Parking for Invited Guests

Introduction

All university-approved visitors must have parking arranged through the campus department they are visiting. Visitors are allowed a 20-minute grace period for loading/unloading. Guests staying longer than 20 minutes need to display an Invited Guest Parking Permit, or departmental authorization along with proof of purchase of parking, such as a DMT (Dispensing Machine Ticket). This page outlines the policy and procedure for arranging parking for invited guests.

Invited Guests or Special Event?

With the limited amount of campus parking spaces available, parking arrangements for invited guests are granted to a maximum of 10 cars per department per day. If you require parking for more than 10 guests on one day, parking must be arranged through Special Events. Invited Guest Parking Permits may not be used for a Special Event. (See Special Events)

Questions?           

Contact Invited Guest Parking Services office at 642-1201 or stop by the Parking & Transportation offices.          

back to top

Instructions for Departments  

P&T advises that departments schedule visits for early morning or late afternoon, not during peak parking hours. Campus departments and organizations may provide parking for their guests. Advise the guest whether the department will cover the cost for parking by providing a permit, or whether the driver must purchase parking with cash when they arrive. Departments may purchase any number of Invited Guest Permits in advance. (See purchasing Invited Guest Permits).

P&T does not accept requests for visitor parking via email, phone or fax. Instead, we encourage you to follow this procedure.

Providing an Invited Guest Parking Permit

If you want to Provide your guest with a parking permit, either

1. Deliver an Invited Guest permit to your guest in advance and instruct where and how to park. When guests arrive on campus, they can go directly to their destination. They will not need to check in at a kiosk. --OR--
2. Drop off the Invited Guest permit at the East or West Gate Kiosks on the day you expect your guest, or the day before. Please include your guest’s name, your departmental contact information (include name and phone number), in a self-addressed campus-mail envelope with your mail code.

For Guests Who Were Unable to Receive Their Expected Permit: If your guest checks in at the East or West Gate kiosk before you were able to provide them with a permit, they can request a 20-Minute Guest Pass from the Kiosk attendant to allow time to pick up the permit from you.

Unclaimed Permits: Unclaimed permits will be returned by kiosk attendants to the P&T office and mailed back to the department which holds them within two days. Kiosks will not hold permits over the weekend. Provide your mail code when delivering a permit to the kiosk. It will allow us to return your unclaimed permits to you via campus mail.

Arranging Parking to be Paid by the Invited Guest

If you want to authorize guest’s visit and allow them to purchase parking, either

1. Direct your guest to the West Gate kiosk where they can pay for parking upon arrival and check in. You do not need to inform the kiosk attendant whom to expect, but your guest must provide: your name, your department’s name, and the name of the building they are visiting. --OR--
2. Direct your guest to public parking on campus or in the City of Berkeley. See Public Parking.

Instruct your Guest

It is the Department’s responsibility to inform invited guests of campus parking policy and procedure. You might want to provide your guest with a link to these instructions. See Instructions for Guests.

You can also provide a link to, or a printed copy of the campus parking map.

 

back to top

Instructions for Guests

If permit has been provided to you by host department

1. Bring permit that was mailed or given to you
2. Go to West Gate or East Gate kiosk and check in with kiosk attendant to pick up department-provided permit held for you there.
3. Park in lots for which the permit you hold grants access. Department-provided Daily Scratch-off hangtags for Invited Guests will indicate clearly whether they allow access to either C or F lots. See Lots.
4. Display the Invited Guest Permits correctly. Scratch off the date (month, date, year) to make the permit valid for the day you are parking. Hang the permit facing outward on the rear view mirror.

If you will pay for your own parking in campus permit lots

1. Check in at West Gate with kiosk attendant. The West Gate kiosk is on the west side of campus in the center of The Crescent. Enter from Oxford Street at University or Center.
2. Provide the attendant with
   1. your name (company name, if vendor)
   2. destination building
   3. host department
   4. departmental contact, name and phone number
3. When you have checked in, the attendant will provide authorization (date-stamped yellow Guest Pass)
4. Purchase parking from ticket machine with cash. See Ticket Machine for details.
5. Park in lots for which the ticket grants access. Dispensing machine tickets (DMTs) paid by cash will grant access for F or S lots only (S only after 10 am).
6. Display yellow Guest Pass and DMT face-up on the driver’s side of their dashboard. Vehicles parked with DMT without the Guest Pass during peak parking hours will be cited.

If you will pay for your own parking in public parking lots

1. Follow lot procedure and pay fee. See Public Parking.

back to top

Permit Parking Areas for Invited Guests

Read signs carefully before parking your vehicle.
Regulated parking hours, permit requirements, fees and special parking instructions are posted at all main campus entrances and in off-campus lots. Violation of University parking regulations may result in a citation and/or towing of the vehicle.

