Employee Permits
Welcome to the University of Kentucky, the Commonwealth's flagship university and one of the "Great Colleges to Work For," as recognized recently by the Chronicle of Higher Education. UK is also one of Kentucky's largest employers, with more than 20,000 total employees.
At Transportation Services, it's our goal to assist University employees in discovering all of their mobility options—from driving to biking and beyond—through a variety of transportation programs. For those who do choose to commute by vehicle and park on campus, Transportation Services has a variety of parking permit options, with a focus on choice and predictability.
Permits can be purchased online by logging into your customer account, on-site at our customer service center or over the phone by calling 859-257-5757.
See below for a list of regular employee permit options, with links to more detailed information.
Annual Permits
Please note that if you order your permit online, our staff will need one full business day for processing before the permit will be ready to be picked-up at our express pick-up location.
Single-Day/Hourly
Specialty Permits
University of Kentucky STEPS employees can purchase parking permits on a month-to-month basis. Permit prices cannot be payroll deducted, but cash and all major credit cards are accepted. Please note that if you order your permit online, our staff will need 24 hours for processing before the permit will be ready to be picked-up at our express pick-up location.
Annual Permits
Specialty Permits
University of Kentucky retirees are eligible for a reduced parking rate on campus. Individuals with E-Retiree permits may park in any intermediate E Lot, K Lot or EK area.
2023-2024 Annual Cost (12 months): $126 (free if retired prior to 7-1-1995)
Bluegrass Community Technical College (BCTC) employees may purchase an E10 permit that enables them to park near the BCTC Cooper campus in the Green Lot.
E10 permit holders are required to relocate their vehicles for home football games. See the gameday relocation map for details.
Authorized Parking Location:
- Areas designated for E-10 permits (Green Lot only)
Pricing
2023-2024 Annual Cost (12 months): $504
VA Hospital employees can get either an E-VA (Intermediate) permit or an EK (Periphery) permit. Both permits provide the employee with flexible parking options at the University’s standard price points, but does not guarantee availability in any specific area.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the E-VA permit is determined by Veterans Administration officials. Please contact your human resources department for additional information.
All VA employees are eligible for the EK permit.
Pricing
E-VA Permit
2023-2024 Annual Price: $504
EK Permit
2023-2024 Annual Price: $408
Permits are valid July 1 through June 30 of the following year. E-VA and EK parking permit fees are not eligible for payroll deduction. The E-VA permits can only be purchased on an annual basis. The EK permit can be purchased on an annual basis or a six-month basis.
Parking Locations
E-VA permit parking is available in any regular employee intermediate lot or structure. These areas are designated by traditional E parking control signs without a specific parking lot number assignment (e.g. E2) and includes, but is not limited to, the following relevant areas:
- University Drive Garage (PS #1)
- Kroger Field Periphery Lots
- Ag North lots
- Large Gluck Lot
- Press Avenue Garage (PS #6)
- Sports Center Drive area surface lots
EK periphery parking is available in the Kroger Field Orange Lot and the Large Gluck Lot. Additionally, EK periphery parking permits also grant access to the Stadium Red and Blue Lots as well as the Soccer/Softball Lots and the Commonwealth Drive Lot.
See our parking maps page for more detailed information.
Parking Privileges and Control Hours
E-VA permit holders are eligible to park in any designated intermediate employee parking garage, lot or area. Additionally, E-VA permits authorize the permit holder to park in any EK periphery parking area, including the Kroger Field periphery parking lots (Blue, Red, Orange and Purple). However, signage at the entry to parking areas and any additional control signage, curb markings and other parking control devices within these areas take precedence over maps and general campus information.
In general, most employee intermediate and periphery parking areas are enforced for permits under the following schedule:
E-VA and EK permits required: Monday through Friday: 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Any valid permit: Monday through Thursday: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
No permit required:
- Monday through Thursday: 7:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- Friday: After 3:30 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: All Day
Shriners Hospital employees may purchase an E-Intermediate (E) or Employee Periphery (EK) permit. Please contact your human resources department for a parking permit application.
The University has a number of affiliated businesses and organizations that require parking spaces on UK's campus. If you work for an affiliated or partner organization, please contact your human resources department regarding parking permit options and applications.
In general, UK partner and affiliated organization employees are eligible for employee intermediate and employee periphery parking permits.
Using an Employee Parking Permit
Once you receive your parking permit, hang it on your rearview mirror or display it on the left side of your dashboard in plain sight. The permit is registered to you and can be used in any vehicle you drive. The permit may not be used by anyone else and if you lend your vehicle to someone with your permit on display, you will still be held responsible for any citation issued to it. It's always a good idea to review the vehicle parking and permit regulations to become familiar with the rights and responsibilities of parking on campus.
Permit Fee Refunds
You may return your permit to Transportation Services for a full refund. Permit prices and refunds are pro-rated on a monthly basis.