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Campus Oval parking lot

Parking

Coming Soon: In early May, the Shopping Express shuttle will run hourly on Friday afternoons and evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays, between Palo Alto Transit Center, the Stanford campus, and San Antonio Shopping Center

More Shopping Express information.

Service/Delivery Vehicles

How to purchase a permit

Please note that all requests will be reviewed for eligibility based on need. For the safest route to make a service call or delivery, view or download the Service and Delivery/Truck Route Maps or Pedestrian Zone Access Map.

Department permits

Departments can buy daily virtual permits via Stanford Transportation’s online portal. Departments should designate two or more department contacts to manage department parking permits through our online form.Refer to our  "How To" page for more information.

To order department long-term permits, please fill out the Department/Vendor Permit Order Form. Refer to our  "How To" page for more information.


Vendor permits

Vendor parking is available to businesses that have contracts or agreements with the university to provide services or goods for a specific time period. This includes banks, janitorial, and food service businesses and consultants, and auditors. Vendors have two options for purchasing their permits.

Option 1: Purchase a Service Vehicle Daily permit

To purchase a Service Vehicle ('SV') Daily permit, vendors can log in as a visitor through our online ordering system. Please note that to be able to log in you must create a visitor account.

Option 2: Purchase an 'A-Business' permit

First, please have your Stanford sponsoring department complete the Vendor Sponsorship Form. Refer to our  "How To" page for more information.

Then the contact fills out Department/Vendor Permit Order Form. If the department is paying for the vendor's permit, the department should complete the permit order form. If the vendor is paying for the permit, the vendor should complete it.

Please designate two or more contacts to manage the parking permits. It will take one to three business days to receive a decision from Stanford Transportation. Once Stanford Transportation has approved your request, you will be contacted for the next steps.

If purchasing visitor parking, please do so through the ParkMobile app.

Note: To purchase another permit, please fill out the Vendor Parking Permit Application.

Deliveries: If the company is making deliveries and has a commercial license plate, the delivery driver may park in loading and unloading zones for up to 20 minutes, or as marked.


Permits for third party employees of vendors

To purchase a Stanford permit, third party employees of vendors can be sponsored in two ways:

  • Request to be sponsored by a department supervisor or manager for a SUNet ID (valid for one year).
    • Please note: Once sponsorship for a SUNet ID has been approved, it can take up to 48 hours for the system to update and permits to become available in the online ordering system.
  • Request sponsorship (valid for six months) through our virtual permit system. Visit our How To Request Sponsorship guide for step-by-step instructions.
    • Please note: Once sponsorship through our virtual permit system has been approved, it can take up to an hour for permits to become available in the online ordering system.

Commuters must pay for their own parking permit, if applicable

  • Please note that using a company credit/debit card is prohibited.

Permit types and payment options

  • Sponsored commuters affiliated with the university have the option to purchase an 'A' or 'C' permit.
  • Sponsored commuters affiliated with the hospitals have the option to purchase a 'Z' permit.
  • Payment can be made through recurring monthly deductions (from a debit or credit card).

Permit validity

  • Monthly permits purchased through Stanford’s virtual parking permit system are valid 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no additional cost.
  • Daily permits are valid from 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. for the selected date(s).

Contractor permits

All parking arrangements for construction, renovation or other university-sponsored projects must be made by the general contractor (e.g., general contractors, electrical, painting, roofing, landscape, plumbing, and maintenance companies), in conjunction with the Stanford Project Manager, and adhere to the following Stanford University Land and Buildings policies:

  • Contractor Parking for Construction Projects
  • Construction Project Temporary Facilities Siting Policy

Contractors have two options for purchasing their permits.

Option 1: Purchase a Service Vehicle Daily permit

To purchase a Service Vehicle ('SV') Daily permit, contractors can log in as a visitor through our online ordering system. Please note that to be able to log in you must create a visitor account.

Option 2: Purchase a parking permit/identifier

Prior to the start of the project, the Project Manager and general contractor will need to submit the following materials to Stanford Transportation:

  • The proposed site logistics and parking plan for the entire work crew (including subcontractors)
  • A Contractor Parking Permit Sponsorship application

Please note that it will take one to three business days to receive a decision from Stanford Transportation.

Contact us at 650- 736-7619 or send an email to parkingoperations@stanford.edu to make parking arrangements for your project.


Group/reserved event permits

Please fill out the Event Permit Order Form.

Additional information

The sections below include information about permit types available for service and delivery vehicles, their pricing, permit exceptions, the Pedestrian Zone, and Stanford's Outdoor Robot Policy.

Permit types and prices

The Parking and Circulation / Campus Map shows where each permit type is valid. For the safest route to make a service call or delivery, view the Service and Delivery/Truck Route Map.

Prices effective Sept. 1, 2019

Duration "A-Business" [1] Service Vehicle
Hourly (metered) N/A N/A
Daily N/A $36.40
Monthly $116/mo. $395/mo.
Annual 12-Month $1,392 $4,740

'A-Business' permits

Allows you to park in 'A' and 'C' spaces in regular commuter lots. Permit requests will be reviewed for approval by Stanford Transportation. See the Parking and Circulation Map for the locations of these areas.

Service Vehicle permits

These permits allow you to park in any 'A' or 'C' space, visitor parking areas, residential permit spaces, and special 'Service Vehicle' spaces adjacent to the Pedestrian Zone. They are NOT valid in spaces marked 'Special Area Permit.' If approved, you may also be granted access to the Pedestrian Zone (PZ).

