NEW – We’re Going Paperless!
USC Transportation is going paperless with respect to parking permits! Starting in FY26 (July 1, 2025), we will no longer be issuing parking permit stickers or hang tags – the license plate of your vehicle will be your permission to park on campus. We will be updating this webpage and the USC campus community with additional details and processes throughout the Spring semester; please refer to this Going Paperless FAQ for a general overview and initial FAQs. Many more details to come!
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How to Purchase a Parking Permit
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR STUDENTS
Student Fall permits will NO LONGER automatically renew to the subsequent Spring semester. EVERY SEMESTER in which you need parking needs to be considered/purchased independently. Students who have Fall permits will be offered the opportunity to renew for Spring via email, but that process WILL NOT be automatic.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Permits purchased through our parking portal can be paid for using all major credit cards, USC pre-tax payroll deduction (for faculty/staff), or by transferring charges to the USC fee bill system (for students). Most Summer 2025 parking permits will go on sale online on April 5; Fall 2025 semester parking permits will be available via online sales beginning May 15th at noon. Some high-demand areas still require the lottery-waitlist process, for which online registration begins May 1st. NOTE: winning the lottery for a high-demand area does NOT mean that the space is free, it means you have won a coveted purchase opportunity. Please read below for important dates and permit information.
Parking permits can be purchased online through two different processes:
- Online direct sale where spaces are readily available
- Waitlist/Lottery system for areas where demand exceeds supply
If the location where you want to purchase a permit has spaces currently available (see table below), you can purchase the permit online starting May 15th at noon.
You can purchase any permit available for direct sale by clicking here. Once there, log into (or create) your USC Transportation account, then click on the grey ‘Get Permit’ button.
| Fall ONLY Permits (student) | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Commuter and Housing Parking Direct Sales Online (for both UPC and HSC campuses) | May 15th at Noon |
| Areas Available for Direct Sales | Lot/Structure |
|---|---|
| All UPC Structures (excluding McCarthy Way) | Downey, Jefferson, Royal, Shrine, Flower, Figueroa, Grand |
| ALL USC Housing lots excluding those listed on the table in the following section | See table below |
If the location where you want to purchase a permit is a high-demand area where demand exceeds supply (see table below), then assignments will be made through the waitlist/lottery process. You must enter your name on a waitlist for each desired location during the waitlist entry period (May 1-May 15); once that period ends, entrants will be picked at random and given an opportunity to purchase the permit.
To enter your name onto a parking waitlist for these limited structures, begin by clicking here.
Once there, log into (or create) your USC Transportation account, then:
| High-Demand Locations Requiring a Preference Lottery | Lot/Structure |
|---|---|
| All HSC Structures and Lots | |
| The following UPC Structures and Lots: CENTENNIAL A - CEN CENTENNIAL B - CEN CENTENNIAL TANDEM -CEN FOUNDERS - FSA FOUNDERS TANDEM- FSA LOT 21 LOT 27 LOT 28 McCARTHY WAY STRUCTURE TERRACE - TSA TERRACE TANDEM - TSA TROY - TRE TRH TRE UNIVERSITY REGENT - URA WINDSOR - WIN | Centennial Apt Centennial Apt Centennial Apt Founders Apt Founders Apt Off Campus Gold Off Campus Gold Off Campus Gold On Campus Gold Terrace Apt Terrace Apt Troy Apt Univ. Regent Apt Windsor Apt |
How to Cancel a Parking Permit
The only way to cancel a permit you no longer want or need is to complete our online cancellation form. IMPORTANT NOTE: Submitted cancellation forms are processed within one business day – please complete this form WHEN YOU WANT YOUR PERMIT CANCELLED. We do not accept requests for future dates – if you need the cancellation processed at a later date, please submit the form on that later date.
You no longer need to return the physical permit (and after June 30, physical permits will no longer be issued). In all cases, prorated refunds for cancelled permits will be based on the date on which it is cancelled. Permits returned after a permit start date has passed are not eligible for a full refund.