Can't find a parking space? Return to the East or West Gate and request assistance. (See Kiosks). The gate attendant will direct you to a public parking facility near the campus. They can provide campus maps and orientation or help you contact your host department. They can also provide a 20-minute Guest Pass if needed.

“C” (Central Campus) Invited Guest Permit

• valid in C areas where space is available
• valid in central campus streetside parking

“F” (Faculty/Staff) Invited Guest Permit

• valid in F areas
• valid after 10am in “S” (Student) Areas or carpool spaces
• valid after 5pm in C areas

Other spaces some guests may park with authorization

Loading zones – after 5pm and on weekends

Some visitors may check in at West Gate, receive their yellow slip, and park in designated Departmental Reserved space if they receive specific instructions to do so from the host department.

May 2007

back to top

Kiosks at the East and West Gate

Gates are staffed Mon–Fri, 7:45 am–5 pm; staffing varies during the summer months. Kiosks are unstaffed on weekends. Attendants do not conduct cash transactions.

Attendants at the West Gate Kiosk Can...

• hold a permit paid by department with the name of the invited guest.
• provide authorization with date-stamped yellow Guest Pass, which must then be supplemented by dispensing machine ticket (DMT) paid by guest. (See Ticket Machine). Kiosk attendant will ask for name of visitor (or company name if guest is a vendor) and confirm host department.
• provide date-stamped 20-Minute Guest Passes

Attendants at the East Gate Kiosk Can...

• hold a permit paid by department with the name of the invited guest.
• provide date-stamped 20-Minute Guest Passes

back to top

Ticket Machine (Dispensing Machine)  

• Accepts cash only: most coins and $1 and $5 bills.
• Rate is .50 per half hour
• Maximum purchase is 6 hours ($12)

Most ticket machines on campus will not allow ticket purchase during peak parking hours. Vehicles parking on campus during this time will be cited if not also displaying departmental authorization or campus permit.

After 5pm, ticket machines on campus will again allow purchases.

May 2007
Ticket from machine also called DMT (dispensing machine ticket)

 

back to top

Invited Guest Permits

DEPARTMENTAL DAILY SCRATCH-OFF HANGTAG (Striped)

There are two types of Invited Guest permits

• C Invited Guest Permit
• F Invited Guest permit

Current prices and access table for both types of Invited Guest permit can be found on Product List page

Departmental Purchase Only

These permits are not sold to individuals. Departments may buy them ahead of time in bulk for their anticipated guests. Invited Guest Permits are valid for up to three years. There is no limit to how many permits you may purchase, but departments should buy only what they can reasonably use over a several month period and replenish supplies as needed. Each permit is valid for one day only, indicated by clearly scratching off date of use. All Scratch-Off Hangtags are non-refundable, and sales final. Please read this page for policy carefully before ordering permits. Maintain a copy of the order form for your records.

Departments must pay for permits through chargeback using Interdepartmental Form (formerly IOC). This form is used for departments to record inter-departmental charges between UC Berkeley departments.

• Interdepartmental Order/Charge Form (formerly IOC) (32 Kb, PDF).
• Interdepartmental Order/Charge Form (formerly IOC) (12 Kb, XLS).

Download as PDF or Excel document, print, sign and return your request to P&T offices.

Departments may also use the P&T Departmental Permit Order form.

• Departmental Parking Permit Renewal Form (88 Kb, PDF).

[Note: Campus practice recommends that the department receiving the credit should prepare the financial journal]

Department requests will be processed within 24 hours of receipt.

Limitations of Use

These hangtag permits must be used for departmental visitors only (invited guests). They cannot be used for parking at Special Events.

Permits may not be issued to individual employees for their personal use (see code) or students. Not for faculty/staff commute parking. 

NOTE ON USE POLICY

It is against UC Policy for a Department to purchase an employee’s parking permit using UC funds (refer to 9/05/00 Campus Administrative Memo regarding “Limitation on Use of Funds for Parking”) By paying for an employee’s parking, the department would, in essence, be providing the individual with additional compensation. Receiving this “compensation” without reporting to the Internal Revenue Service violates Federal and State tax laws.

Duplication, alteration or misuse of the permit will result in a $200 citation and positive revocation of parking privileges.

Permit Responsibility

Departments are responsible for proper use of all Invited Guest permits until they are returned to the Parking & Transportation office or until they expire.

back to top

Traveling Directions

UC Berkeley's Visitor Services website provides information and assistance for your visit to the campus.

Use public transportation whenever possible.
Getting to Berkeley by public transit can be easy! By visiting the Parking & Transportation Office located at 2150 Kittredge Street you can find information about how to get to campus via public transportation, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) or AC Transit (the East Bay's bus system). Visit 511.org or dial 5-1-1 for more information.

Campus Parking Map (1,151 Kb, PDF)

back to top