Where NOT to park

Never park at red curbs, in fire lanes, or on anything that isn't asphalt (this includes dirt, concrete sidewalks, grass, and mulch). Your vehicle may be cited and towed if you park in these areas.

Notes:

[1] All departments and sponsored affiliates purchasing permits for business purposes must purchase ‘A-Business’ or Service Vehicle permits.

Prices for 12-month permits are prorated monthly from October and reflected in our pricing chart.

All departments, on-campus organizations and sponsored affiliates purchasing permits for business purposes must purchase 'A-Business' or Service Vehicle permits.


Permit exceptions

Loading and unloading

No permit is required to load or unload at any marked "Loading Zone" area on campus, except within the Pedestrian Zone. Do not leave your vehicle unattended for longer than the posted time limit, or you may be cited. Please make sure to check all signage at the space before occupying it.

Time limits and enforcement hours may vary from location to location, and commercial vehicle license plates may be required as per the posted signage. Parking enforcement on main campus is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additionally, some "Loading Zone" spaces are shared with service vehicle permits and university vehicle parking. One of the main reasons for having these shared spaces is to offer the option of purchasing a service vehicle permit for the day (or longer term, if needed) in order to extend a loading or parking session beyond the posted time limit without risk of receiving a citation. Learn more about purchasing service vehicle permits.

Government and University Vehicles
  • Government vehicles with 'E' (exempt) plates may park in 'A,' 'C,' or 'Service Vehicle' spaces without a permit. If your government vehicle is not identified as such, call Stanford Transportation at 650.723.9362.
  • University or other department-owned vehicles with the University Seal on the side may park in 'A,' 'C,' 'Service Vehicle,' or 'University Vehicle' spaces without a permit. University vehicles without the University Seal are entitled to a free Vendor Service Vehicle permit (with vehicle registration provided). All vehicles must observe posted parking time limits as applicable.

The Pedestrian Zone

Stanford University's central Pedestrian Zone (PZ) has been established to create a safer central campus for pedestrians and cyclists, preserve facilities, and minimize the disruption of university activities through the elimination of unnecessary vehicular traffic. All vehicles (including motorized carts) require authorization prior to accessing the PZ and must display the appropriate PZ permit while moving through or parking in the PZ.

Please see the Pedestrian Zone Access Protocol for details about applying for PZ access privileges.

Removing Bollards

To remove a lockable bollard, your Stanford project manager should submit an online Building & Grounds Maintenance Work Request at bgm.stanford.edu with attention to Grounds Landscape Services. In the request, identify the location of the bollard you need removed, the dates and times for removal and replacement, the reason it must be removed, a university (PTA) account number to which the work should be charged, and, finally, a contact name and phone number.

Please allow five days for the request to be processed. If your request is more urgent than that, your Stanford project manager can contact the LBRE Operations Team at 650.723.2281 to request expedited processing of your request and to confirm that Grounds Landscape Services will be able to accommodate your request on short notice.

Your request is also subject to approval from Stanford Transportation if the bollard is an access point into the core campus (or 'Pedestrian Zone'). If your bollard removal request is not accepted, you will be contacted to discuss alternatives. If you do not already have 'Pedestrian Zone' permits on your vehicles, please fill out a Pedestrian Zone Access / Permit Application to formalize your request and submit it to Stanford Transportation Parking Operations at parkingoperations@stanford.edu. Pedestrian Zone permits must be displayed on all vehicles present in the Pedestrian Zone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


Outdoor Robot Policy

Permission to operate an Outdoor Robot on University Property may be granted if the Approver (and Stanford Medicine Facilities if Outdoor Robot operation will operate on Stanford Medicine Property) determines that operation of the Outdoor Robot (i) is consistent with the University’s mission, (ii) does not violate any federal or state laws or regulations, (iii) is safe, (iv) does not compromise the privacy of individuals, and (v) does not interfere with education, research or other activities taking place on University Property.  

Either the Operator or the University department sponsoring operation of the Outdoor Robot on University Property must submit a request to operate an Outdoor Robot to Stanford Transportation. A full copy of Stanford's Outdoor Robot Policy, including details on how requests to operate Outdoor Robots are evaluated, is available at transportation.stanford.edu/robotpolicy.


Special Arrangements

If you need to make special circulation or parking arrangements for your project or unique situation, send an email to parkingoperations@stanford.edu or call 650.723.9362.

SP&TS Primary Navigation (Second Level)

  • Purchase a Parking Permit
    • Permit Prices
    • Order Parking
    • Permit Cancellation/Return Policy
    • Commuters
    • Resident Students
    • Visitors and Departments
  • Learn About Tickets, Enforcement, and Lost/Stolen Permits
    • Parking Enforcement
    • Pay a Parking Ticket
    • Appeal a Parking Ticket
    • Rules and Regulations
  • Find Parking, EV Charging, and Off-Campus Sites
    • View Parking and Circulation map
    • Find an Electric Vehicle Charging Station
    • Parking & Marguerite Impacts
    • Off-Campus Worksites
  • Request Tour Bus Parking
    • Reserve Tour Parking
  • Find Event Parking
    • Reserve Galvez Lot for Your Event
    • Take a Shuttle To or From Your Event
    • Request Charter Shuttles
    • Reduce Peak Hour Trips at Stanford
  • Learn About Carts, Service Vehicles, and Access
    • Parking Garage Height Restrictions
    • Persons With Disabilities
    • Golf Cart-Type Vehicles
    • Service/Delivery Vehicles
    • Pedestrian Zone Access

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