When do you need to park?

As of Nov. 2, parking enforcement at Stanford’s main campus is enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

If you need to park during typical commute hours (6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday)

• Purchase a daily or monthly permit in the online ordering system.
• Monthly permits purchased in the online ordering system are valid 24/7.
• Daily permits purchased in the online ordering system are are valid from 12:01 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. for the selected date. Daily permits purchased on the day of their use are valid from the time of purchase until 11:59 p.m. 
• Refer to our resources to determine which permit makes the most financial sense for you.
  • 'Short-term/Daily' vs. 'Long-term/Commuter' Permit Costs table
  • Permit Cost Based on Days Commuting table

If you don’t have a permit and need to park ‘After Hours’ 

• If you don’t have a permit AND need to park at night or on the weekend, register your vehicle for a Courtesy ‘After-Hours’ permit in the online ordering system.
• The monthly, Courtesy ‘After-Hours’ permit is ONLY valid from 4:01 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturdays and Sundays.
• It allows you to park only in any ‘A,’ ‘C,’ ‘Z,’ or ‘Motorcycle’ permit space on the main campus. In addition, it is valid in visitor spaces in Roth Way Garage and the Beckman Center Lot (L-15).
• The Courtesy ‘After-Hours’ permit is NOT valid during normal business hours on weekdays (6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday), when a Stanford parking permit must be purchased.

How long do you need to park?

The virtual permit system provides the option to choose between 'Short-term/Daily' or 'Long-term/Commuter' (monthly) permits according to your needs. Determining the permit that is right for you depends on how often you need to park on campus. 

If you are commuting part-time, purchasing daily permits for days you need to drive to campus could be a savings for you. We have developed the following to help you determine how many days it makes financial sense to purchase a daily versus a monthly permit:

• 'Short-term/Daily' vs. 'Long-term/Commuter' Permit Costs table
• Permit Cost Based on Days Commuting table

Where do you need to park?

Main Campus parking

Stanford affiliated or sponsored commuters may park in 'A,' 'C,' or 'Z' parking zones with the purchase of an 'A,' 'C,' or 'Z' permit. A limit of one permit type per customer applies. Commuters are not allowed to purchase Resident zone permits.

An 'A' permit is also valid in 'C' and 'Z' parking zones (except Hoover Pavilion Garage). 'C' permits are also valid in 'Z' parking zones when shared signage is present. 'Z' permits are valid in Searsville Lot (L-22) and Hoover Pavilion Garage. ‘After Hours’ permits are valid in ‘A,’ ‘C,’ ‘Z,’ and ‘Motorcycle’ permit spaces from 4:01 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. on weekdays and all day on Saturday and Sunday. 

Pricing is based on location and convenience (See the Parking and Circulation Map for the locations of these areas):

• 'A' spaces
  • 'A' permits cost more, but are closest to buildings and generally offer greater availability throughout campus.
  • They also allow you to park in 'C' and 'Z' spaces (except Hoover Pavilion Garage).
  • If you frequently need to use your car during the day for travel around campus or return trips to off-campus sites, consider an 'A' permit to increase the chances of finding convenient parking.
• 'C' and 'Z' spaces
  • 'C' and 'Z' spaces provide parking at a lower cost, but are in higher demand and generally located a greater distance from buildings and the center of campus.
  • If you purchase a 'C' or 'Z' permit, expect to walk or bike some distance, or take a free Marguerite shuttle, to/from your workplace/classroom/lab. Please expect these spaces to fill by mid-morning close to buildings with higher demand.
• Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds
  • All motorcycles, scooters and mopeds need a permit.
  • ‘Motorcycle’ permits are valid for lower-priced ‘Motorcycle’ spaces 
  • To park in higher-priced and higher-demand spaces,  purchase an 'A,' 'C,' or 'Z' permit, which are valid in their respective spaces and in ‘MC’ spaces.
  • Do not park them in bike racks.

Stanford Redwood City parking

Stanford affiliated or sponsored commuters are able to park in SRWC ‘C’ parking zones with the purchase of a 'C-SRWC' permit. The cost to purchase a permit is equivalent to the price of a ‘C’ permit on the main campus.

All motorcycles, scooters and mopeds at SRWC need a parking permit. They may be parked at either SRWC-“Motorcycles” spaces or ‘C-SRWC’ spaces. 'C-SRWC' parking lots are enforced Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless otherwise posted.

If SRWC commuters need to park on the main campus, their ‘C-SRWC’ permit is valid 24/7.

Off-campus work site parking

• Most off-campus hospital worksites do not require permits. Send an email to TransportationServices@stanfordhealthcare.org or call 650.736.8000 for information on specific off-site locations.
• Visit the Off-Campus Worksites page to learn about parking options at Porter Drive.

Virtual permits

Instead of displaying a physical parking permit, your license plate is your virtual permit. Use our online system to purchase, exchange, or return virtual permits. Your permit will be valid immediately after you purchase it and enter your vehicle information.