entire payment of he permit. Liability ends only when the permit is returned to Parking Customer Service.
Payment Options for Daily Parking
Daily parking options must be paid in full at the time of purchase by:
- Cash
- Check (payable to the University of Michigan). A $15 service charge will be assessed for returned checks.
- Credit Cards (Discover, VISA or MasterCard -- U-M PCards are not accepted)
Note: Department funds may NOT be used to pay the "Employee" portion of a faculty or staff member's personal parking permit (annual, monthly or daily).
Other Parking Options
Please see the Alternative Transportation section of our site for additional parking options.
Environmentally Friendly Parking Options
The U-M encourages Ride Sharing in the form of Vanpools, which are offered to all regular (36+ hours/week) employees, and Carpools.
F.A.Q.
Q. What are the enforcement hours for U-M lots and structures?
A. Enforcement hours vary for each lot and structure, but are always posted on signs at each entrance. They may also be found here. All lots and structures are enforced Monday through Friday. Central Campus parking areas are enforced on Saturdays. The North Entrance (Cancer Center) and Simpson Circle Drive (Mott) structures on the Medical Campus are enforced 24 hours/7 days.
Q. I work weekends. What type of "free" parking is available?
A. There are some lots and structures on North, South and Medical campuses that are not enforced for parking permits on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). On Central Campus, Sunday is typically a free day except during special-events parking. Hours of enforcement are listed on each lot and structure entrance sign. The enforcement hours are also available here.
Outside enforcement hours, anyone can park in the lot without a parking permit. However, please note: All the special signed spaces (handicap, U-M Service Vehicle, Gold, etc.) within the lot or structure are typically enforced 24 hours/7 days.
Q. I work an odd shift at the Medical Center. What are my best parking options?
A. If you work Monday through Friday and have a late morning or split shift, your best parking option is Orange. The Orange parking lots are serviced by U-M Transit buses/shuttles and provide timely access to/from the Medical Campus. Bus route information is available in hard copy and can also be found here.
If you work an afternoon/evening shift that starts after 1:30 p.m. and cannot be accommodated by other parking options, parking can be provided at the East Medical Center Drive parking structure (Parking A). Staff may enter between 1:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., but must exit by 5 a.m. Prerequisite: Staff must possess a valid Blue AVI permit to participate in this program. Supervisors must complete and submit a memo verifying the staff person's regular afternoon shift to umpark@umich.edu. Requests will be reviewed by PTS and granted at our discretion.
Q. Is my permit honored at Athletic events (football, basketball, etc)?
A. On home football game Saturdays, U-M parking permits are not valid and will not be honored at the Coliseum lot (SC9), or in any lots located south of Hill Street. Gold and Blue permits will be honored in the Central Campus structures and lots. During basketball games, parking permits are not honored at any lots located on Kipke Drive.
Q. Can I share my permit with others?
A. Parking permits are to be used by the purchaser only and may not be given or sold to others. However, if you are carpooling with other U-M staff members, you may share one parking permit with them. Just remember to register your carpool with PTS at (734) 764-8291.
Q. Where is the Parking and Transportation office located and what are your hours?
A. The office is located at 777 North University. Office hours are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, with one exception - each Tuesday the office is closed between 11:30 am and 1:00 pm. This is the only day of the week the office is closed during the lunch hour.