How to Get a Student Parking Permit

How to Purchase a Student Permit

two cyclists outside the rec center

2026/27 Permits

The waitlist will open on August 10,2026 for the 2026/27 student permits. Permits will begin to be awarded on August 31, 2026, based on your position on the waitlist.

Parking Portal

Use the Parking Portal to get on a permit wait list, buy a day pass or pay a citation. 

Permit Waitlist System

  • Parking permits are awarded through a waitlist system.
  • The waitlists are ranked based on the number of credits that a student has on record at WWU, including transfer of credits of all types.
  • Because permits are awarded based on seniority, and because most students living off-campus and commuting to campus are upper classmen, in general it can be difficult for freshmen, or other students with lower credit numbers, to receive parking permits for the C lot.

Not sure where to start? This video covers the basics of parking.

Which Lots Am I Eligible For as a Student?

R Lots

Residents only living on campus (off-campus students don't qualify; students can't purchase annual R lot permits, only academic & quarterly). Resident lots: 4R, 18R, 3R, 27R, 15R, 20R, 1R.

C Lots

Commuter lots for students living off campus (on-campus students don't qualify).

Lincoln Creek

If you can't get an on-campus permit? We suggest parking at our off campus lot at Lincoln Creek, about a 10-minute bus ride from campus. For more information, visit the Lincoln Creek Lot Page.

After You're Awarded a Permit

a sunny fall day on campus

Step 1

After someone has successfully added themselves to a permit waitlist and receives an email awarding a permit, they can purchase the permit online. 

Step 2

Go to the parking portal and select the GET PERMITS button.

Step 3

Select the permit you have been awarded for purchase. Choose or add your vehicle information onto the permit. Enter your payment information and check out.

Step 4

Once checkout is complete, you will be emailed a receipt and are allowed to park in the permit's corresponding lot.

Permit Renewal

  • Quarterly permits are automatically sent a renewal offer — no waitlist reapplication needed. Sent ~3 weeks before end of each quarter.
  • Academic permits can also be renewed for summer quarter.
  • Students must add themselves to the waitlist to renew for the next academic year

Common Questions

No increased priority, but Lincoln Creek has always been available as a fallback.

No, there's no physical permit to display. Always enter your license plate correctly — in the Parking Portal, at a pay station, or in the ParkMobile app. License plate readers are how officers verify valid permits while patrolling.

1-week purchase window from award email, expires at midnight, forfeited to next person if missed

Respond to your renewal email with a message declining the offer