FY27 permits are on sale now through the Commuter Services portal. A fall U permit is valid through January 15, 2027; annual H, EP, and LS housing permits remain valid through June 15, 2027.
Source ↗Car rules and parking at University of Utah
Yes. First-year residents may buy an H, EP, or LS housing permit when the matching product appears in their portal. FY27 housing parking costs $469.44 per year and is limited by inventory.
Start with the eligibility details below, then weigh permit cost, timing, overnight access, and transit. Source ↗
At a glance
Parking snapshot
Housing permits are limited and may sell out; campus residents can join the housing waitlist for a sold-out H, EP, or LS area. A permit authorizes the matching zone but does not guarantee a particular space, and only one registered housing vehicle may be on campus at a time.
Source ↗H, EP, and LS permits authorize the matching resident parking areas throughout their annual term. Payment and permit enforcement generally runs 7 a.m.–8 p.m. weekdays, while all other parking rules apply 24 hours a day; a vehicle left unmoved for seven consecutive days without consent may be treated as abandoned.
Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗Parking lots remain enforced during academic breaks and summer. Annual H, EP, and LS housing permits stay active through breaks until June 15, 2027, while the seven-day unmoved-vehicle and other 24-hour rules continue to apply.
Source 1 ↗Source 2 ↗Who qualifies
Eligibility details
On-campus first-year resident
First-year students living on campus may buy an H, EP, or LS housing permit when the matching option appears in their portal. Housing permits are limited, and sold-out locations use a housing waitlist.
Source ↗Commuter
Students may buy a U commuter permit for U-designated stalls. The FY27 price is $234.72 for fall or spring and $148.72 for summer; a permit authorizes a zone but does not guarantee a particular space.
Source ↗Upperclass student
There is no separate class-year rule. Upperclass students use housing permits when living on campus and U or other commuter products when living off campus, subject to portal eligibility and inventory.
Source ↗Accommodation or exception
A student with a state-issued ADA placard or plate and a University of Utah U permit or higher may park all day in ADA, A, and U stalls in permitted lots. Temporary or additional accommodations are coordinated through Commuter Services and campus accessibility services.
Source ↗If you skip the car
Primary car-free alternative
University students receive fare-free UTA buses, TRAX, FrontRunner, and covered carpool service with a UCard.
Source ↗Test it against your routineCommon questions
University of Utah car and parking FAQ
Can freshmen have cars at University of Utah?
Yes. First-year students living on campus may buy an H, EP, or LS housing permit when the matching product appears in their portal. Housing permits cost $469.44 for FY27 and may sell out.
How much is a parking permit at University of Utah?
FY27 housing permits cost $469.44 per year. A commuter U permit costs $234.72 for fall or spring and $148.72 for summer.
When do University of Utah parking permits go on sale?
FY27 permits are on sale now through the Commuter Services portal. Fall U permits run through January 15, 2027, and annual housing permits run through June 15, 2027.
Is a car worth it at University of Utah?
Probably not for trips served by UTA: a UCard provides fare-free bus, TRAX, and FrontRunner service, while limited housing parking costs $469.44. A car is most useful for frequent destinations outside the transit network.
Trace the answer
Cited official sources
These verified university sources support the current claims above. Follow each link for the full policy.
Policy 5-206: Vehicle Parking Policy ↗
The policy requires a virtual permit or paid parking, says parking is limited, and states that availability of a space or a particular location is not guaranteed.
University of Utah Regulations Library · Checked 2026-08-10 · verifiedGet on board: Using UTA's TRAX around the valley ↗
A March 2026 university article says every UCard carrier receives a free UTA pass for TRAX, buses, FrontRunner, and covered carpool service.
University of Utah Communications and Commuter Services · Checked 2026-08-10 · verifiedCommuter Services permits ↗
The current FY27 page lists U and housing permit eligibility, prices, expiration dates, matching housing zones, limited inventory, and the housing waitlist.
University of Utah Commuter Services · Checked 2026-08-10 · verifiedParking regulations ↗
Current regulations state enforcement hours, 24-hour continuing rules, the seven-day unmoved-vehicle standard, and recognized state-holiday treatment.
University of Utah Commuter Services · Checked 2026-08-10 · verifiedADA accommodations ↗
Students with a state ADA credential and a U permit or higher receive all-day access to ADA, A, and U stalls in permitted lots.
University of Utah Commuter Services · Checked 2026-08-10 · verifiedCommuter Services FAQ ↗
The FAQ states that parking lots remain enforced during academic breaks and summer.
University of Utah Commuter Services · Checked 2026-08-10 · verifiedKeep comparing